Local motorcycle group to give out Thanksgiving meal to the homeless

LORAIN — A local motorcycle group is giving out Thanksgiving meals to those in need. Latin American Motorcycle Association Lorain Chapter will be cooking and distributing meals both in Lorain and Cleveland on Nov. 25. President BeeGee Toro said they will be handing out the food out to the community to ensure those who are homeless receive a meal. Toro said group members wanted to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to people who need them — people who have lost a loved one and don't have a meal to cook, or people who cannot afford to buy Thanksgiving food and also find those who are homeless. The organization is trying to raise funds to buy and distribute the food, and it also is looking for people who can make Thanksgiving food to donate. Utensils, napkins, to-go containers and other items are also needed for the distribution. The group is requesting donations of drinks, desserts like cupcakes and pies, as well as green beans, corn and turkeys. City Councilman Rey Carrion, D-6th Ward, has agreed to donate 10 turkeys to the group. Last year, LAMA Lorain handed out more than 1,000 meals. This year, in both Cleveland and Lorain, it is hoping to distribute out 2,000 meals in the community. "We are here for the community," Toro said. "We want to reach out to the people that are in need. We want to make sure that they don't feel alone, that they have us." Rubin Swift started the effort several years ago in Cleveland, and LAMA Lorain partnered with him last year. Swift said he didn't plan on doing the meals this year because of COVID-19, but that Toro encouraged him to continue. "She reminded the reason why I started to it in the first place," Swift said. "You give blessings by helping other people. A lot of people are giving out turkeys, but homeless people can't cook turkeys. They can't cook dressing. They have no place to do it. (LAMA Lorain) has such a passion for what they're doing that we had to do it again this year." Swift encouraged people to make food and donate it to their cause to feed the homeless. They also need people to be able to deliver the food either in Cleveland or Lorain. And if someone is in need of a Thanksgiving meal, Swift asked that people let him or LAMA Lorain know. "That's the idea of this movement, to get to the people that nobody else is thinking about," he said. Antonio Barrios, president of the Lorain Arts Council, has partnered with LAMA Lorain on the project. He said this is its way of getting involved in the community even when the Arts Council can't hold events or art shows. Because of the pandemic, Barrios said even more people are in need this year to get a Thanksgiving meal. When the meals are handed out, LAMA Lorain business manager Crystal Lovejoy said the organization also also will hand out other necessities, and people can also donate hats, gloves, scarves, coats, masks, hand sanitizer and other winter or PPE items. Barrios said people can drop off donations at the Arts Council, 737 Broadway Ave., and can call (440) 320-0295 to make sure someone is there to receive it. For more information, including how to volunteer, contact Toro at (440) 225-1561 or Swift at (216) 971-2612. Contact Reporter Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.