City seeking help filling food cupboard
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Nov. 1, 2006

City officials are limiting the community food cupboard temporarily to make sure the cupboards aren’t so bare.

Instead of having it open on all Saturdays as is usually the case, the city Community Life Services Department is shutting down the food cupboard — located in the basement of Old Town Hall next to City Hall on Dover Center Road — and asking for help in replenishing its food supplies. The cupboard has provided foodstuffs and other supplies to low-income and needy families within the city for years. Officials plan to re-open the facility Nov. 18 in time for Thanksgiving after rebuilding their stocks. The cupboard will also be open for one Saturday in December for the Christmas season.

John Dailey, director of Community Life Services, said the city needs to get more supplies.

“It’s gotten a little low by our usual standards, so we want to take the time and get more supplies in so people can utilize the cupboard as they traditionally have,” Dailey said. “We’re asking other people and groups to help as they always have and bring some donations so we can provide assistance to some families and persons who can use it.”

Dailey emphasized the city will still be providing the food and assistance to the low-income families in the holidays.

“There is a strong tradition in the city of North Olmsted of giving to people in need,” Dailey said. “The city will be there for them at Christmas and the holidays as they always have been.”

He said officials are seeking the usual type of donations of non-perishable foods, personal supplies and money.

“We take the non-perishables because they will last longer and there isn’t the problem of them potentially spoiling,” Dailey said. “The personal supplies are obviously something everybody uses but can’t always get for themselves. We just try to give people some help in getting needed items.”

He said money can be given in lieu of or in addition to any supplies.

“Some people prefer giving money or like to do that as something extra, so we always put that towards helping deserving families as well,” he said.

People seeking more information or wishing to contribute can contact Dailey at (440) 716-4164 or stop by his department in City Hall at Dover Center Road.

Dailey said the city is also continuing to develop plans for re-doing the community cupboard by applying for Community Development Block Grant funds next year to assist in the project.

“Having it in an old basement at Old Town Hall really isn’t the best thing for it anymore,” Dailey said. “We’d like to re-do the area or find someplace better so people don’t have to go down in an area like that too often.”

Dailey said his department will also continue to work with the North Olmsted City Schools, city churches and other groups on projects to benefit the needy.

“We have a great working relationship with those organizations and we’ll even expand on what we do if we can work that out,” Dailey said.

North Olmsted Schools Spokeswoman Vera Brewer noted that the schools and the SITES student program in particular have worked extensively with the city.

“The SITES students have provided help to the community in so many ways and for so many people,” Brewer said. “I know they will come through to help restock the food cupboard. They are organized and will help get all of our students involved in the effort to make sure that the people who need help in North Olmsted are taken care of.”