LORAIN, Ohio — A Northeast Ohio church is helping its community by providing hundreds of meals plus a helping hand to families in need each week.
Ever since the pandemic hit, residents like Maria Charlton have depended on the generosity of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Lorain. The church provides a hot meal, sandwiches and clothing. People can even drive up and get a meal to go.
“I think it’s wonderful that they do this for the people here,” Charlton said.
For the church’s work in the community, Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News, chose the church to receive one of its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. legacy grants of $2.500.
“The Spectrum grant and the donations we receive from other people is the back stone that makes this possible,” the Rev. Alexander Barton said. “Without the grants from Spectrum and other institutions and generous citizens, we could not do what we do.”
Mark Haywood receives assistance from the church and also volunteers by delivering meals to people who live in his building, which is located right across the street from the church.
“I come over here and I get like 45 meals and I deliver them to people who can’t get over here,” he said.
He said it feels good to help others during these difficult times.
“They are senior citizens who are incapable of getting out — some in walkers, some debilitated (and) some of them maybe quarantined right now so they need someone to get these meals because without it, what are they going to do? Some of them aren’t able to cook for themselves so they need someone to bring these meals to them,” Haywood said.