Food distribution for Seneca County residents set

FOSTORIA --- Executive Director Stacy LaFountaine said Pantry Plus of Seneca County's last large-scale food-distribution session, in June, served 783 people. LaFountaine got the message loud and clear. "We're still seeing a big need in the community for food, so we decided that we were going to go ahead another one out at (Fostoria Elementary School) before school starts," she said. "We want to help those who are really struggling in Seneca County." Pantry Plus, located at 4481 U.S. Route 23, has regular weekly sessions to distribute food to the underserved, but extra dates can help even more people. The next drive-through date, a collaboration of Pantry Plus of Seneca County, the United Way of Fostoria's First Call for Help Fostoria division, the West Ohio Food Bank in Lima and Fostoria City Schools, is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon, Aug. 14 in the south parking lot of Fostoria Elementary School, 1202 H.L. Ford Drive. Those receiving food must provide identification and proof of residency in the 44830 ZIP code or Seneca County. Representatives of no more than two households may be in each vehicle. LaFountaine asks that people seeking food do not arrive prior to 9:45 a.m., and to remain in their vehicles. She said members of the Community Emergency Response Team will direct drivers into the lot. Volunteers with the project will go to each vehicle to check identifications and to deliver food. Those receiving food should have space in their trunks or waybacks to store the food. LaFountaine said two truckloads are expected to arrive from the West Ohio Food Bank, carrying a variety of foods, including fresh fruit and vegetables. "This will be our second one with Pantry Plus," she said. "We're trying to work out a schedule. When we had one back in June, we decided August would be a good month. And we want to have another one this year. ... I work the pantry every Friday and I just see a big (increase) of clients coming in. Even on Tuesdays, when people ride the SCAT bus (to and from downtown Fostoria), the second and fourth Tuesdays (of each month), we're still seeing quite a lot of people. The need has picked up. It has definitely picked up." LaFountaine noted that the need has resulted for different reasons. "Some of the clients, every month, were receiving some of that COVID(-19) money," she said, referring to the temporary federal increase in assistance in correspondence with the pandemic. "I think they've kind of gone through that COVID money. And, the price of food has gone up big time. I mean, just look at the different things that have gone up -- gas has gone up, food has gone up drastically." LaFountaine said she's grateful to those who allow for the opportunity to serve the public with food distribution. "I'm very thankful to the West Ohio Food Bank, all of my volunteers," she said. "The police department's helping, CERT's helping, the United Way, and I can't thank the schools enough for being very generous and letting us use their parking lot." For more information, contact Pantry Plus of Seneca County at 419-619-0183.