GEMS

COMMUNITY: GEMS Food, Support for All Ages

by Kent Von der Vellen

The nonprofit Lodi Family Center offers a wide range of programs that touch almost every segment of the population.

LFC has toddler, youth and after-school programs; activities for senior citizens; parenting support; a food pantry; and free facility use to other nonprofits that provide free services for families.

Executive Director Rebecca Rak has been involved with LFC since 2001, before it was known as LFC, and it was operated as a nonprofit youth center. She was there in 2004, when the food pantry was added and the organization functioned under Safe Haven and Family First Resource Center.

The organization continued to grow, and, in 2012, became its own 501C-3 registered nonprofit. By 2014, it gained its own building when It moved into the old Lodi Elementary School at 301 Mill Street.

Free programs are offered for senior citizens Monday through Wednesday until 2 p.m. Senior citizens can visit each other, catch a movie, play cards or bingo, and have lunch.

When school lets out, the LFC welcomes students ages 5 to 18 and is a regular stop for the Cloverleaf School District buses.

Student programs include assistance with schoolwork and tutoring, leadership, self-esteem, 4-H, and STEM clubs.

Rak gets excited when talking about the success students have with STEM clubs, which are clubs that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math. In 2014, her ninth-grade son and several of his classmates complained of being bored with board games. Rack encouraged them to start a robotics program.

The robotics program grew to include clubs and activities for ages 5 to 18. Through the program, students learn about computers, robots, and the math and science that are involved.

LFC also provides a food pantry serving the Lodi area. Most of the food they offer comes through the Akron Food Bank. It also is a participant of the MyPlate program.

Through the MyPlate program, participants receive food and recipes for meals with the items picked up at the pantry in an effort to teach nutrition and healthy lifestyles.

In 2019, the food pantry distributed 149,000 pounds of food. That increased to 350,396 pounds in 2020 due to extra demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about the programs offered, to donate or to become a volunteer, go to https://lodifamilycenter.org/ or https://bit.ly/3lMIK0D

Kent Von Der Vellen is a 20-year Medina resident. He has been a volunteer for various youth sports teams, is a member of the Medina Lions Club, and, with his wife, Kim, founded the Jakob F. Von Der Vellen Memorial Foundation. Contact Von Der Vellen by emailing Gems@BlakeHousePublishing.com or by calling 330-4210863. Learn what other area nonprofits need by visiting Giving Hearts at JoyofMedinaCountyMagazine.com.

Lodi Family Center, Inc.

301 Mill Street Lodi, Oh. 44254 330-302-4182 Date of formation: 08/21/2012 Organization type: 501(c)(3) Description of Organization’s Purpose: Facilitate programs that meet the needs of families through pantry services, youth programs and parenting activities Is the organization's registration status current? Yes Reporting Year: 2019 Reporting Start Date: 7/1/2018 Reporting End Date: 6/30/2019 Total Revenue: $39,364.80 Total Expenses: $41,221.35 Total Program Expenses: $37,836.21 Percent of Total Expenses: 92% Total Assets: $76,000.00

Director or Board member List (6):

Judy Reed Rebecca Rak Kelli Sanders Shawna Brasty Jeff Vogel I David Spieth