Catholic Charities broadens Easter meal offerings with take-home or in-person options

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland once again will offer its Easter Holiday Meal Service. For the past several years, with the assistance of volunteers and community partners, Catholic Charities has provided free holiday meals to the community both on-site and through home delivery. As food insecurity continues to rise throughout Northeast Ohio, the meal service is being restructured to increase impact across the eight-county diocese.

This year, community members can either enjoy an in-person community meal or request a take-home meal that can be picked up at a chosen distribution site. Requests for pick-up meals will be accepted until noon on March 23. However, if capacity is reached earlier, the request form will be closed.

Pick-up will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 2 at these sites:

• Blessed Trinity Church | 300 Tallmadge Ave., Akron
• Catholic Charities Geauga County, 602 South St., Chardon
• Catholic Charities Lake County, 1544 Mentor Ave., Painesville
• Catholic Charities Lorain County, 41315 N. Ridge Rd., Elyria
• Catholic Charities Medina County, 4210 North Jefferson St., Medina
• Fatima Family Center, 6600 Lexington Ave., Cleveland
• Hispanic Senior Center, 3115 Scranton Road, Cleveland
• St. Martin de Porres Family Center, 1264 E. 123rd St., Cleveland.

Community members interested in receiving a free take-home meal can register here by completing the request form, call 800-860-7373, or their nearest Catholic Charities location for registration assistance. Required information includes name, phone number, number of meals requested, and pick-up location selection.

Those who prefer an in-person meal can visit one of these sites:

• St. Edward Parish, 501 Cottage St., Ashland, 5-6 p.m. April 1
• Covenant Community Church, 3342 E. 119th St., Cleveland, noon to 3 p.m. March 28
• Dunham Church, 1629 E. 66th St., 4:30-5:30 p.m. March 28
• St. Aloysius Church, 10932 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, 5-7 p.m. March 31
• Catholic Charities Bishop Cosgrove Center, 1736 Superior Ave., Cleveland, noon to 1:30 p.m. April 2
• Catholic Charities St. Elizabeth Center, 2726 Caroline Ave., Lorain, 11:30 a.m. to noon April 2
• House of Refuge, 11739 Kinsman Road, Cleveland, 1-4 p.m. April 2
• Anointed Gates, 800 E. 152nd St., Cleveland, 2-7 p.m. April 2
• 5th Christian Church, 14109 Benwood Ave, Cleveland, noon to 3 p.m. April 2
• Catholic Charities Good Shepherd Family Center, 140 Richmond Road, Euclid, noon to 3 p.m. April 4
• Loretta's Helping Hands, 6615 Foreman Ave. Cleveland, 3-5 p.m. April 4
• River of Life Ministry , 24600 Lakeshore Blvd, Euclid, 1-5 p.m. April 4
• Jordan, 2230 E. 82nd Ave., Cleveland, 5-6 p.m. April 5
• Ebenezer Assembly of Christ, 15209 Florida Ave., Cleveland, 1-4 p.m. April 5
• Mary Queen of Peace, 4423 Pearl Road, Cleveland, noon to 2 p.m. April 5
• Harvest Missionary Baptist Church, 3649 E. 93rd St., Cleveland, noon to 6 p.m. April 5
• Blessed Trinity Church, 300 Tallmadge Ave. Akron, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 2
• St. Stephen Parish, 44 Britton St., West Salem, 5:30-6 p.m. April 1

Click here for the full details about available in-person meal services.

“As food costs continue to rise, more and more individuals are questioning where their next meal will come from,” said Daniel Horrigan, Catholic Charities’ interim president and CEO. “Our goal through our holiday meal service has always been to ensure our neighbors in need have a nutritious meal and sense of community. By activating our sites for in-person distribution and meal opportunities, we can reach more people efficiently while building stronger community relationships.”

Catholic Charities’ holiday meal service is made possible through the ongoing assistance of its community partners, volunteers and supporters. Those who want to support the program can click here to view available volunteer opportunities or here to make a financial gift.