Correspondent photo / Sean Barron Jennifer Lendvay of Cortland and Michael Swiatkwich of Warren load boxes of donated canned goods, cereal and other items during a two-hour food drive Sunday in Warren’s Courthouse Square. The donations will go to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley in Youngstown.

WARREN — Even though she didn’t directly donate anything for others to eat, you could say that Jennifer Lendvay gave something else at least as valuable.

“Stuff needs done, so you get out here and do it. The state of the world made a difference in our motivation to get involved,” Lendvay, of Cortland, said, referring to the driving force behind a commitment to give her time to help others in need.

Lendvay, who also is part of the Mahoning Valley Freedom Fighters organization in Youngstown, spent two hours of her time fulfilling that commitment via being part of a food drive Sunday afternoon in Courthouse Square.

Also on hand were a few peaceful protesters who held signs with slogans denouncing President Donald Trump’s policies.

Sponsoring the gathering at which many motorists stopped to donate boxes of food was the Good Trouble Trumbull organization, which, like the Mahoning Valley Freedom Fighters, seeks to defend the Constitution, preserve democracy and others’ civil rights, as well as the rule of law, health care and diversity, equity and inclusion.

GTT takes its name from a phrase the late civil rights icon and congressman John Lewis often invoked — “get into good trouble, necessary trouble” — to urge others to nonviolently fight against racism, segregation, injustices and other societal ills.

The donations will be shipped to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley in Youngstown, then distributed to more than 60 local pantries and food banks throughout the Mahoning Valley. On Sunday, they were first taken to five Warren dropoff sites: Urban Tap, Art on Park, Modern Methods Brewing Co., Triyounity and CharBenay’s Wine on the River.

The food drive’s value also was in taking a stand for assisting others, especially with the holidays approaching, who were unable to come to make their voices heard, Lendvay explained.

Also not shy about doing a bit of lifting was Lincoln Natali, 11, of Austintown, who came with his grandmother, Patricia Dunbar, a community activist from Mineral Ridge.

“I’m so happy he’s helping with this effort, and helping me,” Dunbar said about her grandson, who brought a suitcase that contained a depiction of a large Sponge Bob character and inside of which was plenty of food for others.

Sunday’s food giveaway and demonstration may have been planned during the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1 and resulted in the furlough of about 900,000 federal workers, though the end of the 43-day stalemate Wednesday did not diminish the gathering’s importance or sense of urgency, Gary Tuttle of Fowler, the event organizer, said.

“They’re still playing games with people’s SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits by changing the rules,” Tuttle said, adding that some recipients will have to needlessly reapply for such assistance.

Also, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are continuing to indiscriminately snatch law-abiding immigrants off the streets, many of whom were en route to their court appointments and were following the rules, he said.

Tuttle cited federal agents making a series of immigrant arrests Saturday and Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina, despite protests from the mayor and many other public officials.

One naturalized citizen from Honduras told The Associated Press he was forced into a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle after agents smashed one of his car windows, then released after showing his citizenship documents, reports show.

“We have to keep bringing (ICE’s actions) to people’s attention,” Tuttle said.

While many people are in need — a situation that tends to be exacerbated during the holidays — it is easy to overlook that their cats and dogs also can struggle, C.J. Adkins, who runs TNR of Warren, a low-cost, full-service spay-and-neuter animal clinic, said.

“If people aren’t eating, their pets aren’t eating,” Adkins said, adding, “We should be able to fill their bellies as a community.”

Such a need was evident merely by the numbers. More than 140 vehicles dropped off pet food early Sunday; also, about four dozen 30-pound bags of dry cat food, along with an estimated 1,000 cans of cat food were donated, she noted. The dry cat food was gone within a half-hour, Adkins continued.

Other dynamics she has seen are some who volunteer, yet need assistance themselves, along with others who ensure their pets’ food needs are met before their own, Adkins added.