Bill Gates and Jim Rowe are members of the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River. They stand at the recently installed St. Luke Catholic Church in Lakewood and West 44th Street and Bridge Avenue in Cleveland. The first mini pantry sponsored by the club is located in Lakewood United Methodist Church in Lakewood. (Photo courtesy of Lakewood/Rocky River Rotary Club)

Lakewood, Ohio — The Lakewood/Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Club joined the Mini Pantry Movement, adding the project to other community service programs. The club recently installed a third box.

The mini pantry is similar to the small free library boxes that began to appear in Greater Cleveland and other areas. Food storage boxes are installed on wooden posts, but they are not books, but non-perishable food, personal care products and paper products.

The mini pantry movement started in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2016. The concept is that everyone can use these items at any time-without asking any questions. The initiators of the concept stated that they hope that this adaptation of the small free library can stimulate local awareness of food insecurity and at the same time create a space for neighbors to help meet their food needs.

The Rotary Club of Lakewood/Rocky River Sunrise adopted the project in 2019. Bill Gaydos and Jim Rowe built and installed the pantry together. Material costs are provided through the club’s fundraising activities.

Members of the Sunrise Rotary Club visit these boxes regularly to make sure they are filled with canned food and non-perishable food. In addition, the Rotary Club learned that neighbors and church members also helped by donating items to the box.

Cleveland hopes that the new box at the test center can provide food in an emergency when the center is not open. Trials for Hope originally distributed trial toiletries such as soap, toothpaste, and shampoo at the homeless camp in Cleveland. The homeless were very grateful, they said, "You gave us hope."

Center director Jonathan Gray formalized the outreach activities by establishing a non-profit Hope Experiment. Ten years later, Trials for Hope will bring fresh produce, non-perishable food and toiletries to hundreds of homeless people/families living in poverty every week.

The mini pantry project is one of the many community, youth, professional and international projects of the regional Rotary Club. To learn more about how to give back through Rotary's services in the local and international communities, please send an email to sloopyohio19@gmail.com.

Rumbling, selling handicrafts: gather all handicrafts and bargaining shoppers. Mark your calendar at the Fairview Park Premium Center from 9 am to 3 pm on November 18 to participate in the center’s search and craft sales-just in time for the holidays.

Reserve a table now or donate baked goods for the bakery bazaar. Shop purchases and homemade bakery are welcome. The proceeds will benefit the elderly center and its plans.

To reserve a craft table or donate baked goods, please call 440-356-4437. Bakers can also sign up for the baking bazaar at the front desk.

Polaris Registration Night: Prospective Polaris students and parents are invited to participate in Polaris Career Center Registration Night, which will be from 6 pm to 7:30 pm on November 18 at Polaris, 7285 Old Oak Blvd., Middleburg Heights.

Polaris plans to provide services to residents of Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, Berea, Brooklyn and Strongsville City school districts. Polaris offers a variety of vocational technical courses for junior high school, high school and adult students.

During the event, visitors can:

If you are now interested in registering for the next academic year, sophomores can apply online at polaris.edu/register. Students who submit an online application before or during the registration night will receive a free gift.

Representatives of Polaris Adult Education Department will also provide information on adult education programs and services on site.

For more information, please visit polaris.edu, email ccrisler@polaris.edu or call 440-891-7732.

Mrs. Claus read a Christmas book to the children the previous holiday in Frostville. After the pandemic was interrupted last year, the event will return from November 20 to 21. (Carol Kovac/Cleveland website special report)

Frostville Holidays: During the Frostville Museum Holidays, from 4pm to 8pm on November 20th and 11am to 4pm on November 21st at the Frostville Museum Complex at 24101 Cedar Point Road, North Olmsted Atmosphere.

Visit the historic houses that will be decorated in the style of the times. A festive music chorus will be held in the church on November 20th, and the music group will perform on November 21st.

The event also includes festive basket sweepstakes, bake sales and food (for sale), and Events Barn’s 1800s trade store.

It is recommended to wear a mask in the building. For more information, please visit olmstedhistoricalsociety.org.

Irish dance demo: St. Patrick’s Day is still four months away, but Peggy Cannon of Cannon Irish Dance will provide free interactive Irish dance and exercise hours at the North Olmsted Senior Center at 9:30 am on November 17th. 28114 Lorain North Olmsted Road.

Low-impact courses can be added to the exercise plan as a Silver Sneaker plan. Participants must register before November 17.

Handicraft Exhibition: Our Lady Angels Handicraft Exhibition will be held in the Linus Hall of Our Lady Angels Parish at 3644 Rocky River Avenue near Cleveland West Park from 9 am to 3 pm on November 20th.

There will be 47 tables of crafts, including bakeries, tie-dye T-shirts, jewelry, knitted and crocheted items, etc. Lunch will be served in the cafeteria from 10 am to 2:30 pm. There will also be stage sweepstakes.

For more information, please call 216-214-3316 or send an email to NikkieLegler@aol.com

Festive fundraising activities: Visit GiftItForward.com to participate in the charity fundraising activities of North Olmsted Junior Women's Club, buy wreaths and other holiday decorations, which will be shipped directly to you. Enter the code NORTHOOH001 when ordering.

All proceeds will be used to fund scholarships and charitable organizations in the region.

Save the date: Fairview Park’s popular Winterfest will be held at the Bain Park Lodge in Bain Park from 4:30 pm to 6 pm on November 28, the eighth year.

Students from Fairview Park Schools and Sound Motion Dance Co. will have live entertainment performances, gingerbread house competitions, Santa Claus, Snow Sisters, Mr. Jingling, etc.

Coat giveaway: Cleveland police, the first district is sponsoring Warmth Operation 2.0! Suitable for children aged 3-14. From 10 a.m. on November 13th to noon on January 13th, the first district police station at 3895 West 130th Street in West Park will give free jackets while stocks last.

Bag sales: Don’t forget the bag sales at the North Olmsted branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 27403 Lorain Road, North Olmsted, during library opening hours.

Sponsored by the Friends of the North Olmsted Library, the $5 package sale includes books, audiobooks, DVDs and CDs for adults and children. Friends will provide bags.

For information, please: invite readers to share information about themselves, their family and friends, organizations, church activities, etc., in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, and West Park for A Place in the Sun column, I write in Freelance The basics. Welcome awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items. Submit the information to carolkovach@hotmail.com at least 10 days before the required publication date.

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