Dion DeMitro (front row, right), president and CEO of Lake County United Way, worked with staff members and community volunteers during the nonprofit’s recent food distribution drive in Mentor on June 19. (Chad Felton — The News-Herald)
The Lake County United Way continued its community service mission last week, distributing $35,000 worth of food to 31 food pantries across Lake County.
But prior to the June 19 event, the organization had so far collected more than $48,000 in food to distribute to those in need as part of a new food pantry shopping program.
The nonprofit meets with Lake County food pantries several times a year to determine what items are most needed.
Items distributed on the 19th included chunk white chicken and light tuna, beef ravioli, vegetable beef soup, spaghetti and sauce, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, instant oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, fruit cocktail, apple juice and water.
David Whitaker, right, community impact manager for the United Way of Lake County, prepares to load boxes of syrup onto a truck during the organization’s food distribution drive in Mentor on June 19. (Chad Felton — The News-Herald)
“These drives are really a blessing for a lot of people,” said Devella Douglas, a member of the Madison Township-based Lake Erie Church of God. “You’d be amazed at how many people really need help, and I hope the United Way continues to get this great support.”
The items were purchased with funds raised at UWLC’s 32nd annual Feed Lake County Food Drive and fundraiser this spring, as well as a $75,000 grant the organization received last fall from the Jerome T. Osborne and Georgianne S. Osborne Charitable Trust.
Cash raised from the fundraiser totaled $60,000, some of which will be used to stock food shelves this year, officials said, adding that it also included $25,000 donated for the third consecutive year by Mentor’s Buyers Products as a matching incentive to donors to encourage donations.
“Previously, we would distribute all of our food in one day, on specific days throughout the year,” said Dion DeMitro, president and CEO of UWLC. “Now, food donations are made throughout the year and are not limited to just our spring food drive. This allows us to better meet the needs of local food pantries by allowing them to purchase what they need from our supplies.”
Donors to UWLC’s spring food drive included PCC Airfoils, which donated 5,327 pounds of food, Component Repair Technologies, which donated 5,049 pounds, Mentor High School, which donated 2,165 pounds, and Marous Brothers Construction, which donated 1,900 pounds.
Demitro stressed the importance of meeting the basic needs of the community.
“In addition to supporting numerous local nonprofit programs, meeting basic needs is our top priority,” she said. “We are so grateful to everyone who has donated food and funds to make days like today possible.”
A list of food pantries can be found at uwlc.org/food-pantries.
More comprehensive health and human services information is also available by calling Lifeline’s 2-1-1 referral hotline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Those who are able to donate can visit uwlc.org/give . Checks made out to United Way of Lake County can also be mailed to 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, OH 44060. Attn: FLC.
For more information, call 440-352-3166 or visit uwlc.org.
