The Denny Mantel Christmas Sharing Fund:
Each holiday season (since 1984) Optimist members have provided some local families with groceries for a good holiday meal. The Northridge School System provides us with names of families who are particularly needy due to economic circumstances. Club members and other volunteers meet on a particular Saturday in December to buy groceries and deliver them to the families.  Beginning with 2014, the program has been named in honor of Optimist member Denny Mantel who had chaired the event for over 30 years. Each year he spent countless hours organizing and leading the program, and inspiring members with his dedication. Denny passed away in February of 2014, and club members have established a separate fund in his memory to make sure that we can continue the program. The fund was established with direct donations as well as from portions of club fund raising events.                                                                          
(Photos are from the 2017 event)

​For Donations to this fund please make check payable to, and send to:
Denny Mantel Christmas Sharing Fund
c/o Northridge Optimist Club
PO Box 131211
Dayton, Ohio 45413
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​Photos from the 2018 event are shown on the left. The school provided a list of 17 families for us to serve that year (approximately 50 children in the group). The budget for the 2018 event was approximately $3000 with the help of a $2000 contribution from Cargill Co, and other donations throughout the year. Volunteers teamed up by two's or three's, and each team shopped for a given family, and then delivered the groceries to that family.  Volunteers consisted of club members/family members/friends and a large number of  Cargill volunteers. Afterwards most of the volunteers met for lunch & socializing at Marion's Piazza on North Dixie at Noon.  The club wishes to thank Cargill for the financial support of the program, and also to the Cargill employees and families who volunteered, plus all of the volunteers and supporters of the program. In addition to the above mentioned support from Cargill, the company also donated gift certificates for enough turkeys to deliver one to each recipient family along with the groceries. 
Thanks to all who helped out!
2019 EVENT
The 2019 Event is planned for Saturday, December 14. Volunteers will meet at Walmart on York Commons Blvd. at 11:00 AM to team up and shop for the groceries. Teams will then deliver the groceries to the families. The school will be furnishing the list of families that will be served.