The Dough Hook Meat Market family--grandparents John and Sharon Calvelage, parents Shawn and Marlena Ballinger, their daughters Hannah and Hailey and Mack Federspiel (Hannah’s friend) travelled to the Ronald McDonald House, 3883 Monroe St, Toledo, on Thanksgiving Day to prepare 60 meals for the charity that works to “help families heal together.”

The extended Ballinger-Calvelage family prepared a meal that included the Dough Hook Meat Market’s fresh turkeys, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, green beans, and noodles, as well as several Dough Hook fruit pies and dinner rolls. This is the third time the family has celebrated Thanksgiving by making dinner for others at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana, which provides a place to stay as well as meals for families with children needing healthcare services in Toledo.

The Dough Hook Meat Market, 117 N. Main, Bluffton, is also holding a fundraising drive for the Ronald McDonald House through the month of December. The shop is collecting cash donations that it will turn into meat for the charity’s kitchen.

Marlena Ballinger notes, “We’re hoping to fill their freezers with meat.” Her family got to know the charity first hand: “The Ronald McDonald House is something that will always be near and dear to our hearts. When our daughter was a toddler, she suffered a seizure disorder which required us to spend a lot of time at the house. It has always amazed me that the entire house is run solely on donations such as ours. This is why giving back to that organization is not only important, but a passion of mine. I am honored to be able to utilize this platform to help such a wonderful place.”