The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Church brings back choice food pantry
Meat, baking goods, cereals, pastas, canned goods, hygiene items available
Lorain Lighthouse United Methodist Church, 3015Meister Road, has brought back its choice food pantry.
Lorain Lighthouse United Methodist Church, 3015 Meister Road, has brought back its choice food pantry.
Once a month, typically the fourth Thursday of the month, guests are invited to select from shelves of meat, baking goods, cereals, pastas, canned goods and hygiene items.
Food pantry coordinator Deborah Hughes said her time is spent preparing for the pantry and coordinating with Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio for donations and shopping on her own time.
“I get grants from the church to purchase groceries and get things needed for the pantry,” Hughes said. “We have a nice selection here.”
During the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the church had to forgo the choice food pantry and receive pre-packaged boxes of food.
For the past three months, clients have been able to start picking their own food again.
Hughes said the attendance has gone from 120 pre-pandemic to about 50 as of right now.
“I like this better,” she said. “People get a selection of what they want, and they’re able to choose what they need.”
In the next few weeks, Camp Ideas will use the facility for its annual programming.
Hughes said this will change the distribution date for July.
It will take place from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., July 29.
Guests only need to bring their identification card and proof of residency if their address is different from the one on the ID card.
“I like to be able to help people,” Hughes said. “I’m glad we’re finally able to be back and give people the chance to pick up their groceries and hygiene products.”