Food pantry adjusts to serve Huron-area residents in need

HURON — Without leaving their cars, community members in need can receive all the groceries they want — food as well as cleaning and household products — at no cost. Volunteers representing the Huron Helping Hands Food Pantry recently made several adjustments to comply with social distancing policies so they can continue serving people. For starters, instead of "shoppers" going inside the Lighthouse Assemblies of God church on Cleveland Road East, volunteers now offer curbside service. How it works, volunteers: • Ask drivers, parked in their cars, what they need • Tell them what's available and finalize a grocery list • Venture inside the church to collect the products • Return outside and fill up a person's car with the items Before the pandemic arrived in Ohio, the pantry allowed each person to visit once a month. But now they're allowed two visits per month. People in need — no questions asked, so long as they live in Huron or Berlin Heights — can visit the pantry either from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays. People can also call 419-433-8889 to set up a specific appointment outside of these times. "Everybody has been just so thankful," said Christine Kromer, a volunteer and a Huron resident. "We've had so many more people here, and if I can help, I certainly want to." Over the past month, about 45 people — including many first-time pantry shoppers — visited the church for groceries within a week's time. In prior months, the pantry would typically serve about 30 families per week. "We know this has been tough for a lot of people who have lost their jobs and lost their ability to get food," food pantry director John Ginty said. "That's why we are here for them." Ginty believes the food pantry, in operation since 1996, succeeds only because of its committed supporters. This would include Huron-based churches along with local businesses and organizations constantly donating materials to keep the pantry filled. Volunteers, now more than ever, also play a pivotal role. "I have never seen a group where we all work so well together," Ginty said. "They have abundantly blessed us time and again." Want to donate? The Huron Helping Hands Food Pantry seeks donations to keep its pantry filled for community members in need. Some suggested items include canned goods, meats, cleaning products, laundry detergent, paper products and any other typical grocery item — for the pantry. People can visit Lighthouse Assemblies of God, 820 Cleveland Rd E., Huron, during the pantry's normal hours of operation to drop off the items.