FCH appealing to appetites with food truck fundraiser

Pro-Medica Fostoria Community Hospital is again appealing to people's appetites in an effort to raise money for the United Way of Fostoria.As it has in recent years, Jimmy G's Authentic Pit-Smoked Barbecue of Fremont will operate a food truck today from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Dialysis Center, across Van Buren Street from the hospital. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the local United Way."There will be a line of people outside of that food truck, just waiting for their turn," FCH Chief Operating Officer Tom Borer said. "It's very popular. In fact, it's so popular that we are encouraging our employees to pre-order for a designated time so that they don't have to stand in line waiting an extraordinary amount of time."The official kickoff of the United Way of Fostoria's 2020 campaign is Thursday, but the hospital, as a Pacesetter Company, has begun early with such events as the food truck and once-a-week donut sales through the summer and fall, Borer said. The hospital in August hosted Fostoria resident Jamie Johnson's Tasty Dogs truck as a fundraiser."A couple of years ago we came up with the idea of hosting (Jimmy G's) and then asking them if they would be willing to give part of the proceeds that they raise to the United Way, and they've been very gracious," Borer said. Borer not only chairs the hospital campaign effort but also serves on the local United Way's board of directors. He said the hospital has been very actively involved with the United Way."We have been for a number of years," he said. "We've always encouraged our employees to contribute to the United Way whatever they felt comfortable doing. The money that they raise go to a number of very worthwhile causes in our community. We're just happy to be part of that, to help support those agencies."Borer said the hospital last year donated $9,000 to the United Way of Fostoria, which assists 17 area agencies. He said a national expectation is for the coronavirus pandemic to affect donations negatively by at least 20 percent, but employees are being encouraged to donate as they're able.The local United Way's agency partnerships this year grew to 17 with the addition of HOPE, a group of volunteers promoting substance-abuse prevention and education in the Fostoria area. HOPE, Community Hospice and DayBreak SAIDO are recipients of designated gifts only.Other agencies benefiting from the United Way are Camp Fire, Financial Assistance for Cancer Treatment, First Call for Help Fostoria, First Step Domestic Violence Shelter, the Fostoria Learning Center, Fostoria Habitat for Humanity, the Fostoria Senior Citizens Center, the Geary Family YMCA, Girl Scouts, PatchWorks House, Red Cross Disaster Services, Scouting USA, Seneca-Crawford Area Transportation and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.