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.
“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 four distribution sites throughout the county operating on Tuesdays 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 September dates and locations include:
- September 12 | 10 a.m. | Madison Senior Center | 2938 Hubbard Rd.
- September 12 | 10 a.m. | New Hope Baptist Church | 428 Jackson St.
- September 19 | 10 a.m. | Wickliffe Senior Center | 900 Worden Rd.
- September 26 | 10 a.m. | Mentor Park-n-Ride | 8650 Market St.