Oberlin Community Services

06/02/2026

Our friends Ben, Manda, Lisa, and Michael from AVI Fresh at Oberlin College stopped by the OCS warehouse on Tuesday morning to donate 1,010 pounds of food plus several hundred more pounds of hygiene supplies! Each spring, students donate leftover dining hall funds. AVI — the campus dining hall vendor — uses the gifts to purchase bulk food for the OCS pantry. Today they delivered ramen, mac and cheese, peanut butter, oatmeal, pasta, almond milk, applesauce, soup, rice cakes, snacks, and much more. Thank you, OC students and AVI!

06/02/2026

We will be soon! See the calendar below for all our upcoming distributions for June! 🚚📦

🍏 Our next Drive-Thru Mobile Pantry will be a special ✨POP-UP✨ on Tuesday, June 2nd, in partnership with Educational Service Center of Lorain County & Avon Lake City Schools, at Avon Lake High School from 4:00-5:30pm.

🥕 Stay in the loop about upcoming food distributions in your area! Shoot us a text with your county - Lorain, Erie, Huron, or Crawford - to 440-467-4353, and we'll make sure you get all the latest updates!

06/02/2026

Heads up: We are closed on federal holidays!

06/01/2026

We're restocking the food pantry for this afternoon! No one deserves to go hungry. If your family could use some FREE groceries, please don't be shy — come see us today, Monday, June 1 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the Cooper Center, 500 E. Lorain St., Oberlin!

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀?
No! The OCS pantry is open to all Lorain County residents experiencing financial hardship. Our specific focus is on helping people in southern Lorain County meet basic needs.

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵?
We do it three times a week! The pantry is open Mondays (1:30-4:30), Wednesdays (1:30-4:30), and Fridays (1:30-3:30).

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲?
No problem! You can pick up a prepacked box anytime the OCS offices are open, even if the choice pantry isn’t stocked and staffed.

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻?
You're welcome to come get food once a week!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲?
Our dedicated choice pantry is set up like a mini grocery store. You can come in and "shop" for the items your family likes best.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝘁𝗵𝗿𝘂?
We offer curbside pick-up during pantry hours. Simply pull into a designated pick-up spot and call us at (440) 774-6579 to have a prepacked box delivered to your vehicle! This is perfect for people with mobility issues.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴?
You don't have to bring a stack of paperwork with you. A photo ID is helpful for getting you checked in quickly, but not necessary. We're more interested in hooking you up with food.

05/26/2026

There are still some spots open for our FREE upcoming workshop on protecting your garden from weeds and pests! Visit www.oberlincommunityservices.org/workshops to register!

05/26/2026

OCS Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Rosa Gadsden (right) was honored yesterday at Oberlin College commencement! She received the Award for Distinguished Service to the Community, recognizing her hard work to provide food and additional services to thousands of Lorain County residents each year. Also pictured are Ruby Ahdoot and Lilly Dodson, two AMAZING students who graduated Monday after helping in the OCS food pantry over the past four years. Hundreds of students get involved in local community service at OCS and other organizations during their years at Oberlin College, gaining valuable experience through volunteering and work study. Congratulations, Class of 2026!

05/26/2026

After the holiday, we are back at work and restocking the OCS food pantry! The choice pantry will be open tomorrow (Wednesday, May 27) from 1:30-4:30 p.m. and Friday (May 29) from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at 500 E. Lorain St., Oberlin. Remember, you can get a prepacked box anytime our offices are open, even if the choice pantry is closed.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀?
No! The OCS pantry is open to all Lorain County residents experiencing financial hardship. Our specific focus is on helping people in southern Lorain County meet basic needs.

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵?
We do it three times a week! The pantry is open Mondays (1:30-4:30), Wednesdays (1:30-4:30), and Fridays (1:30-3:30).

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲?
No problem! You can pick up a prepacked box anytime the OCS offices are open, even if the choice pantry isn’t stocked and staffed.

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻?
You're welcome to come get food once a week!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲?
Our dedicated choice pantry is set up like a mini grocery store. You can come in and "shop" for the items your family likes best.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝘁𝗵𝗿𝘂?
We offer curbside pick-up during pantry hours. Simply pull into a designated pick-up spot and call us at (440) 774-6579 to have a prepacked box delivered to your vehicle! This is perfect for people with mobility issues.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴?
You don't have to bring a stack of paperwork with you. A photo ID is helpful for getting you checked in quickly, but not necessary. We're more interested in hooking you up with food.

05/25/2026

05/23/2026

Love to garden but hate weeds, tomato hornworms, squash vine borers, and other pests? OCS Lead Gardener Tayna Kerpics will lead this FREE gardening workshop on Tuesday, June 16 from 2-4 p.m. at the Cooper Center! Registration is required. Visit www.oberlincommunityservices.org/workshops to sign up today. This is part of our ongoing educational series to promote growing healthy, nutritious food!