People Clips

White Family Grant received The Allen Eiry Center is pleased to announce the receipt of a $5,030 grant from the White Family Charitable Fund of the Tiffin Community Foundation. The funding was awarded to support the Mercy Health Tiffin–Allen Eiry Center Parkinson's Fitness Program.This specialized fitness program is designed to help individuals living with Parkinson's disease improve strength, balance, flexibility, mobility, and overall quality of life through targeted exercise and supportive group activities. We are grateful to the White Family Charitable Fund and the Tiffin Community Foundation for their commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community. This generous support will help us continue providing valuable fitness opportunities for those living with Parkinson's disease. The Parkinson's Fitness Program meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Allen Eiry Center. Individuals interested in participating or learning more about the program are encouraged to contact Gina Menke, PT, DPT, at Mercy Tiffin Rehabilitation at 419-455-8600. The Allen Eiry Center remains dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Seneca County's 50-plus community through wellness, educational, recreational, and social programs. FELC receives $3,000 POET Community Impact Grant POET Fostoria has provided the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center, 194 St. Francis Ave., Tiffin, with a $3,000 Community Impact Grant. Funds will purchase eco-friendly electric grounds management equipment and cover expenses related to producing vegetables at FELC's Seeds of Hope Farm. "The funds will allow Seeds of Hope workers and volunteers to devote less time to weeding and more time to growing and producing crops," said FELC Board Chairman Donna Frank. Part of the grant funds will help sustain Seeds of Hope Farm's training and employment program for people living with disabilities, who learn work skills, vegetable-growing skills and farm operations. More than 500 pounds of vegetables are produced in the farm's greenhouse, hoop house, raised garden beds, hydroponic area and in-ground growing gardens, such as lettuce, onions, spinach, microgreens, carrots, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, beets, potatoes, garlic, broccoli and asparagus. Produce is grown sustainably and without chemicals. Grant funds will allow the farm to increase the variety of crops offered for sale at the Seeds of Hope Farm Market sold through local Community Supported Agriculture and local farmers markets, including the addition of more root vegetables, spring starter garden plants and fall/winter flowers. The farm also operates a chicken/egg production system and offers Community Garden plots where people in the community can grow their own food. In addition, FELC offers educational camps to about 3,000 elementary students on a variety of science-related topics. Fostoria K of C 4th Degree The Fostoria K of C 4th Degree recently had its social dinner (steak) at the Christopher Center. Before dinner prayers were offered by Steve Brubaker followed by the pledge of allegiance. It was noted that the installation of Officers will be July 18. There will be no regular meetings during July and Aug. Tuesday, September 8 will be the next meeting in Tiffin with the 4th Degree. The annual Chalice for the departed will be donated to the Franciscan Order in Carey. Prayer books were made available for distribution. Winner of the 50/50 was Robert Ebright. FELC receives $30,000 from the Eldred Fund The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation has awarded $30,000 to the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center, 194 St. Francis Ave., Tiffin, to expand fresh food production at FELC's Seeds of Hope Farm. The project will add spring plants, fall root vegetables and winter flowers to the farm's production by using a grow tunnel to be purchased with grant funds. Grow tunnels are permanently covered growing spaces that can be adjusted as the season progresses to allow optimal growing conditions for longer periods of time. For example, spring garden plants can be started early in a tunnel, which will allow plants to be sold to gardeners and transplanted into the Seeds of Hope fields. Also, the tunnels allow later growth of plants into fall and early winter, which will provide a longer season for root vegetables such as potatoes, beets and carrots. The grant also provides funds for an electric mower and trimmer to help maintain the grounds around the tunnel. In addition, some of the funds will provide financial assistance for continuing an ongoing FELC program that provides work and training to people living with disabilities. The grow tunnel will be added to the farm's current greenhouse, vegetable gardens and chicken/egg production areas to expand local food production. For information on renting garden space at Seeds of Hope Farm, or information on FELC school field trips, summer camps or adult education programs, call Hannah Bumb, 419-448-7485, or email hbumb@felctiffin.org. Visit the website at FELCTiffin.org Tiffin Rotary President Charlene Thomas opened the June 23 meeting at the Chandelier Event Center. She then delivered the opening prayer. Charlene introduced Cameron Gaietto, our new Administrative Assistant. She also welcomed prospective member Jeff Bair. The Basket Fund raised $18. Tom Debbink won the Weekly Drawing and Nancy Weaver took home the Free Meal. Attendance was 17. Dave Weininger, Service Cochair, reminded members of our volunteer opportunity this coming Thursday, June 25, at the First Lutheran Church. We will be helping with their monthly food distribution. Nikki Distil reported that United Way's School Supply Program is August 10 and 11. Our speaker today was our own Phil Moerdyk, president-elect for 2026-27. His talk focused on his being the first president for our second hundred years. He believes we can create lasting impact through voluntary action involving the forfeit of personal time, resources, or profit of any kind to benefit someone else or the common good of the community. To accomplish this, we must commit to five key areas: Service to Club (including a bold plan to increase membership) , Vocational Service, Community Service (including evaluating the current community needs assessment and adding to it, if necessary), and International Service. If we are faithful to our commitment, this will help us reach his over-arching goal for Tiffin Rotary, where 100 years from now and any time before then, if you stop anyone in the street, they will know that Rotary is where: Leaders listen to needs, they devise solutions to problems and put them promptly into action for the benefit of all Tiffin residents. Sisters of St. Francis The Sisters of St. Francis have announced the election of a new leadership team to guide the Sisters through the next four years. These Sisters will tend to the community goals, pastoral needs, ministries and administrative responsibilities of the congregation, and will serve as representatives to other entities on behalf of the Sisters of St. Francis. The following Sisters were re-elected or newly elected and installed on June 28, 2026, during the congregation's community assembly: Community Minister Sister Joanne Lammers, and Council Members Sister Roberta Marie Doneth, Sister Jacquelyn Doepker and Sister Edna Michel. The Sisters of Saint Francis of Tiffin Ohio was founded in 1869 by the Rev. Joseph Bihn, a parish priest at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and Elizabeth Schaefer, a local parishioner and widow, to meet the needs of orphans and the elderly who had no one to care for them after the Civil War. For more than 150 years, the Sisters have lived their charism and mission through their Franciscan values of concern for the poor, care of creation, contemplation, action and peacemaking.