YOUNGSTOWN — The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has started an emergency food drive to serve the poor and vulnerable in the midst of the federal government shutdown.

Bishop David J. Bonnar is calling on parishioners and others of goodwill across the diocese to participate in a nonperishable food drive as the need for food assistance across the six counties of the diocese is exacerbated by the government shutdown. The food drive runs through the end of the year.

If your parish does not maintain a food pantry, Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul Society locations throughout the diocese will serve as official dropoff sites.

Anyone interested in donating to a local parish food pantry, contact their office directly for further guidance.

“Let us come together as one diocesan family to live out the Gospel. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us do everything we can to bring hope to the hopeless,” Bonnar said.

For information, contact Rachel Hrbolich, Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities, at 330-744-8451 or rhrbolich@youngstowndiocee.org.