BEREA, Ohio—It’s October, which means the local Kiwanis Club’s Operation Berea Kind is ready to begin collecting donations of winter apparel for those who will need it this winter.
The range of items, which can now be dropped in a collection box at the Berea Recreation Center, 451 Front Street, has been pared down to include only hats, knit or insulated gloves, scarves, and athletic or heavy-duty socks.
“Those are the items that are most requested,” spokeswoman Karen Petrus said, adding that items being accepted now will be placed in clear plastic bags and hung on the fence on the east side of the rec center, facing Front Street.
“All items must fit inside a gallon-size Ziplock bag,” Petrus said. “The collection box is just inside the recreation center’s entrance.”
She said the fence where items will be placed surrounds Kiwanis Safety Town during summer.
Once the bags are on the fence, a sign will be displayed with instructions to “take what you need,” and the bag will be replaced on the fence to be refilled.
As it has since its inception six years ago, Berea Kiwanis plans to continue collecting the items above at the city’s recreation center at least until the end of March.
Management training: Kudos to Brook Park’s Chris Burton, who was promoted from manager to Certified Training General Manager at Berea Dunkin, 789 Front St.
Burton, a Midpark High School graduate, has been with Dunkin’ since 2019. Before being named General Manager, he worked as a baker, crew member, and assistant manager.
His new post means Burton will oversee training of new Dunkin’ managers at the Berea Dunkin’ location.
School donations: Berea Elks Lodge, 1815, 626 North Rocky River Drive, has donated backpacks and school supplies for Berea-Midpark High students.
Dianne Threadgill coordinated the annual program, supported by an Elks grant. Lodge members assembled 130 backpacks filled with school supplies.
STEM project grant: Polaris Career Center has received a PPG Foundation grant to support the Project Lead the Way programs in partner and middle schools, including the Berea City School District.
The grant will fund STEM programs such as engineering and medicine. This is Polaris’s 11th year being awarded a PPG grant.
Calvis is named: Berea-Midpark High School senior Christina Calvis, has been named a Semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Semifinalists are selected based on Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test performance.
It is one step in the competition for a National Merit Scholarship.
Giveback to troops: Got Candy, a Halloween candy giveback, Is seeking donations of candy to be sent to U.S. Military Troops who are currently serving our nation.
Your name will be entered into a raffle to win a basket filled with Cleveland Browns Items. The raffle’s deadline is Nov. 8.
Drop off location at 31 Bridge St., #300, Berea, Oh.
For more information, contact Nova at 440-3312 or Veterans@CITYOFBEREA.org.
Berea Community Outreach Pantry: The Pantry has a new home and now serves from St. Paul’s Church at 276 East Bagley Road. (The pantry itself is in the very eastern corner of the building.)
Call (440) 826-4891 for more information, or email: nguzzo@cityofberea.org. Drive-up service only. Open 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. FOR BEREA RESIDENTS ONLY.
SCAN Hunger Center Pantry: 398 W. Bagley Road, Williamsport Plaza, (440) 260-7226. Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and 4-7 p.m. on the fourth Friday.
People’s Community Church Pantry: 628 Wesley Drive, 440) 234-0609. It is open 10 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of the month.
Second Mile Outreach Pantry: 1480 Bagley Road, (440) 239-0549. It is open from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The next pantry is on Oct. 19.
St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Food Pantry: 8888 Prospect Road. 9:30-11 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month. Fresh food, staples, and toiletries. The next pantry is on Saturday, and then on Nov. 9th,
Bread Ministry: Berea United Methodist Church, 170 Seminary St., (440) 234-3525. Bread and pastries only. Noon – 2 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. Go to the church addition on the north side of the church off Seminary Street. The pantry is through double brown doors.
Rise in Love: A free hot meal on the third Sunday of the month, 2-4 p.m., Keller Center, St. Adalbert Catholic Church, 66 Adalbert St., Eat-in or Carry-Out. The next meal is on Oct. 20.
Free Community Meal: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 276 E. Bagley Road, serves this meal twice a month, 5-5:30 p.m., on the second and last Wednesdays of the month. It is drive-up only. The next meal is on Wednesday.
Mobile Food Pantry: Brook Park Branch Library, 6155 Engle Road, 2-3:30 p.m., Oct. 25; fresh produce distribution with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. First-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Pet Food Pantry: Animal Rescue Friends, 10015 E. River Road, Columbia Station, 10 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Sundays of every month. Visit www.bereaanimalrescue.com or call (440) 234-2034 for more information or to donate.
Little Free Pantries: Are located near the Berea Branch Library and People’s Community Church. The Prospect Pantry is at the corner of Prospect Street and Jacqueline Drive. St. Paul Lutheran Church has a food donation box near the side door. Please donate non-perishable items only.
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The Pet Pantry, operated by Animal Rescue Friends, needs dry dog and cat food donations.
The pantry supplies free pet food to families in need. In 2023, the pantry served more than 100 families monthly, including 100 dogs and 100 cats.
The pantry is stocked strictly through donations, and it is open on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at the ARF facility at 10015 East River Road in Columbia Station (drop off donations in the cart on the front porch).