(Photo Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)

BELPRE — Roseland Coffee Bar is holding its annual Thanksgiving Food Campaign through Nov. 16.

According to Collin Yost of Roseland Coffee Bar, customers will be able to donate food to the Barlow and Belpre locations anytime this week and also be entered to win prizes.

Organizations around the Central Ohio Valley receiving donations from the food drive include Latrobe Street Mission in Parkersburg and Belpre Area Ministries in Belpre.

Roseland Coffee Bar locations are at 747 Warrior Drive, Vincent, across from Warren High School, and at 1818D Washington Blvd., between Unicorn Wine Guild and Wings Etc. in Belpre.

The coffeehouse is also expanding into Marietta, opening in 2025 in the former Southeast Ohio Counseling Center building on Seventh Avenue across from Marietta College.

Employees were taken to the grocery store to shop for the food drive, spending approximately $1,000. The company will also partner with Jon Six Food Ministry on Nov. 23, where stores will close early and employees will prepare, cook and serve dinner at the Latrobe Street Mission.

“We believe this is critical for our involvement. “Donating food and fundraising is a very important step in helping the region, but it is also a band-aid on a very sensitive issue that requires long-term solutions.” Yost said in an email. “It’s important for young people to get first-hand experience in the real world and see what people are up against.”

According to Yost, 47.4 million people in America face food insecurity, and nearly 15% of Washington County is food insecure.

“We want young people in our area to be exposed to real problems so they can learn about compassion, understanding, hard work, community and problem-solving on how we can make our community better.” he said. “We hope this story can be shared so we can get larger donations and also bring attention to people like the Jon Six Food Ministry who are constantly doing great work in our community. This story is also about people like the Latrobe Street Mission who are constantly getting the most out of people and desperately need volunteers and funding.” It will also greatly highlight places and people in need.