ABOUT US:
Invest Elyria is a non-profit group staffed entirely by volunteers. We are a group with a genuine desire to promote Elyria's community as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Invest Elyria is focused on the arts, food and commerce. We believe in keeping Elyria businesses thriving, and improving the morale of our community. IE also develops initiatives to encourage good citizenship and bring neighbors together. We also support and are actively involved in keeping our streets and parks safe and clean.
Invest Elyria is a non-profit group staffed entirely by volunteers. We are a group with a genuine desire to promote Elyria's community as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Invest Elyria is focused on the arts, food and commerce. We believe in keeping Elyria businesses thriving, and improving the morale of our community. IE also develops initiatives to encourage good citizenship and bring neighbors together. We also support and are actively involved in keeping our streets and parks safe and clean.
What We Do:
2015:
-Sponsored the Mayoral Debate: Sept 2015
-Before I Die...I Want To: Mural painted in downtown Elyria by IE Volunteers Sep.2015
-New Website: Created Invest Elyria's new website: Nov. 2015
-IE's Small Business Saturday; Promoting small businesses in Elyria Nov. 2015
-Invest Elyria Light Up Elyria Contest in Dec. 2015
-IE's entry in the Elyria Arts Councils tree decorating contest; Dec. 2015
2016:
-IE receives Non-Profit 501(c)3 Status-Jan 2016
-Invest Elyria collects truck full of drinking water to help the people of Flint , Mich.- Jan. 2016
-Invest Elyria Compassion Week-Putting out scarves, hat, gloves and coats in Ely Square for the homeless, those items not picked up at Ely Square are donated to St. Andrews Episcopal Church for their Warming Shelter. Feb 2016
-Invest Elyria Steps To Success -Part 1 of 2 for Small business owners in Elyria; Feb. 2016;
-Invest /Elyria and Girl Scout Troop join together for a Pancake Fundraiser-April 2016
-Taste of Elyria: Promoting local restaurants on our website and Facebook Pages throughout the Month of May 2016
-IE Volunteers at the Super Heroes for Kids Day at Ely Square May 2016
-Invest Elyria Steps To Success -Part 2 of 2 for Small Business owners in Elyria; June 2016
-IE Volunteers on Elyria Pride Day: Planting flowers, and plants at #1 Fire House-June 2016
-IE entry in the Memorial Day Parade honoring all those killed in action from all wars. Trophy presented to IE for Best Historical Entry in the parade
-Ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Holly Brinda at the new Elyria Farmers Market-June 2016
-IE Booth at the American cancer Society's Relay For Life Flea Market; July 2016
-Invest Elyria's: Elyria Farmers Market runs till Sept. 17, 2016
-Book Drive: October 2016
-UHEMH Relay for Life and Invest Elyria join to help the Salvation Army with volunteer Bell Ringers for the Holiday Season Nov-Dec 2016
-Advent Baskets: Thanks to Peggy Zarlinga for heading up this project for IE. Along with the baskets we delivered 10 personal care packages to St. Agnes Church. We'd also like to thank Melissa Merrill Snyder, Carol Munger for contributing! December 2016
2017:
-IE creates the Bicentennial page on this website celebrating Elyria(photos added throughout 2017)
-Warming Drive (Yarn Collection)- Nov. 2016-Feb. 2017 : Collected and donated yarn for next years event. Thanks to Beth Doyle for creating and running this project along with her group The Elyria Hookers.
- Participated in the Chili Cook Off at the Moose Lodge to support UHEMH Relay for Life Jan.28,2017
- Elyria Pride Day May 20th: Volunteers cleaning flower beds, planting flowers and other plants at Elyria Fire Station #1 and at Pioneer Plaza
- Pancake Extravaganza Breakfast Fundraiser May 29th at St. Andrew's Church in downtown Elyria
- IE runs the Elyria Farmers Market in downtown every Saturday from June 17- Sept. 9th
-IE along with Journey Around Music and the City of Elyria puts on the The Scenic East Falls Concert Series in June, July, and Sept. 2017.
-IE car in the Grand Bicentennial Parade Aug.5, 2017
-IE sponsors Small Business Saturday as a Neighborhood champion for 25 local businesses in November 2017
2018:
Jan. 2018 IE is working with several people/organizations in support of their drives to help the needy: Warming Event(Beth Doyle), Advent Baskets(Peggy Zarlinga and Tanya), Warm Angels Blankets(Barbie Blackhall) December 2017/Jan-April 2018
- Warming Event in Ely Square. The public is invited to join the Elyria Hookers along with Invest Elyria volunteers to help put out the items out in Ely Square (on Monday, Jan.15th at 10 a.m.)
