Lakewood Restaurants Want To End Hunger In The City

LAKEWOOD, OH — Thirty-five Lakewood restaurants and food retailers will donate 10 percent of their day's sales to the work of the Lakewood Community Services Center (LCSC) on November 10. The campaign is an effort to "End Hunger in Lakewood."

The campaign is the brainchild of Melt Bar and Grilled owner and founder Matt Fish. He wants to boost the LCSC's annual efforts to feed the more than 6,500 vulnerable Lakewood residents.

“I am honored to be part of this amazing restaurant community,” said Fish. “Learning that 14 percent of Lakewood’s population lives at or below the poverty line and relies on receiving emergency food came as a shock and compelled me to reach out to my colleagues to help in any way we can.”

The number of Lakewood residents that need food support spiked about a decade ago, in 2009, during the recession. While parts of the economy recovered, the number of people who need help getting food in Lakewood hasn't wavered. Between 1,800 and 2,000 Lakewood residents receive free, emergency food from LCSC every single month.

Trish Rooney, the executive director of LCSC, has been overwhelmed by the community response to Fish's End Hunger in Lakewood initiative. She believes Lakewood residents will come out to support the campaign.

“In the 10 years I have had the privilege of heading the organization, one thing has been clear: Lakewood is a community that is committed to taking care of its own,” she said. “We are fortunate to receive county funding for food, support from United Way of Greater Cleveland and help from local retailers, individuals and churches who regularly donate to us. But this outpouring of support from the culinary community will allow us to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, which are critical to the health and well being of the members of the community who rely on us for food.”

Anyone that wants to support the End Hunger in Lakewood campaign simply has to dine out on Saturday, November 10. Participating restaurants and retailers are below.

• Aladdin’s Eatery
• Around the Corner
• Barrio
• Blackbird Baking Company
• Cleveland Vegan
• Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar
• Dewey’s Pizza
• Fear’s Confections
• Forage Public House
• Georgetown
• Greek Village Grille
• Gray Dog Diner
• Harlow’s Pizza
• Harry Buffalo
• Humble Wine Bar
• Ice Cream Joy
• India Garden
• Italian Creations*
• LBM
• Little Lakewood Pasta Co.
• Mad Mac’s
• Mahall’s 20 Lanes
• Malley’s Chocolates*
• Melt Bar and Grilled
• Rood Food & Pie
• Salt+
• Sarita a Restaurant
• SouperMarket
• Sweet Amelia’s
• Taco Tonto
• Thai Thai
• The Root Café
• Vosh
• West End Tavern*
• Woodstock BBQ
• Yuzu

Italian Creations, Malley's Chocolates, and West End Tavern all donated directly to LCSC as part of the campaign, but will not take part in November 10 initiative.

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Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch