SCAN Hunger Center Pantry, Berea Community Outreach searching for new location - cleveland.com

SCAN Hunger Center Pantry, Berea Community Outreach searching for new location - cleveland.com

Two food pantries located inside this South Rocky River Drive building in Berea will need to be relocated in 2017.Beth Mlady/Special to cleveland.com 

BEREA, Ohio -- Due to building structural issues, SCAN Hunger Center Pantry located for the past 15 years at 85 South Rocky River Drive in Berea will need to find a new location in 2017. Berea Community Outreach also has a food pantry inside that building. Both organizations will remain at their current site until other space is found.

Mayor Cyril Kleem explained that serious problems with the building make it essential to find a new home.

"You can see some of the exterior actually coming off the building and separating, so we brought in a structural engineer," Kleem said by phone Dec. 2. "We have a very old building built over a crawl space. Because we have two food pantries in there, there's a lot of weight causing some problems with the structure itself. It's not falling in, but it's slowly deteriorating."

Even if the city spent money to repair it, he said the pantries could not remain there due to the weight issue.

SCAN Director Lona Gruber said her needs include well-lit parking, a minimum of four "nice-sized" rooms and a bathroom facility. A separate entrance for deliveries and donation drop-offs would also be helpful. SCAN is affiliated with Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland.

"I would like an adequate space for what we do and to help the clients come in out of the weather," Gruber said by phone. "Ideally, I'd like to be centrally located in Berea for the six communities we serve."

It should be "off the beaten path," she said, in order to "attend to clients sensitively and in a manner that preserves their dignity." SCAN's food pantry served 99 families in November and averages 45 to 50 families in need per month. It is open twice a month. For December, the pantry will be open on the second and third Fridays.

Kleem noted the city does not charge rent or utilities for use of the current building.

"We've always had a good relationship," he said. "If we could find a significantly reduced or rent-free site, that would be great. Lona and I agree that we want to be sensitive as to where we put a food pantry. We're definitely looking for some space in Berea, so it would be helpful if someone had ideas."

"I could not be more grateful to have a mayor who cares as much as he does about what we do," Gruber added. "He has been very supportive."

Anyone with possible space should contact the mayor's office at 440-826-5800.