LCCAA Opens Produce Pickup Center

LCCAA has opened a Produce Pickup Center in the former Bike Shop at 204 W. 10th St. in downtown Lorain.

Lorain County residents living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($60,000 annually for a family of four) are eligible to order from the pantry. Ordering windows are open from 8 a.m. Monday to 11 p.m. Sunday or until all appointments are full. Pickups are the following Wednesday and Thursday.

“Prices keep creeping up,” said CEO Jackie Boehnlein. “Making ends meet and putting food on the table is a new kind of difficult.”

The center focuses on fresh produce which can be hard to get. In the beginning, pre-packaged boxes will be distributed but choice ordering will be introduced soon.

“We know there is a great need for food in Lorain County and we are anxious to supply fresh produce to as many people as we can,” Boehnlein said.

Appointments must be made via the online system and honoring appointments is critical.

Those picking up are also asked to approach the Produce Center using Reid Avenue and West 10th Street and not cut through the parking lot at 936 Broadway Ave. Please follow all signs and staff instructions. Staff will bring food orders to your car.

LCCAA operates the Produce Center in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio and Food Forward Lorain. A start up grant also came from the City of Lorain.

Raised beds next to the facility will supply some produce. The beds and accompanying hydroponic system were made possible by a Healthy Places grant from Lorain Public Health.

Youth assigned to LCCAA’s Youth Services program staff the center and have also worked on the raised beds. Visit www.lccaa.net/programs/produce_center for more information or to place your order. Contact Center Manager Deirdre Paynter at 440-457-0327.

Elyria residents can pick fresh produce from our garden next to the South Side Library Branch at 340 E. 15th St.

Watch for the ground-breaking of the new South Side Center.