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Encino Energy helps Urban Mission provide holiday meals in Steubenvile

By From staff reports 2 min read
ALMOST READY — Greg Harrison, coordinator of the Urban Mission’s Unity Kitchen, put the finishing touches on one of the pans of pork that was to be part of a hot, to-go meal served carryout-style to about 50 people Wednesday. Help with the holiday meal program this week came in the form of a donation of funds from Encino Energy. (Photo by Janice Kiaski)

LOUISVILLE, Ohio -- Encino Energy and its employees made major donations from the Encino Energy Community Partnership Program to support several organizations this holiday season, including Urban Mission Ministries.

Encino partnered with the mission to fund 440 holiday meals with a $3,500 donation to support local families in need. On Wednesday, the mission served about 50 hot to-go Christmas meals out of the Unity Kitchen, located at 301 N. Sixth St., where Greg Harrison, Unity Kitchen coordinator, prepared a meal of pork, mashed potatoes and cheesy potatoes, green beans and a dessert.

Today and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Urban Mission will distribute a bag of food with holiday meal items to make at home. Those seeking a bag of food will need to provide identification and proof of residency if not already signed up to receive food from the mission.

"Especially this year, the Urban Mission's holiday meals program is particularly impactful, and we thank Encino Energy's willingness to support 100 families this holiday season," commented the Rev. Ashley Steele, the mission's executive director. "We are still accepting donations for anyone who wishes to contribute."

Donations can be made through the website at www.urbanmission.org.

Jackie Stewart, Encino's director of external affairs, noted that Encino increased its annual holiday giving throughout Eastern and Southeastern Ohio to support communities in Carrol, Harrison, Stark and Jefferson counties in lieu of its annual employee Christmas dinner.

These efforts are providing hundreds of warm coats for children, significant food pantry donations and hundreds of bottles of hand sanitizer to local school districts, according to Stewart. This marks the first donation and partnership that the company has made directly to Urban Mission.

"The Urban Mission has been a cornerstone in Jefferson County for more than 50 years and remains a consistent resource for the Ohio Valley," Stewart said. "We are proud to partner with such a great organization. The Urban Mission's long-standing motto -- 'to listen with compassion, to serve with love' -- is a motto we can all embrace as we continue to lift each other up together this holiday season.'

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