United Way distributes nearly 35,000 pounds of food to local food pantries

United Way of Lake County distributed nearly 35,000 pounds of food to more than 50 local food pantries on Monday as part of the nonprofit organization's Feed Lake County food drive campaign.

Feed Lake County also raised nearly $25,000 in cash, which will be used throughout the year to make food purchases for the local pantries.

Feed Lake County kicked off on March 1. More than 40 businesses, organizations and schools helped conduct food drives for the campaign. On Saturday, United Way of Lake County worked with Laketran and the City of Willoughby to conduct a "Fill-A-Bus" event that garnered nearly 5,000 additional pounds of food.

Local food pantries continue to see an increase in clients who are in need of food as 2-1-1 reported more than 4,200 requests for food in 2012, which was up from 3,600 calls in 2011. From January of this year to March, there have been 865 calls for food, which is up from 516 calls between January and March of 2012. 

If you would still like to donate food or money to United Way of Lake County, contact Gayle Sikula at 440.639.1082 or send to United Way of Lake County, 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, OH.

United Way's last call for Feed Lake County donations; We need your help!

With the need for food increasing throughout the community combined with a dramatic decrease in donations to Feed Lake County, United Way of Lake County is holding a last effort to increase donations to the nonprofit organization's annual spring food drive.

Laketran is parking an empty bus outside of Willoughby City Hall (1 Public Square, Willoughby, OH) on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon during the city's Eco-Flea Market day and United Way of Lake County is encouraging residents to bring food items to fill the bus. Individuals who donate food items Saturday will be entered into a WELW raffle that consists of prizes for restaurant certificates and tickets to the movies and Captains games.

Feed Lake County usually raises about 50,000 pounds of food and $50,000 in donations each campaign. The food is distributed to more than 50 local food pantries. The donated dollars buy food throughout the year including two major purchases in September and December. United Way of Lake County also uses the money to purchase turkeys near Thanksgiving and hams near Easter.

"Feed Lake County is important to filling many pantries in Lake County who continue to have increased requests from families with children and senior citizens," said Gayle Sikula, United Way of Lake County's Feed Lake County Coordinator. "Hunger is very real in our community and as citizens; we can do something about it by simply sharing a can of food. That donated can of food will end up on a hungry family's table."

Items needed are canned veggies, canned fruit, canned meat, boxed meals, pasta and sauce, peanut butter, soups, breakfast items and personal items such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc. Paper goods such as toilet paper are also accepted while monetary donations will be used to purchase food.

Both the pounds of food and the money raised for this year's Feed Lake County have fallen short of expectations and United Way is hoping that the community will once again come together before Monday's distribution to help increase food or money donations.

All food raised during Feed Lake County will be distributed to more than 50 local food pantries on Monday between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Office Max building in Mentor by the Great Lakes Mall.

Local food pantries continue to see an increase in clients who are in need of food as 2-1-1 reported more than 4,200 requests for food in 2012, which was up from 3,600 calls in 2011. From January of this year to March, there have been 865 calls for food, which is up from 516 calls between January and March of 2012.

If you'd like to contribute to Feed Lake County but cannot make it on Saturday, contact Gayle Sikula at 440.639.1082. Monetary donations can be mailed to United Way of Lake County, 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, OH.   

United Way's Day of Caring is June 19

United Way of Lake County has announced that its annual Day of Caring will be Wednesday, June 19.

How does Day of Caring work?

o    Non-profit organizations submit one-day projects on behalf of clients, people in need and/or organizations with limited resources.

o    Area companies, schools, service clubs and other interested individuals volunteer to "adopt" a project.

o    Agencies and organizations collaborate to procure supplies needed for successful completion of the project. United Way of Lake County is not responsible for supplying materials or supplies for projects.

AGENCIES (submitting projects)

Projects may be large or small in scale and may involve activities such as landscaping, painting or cleaning. Others may involve social activities such as an outing for nursing home residents, an ice cream social with seniors or a picnic for members of a parenting support group.

Agencies can submit as many projects as they like, however we cannot guarantee that each project will be adopted. We do encourage multiple submissions.

Agencies who would like to submit a project need to contact Megan Grdina at 440.639.1149 or MGrdina@UWLC.org. Project applications are due on or before Friday, May 17.

BUSINESSES/ORGANIZATIONS/INDIVIDUALS (volunteering)

Day of Caring offers great benefits for companies and individuals and provides corporate team-building opportunities where you'll see immediate results, develop group work skills, develop camaraderie and friendly competition but more importantly, Day of Caring offers the chance to give back to the community in a tangible way.

If you or your business/organization would like to volunteer for Day of Caring, please contact Megan Grdina at 440.639.1149 or MGrdina@uwlc.org. The deadline for businesses to volunteer is Friday, May 24.

Once we receive the full list of projects (which will not be until late May), we will allow businesses to pick and choose which projects they'd like to adopt (First come, First served). It's encouraged that businesses visit the project sites they adopt before hand to make sure your group is capable of completing the project and to know what materials are needed.  

Annual Meeting with guest speaker Jimmy Haslam is this Thursday! Have you RSVP'd yet?

You're invited to SEE THE CHANGE you made in our community.

United Way of Lake County is holding its Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 a.m. at LaMalfa. This year's meeting will feature new Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam as its guest speaker.

Annual Meeting is a time for businesses, organizations and members of the community to reflect on yet another successful campaign year where we Lived United and made a positive change in our community.

To RSVP to Annual Meeting, contact Kristin Kozar at 440.639.4583 or KKozar@uwlc.org by Wednesday, April 10.