Elyria and Lorain Schools work to feed children, families during school break

ELYRIA — Cars lined along West Avenue in Elyria Monday afternoon, waiting for food at Elyria High School in a new kind of mobile food pantry. The school district decided to continue with its bimonthly food pantries in partnership with Second Harvest despite the schools being closed due to the coronvirus pandemic. Superintendent Ann Schloss said she knew they couldn't stop the food pantries when people needed it the most. "Everyone is so gracious and the members of our staff that came out to help today and the community, wow," Schloss said. "Just incredible and we're glad we can help out the local community and do our part. And boy, everyone is so excited about getting this food in a time where it's so uncertain. We're happy to help out." Hundreds of boxes were piled up and were filled with nonperishables like rice, beans and cereal — food that won't go bad. There also was fresh produce available along with milk and apple cider. Usually, people line up inside and go through produce and load it into boxes. But in light of COVID-19, the boxes were prepacked with gloves and volunteers loaded the items into cars. Usually, Schloss said they serve anywhere from 150 to 200 families. On Monday, they served 232 cars, most of which had multiple families. "We're having a really good time to help out the families and it makes us feel great knowing we can do this," Schloss said. "... We're really building that community." Angela Brightwell was one community member who showed up just to volunteer. She used to volunteer at Beyond the Walls church, which had a Second Harvest program. "I knew what was going on here and said 'It's time to serve,' " Brightwell said. "It's time for everyone to come together, so I know my role." In Lorain, the schools served breakfast and lunches in partnership with Aramark. They handed out a total of 412 meals among the seven Lorain school buildings. Anyone under the age of 18 can take a breakfast and lunch home, and they do not have to be Lorain students. They will distribute Monday through Friday during the closure. Lorain High School (West Lot): 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. Garfield and Hawthorne Elementary: 11:30-11:50 a.m. Admiral King and Stevan Dohanos Elementary: noon to 12:20 p.m. Longfellow and South View Middle: 12:30-12:50 p.m. Elyria Schools also is serving breakfast and lunches during its closure to anyone under the age of 18. Oakwood Elementary School: 10:30-11 a.m. Windsor Elementary School: 11:15-11:45 a.m. Ely Elementary School: noon to 12:30 p.m. Prospect Elementary School: 12:45-1:15 p.m. Franklin Elementary School: 1:30-2 p.m. Every Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., breakfast and lunch bags will also be available from Midview schools to all children under 18. The bags will hold enough items for two to three days worth of food. They will be available at Midview High School, North Eaton Church of God parking lot, Wilkes Villa, the Baseball Field parking lot (17109 Avon Belden Road), and the Colonial Oaks Pavilion. Sparkle Market also will be a pickup location for only today and Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will be a pickup location but on later days, not today. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com. Follow her on Twitter @MissLainaMae.