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Food pantries always are thankful for donations at any time of year but their needs are at the forefront of our minds especially during the holidays.
Our local pantries try to provide adequate food so clients can enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas. They need our help to do that.
Needed are non-perishable food items, paper products and personal care items, such as toothpaste and shampoo. Please check expiration dates. Out-of-date items will be pitched. Cash donations allow pantries to purchase other items from the Cleveland Food Bank. Local grocery stores have been very helpful, dropping off fresh produce and baked goods. These donations make healthy meals possible for hundreds of area residents.
Please consider donating to Berea Community Outreach, which operates the City’s food pantry at Smith School, 535 Wyleswood Drive. You can support a fundraiser for BCO on Dec. 4 at Chipotle in Middleburg Heights. Take in the flier printed elsewhere in this newsletter or download a copy from the City web site, www.cityofberea.org. Chipotle will donate 33 percent of the proceeds to BCO.
A community Thanksgiving service at The United Methodist Church of Berea also is collecting food items for BCO.
The Little Free Pantry kiosk by the Berea Branch Library is practically bare. Stopping by with cans of spaghetti and soup or boxes of macaroni would be a big help in keeping this 24/7 project going.
SCAN pantry will benefit from two food drives in November: Nov. 2 at Heritage Congregational Church on West Street and Nov. 9 at Berea’s Style Studio on Beech Street.
All donations are greatly appreciated but please do not leave items when the pantries are not open. BCO is open during regular business hours Monday-Friday. SCAN is open twice a month at 398 W. Bagley Road, Suite 7 in the Williamsport Plaza. It’s best to call ahead at (440) 826-1127 or (440) 260-7226 to make sure someone is there to take delivery.
Thank you for helping our most vulnerable residents. My family and I wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving!