LORAIN, Ohio — One by one, cars rolled into the parking lot of the Lorain Child Care Resource Center to pick up personal protective equipment (PPE)—a vital resource during the pandemic.

What You Need To Know


  • The Lorain Child Care Resource Center donated PPE to local day cares as a thank you for staying open during the pandemic

  • More than 1,000 pounds of PPE was donated to 127 day cares

  • The resource center plans to help out local centers if they are in need of equipment

The Lorain Child Care Resource Center hosted the contactless drive-thru event as a “thank you” to local child-care programs that stepped up during the coronavirus pandemic. Many remained open the last few months for parents who are on the frontlines, such as first responders and doctors.

“Throughout this entire process, they have really done it on their own,” said Jennifer Dodge, the executive director of the Child Care Resource Center. “There were regulations that changed almost weekly; there were demands on them as child-care providers—above and beyond what they were used to—and today is a celebration of them.”

The resource center provided protective equipment to 127 child-care programs serving Lorain, Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties over the weekend. 

“It’s hard to find supplies,” said Susan Stevens, a child-care provider. “It’s hard to find things that we need to keep healthy and keep our children healthy.”

Jeanette Brown, the owner of Jeanette’s Day Care, echoed Stevens’ struggles, and said she has a hard time buying supplies during the pandemic. 

“A sense of relief because it was very hard looking for these things and trying to find them lit was very difficult,” Brown said.

Officials at the resource center said if day-care centers need more supplies and equipment, they’ll do their best to get them more.