High School Students Extend LCSC's Response To Community Need

With a three-year grant from United Way of Greater Cleveland, Lakewood Community Services Center has extended its food service to include monthly door-to-door deliveries to eligible seniors living in Lakewood senior housing. The program launched in September 2011 with service to the Westerly Apartments. On the third Friday of each month a three-day supply of food is delivered to each resident who has signed up for the new service. Grocery bags are packed and assembled in LCSC's pantry with help from volunteers, then loaded into the United Way-funded van for two round-trips to the atrium at the Westerly.

At the drop-off area, literally dozens of Lakewood High School H2O club members are ready and waiting to head for the buildings' elevators to begin their door-to-door trips. With staggering efficiency, this group of student volunteers manages to complete delivery to 160 units in less than two hours! Besides providing a critical service, the program is offering both residents and students an opportunity to socialize and to form important relationships. “Since the first delivery in September, this service opportunity has gained popularity and momentum among the students,” says H2O Coordinator Emmie Hutchison. “The initial group of volunteers has returned each month, with the addition of their friends, members of LHS’s Action Team, and other kids who have heard that the residents of the Westerly are wonderful. This has been a great partnership for H2O.” One resident at the Westerly is so grateful to her “team” that she presented them with hand-knitted winter hats. You can see the proud models in the photo.

On the third Tuesday of each month, the action shifts to Fedor Manor and to the Southwesterly Apartments. Here, student volunteers from St. Edward High School--accompanied by parent volunteers--hit the corridors and elevators of these two buildings to complete door-to-door delivery to 64 units at Fedor Manor and 36 at the Southwesterly, which was the most recent to join the program in December. "This has been a wonderful opportunity for St. Ed's to connect with our neighbors in the Lakewood Community,” according to Liam Haggerty, Vice President of Mission Effectiveness at St. Edward. “What began as a one-time service opportunity, has grown into a wonderful partnership, and has involved students from all four grade levels, as well as parent volunteers from our Fathers' Club." Without support from St. Edward students, it would be impossible to accomplish this service to one building, much less to two in one afternoon!

This new program is a perfect example of the power of partnerships so evident every day in Lakewood and reminds us how many of our city’s high school students are committed to serving members of our community.

Note: Service will be expanded to include Lakeshore Towers during the first quarter of 2012.

Trish Rooney is the Director of Lakewood Community Services Center.