The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Mobile food pantry helps 300 families
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio held its monthly mobile food pantry Nov. 16 at El Centro de Servicios Sociales at 2800 Pearl Ave.
With Thanksgiving only one week away, area residents preparing for the big day came out to El Centro where Second Harvest and volunteers from Columbia Gas of Ohio distributed food to about 300 families, helping an estimated 1,000 people enjoy the holiday.
Second Harvest External Relations Manager Susan Bartosch said they had a selection of ham and various types of meats
“The whole idea with meat is because everyone’s going to be gathering next week. Gathering in whatever way with family and dignity and all that, so we’re going to be able to produce quite a few things, Bartosch said. “So we had some hams and various other kinds of meat and people heard about it and were pretty thrilled.”
Second Harvest holds its mobile food pantry at El Centro on the third Thursday of each month after beginning the initiative in 2012. The organization has also partnered with Lorain County Health and Dentistry in holding farmer’s markets as part of a wider strategy is part of a wider strategy to address health and food insecurity across Lorain County.
The event was sponsored by Columbia Gas of Ohio as part of its Week of Giving campaign. Fourteen Columbia Gas volunteers came out and were helping patrons by handing out food and loading groceries into vehicle.
“We are happy to sponsor the mobile pantry with Second Harvest here,” said Columbia Gas spokesman Bill Loomer said. “For us it makes a lot of sense because we share in the mission to end hunger across Ohio. It really shows that
we are more than just a gas company and we support our communities in any way we can.”
Loomer added when the opportunity arose everyone in the company was eager to get involved in the initiative with El Centro hosting.
“I’m glad for the opportunity. They asked for volunteers and everyone raised their hands and signed right up,” he said. “As a department we try to come up with an idea that will be impactful for all of our service areas across Ohio and this is just one of those initiatives.”
“For us it makes a lot of sense because we share in the mission to end hunger across Ohio. It really shows that we are more than just a gas company and we support our communities in any way we can.” — Columbia Gas spokesman Bill Loomer