Commissioners give $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to nonprofits affected by COVID-19

ELYRIA — Lorain County commissioners gave out their first round of small-business and nonprofit American Rescue Plan Act grants on Wednesday to agencies that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The board announced the program in April and said it would spend $1.5 million in ARPA funds to accomplish it. Applications were due May 27. Of the $1.5 million promised, $200,000 was awarded on Wednesday. All of the grant recipients may be subject to government audits of their programs, commissioners said. Commissioner Matt Lundy, a Democrat, said the grants all were $25,000 or less. He said the board had "a higher response rate than expected" for the program. The commissioners gave $25,000 to Oberlin Weekday Community Meals for food and meal distribution that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rev. Andy McQuery of Christ Episcopal Church in Oberlin, who is the acting chair of the advisory board for Oberlin Weekday Community Meals, said the church has hosted community meals in its parish hall since 1983 and since COVID-19 arrived is "the largest meals program in North Central Ohio and the only one in Oberlin." It provides more than 80 freshly cooked meals five days a week, 50 weeks out of the year. With the pandemic increasing demand, the program hired an additional cook and kitchen manager and increased staff hours, McQuery said. Increased supply costs strained its budget, but "the grant would close that gap, and we are very grateful," he said. Faith Ministries Christian Center on Euclid Avenue in Lorain will receive $25,000 for its food pantry, clothing, transportation, necessary fixtures and maintenance. Donna Gilchrist said her organization serves about 300 families on the second and fourth Fridays every month, plus hot meals. It also gives away clothing, shoes and book bags for students headed to school. Another $25,000 will go to City Fresh of Oberlin for its fresh food box program. Executive Director Anna Kiss Mauser-Martinez said her organization focuses on farm box programs, collecting what is fresh, local and in-season for families up to five people. The organization seeks to pay farmers fairly, and its costs have increased over time, Mauser-Martinez said. Great Expectation Ministries on West 23rd Street in Lorain will receive $25,000 for educational and social services. The Rev. Marilyn Parker-Jeffries, who founded Great Expectations, said her group provides free music instruction in piano, drums and vocal performance to children ages 8 to 18. There are 20 students in the program and 10 to 15 on a waiting list. Academic performance improves when students also receive music instruction, she said. The goal is for 70 percent of children in the program to show improvement in at least one subject area, Parker-Jeffries said. Music was therapeutic for students during the pandemic, she said. The money will help add more instructors in violin and trumpet and support a life-skills curriculum to help students deal with anxiety and stress. The Church on the North Coast on North Leavitt Road in Lorain will get $25,000 for its community outreach and food pantry programs. Jeremiah Burris, the youth and young adult pastor at the church, said the Joshua Kids program is a monthly empowerment program for coats, school supplies and Christmas gifts. It teaches character building, nonviolence, conflict resolution, healthy eating, nutrition and other life skills. There have been an "overwhelming" number of requests for food, beds, clothing and other essentials as a result of the pandemic. Another $25,000 will go to Episcopal Church of the Redeemer's Solidarity Urban Farms program in Lorain for urban farming and community meals. The Rev. Alex Barton said the church's meals program provides 15,000 meals in the city. Its urban farm program started in one vacant lot near the parish, but now has four other lots under production and recently bought four more. The urban farming program has a full-time farmer and five part-time staff members, all but one of whom were formerly unemployed. "We're very thankful for the support that we get from you all and from everybody in the city of Lorain," Barton said. Beyond the Walls Church on Woodford Avenue in Elyria will receive $25,000 for food pantry and building improvements. The Adopt-A-School Initiative housed at Second Baptist Church on Chapman Lane in Elyria will get $15,000 for equipment, school supplies, educational classes, clothing and food for children. The Rev. Dr. Carl Small said the initiative gave away more than 200 book bags full of school supplies last weekend, and also helps young people get their GEDs, learn computer skills and others in partnership with Lorain County Community College. The Pathways Enrichment Center in Lorain will receive $10,000. Executive Director Norva Ross said the money will help the organization and its food pantry, which has been open since 1995. The group will buy an electric pallet jack, a computer and other equipment to help food distribution, she said. The organization also does drive-thru food distribution, senior food box programs, special Thanksgiving and Christmas food service, hot meal carryout and delivery. A partner of Second Harvest Food Bank, Pathways served 58,659 people coming from more than 20,000 households with 745 pounds of food in 2021. Through the end of June, Pathways has served 31,386 people in 11,000 households with 326 pounds of food, Ross said.&emsp;&emsp;Lundy thanked all the grant recipients for what they do in the community. "So many good stories, so many success stories. A lot of folks out there need help and you folks are definitely stepping up to help them," he said. Commissioner Michelle Hung, a Republican, thanked all those who showed up Wednesday. "It's been very interesting and very educational looking over these applications," she said. "We're moving along and getting them done and reviewed as quickly as possible. It seems like it's taking forever but we are diligently working on these." Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @DaveOBrienCT.