'Feed Lake County Food Parade' asks for donations

MENTOR, Ohio - Tons of food are needed to stock the food pantries of Lake County.

According to the United Way, more than 6,000 people accessed the county's food pantry system last year -- and the number of those in need is growing.

On Tuesday, the United Way of Lake County conducted its 'Feed Lake County Food Parade,' where nearly 100 Lake County businesses lined up to drop off non-perishable foods items they had collected over the past month.

The food parade took place from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at 9248 Mentor Avenue, Mentor -- in a strip center next to the Great Harvest Bread Company.

The United Way of Lake County told NewsChannel5 they will also be at the collection site this Thursday and Friday should anyone else wish to donate food.

The United Way reported that Mentor High School students collected and donated more than 11,000 pounds of food products. And prominent Lake County companies like Marous Brothers, Paisley Farms, Winter Equipment, Kucera International, Focus Manufacturing and Tetrad Electronics donated at least 5,000 pounds more.

Still, much more is needed. The United Way said between 700 and 1,100 people in the county receive food on a weekly basis. And pantries reported they are getting 10 to 20 new clients each week.

The United Way supplies 51 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Lake County.

Monetary donations are also accepted and appreciated.

Here's a link to the United Way of Lake County website: http://www.uwlc.org