Relief Items Needed For Our Community

Trinity Lakewood Community Outreach (TLCO) serves four meals a month for those neighbors in need. TLCO with support from the Cleveland Food Bank operates a food pantry providing food products for residents in our community. These programs help people in our community who are going through tough times obtain some food for the month.

However, public assistance like food stamps and food pantries, do not allow funds for toiletries (tooth paste, tooth brushes, soap, shampoo, feminine products, tissue, and toilet paper, etc.) and pet food. Most pantries only supply people with food. This can lead to people neglecting oral hygiene and general cleanliness, which can result low self-esteem and possibly more serious problems. Many of people receiving public assistance had pets before hard times hit and could not give up their fury family members, and buying pet food can become a hardship, leaving many pets to suffer.

Other items that are not covered by most programs are school supplies. If there can be any hope for our children to succeed, they must have school supplies. The Lakewood School Supply Initiative is a program to help families get the supplies for their children. With about half of all students in the Lakewood City School District in families receiving some kind of Public Assistance, this program is very important.

Donations will be gratefully accepted, volunteers from the Trinity Lakewood Community Outreach will be marching in the July 4th parade with baskets to collect toiletry products, pet food, school supplies, and cash donations along the parade route. These items will supplement food products provided by their pantry and hot meals served 4 times a month. Let’s help keep Lakewood happy, healthy, and wise. For more information, to volunteer, or to make donations at any time please visit the Trinity Lakewood Community Outreach face book page, email paula_wow@yahoo.com, 216-226-8087, or visit Trinity Lutheran Church at 16400 Detroit Avenue Lakewood, Ohio 44107.