Mercy Health donates $250,000 to Tiffin Community Kitchen project

Mercy Health has committed $250,000 to the Tiffin Community Kitchen project over five years. In partnership with Old Trinity Episcopal Church, Seneca County Common Ground and other organizations, Mercy Health made the announcement Friday. "The $2.7 million project will focus on building a bridge between local growers and the community and is slated to offer a variety of opportunities, including cooking classes, group meals, as well as programming designed to help feed those in need," said a Mercy Health news release. "As a health care ministry, Mercy Health is committed to helping our community members achieve health and wellness both inside and outside of our facilities," said Dan Barbee, president of Mercy Health - Toledo Rural Market. "The Tiffin Community Kitchen is a great example of a project designed to promote healthy habits as well as build relationships and support local growers. Mercy Health is proud to be on the forefront to help get cooking on this valuable community resource." In keeping with the mission of providing good help to those in need, Mercy Health is committed to building on its work of strengthening the overall health of residents in the Seneca County region, the release said. In addition to offering the most advance, high-quality medical care, Mercy Health is partnering to ensure community health opportunities. The community kitchen is planned as an addition to Old Trinity church in downtown Tiffin, and the plan is to begin construction next spring. Seneca County Common Ground, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to fresh, local food, will manage operations and host a variety of food-oriented programming such as cooking cooperatives, promoting the culinary arts, partnering with health professionals, cooking classes and facilitating service projects.