- IE is working with the Elyria South Side Neighborhood Network to help provide them with a list of disabled or elderly neighbors that are in need of snow removal from their walkways and driveways in the South Side of Elyria
March 2018:
-March 3, 2018: IE volunteers help out at the Special Olympics Hoops at LCCC
-March 24, 2018; Invest Elyria Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser theme this year: "Breakfast with the Easter Bunny"
April 2018:
IE working with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. will be delivering food to those in need to locations in our city with our pilot "Mobile Market" project. Thank You Bendix Corp. for the generous donation of the van for this project.
May 2018:
- May 16, 2018: Invest Elyria volunteers along with Lorain HS sophomores clean up Pioneer Plaza Park on Lorain County's "Legacy, Leadership, & Service Day".
- May 19, 2018; Elyria Pride Day where IE volunteers clean up flower beds and plant flowers at EFD Station #1 on Cedar St. and at Pioneer Plaza Park
- May 25, 2018: IE volunteers attend the first Downtown Business Community Conversation in support of local businesses
- May 28, 2018: IE volunteers participate in the Memorial Day Parade
June 2018:
- June through September 2018 Invest Elyria will be running the Elyria Farmers Market on Broad St. every Saturday at Pioneer Plaza Park
- June 2018: IE becomes the fiduciary agent and is on the planning committee for the Garford Arts Festival held on Aug. 18, 2018 at the East Falls
- IE in partnership with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y (Families Involved in Local Youth) and working with 2nd Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio kicks off the pilot Mobile Market program that delivers free produce to those in need at sites in Elyria.
- September 29, 2018: IE along with other volunteers help SHP (Sleep in Heavenly Peace)organization build 67 bank beds in Lowe's parking lot on Set. 29th so no child has to sleep on the floor.
- October 27, 2018: IE helps along with other volunteers in building 41 bunk beds with Lorain County's SHP group(Sleep in Heavenly Peace) so no child has to sleep on the floor.
- November 17, 2018: IE has a fundraiser "Quartermania" to help fund the continued operation of the Mobile Market throughout the Winter by becoming a unique Mobile Market Pantry.
- November 24, 2018: IE will host Small Business Saturday
- IE will be working with local organizations like Warm Angel Blankets and the Elyria Hookers for their Warming Drives that run through April 2019
- IE donates $100 to 2nd Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio's Holiday Cheer Campaign-a community-wide fundraising effort to help local families struggling with hunger. For every $1 donated 2nd Harvest provides five meals.
- IE working with St Andrew's establishes our IE pantry in the basement of their church. Partnering with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y (Families Involved in Local Youth) and working with the Lorain County Urban League prepares for our first drive of 2019. Goal is to get hygiene and cleaning kits to to those in need that do not have transportation.
- Feb. 6, 2019 IE volunteers hand out free milk from 2nd Harvest and have our first hygiene products drive distribution where we gave out these free items to those in need at locations in Elyria.
- March 3rd Invest Elyria volunteers help out at the 2019 Ohio Special Olympics North Section Basketball Tournament held at Lorain County Community College
- IE Cleaning Kit Drive where kits are distributed to folks at Harr Plaza
- IE connects with LMHA to establish a pantry in Elyria this year.
- April 1-13th Food Drive to establish our Invest Elyria Pantry at Wilkes Villa. This pantry will give us a home base to distribute food the last Thursday of each month at 156 Pratt Blvd. from Noon- 2 p.m. Thanks to LMHA for giving us this space at Wilkes Villa where they will have other services available to their residents. Invest Elyria and Our F.A.M.I.L.Y.(Fathers and Mothers Involved In Local Youth) will also use this space for classes/events for their/our organization.
- April 20th: IE volunteers to deliver and set up beds for the "Sleep in Heavenly Peace" organization that provides free bunk beds with bedding and pillows so no child has to sleep on the floor.
- April 25th: Invest Elyria Pantry opens at Wilkes Villa 156 Pratt Blvd. , Elyria, OH Pantry will be open the last Thursday of each month from Noon-2 p.m. (or while supplies last)
- IE's Pantry with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. will be at Wilkes Villa 156 Pratt Blvd. , Elyria, OH Pantry will be open the last Thursday of each month from Noon-2 p.m. (or while supplies last)
- IE hosts the Elyria Farmers market at the East Falls Riverwalk on Kerstetter Way in downtown Elyria each Saturday from June 15 to September 14th from 9 a.m- 1 p.m.
