'I think it's everyone's civic duty to give back:' Elyria Ward 1 residents deliver meals to homeless, low-income neighbors

Residents in Elyria's 1st Ward spent early Saturday packing food boxes for low-income and homeless individuals in the city. Gathering in the basement of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, members of the Good Neighbors Initiative filled take-out containers with eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits, while others drove the more than 300 boxes to local shelters and low-income apartment complexes. The effort was organized in part by Councilman Andrew Lipian, I-1st Ward, who founded the Good Neighbors Initiative nearly three years ago with Clifton Oliver. The group meets the first Thursday of every month, but Saturday's meal service was the first time it had organized such an event. Volunteers delivered take-out boxes to the Haven Center, Neighborhood Alliance, Bridge Pointe Commons, Riverview Plaza and the warming center at the city's South Recreation Center. Volunteer Lana Stone said the plan was originally to have a sit-down meal in the church, but the weather precluded many people from coming to the center. "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," she said of the switch to delivered boxes. Donations of winter clothing from the Elyria Friends Church accompanied the meals, as well as Valentine's Day cards from Eastern Heights and St. Jude's students. Volunteer Greg Zmina Jr. spent his time in the church's kitchen, frying bacon and eggs and offloading warm biscuits from baking pans to warming trays. "I think it's everyone's civic duty to give back," he said, quoting Mother Teresa to add, "If you can't feed 100 people, then feed just one." Food for the meals was donated in part by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1079, LifeCare Center of Elyria nursing home, and the Elyria Sunrise Rotary. The Good Neighbors Initiative group meetings at 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at East Rec, 1101 Prospect St. Outside of Saturday's meal, the group hosts community events throughout the year, as well as safety meetings for Ward 1. For more information, visit its Facebook group Good Neighbors Initiative (Elyria Ward 1). Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.