CLEVELAND — What was supposed to be a "short-term solution" for those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic quickly became a community staple. Now, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank will hold its final Muni Lot drive-thru distribution event on Thursday.
The gatherings have usually drawn around 2,600 cars each week to get some 120,000 pounds of perishable food, but officials expect that number to swell to 4,000 this time around. Meijer will also donate protein items as well as volunteers to help load up the vehicles.
The food bank announced the end of the distribution events last month, choosing instead to focus its efforts on its brand new Community Resource Center in Collinwood. Even so, the demand for the drive-thru has never really gone away, with more than 400,000 people being served last year alone.
"The scale of this is extraordinary and the impact is deep and it will be hard to replace," volunteer Joel Fox told 3News in November, "but we're doing everything we can to let people know what their options are once this program goes away."
Thursday's finale event will begin at noon and run through 4 p.m. Those wishing to register for the distribution can do so at WeFeedCLE.org.