Berea Community Outreach is a major support system for members of our community. I began the office shortly after I was first elected to offer food and other supplies to families in need. It has grown over the years from a small operation to a large contributor to the welfare of all of our residents.

Not only does Community Outreach run a food pantry but we deliver Dinner to Your Door, schedule programs of interest to seniors and other members of the community, offer field trips, run Senior Wheels transport services, apply for grants, among other chores.

Many of these programs would not exist without major help from volunteers. Members of Renew Communities and employees of Avient/Color Matrix, for example, have stepped up over the past few years to offer their services. 

“We don’t do it for the recognition,” says Marti Reidy of Avient/Color Matrix, which offers employees 16 hours of paid time to volunteer in the community. The workers conduct a food drive for the Outreach pantry and do spring yard clean-up for seniors.

Renew Communities is a 500-member church, which is divided into micro churches with various missions. The For the City Micro Church, with 25 members, elected to volunteer with Community Outreach. They, too, do yard work for seniors and disabled residents. They follow up with the homeowners to make sure all is well and if other work needs to be done.

These organizations don’t wait for Community Outreach to ask for help. They contact Community Outreach with “what to you need done right now?”

To be sure there are other volunteers as well. They help with the pantry, they deliver meals, they escort seniors on field trips.

For all of you who give of your time and talents to help your neighbors and fellow residents, we are most grateful.

If you or your organization would like to join us in making sure all Berea residents are cared for and cared about, please contact Natalie Guzzo of Berea Community Outreach. She can be reached at nguzzo@cityofberea.org or (440) 826-4891.

Thank you for all you do to ensure Bereans are safe, healthy and loved.