- Invest Elyria sponsors the Garford Arts Fest
- Invest Elyria puts on Kids Day at the Elyria Farmers Market with food, entertainment, and carnival games
August 2019
- The Invest Elyria Pantry is now able to purchase food from the 2nd Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. This will allow us to use donations made to 2nd Harvest and donations on our website. We would like to acknowledge the following for their contributions: Joan Larkin Villarreal, and Elate Mustafa of Metro by TMobile (Metropcs) ...Thank You!
September 2019
- Last day of our Farmers Market 9-14-19
- Mobile Market distributes free fruit/produce from the Second Harvest Food Bank to Harr Plaza, Westway Gardens, Riverview Plaza, and Wilkes Villa
- Mobile Market distributes free fruit/produce from the Second Harvest Food Bank to Colonial Oaks Mobile Home Park, Harr Plaza, Westway Gardens, Riverview Plaza, and Wilkes Villa
- IE has a fundraiser "Quartermania" to help fund the continued operation of the Mobile Market
- IE with volunteers from Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. distributes free turkeys along with all the "fixins", free fruit/produce, and books to folks at our pantry at 156 Pratt Blvd. on Nov. 21st
- IE distributes free food at our Food Pantry located at 156 Pratt Blvd. in Wilkes Villa, Elyria, OH.
2020: The last Thursday of each month IE runs a free food pantry at Wilkes Villa
January 2020
- IE distributes free food the last Thursday of the month at our Food Pantry located at 156 Pratt Blvd., Elyria, OH
- IE volunteers along with the Elyria Hookers(a local knitting group) put out warm clothes for those in need in Ely Square
- IE volunteers help out in the concession stand at the Special Olympics Hoops Tournament Feb. 1, 2020
- IE distributes free food the last Thursday of the month at our Food Pantry located at 156 Pratt Blvd., Elyria, OH
- Partnering with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y(Fathers and Mothers Involved in Local Youth) The Mobile Market was used this summer to provide bi-weekly home delivery services to 132 households in South Elyria. The YES Zone Home Delivery Service was a successful venture that allowed for residents to receive a box of fresh produce and concluded with a special healthy
recipe book created by the American Heart Association.
- From Our F.A.M.I.L.Y.Facebook page: YES! WE DID IT! Today
Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. (Fathers and Mothers Involved in Local Youth)delivered the 5,000 free meal in 6 weeks! Thanks to the many that made this possible: The YES Zone Community Kitchen Staff and volunteers, TCF Bank, AkzoNobel, Invest Elyria, Lorain El Centro
231 Go! Collaborative, Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will,Lorain County Public Health, and Gordon Food Service
#HealthyFood #HealthyCommunities #HealthyPeople #ProjectFeed
- Thank you to the Elyria Arts Council for donating art kits for the children at our food distribution in August 2020
- IE donates water and masks for the 9/11 Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony held at the Ely Square Gazebo
Fall/Winter 2020
- From mid October to the end of December Invest Elyria volunteers worked with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y (Fathers and Mothers Involved in Local Youth) to distribute meals to seniors through a CARES Act grant from the City of Elyria. The program called the Mobile Market Senior Meals Delivery Service delivered meals Monday-Friday to disabled people 55-59 yrs. old and to those 60 yrs. or older that were not currently signed up with the Meals on Wheels program.
2021
- From January to the end of December Invest Elyria volunteers run the pantry at 156 Pratt Blvd. the last Thursday of each month
May 2021: Invest Elyria volunteers participate in Elyria Pride Day by putting in plants and flowers at Fire Station #1 and at the Elyria Police Station.
June- August 2021:
-Invest Elyria hosts the Elyria Farmers Market located this year in Ely Square. Hours 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. every Saturday starting June 19th and running through September 11th.
- Invest Elyria is the fiduciary for the Third Thursday concerts in Ely Square
- IE works with Our F.A.M.I.L.Y. distributing over 15,000 free lunches to children 18 and under at Wilkes Villa and Westway Gardens as part of the Summer Food Service Program from June to the end of August.
September-December 2021
-Special Christmas pantry at 156 Pratt Blvd. Dec. 23rd
-Acted as fiduciary agent for Ely Square Christmas Lights in partnership with several anonymous donors.
-Acted as fiduciary agent for Friends of East Falls Riverwalk
-Partnered with City of Elyria Community Foundation, Revolution Radio, Auto Details, and Neighbor Up as a sponsor for thefor the Elyria Winter Market
January 2022
-On January 18, 2022 we placed approximately 1500 winter clothing items in Ely Square for those in need to take right on the spot for four days. January 18, 2022 we also placed warm winter clothing items at Colonial Oaks Mobile Park with LeighAnn Davies-Arroyo for folks in that area.