Few would argue that the ideals of charity and goodwill are at the heart of the holiday season.
During these few days days between Christmas, before the pressures of a new year get a grip on us, it seems so much easier to consider those among us who are in need.
In the midst of this season of charity and goodwill, those who devote their time in support of the SCAN Hunger Center all year long, are faced with finding the pantry a new home.
"We've been here since 2001, at our original location," the pantry's founder, Lona Gruber, said.
But the city-owned, single-story structure dating back to the 1950s, is suffering the infirmities of age and it is feared that structural insufficiencies combined with the weight of the pantry's store of canned and boxed goods could cause its floors to give way.
And this, at approaching mid-winter, when demand on the food pantry tends to be highest.
"Starting in October, "people are trying to provide for their families and our numbers go up," Gruber said, explaining that the City of Berea has provided the hunger center space rent free.
"SCAN is very grateful to (Berea) Mayor Cyril Kleem for hosting us," she said, adding that there is no immediate pressure to relocate, but the pantry operation cannot remain for an extended amount of time.
Ideally, any new location should be centrally located, in Berea if possible, Gruber said, noting that the pantry serves the communities of Berea, Brook Park, Columbia Township, Middleburg Heights, Olmsted Township, Olmsted Falls and Strongsville.
The pantry's location should be "off the beaten path," Gruber said, in order to "attend to clients' sensitivity and in a manner that preserves their dignity."
She asked that anyone with possible space to please contact the Berea Mayor's Office at 440-826-5800.
Letter carrier is tops: The City of Brook Park has named Alfredo Perez, best known around town as "Fred," Mailman of The Month for 2016.
Perez says he finds the city's residents to be friendly and adds that he "wouldn't wish to be anywhere else in the world."
Perez has been delivering the mail for 33 years, the last 17 of those, right here in Brook Park.
When he's not at work, Perez says he loves spending time with his grandchildren and his family. On his days off, he enjoys bowling.
Businessman attends Tri-C: Bob Aleksandrovic of Orbit Industries in Middleburg Heights took a step toward greater business success by completing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Cuyahoga Community College.
Aleksandrovic is one of 35 small business owners in the program's latest graduating class.
He spent 14 weeks at Tri-C studying a specialized business and management curriculum for entrepreneurs
A Tri-C spokesman said previous graduates have seen their businesses outperform the broader economy while exceeding national and local averages in revenue growth and job creation.
Recycle paper products: Parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends of Brook Park Memorial School, 16900 Holland Road, are asked to bring newspapers, magazines, old mail, lightweight car broad and similar items such as cereal and granola boxes to the school for recycling.
Items should be placed in the green and yellow paper retrievers found in the school's parking lot.
Money earned from these recyclables are placed in the school's playground improvement fund.
Learn to love the Uke: Students in grades 4 and up will learn to play what many consider to be the world's happiest instrument, the ukulele, in this two-day class from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 27 at the Cuyahoga County Library's Middleburg heights branch, 15600 East Bagley Road.
if you don't have a ukulele, the library will loan you one, so come and strum! Participants are required to attend both days of class.
Registration its required. Call 440-234-3600 or register online at cuyahogalibrary.org.
