Elyria, Lorain, and Cleveland – When Mike Cloud was growing up money was often tight, but his mother always managed to find a way to host her entire extended family for Thanksgiving dinner. The confluence of family each year at Thanksgiving remains an enduring and reassuring memory of childhood for Mike and it’s an experience he feels others ought to share.
Today Cloud and his business partner, Justin Stahler own and operate North Coast Design Build and enjoy success providing construction and development solutions for commercial projects throughout the mid-west. Mike and Justin have made charitable initiatives an important part of their business philosophy – especially at Thanksgiving. What started in 2021 as a simple idea of delivering a turkey dinner to a family in need has grown into a much larger initiative.
“We started four years ago by delivering just one Thanksgiving meal kit to a family in Lorain that was supported by my neighbors’ church group,” Cloud explains. “My son, who was 5 years old at the time, and I went shopping and dropped it off together so he could learn firsthand about helping others in need.”
The following year, North Coast Design Build put together Thanksgiving meal kits for 100 families, distributed to families in need through one of our non-profit partners. Last year, the number grew to 500 meal kits for three different non-profits, all in Lorain County. While 500 seemed like a big number, Mike learned that the largest non-profit they worked with, Horizon Education Centers, could have used nearly double the number of meal kits if we had served their Cuyahoga County families as well. The need to expand our scope was apparent.
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, other local businesses are coming together to help North Coast Design Build make an even bigger impact. This year the group is on track to double the 2023 initiative by providing 1,000 Thanksgiving meal kits to families in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. This significant community effort will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, feeding over 5,000 people this Thanksgiving. “If you take a moment to stop and think about the people you know and those who you encounter each day, you’ll discover that one never has to search for someone in need,” said Mike Cloud. When they were planning for this year, they looked through their list of non-profit contacts and discovered that with just seven non-profit partners, there were 1,000 families they could help this Thanksgiving.
“To help us reach more families, we brought some sponsors and advisors,” explains Cloud. “Eyring Movers have generously supplied the meal boxes for 4 years now; and Wegman Hessler Valore, our law firm, is helping us better organize and increase our volunteer core. In addition, Wegman Hessler Valore will provide a hot lunch for all the volunteers at the end of the event. Together, and with the help of our partners, we’ll feed more than 5,000 people in Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties on Thanksgiving Day.”
Organizations helping with community distribution includes: Community West Foundation, Pathways Enrichment Center, Empowered Community Services, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Horizon Education Centers, Messiah Lutheran Church, and St. Francis Cabrini: Mother Cabrini Food Pantry
Those interested in volunteering or participating financially or for more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Renee Theriot-Shells at 440-779-1930 or rshells-theriot@horizonohio.org