Trials For Hope To Hold 6th Annual Fundraiser To Help Feed Hungry Children And Families

Have you noticed the billboards along side of our local highways depicting young children with the staggering statistic that one in five does not get enough to eat? Can that be true, here in the United States, in Ohio, in Lakewood? Unfortunately it is the sad fact for thousands of children and adults. So many slip through the safety net and struggle every day to eat, attend to hygiene and other basic needs.

Often choices have to be made between paying for utilities, food or personal care items. These neighbors of ours include the homeless, seniors on fixed incomes, children trapped in dysfunctional families and others who just are trying to scrape by day by day.

A local grass roots organization, Trials for Hope, founded by Lakewood resident Jonathan Gray, is in its fourth year collaborating with and being a catalyst to gather and distribute donations of grocery items, blankets, socks, toiletries, toilet paper, and clothing to those in need. These basic items are taken directly to those in need at their homes or schools. Twice a week the journey takes us under the bridges in the West bank of the Cuyahoga River to serve the homeless, or nearby on West 25th and Detroit; to senior centers and drug and alcohol treatment facilities; to community meals and to supplement other agencies in our community.

We have been blessed by the many volunteers who donate goods and services, local churches, and the 30 agencies we partner with. Recently a committed group of individuals with many talents have agreed to serve as board members as Trials for Hope gained its own 501C3 designation. The energy, enthusiasm and willingness of this group to expand the service of TFH is amazing, and needs your help! Many small donations whether it be a can of food,  a couple of hours of time, or a few dollars adds up incrementally to help us reach out to those in need, where they need it.

You can make a difference by attending our 6th Annual Fundraiser featuring Asian Cuisine prepared by fabulous trained chefs of The Lantern Recovery Center, along with raffles and 50/50's. 100% of proceeds goes to help others in need! The date is Saturday April 18th, 5:30 PM At Church of the Ascension, 13216 Detroit Road, Lakewood. Tickets are only $20. ( $17 and 3 cans of food) and can be purchased at the door. We hope to see you!

If you are unable to join us, but still want to help your neighbors who are in need, you can drop off canned goods at Lakewood Christian Church, at the corner of Cove and Lake. You are also invited to join our growing list of individual sponsors by making a monetary donation. Visit Trials For Hope on Facebook or www.trialsforhope.weebly.com  for more information on the fundraiser, how you can get involved, as well as see updates about how you are helping us reach out to our neighbors.