The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
FEEDING FAMILIES
Second Harvest Food Bank conducts largest food distribution at Midway Mall in Elyria
The Midway Mall parking lot was filled to the brim on Nov. 21 as Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio handed out thousands of meals to area residents.
In a drive-thru Thanksgiving mobile pantry, Midway Mall was the site of the organization’s largest food distribution with enough food prepared for 3,000 families in Elyria.
Staff from Second Harvest, along with a team of volunteers and Ohio National Guard men and women have been presenting outdoor, no-touch, mobile distributions for nearly eight months. None have been the magnitude of the first ever Drive-Thru Thanksgiving Mobile Pantry Saturday at Midway Mall, officials indicated.
“The logistics of moving this much food is quite a feat.”
— Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest
“This is the largest mobile pantry event we’ve ever staged. There is so much planning that is going into making sure this is organized, efficient and safe for all involved. The logistics of moving this much food is quite a feat,” said Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest.
“We will need our whole fleet of trucks just to get the dry boxes out to the site,” Chase-Morefield said. “From there, we’ll return to the warehouse to load up the produce, refrigerated items and the rest.
“The bot tom l i ne, though, is to make sure as many people who need the help can get food for their families in time the holidays,” she said.
Other partners helping to make this possible by donating funds, in-kind support and volunteers include Lorain County Board of Commissioners, the City of Elyria, Lorain El Centro, Camden Township, Brownhelm Township, New Russia Township, Meijer in Lorain, FP Rangers from the Youth Work Support program through Ohio Means Jobs and the Lorain County Community Action Agency and private donations.
Second Harvest is preparing to bring 170,000 pounds of food.
Each qualified family will receive approximately 56 pounds of food, groceries, produce and staples.
In September and October, Second Harvest distribution was over one million pounds of food for each month.
As they continue into November and December, Second Harvest officials said they are expecting an even higher demand as the holidays approach.
Prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Second Harvest served 88,224 unduplicated individuals. Through Sept.30, Second Harvest has served 138,708 unduplicated individuals. Second Harvest conducts 10-12 direct distributions per month plus delivers food and grocery items to 110 partner charities, conducting food pantries, shelter programs and hot meal programs in the region.