United Way of Lake County Kicks-Off 30th Annual Feed Lake County Fundraiser with Request for Community Help
March 3, 2022 – Mentor, OH – United Way of Lake County (UWLC) kicked off their 30th annual Feed Lake County Fundraiser March 1, 2022. The fundraiser will run through May and UWLC is reaching out to organizations and residents for help.
This year’s fundraiser falls during the 100-Year Anniversary of UWLC. According to Ben Capelle, CEO of Laketran and UWLC Campaign Chair, “United Way of Lake County has provided much needed support to local families over the past century. I am proud to be serving our community during this time of great need and ask that you join me and UWLC in the fight against hunger.”
It was revealed in an in-depth study conducted by United Way in eighteen states, Ohio included, that 31% of Lake County households struggle to afford basic needs. This includes the working poor, who make up a stark 23% and are referred to as ALICE in the study, plus 8% who live in poverty.
ALICE is a United Way acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living. “The ALICE in Ohio 2020 report is based on data from 2019. Since this time, the lingering effects of the pandemic, coupled with rapid price hikes in food and rising inflation, have placed an even greater burden on those struggling, particularly among the working poor and middle class who do not qualify for federal nutrition programs,” said UWLC President and CEO Jennifer McCarty. According to the most recent data from Feeding America:
• 27,130 Lake County residents are estimated to be living with food insecurity. This is 11.8% of the population, which equates to 1 in 8.5 residents. These numbers are 9% higher than prior to COVID-19 in 2019.
• 6,890 children in Lake County are estimated to be living with food insecurity. This is 14.8% of children, a significant 1 in 6.7. These numbers are 11% higher than prior to COVID-19 in 2019.
Ernestine Jones, who works at the St. John Baptist Church food pantry in Painesville said, “The number of people we serve is on the rise due to inflation. We typically help about fifty families but are currently serving seventy. We are seeing new faces from people who have never reached out before.”
UWLC is asking for increased support from residents and organizations due to the level of need in Lake County. They are encouraging monetary gifts as the best way to give back because this allows them to meet the specific unmet needs of the community. Information on this and additional ways to give back include:
• Make a monetary donation at www.uwlc.org/give or by mailing a check payable to United Way of Lake County to 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, OH, 44060. Attention: FLC.
• Organize a food drive or monetary fundraiser at your organization 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. Most needed items include canned meats like tuna, chicken, SPAM, and ham; peanut butter and jelly; pasta and pasta sauce; rice, boxed potatoes, mac ‘n cheese, dried beans; canned vegetables, beans and fruits; boxed and canned soups and entrees; cereal and breakfast bars; pancake mix and syrup; juice and water; and toilet paper and hygiene products. A complete list can be found on UWLC’s website at uwlc.org/feed-lake-county.
The food collected during the Feed Lake County campaign will be distributed to approximately 40 Lake County food pantries in June. All money donated will be used to make food purchases throughout the year to help restock food bank shelves.
Last year UWLC provided Lake County food pantries with nearly $200,000 in food due to the generosity of the community. An additional 25,084 meals were provided to seniors via drive by pick-up and congregate meals, and nearly 500 cans of formula were provided for babies of low-income households.
“On behalf of all those suffering, I am imploring anyone with the means to do so to help feed our community’s hungry by making a donation now at uwlc.org/give,” said McCarty.
# # #