The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PARTNERING FOR THOSE IN NEED
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, Second Harvest Food Bank aim to bridge food security gap
Over 450 individuals and families signed up to receive food boxes Jan. 21 from the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA) and Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.
As part of an initiative to help those affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the WRAAA launched the “Great Grocery Giveaway.”
As boxes were loaded into trunks of vehicles, Doug Beach, CEO of WRAAA, said the purpose of the program is to fill the food security gaps which exist and have worsened due to the pandemic.
“We had over 450 families sign up and we’re using COVID-19 relief funding to provide these boxes,” Beach said.
The WRAAA is a nonprofit designated by the state of Ohio to plan, coordinate and serve as the administrative agency for federal and state aging and disability programs in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties.
Beach said the food service model focuses on delivering hot meals to clients as well as meeting the
“We had over 450 families sign up and we’re using COVID-19 relief funding to provide these boxes.”
—Doug Beach, CEO of WRAAA
nutritional needs of seniors.
Hundreds of families that could not attend the distribution were to receive groceries through a home delivery, he said.
During the distribution, state
Rep. Gayle Manning and state Sen. Nathan Manning, both North Ridgeville Republicans, discussed the impact of the onetime partnership between Second Harvest and WRAAA.
“I think it’s one of those things,” Gayle Manning said. “Anytime that you can help someone, including with what’s going on with the coronavirus, everyone is
in need right now.
“People are out of work, no longer in school, and knowing people can have a warm meal is humbling.”
The Great Grocery Giveaway is the first time the WRAAA distributed groceries with a drive-thru pick-up and home delivery.
Beach said the pandemic has given the WRAAA a chance to help its client base in new ways.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our agency has been looking at innovative ways to partner with for-profit and nonprofit organizations to serve a greater community in need,” he said.
Additionally, Gov. Mike DeWine designated the WRAAA as a “key partner” in coordinating COVID-19
vaccinations for Northeast Ohio seniors.
Since the announcement, Beach said the agency has received over 1,000 calls inquiring about the vaccine.
“We want to help as many people as possible,” he said. “It’s an emotional thing; people get emotional from the services we provide. We’re making a difference.”