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200 Eastern Market Baskets Feed The Needy

DETROIT (WWJ) - Eastern Market merchants and the Sacred Heart Parish spread a little holiday cheer, donating 200 food baskets to the needy of Metro Detroit.

City Council members and local merchants helped to fill hundreds of baskets with vegetables, fruits and bread Wednesday in the community hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on the edge of Eastern Market.

Russ Russell of Forgotten Harvest dropped off 1,000 of bagged apples. The previous night, the charity fed hundreds of homeless people and others in need at a special holiday dinner.

"Unfortunately our community is facing a crisis with hunger and poverty, and we're just trying to do everything we can to work alongside people like Father Norman Thomas," Russell said.

Eastern Mkt. Food Baskets -2
(WWJ Photo/Pat Sweeting)

Father Norman Thomas said he seen the need for food baskets and other help grow over the 43 years he's been at the church.

Ed Deeb, chairman and founder of Michigan Food and Beverage Association, said this season's need is as great as ever.

"I'm glad we're doing this. I'm glad the merchants and vendors at the Eastern Market were generous in doing what the have to do," Deeb told WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Sweeting.

"Especially in today's economy. Today's economy needs help. We need to provide jobs, we need to provide people with inspiration to be happy in this holiday season, and that's what this is all about," he said.

The merchants at Eastern Market have been filling holiday baskets for the past 25 years.

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