LOC Summer Meals for families, seniors return for 11th year

Love Our Community is bringing back LOC Summer Meals for its 11th year.

LOC has partnered with the community to make meals available to hundreds of children and families in Lake Township, as well as others facing food insecurity, including many senior citizens. The program will continue with in-person meals, and LOC hopes the community will join its table.

LOC thanked those partnering with the organization for the 2026 Summer Meals program.

“We are excited to get back together and share meals,” LOC stated.

Meal sponsor volunteers are asked to register their group through the LOC Summer Meals 2026 link and include the names of volunteers and what food will be served. LOC is asking groups to prepare enough food for 200 meals this year.

LOC is trying to offer a variety of meals and asks that groups not duplicate what others are bringing. Suggested main dishes include walking tacos, baked ziti, sloppy joes, breakfast foods, Alfredo or spaghetti, pulled pork or chicken sandwiches, fried or barbecue chicken, a baked potato bar, stromboli, pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs.

Side dishes may include salads, vegetables, corn on the cob, chips, mac and cheese, hash browns, tater tots or fries, and rolls. Desserts may include cookies, cupcakes, cake, brownies, fruit roll-ups, fruit snacks, doughnuts and bars.

All meals will be served at Memorial Park in the closed pavilion near Lake Elementary School in Hartville. The address is 335 Park Lane Drive SW.

There will be three opportunities for individuals to receive food each week throughout the summer. Lake Township FISH provides groceries Tuesday mornings or Thursday evenings, and people who meet income guidelines can shop for groceries once every two weeks. More information is available at laketownshipfish.org.

LOC will partner with anyone willing and able to provide meals on Mondays and Thursdays in June, July and August.

LOC will organize items not associated with the meal itself, including location planning, advertising, taking phone calls and delivery requests, and tracking volunteer hours. LOC also will help with questions or needs meal sponsors may have.

Sponsors who do not want to cook all of the lunch or dinner are asked to consider supporting local businesses when purchasing meals, soups or parts of the meal. Examples include Mi Casa, Hartville Kitchen, Peace Love & Little Donuts, Lake Varsity Diner, The Pantry, Front Porch, Sommers Market and other local businesses.

Limited delivery is available for the 2026 Summer Meals program. Meal sponsors are asked to provide volunteers to deliver meals, serve the meal and sit at the tables with people at the pavilion. LOC has a sign-up for delivered meals and will provide an updated delivery list each week.