b'outside world using FaceTime, Skype orLaunching this program was an important Google Duo. Parkvue was even able to hirestep in addressing one of the many challenges two college students to provide technicalimposed by the pandemic. Staying in touch support for the residents who needed helpwith friends and family helped safeguard the using the devices. mental health of our residents, Miller added. SHARE-A-MEALAnother effort launched to respond to theOHgos Christine Boesch said, We already communitys needs during the pandemic washad the food distributions in place, so team-the Share-a-Meal program. As 2020 wasing up with the Foundation and ECEDC to coming to a close, Dr. Swathi Ravichandran, include the restaurant meals was a win-win. a board member at the ECCF, called Its not very often that some of these families Executive Director Beth Maiden with an idea.get to enjoy a really great hot meal, and our Swathi, whose background is in hospitalityefforts helped out a lot of restaurants that and tourism, and her husband, Dr. Rajeevhave been close to us over the years through Rajaram, a math professor, had been talkingdonations or volunteering. We knew they about creating a way to support the smallwere struggling and this was a great way to businesses suffering during the pandemicsupport them too.economy while helping families that wereLocal restaurant owners eagerly answered going hungry at the same time. They had thethe initial call to participate, turning around money to spearhead the effort, but werentlarge orders with just days notice. Participating sure how to make it happen. I dont think itrestaurants included: Cameo Pizza, Mr. Smiths, was even 24 hours later that Beth called mePenn Station, Sandusky Bay Pancake House, back and said everything was worked out. ISweet Potato Catering, The Fresh Pot, Iron still dont know how she pulled it togetherPony, The Better Half Diner, North Coast Golf, that fast.With Swathi and Rajeevs pledge of $10,000 to get the Share-a-Meal program started, Beth reached out to the Erie County Economic Development Corporation (ECEDC), a private nonprofit organization serving the community throughcomprehensive economic development programs, and OHgo, Erie Countys first mobile food pantry.Tonys, Vita Sandusky, and Zuppaman. Together they set up a system through whichThe generosity of that initial donation resulted fresh meals could be purchased from locallyin a total of 750 fresh restaurant meals being owned restaurants and distributed to individ- distributed during socially-distant OHgo uals and families in need through OHgosmobile food pantry events.mobile food pantry. 5'