A line of people in vehicles waiting for food stretched for blocks from the Covelli Centre, over the Market Street Bridge on Saturday.
A generous donation of $100,000 dollars is helping feed some of the Valley's most vulnerable this holiday season.

This Christmas many neighbors in need will be able to break bread with their families, enjoy ham and a nice dinner, The United way tells us this is compliments of a local family that has been helping people since the beginning of this pandemic.

Bob Hannon, President of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley said, "The financial piece of it, thanks to the Muransky family and Southwoods Health, they donated $100,000. without those dollars we wouldn't be here today."

The Muransky family and Southwoods Health want to make sure children, the elderly and families have food on their tables this holiday season when more help is needed, and cases of COVID-19 continue to climb higher.

21 news caught up with Ed Muransky, his wife, and daughter Saturday morning at the event.  The CEO of Southwoods Health was helping set up tables, and load boxes of food in cars.  Muransky said, "During this COVID pandemic there's so many people hurting. It's just so great to see our community as it always does step up to help those who need help the most."

Muransky and United Way told WFMJ news, the food give away wouldn't be possible without a team effort of businesses who donate, and volunteers who help unload, then box and load locally bought food in a drive through food give away. Drivers don't have to leave their vehicles as part of the pandemic precautions.

One Hot Cookie, Giannios Candy, Annie's Pretzels and several other businesses also donated to help make Christmas the and holidays better for people in our region.

Bill Padisak with the Mahoning, Trumbull AFL-CIO counselors said, "I'm delivering food to shut ins, the people who are without vehicles, or people who can't drive, so they are not left out."

WFMJ's Glenn Stevens was one of the 500 volunteers who didn't let rain stop them from volunteering their Saturday to help neighbors in need. The food give away was for people who were registered for food assistance prior to the give away.

Muransky said this year has been more difficult but he encourages people to help in ways they can such as volunteering time to look out for others.

The United Way and the Muransky Family have also teamed up tp provide holiday dinners to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley the week of Christmas. Each night, they will deliver meals from local restaurants for the residents and clients of the Mission.

If you would like to help you can log onto the website for the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, where you will find a link to make a donation.