Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation – “The Food Drive People.” LCAC has been a cornerstone of the community for years. Its annual Thanksgiving and holiday food drives are traditions that bring neighbors together in the spirit of giving.
The city’s elementary and middle schools spend November bringing nonperishable items to their schools to collect as much as possible to donate to the drive. St. Edward High School students also play a huge role in collecting and volunteering time at the event. Anyone and everyone is always welcome to spend a few hours of their Saturday here, giving back while getting in the “Thanksgiving spirit.”
This event takes months of planning—LCAC board members work to plan everything from the finances to the number of boxes necessary for the schools to collect donations. Board member Patricia McIntire has been involved with this event for 15 years. She first joined when her daughters were playing soccer, and it is of such value to her.
“I think it’s really important to have an understanding of who our neighbors are and to recognize not everybody is as fortunate,” McIntire said. Not only are volunteers collecting food, they are bagging it and delivering it directly to families. Participants could sign up to deliver using their own car and receive a list of addresses to drop off.
Volunteers gathered at the Masonic Temple on the Friday before delivery day to bag and sort the nonperishables. This turnout was just a preview for the next morning. People began to arrive at 9 a.m. on Saturday, eager to get to delivering and finish filling up the bags.
This group included Lakewood families (some bringing their children), St. Edward students, certain sports teams like the Lakewood High School boys soccer team, LCAC board members, H2O participants, and more.
“It was just really nice to be able to take time out of your day to give all these people stuff that we don’t think twice about,” H2O student volunteer Molly Juray said. Juray mentioned how valuable it is to be the one delivering. She said that, especially for the older generation, it can be like seeing a “new hope in the world.”
Everyone in the room, all 150 of them, was dedicated to being a part of this difference, something the community has known for years. St. Edward collected more than 24,000 items through their drive. There were 300 bags delivered to homes and families in need because everyone deserves to have a meal this holiday season. That is what LCAC stands for.
Six-year LCAC board member Rachelle Loraine said that the true beauty of this event is “the community coming together to help others. The camaraderie. The spirit of the season.” Donuts, coffee, music, and conversation are what volunteers are greeted by when they first walk into the back of the Masonic Temple. There is connection among the community.
“It’s not just about one meal,” Loraine said. “It’s about providing as much as possible.”
Each home was delivered a blue and white bag—the blue bag held nonperishables like canned goods and boxes of easy-to-make food, while the white bag held the perishables like pumpkin pie and a turkey. Tin foil pans were also included with instructions on properly cooking the turkey.
This Thanksgiving event is not the only food drive volunteer opportunity coming up. On Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14, the same bagging and delivering process will occur at the Lakewood Masonic Temple.
“Families are traveling, and you get less community involvement,” McIntire said. New volunteers are encouraged to join them at their holiday event; the more, the merrier.
“I’ve always loved Thanksgiving, and I thought [the food drive] was really nice,” H2O volunteer Frances Kaletta said. If you love the holidays, this is a perfect opportunity to get in the spirit while bettering the community. Anyone unable to volunteer for the holiday event has a chance to donate at the LCAC website. All the funding for LCAC and its services comes from donations and sponsors.
Spread a smile, give a donation, and work with your community to make this Lakewood holiday season one of joy.
