The Lake County Mobile Food Pantry program has secured donations from Greater Cleveland Foodbank to extend the program through September.
“A lot of agencies are reflecting on what things they did differently during the pandemic and what should stay,” shared Laketran CEO Ben Capelle. “While food insecurities exist among our seniors, we plan to continue this program with the support of the Cleveland Foodbank and our local partners. There is no reason seniors in Lake County should go without food.”
The Lake County Mobile Food Pantry is a retrofitted 12-passenger Dial-a-Ride bus operated by Laketran. With its traditional passenger seating replaced with shelving and updated graphics to promote the program, the retired bus is now providing fresh produce to thousands of Lake County seniors.
The program is a collaboration between Laketran, Lake County Commissioners Senior Services, Council on Aging, Lifeline and the Greater Cleveland Foodbank. The agencies work together to secure food donations and each play a role in taking reservations, managing volunteers and distributing the food.
Since launching in January, the Lake County Mobile Food Pantry has served 4,449 individuals and 2,460 total senior households throughout Lake County.
“We were able to distribute over 180,000 pounds of produce last year with help of our community partners,” shared Laketran board president, Brian Falkowski. “This is the third phase of our senior nutrition program and it is a great example of what Lake County can get accomplished when we work together and innovate to meet the needs of seniors.”
The bus visits eight distribution sites throughout the county operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. Pre-registration is mandatory to receive the free 20 pound box of fresh assortments of fruits and vegetables and sometimes protein or dairy, too.
To register, Lake County seniors 60 and over can call Lifeline at 2-1-1 or the Lake County Council on Aging at 440-205-8111. Location of the distribution sites are at www.laketran.com.
Remaining June dates and locations include:
- June 8 | 10 a.m. | Mentor Park-n-Ride | 8650 Market St.
- June 10 | 10 a.m. | Madison Senior Center | 2938 Hubbard Rd.
- June 15 | 10 a.m. | Mentor Park-n-Ride | 8650 Market St.
- June 17 | 10 a.m. | Painesville First Church of Christ | 422 Mentor Ave. – New Location!
- June 22 | 10 a.m. | Mentor Park-n-Ride | 8650 Market St.
- June 29 | 10 a.m. | Eastlake Transit Center | 35300 Vine St.