United Way of Lake County in Need of Community Support for 32nd Annual Feed Lake County Food Drive & Fundraiser
Buyers Products Company Matching All Monetary Gifts up to $25,000 in Total Donations
February 26, 2024 – Mentor, OH – United Way of Lake County (UWLC) will kick off their 32nd annual Feed Lake County Food Drive and Fundraiser on March 1, 2024, and it will run through the end of April. The organization is in need of local businesses and residents to help by running food drives and monetary fundraisers.
Buyers Products Company, headquartered in Mentor, is supporting the initiative to help feed hunger with a $25,000 corporate match for the third consecutive year. The organization will be matching all monetary gifts UWLC receives up to a maximum of $25,000 in total donations now through March 31, 2024.
According to UWLC President & CEO Dione DeMitro, “Food insecurity has continued to impact more families, with the cost of food soaring by 25% in just four years. Many individuals who have never experienced hunger are now finding it challenging to provide meals for themselves and their families. Those most affected are within the ALICE threshold, meaning they work hard but still struggle to afford basic needs and don't qualify for federal nutrition programs.”
ALICE is a term coined by United Way that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It's used to describe individuals and families who work hard, often holding down two and three jobs, but still struggle to make ends meet due to low wages, high costs of living, and limited access to resources. ALICE households may not qualify for traditional forms of assistance but still face significant financial instability and difficulty covering basic needs such as housing, childcare, healthcare, and food.
ALICE research reveals that one-third of Lake County households - 33% - currently struggle to afford basic needs. This includes the 24% who fall within the ALICE threshold and the 9% who live in poverty.
Based on the most recent data from Feeding America:
- 22,740 (9.8%) Lake County residents are estimated to be living with food insecurity.
- 5,040 (10.8%) children in Lake County are estimated to be living with food insecurity.
- 6.5% of seniors (60 years of age and up) in Northeast Ohio are estimated to be living with food insecurity.
- The annual food budget shortfall in Lake County is $16,325,000.
The Buyers Products Company match essentially works to double the impact of the monetary gifts UWLC receives.
Below are several ways residents and organizations can help.
- UWLC is encouraging monetary donations as the best way to help. Not only is the dollar amount of one’s donation doubled due to Buyers Products Company’s match, but monetary donations allow the organization to meet the specific unmet needs of the food pantries. Those in a position to help can make a donation online at uwlc.org/give, by calling 440-639-1291 or by mailing a check payable to United Way of Lake County to 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, OH 44060, ATT: FLC.
- Organize a food drive or monetary fundraiser and donate all funds raised and food collected to United Way of Lake County. To sign up to participate in a food or fundraising drive, contact UWLC at 440.639.1203 or via email at dwhittaker@uwlc.org.
- Donate non-perishable food. To drop off donations or to make pick-up arrangements, call 440.639.1203 or email dwhittaker@uwlc.org. Beyond funds, the top ten most needed items include cereal, canned tuna/chicken, juice, pasta & sauce, peanut butter & jelly, canned fruit, shelf stable milk (powdered), canned corn, soup, and pancake mix & syrup.
- Participate in UWLC’s “Philanthropic Pantry Purge” by clearing your pantry, cabinets, and cupboards of excess non-perishable food to donate.
Complete details on how individuals and organizations can help can be found at uwlc.org/feed-lake-county.
The food collected during the Feed Lake County campaign will be distributed to approximately 38 Lake County food pantries in an as-needed basis. All monetary gifts will be used to make food purchases throughout the year to aid in replenishing the shelves of food banks.
Last year UWLC provided Lake County food pantries with nearly $119,000 in food due to the generosity of the community. An additional 19,030 congregate meals were provided to seniors in need, and 901 cans of formula were provided for babies of low-income households.