Westlake Meals on Wheels thanks community for food drive support

Meals on Wheels volunteer David Greathouse and Westlake firefighters John Kish and Craig Goodwin delivering We Care About You bags.

Westlake Meals on Wheels serves five communities in the area, and was overwhelmed with the generosity from multiple organizations and the general public that donated to a recent food drive. The goal was to provide Meals on Wheels recipients with a small supply of non-perishable, easy to prepare food items in the event Meals on Wheels cannot deliver because of inclement weather.

The fire departments in the five communities served by Meals on Wheels were collection points, and several departments accompanied “elves” that delivered the bags to recipients in their respective communities the first week of December.

Several schools and clubs participated as well. “We were extremely excited to get young people involved in this project,'' said Executive Marie Patten-Blatter. “Our recipients enjoy knowing young people took the time to help.”

In Bay Village, Bay High School students held a competition between homerooms and collected over 950 applesauce cups. The Bay Middle School Builders Club collected raisins. The Westlake hockey team came in for a service project and assembled a hygiene kit and also held a food drive at one of their hockey games. The North Olmsted High School SITES Program was a collection point and also regularly participates as kitchen assistants at Meals on Wheels as part of their service program. 

The Senior Centers in Bay Village and North Olmsted were also collection points. The Senior Group at Jenkins Place in Olmsted Falls prepared blankets to include.  

Prayer Shawl Ministries from area churches donated prayer shawls to share with the recipients. St. Ladislas, St. Raphael’s, Christ the King Vineyard Church in North Olmsted, and St. Mary of the Falls in Olmsted Falls donated handmade shawls and blankets.

“The support we received from our communities was amazing,” said Blatter. “We are so fortunate to have residents that are willing to help when asked, and community partners that jump in at a moment’s notice.”

The “We Care About You” bags are the first in a series of initiatives that Meals on Wheels hopes to provide their recipients to keep the communities in touch with a population that truly does appreciate the kindness of those that live in their neighborhoods.

For more information on the meal services provided by Meals on Wheels, or to inquire about volunteering, call 440-871-2551.