Vehicles were lined up and waiting.

The West Ohio Food Bank came to Ada on Wednesday with its monthly Hardin County free food distribution program.

The Ada visit resulted in the distribution of 35,900 pounds of food passed to 133 families, according to Jason Aldrich of the food bank.

The distribution point was at the ONU Lakeview parking lot behind The Freed Center.

Members of the Ohio National Guard loaded vehicles with food during the two-hour period. Their volunteer efforts are part of their mission assisting food banks across Ohio.

West Ohio Food Bank, based at 1366 E. Kibby St., Lima,  serves an 11-county area.

Previous Hardin County food distributions took place at the Hardin County fairgrounds. Aldrich said that the bank’s monthly distributions moves from community to community in its service area and chose Ada as this month’s distribution location for the county.

The county’s distribution is sponsored by the food bank and United Way of Hardin County.

HealthWise Pharmarcy participates
Also participating was the ONU HealthWise Pharmacy. Interns distributed information about its tobacco cessation program. 

The program is offered by the Allen County Tobacco Coalition Activate Change-QUIT. It supports and promotes smoking cessation with the goal of helping residents achieve a healthier life.

The program was made possible from a $100,000 grant through the Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation. It involves a 12-week program offered at St. Rita’s and a mobile smoking cessation clinic operated by Ohio Northern University. 

Activate Change-QUIT is for any resident of the community wanting to quit smoking. The program at St. Rita’s began this spring and will be offered several times this year.