Chicks Against Hunger helps in food struggle

BOUQUET >> To Chicks Against Hunger for hosting May 22 its seventh annual food drive.

The food drive took place at Smitty’s Place Restaurant, 364 E. Bridge St. in Elyria, and organizers said more than 2,000 pounds of food was collected, along with proceeds from more than 40 donated raffle items.

This event will support the Lorain County Office on Aging’s two food pantries in Elyria and Sheffield Lake.

Chicks Against Hunger, the Elyria-based organization founded in 2010, adequately is helping to take a bite out of hunger and close the gap to food insecurity in Lorain County.

Kim McDonald, co-founder of Chicks Against Hunger, said, “We had met with a board member at Second Harvest Food Bank (of North Central Ohio) and realized there was more need for food drives in this area, and so that’s when we started our first one. And we also recognized the struggles of local pantries, so we wanted to help them directly. So that’s how we are focused. Everything we collect stays here in Lorain County.”

Since the group’s inception, the food drives have collected more than 22,000 pounds of food for Lorain County food pantries.

We applaud the efforts of Chicks Against Hunger. It’s a great cause.

BOUQUET » To The Nord Family Foundation which convened members of the Lorain County community to discuss the value of after-school activities for students and focus on improving their effectiveness.

The Lorain County Afterschool Investment took place May 21, at Lorain County Community College.

It included 43 representatives from foundations, local school districts, local and regional nonprofit organizations, city government and the Lorain Public Library System.

Anthony Richardson, program officer for The Nord Family Foundation, said, “After-school programs are a critical part of a student’s development. We need to look at what students are choosing to do after school. Some programs are available, but there are others that aren’t there for students that would like to participate.”

Richardson is on point when he says the communities and schools need to be involved in after-school programs.

The group wants to look at what programs currently are available and if they align with what students are learning during the day.

We support any efforts that will help keep students engaged in education.

BRICKBAT » To the deputy U.S. marshal who was placed on administrative leave after al- legedly using a racial slur May 18 during the arrest of Zi’aire Duffy, who was wanted on felony warrants.

The incident was caught on a Facebook live video.

A statement from U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott was released May 22 saying the U.S. Marshal Service’s internal affairs division will investigate the incident.

Elliott said, “We are aware of the recorded incident and the inappropriate language used by a deputy U.S. marshal during the arrest of Zi’aire Duffy. We have zero tolerance for this type of behavior, which does not represent our agency’s core values of justice, integrity and service.

“We are disgusted by the use of such repugnant language, because we strive to treat everyone professionally, regardless of alleged crimes. The agency takes seriously any allegation of misconduct by its personnel.”

The U.S. Marshal Service declined to release the name of the deputy.

The alleged incident occurred when officers and Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force members attempted to arrest Duffy, 25, of Lorain around 2 p.m. when they saw him in a car outside of a restaurant in the 6000 block of Middle Ridge Road.

The deputy, however, will have his day to explain to his superiors what happened.

If he is culpable, he should face punishment for violating his agency’s rules.

BRICKBAT » To Codsh’e M. Berger Jr., the 18-year-old Lorain High School student who is in trouble after police said he brought a loaded gun to school.

Berger was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a fourth-degree felony, and illegal conveyance of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone, a felony of the fifth-degree, after police arrived at the school, 2600 Ashland Ave. at 11:10 a.m., May 17.

A Lorain High’s safety officer called police who found the black hi-point 9 mm handgun loaded with three live rounds and three additional rounds in Berger’s bookbag.

A police report indicated Berger told police he had no plans to use the gun, but had it on him for protection against students he believes are gang members.

Berger is innocent until proven guilty.

But has Berger been under a rock and not heard of the recent school shootings across this country?

We have to ask how many other students are bringing guns into schools?

This is a disturbing.