Elyria churches to host brunch, then give transportation to early voting locations

Community members, neighbors, families and friends are invited to attend Community Brunch and Souls to the Polls for early voting March 15 at Second Baptist Church, 427 Chapman Lane in Elyria.

Elyria 5th Ward Councilman Marcus Madison and local ministers are hosting the event to encourage the community to get out and vote.

“It’s an effort to encourage people to exercise their right to vote,” Madison said. “In Lorain County, there’s been a low voter turnout and we want to try and help change that and bring people together.”

Although this is the event’s first year, he said he and other organizations have talked about possibly continuing the event and making it a local tradition.

“There’s going to be good fellowships and food and we want to see that continue,” Madison said.

Shuttles will leave twice during the program at 12:45 p.m. and 2 p.m. to take voters totheLorainCountyBoardof Elections, 1985 North Ridge Road in Sheffield Township.

The organizers will provide a meal for the attendees.

Madison said the menu was subject to change and will remain a surprise until the event starts.

Children can attend the event, said the Rev. Carl Perry

Small, pastor of Second Baptist Church.

The church is equipped to play movies, video games and board games.

“We have this option for people who feel comfortable leaving their children here, but also as an option for those who don’t have a choice and need to vote,” Small said.

To ensure that people in the community go out and vote, Small and local organizations such as Lorain County Rising, True Vine Primitive Baptist Church, Mount Nebo Primitive Baptist Church, Asbury United Methodist Church and Save our Children banded together to encourage early voting.

“Too many people have died, too many people have worked and too many people have supported the effort for everyone to have the right to vote,” Small said. “We don’t want to use any excuses to not vote.”

Small said the early voting day lines up perfectly with people’s free time.

“A lot of people have Sunday as a day of rest, he said. “They can worship like normal, come get a meal and go vote and carry on with the rest of their free day.”

The event gives residents who may not have the ability to vote March 17 a chance to head to the polls.

Voting is equivalent to having a voice, Small said.

“If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice,” he said.