People are catching on. One passerby knocks on the newly decorated storefront window and emphatically waves. Another person beeps from a vehicle, sticking their head out to catch a glimpse of an old friend.
Customers of Smoke Zone II, formerly located at 13034 Lorain Ave., can now find a familiar face at a brand-new store right down the street. Get Lit Smoke & Vapor is located at 12204 Lorain Ave., and is owned by former Smoke Zone II employee, Tina Gasner.
“I worked at Smoke Zone II for 3 years,” said Gasner. “In that time, I got to know a lot of people in this area and really fell in love with the community.”
According to Gasner, after her experience learning and meeting people at the former store, she knew she wanted to open her own store.
“I really would like everyone who used to come into Smoke Zone II to be aware that Get Lit Smoke & Vapor is here for them, and I want them to know that I miss them!” She added. “We’re also really excited to open our doors to new people, and to get to know and help others.”
“I’m always looking to make the inventory bigger,” Gasner noted. “We’re adding stuff all the time.”
The store currently carries Backwoods cigars, farmer’s tobacco or ‘roll your own,’ including Arrowhead, Buoy, Premier, Farmer’s Gold, and Golden Harvest.
“We carry hard to find tobaccos,” said Gasner.
“We’re here to help,” said Gasner, who periodically answers questions from customers regarding different products. With Gasner, and her staff at the store, it’s always a casual, amiable encounter.
“We also carry CBD from Ohio-based companies,” she said. “They are local and are really good companies, including ZuRI and 3 Chi.” The store also carries quality kratom products.
“ZuRI proudly manufactures a full line of over 70 hemp-derived CBD supplements including tinctures, capsules and topicals, including its best-selling Freeze Pain Relief Rub here in Ohio,” said Mike Dutton, director of product development at ZuRI. “ZuRI’s main focus is to provide health and wellness through alternative approaches with THC Free CBD that is 3rd party lab tested for quality.”
The folks at Get Lit are invested in their customers, and they are far more than simply knowledgeable and friendly— they are also caring members of the community. Stop in and say hello today!
There will also be a GRAND OPENING EVENT on March 16th, at the store. Stop in during store hours. See coupons in the West Park Times for savings!!! Don’t forget to show your support and like Get Lit on Facebook!
“Our customer service is always friendly,” says Gasner. “We are great at helping people find the right products, including hand-rolled tobacco replacements for brand names, for example, for those looking to save money.”
Come join us for fun and learning at your local neighborhood branch. Here is what is happening.
Story Time!
“Bouncing Babies!”
Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
“Wee Read and Play!”
Tuesdays at 11:30 AM
Kids Café
Monday – Friday 3:30 – 4:30 pm
After school meals for children available daily while supplies last PS4 or Wii Gaming for Kids
Monday – Friday 3:30-5:30 pm, and Saturdays as staffing allows. Restrictions apply based upon wait list.
Virtual Reality for Kids
Monday – Friday 3:30-5:30 pm, and Saturdays as staffing allows. Restrictions apply based upon wait list.
Board Games
A variety of board games are available for patrons. In library use only.
Kids’ Activities and Crafts
“Peep Catapults,” Thursday, April 11, 4:30 PM
“Harry Potter Escape Room,” Saturday, May 11, 2:00 PM (Registration required)
April and May crafts will be spring themed.
Express Yourself Youth Art Workshops
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 PM. Registration NOT Required.
MakerLabs
“Make a Drum Machine”
Tuesday, April 16, 3:00 PM
“Mobile MakerSpace Demo”
Wednesday, May 8, 4:00 PM
“Intro to 3D Design”
Tuesday, May 15, 4:00 PM
“Laser Engraver Workshop”
Wednesday, May 22, 4:00 PM
“Make a Statement: Button-Making”
Wednesday, May 29, 4:00 PM
Adult Activities
“Page Turner Book Club,” Second Wednesday of every month, 2:00 PM
April 10, title: Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward
May 8, title: Surprise Me, by Sophie Kinsella
“Blue Collar Book Club,” Last Tuesday of the Month, 6:00 PM, at Working Class Brewery
Check with branch staff for the book list. This is a partnership with Working Class Brewery, the West Park and Rockport Branches of Cleveland Public Library
CCA Tax Assistance: Monday, March 11 & 25 2:00 – 6:00 PM, and Wednesday, April 3, 1:30-5:30 PM
Free Computer Classes* – Computer Basics Series, Mondays, May 6-20 at 5:00 PM
All Ages
“Take Charge of Your Health,” free health screenings, advice and assistance from benefits specialists, Monday, April 29, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Free Comic Book Day, Saturday, May 4, While supplies last. One per person
Book Sale – Ongoing
Stop by and visit our perpetual Book Sale Cart located in our Circulation Desk area. Items are priced from $0.50 – $3.00. Cash only.
*Registration is required for computer classes. Classes and programs may be cancelled if the minimum registration is not met.
Call the West Park Branch at 216-623-7102 to register.
Horizon Education Centers opened a new preschool program with a partnership with Constellation Schools at Lorain Community Elementary. The official ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 1110 W. 4th St., Lorain. The preschool will open their doors Monday, Jan. 14th under the direction of Heather LaMore, Center Director.
This preschool program opened as a three star high quality under Ohio’s Step Up to Quality Rating System. This rating ensures that all children attending will experience: qualified teacher, proven curriculum, family engagement and developmental screenings. Horizon’s main goal for their preschool program is to provide 20 slots for children enrolling, and provide them with a high quality kindergarten readiness program. Also, Horizon understands that your choice of care and education is very personal and an important decision. Horizon takes safety and security as our #1 priority. When you leave your child at one of our centers you will have peace of mind that your child is safely learning, having fun, and making new friends. Horizon Education Centers has had a six-year partnership with Constellation Schools through the 21st Century Learning Grant from the State of Ohio in which Horizon operates an after-school program at Lorain Community School already. Studies have shown that children who attend after-school programing benefit from: increased academic efforts, fewer emotional and behavioral problems, increased physical activity, and help create healthy learning habits. Horizon Education Centers is a leader in quality early care and education, preparing children and families for life for 40 years. Horizon is a mission-driven nonprofit making sure all families have access to high quality programs regardless of income or where they live. For more information, to set up a tour or to enroll in the Preschool Program, visit www.HorizonOhio.org or call 440-420-2914. Horizon has 10 centers highly rated located across Lorain and Cuyahoga County. *Newest center opening Spring of 2019 at Triskett Station, Cleveland.
Cleveland has been become the fourth chapter of Say Yes to Education, a historic development that will bring college scholarships to CMSD students while also providing services designed to keep them on track to graduation. For a city with the nation’s second highest rate of child poverty and a low percentage of college graduates, the move promises to be a game changer. Besides opening doors for students who may have once dismissed post-secondary education as unaffordable, creating Say Yes Cleveland has the potential to attract new residents and spur economic growth. Philanthropist George Weiss, who founded the national nonprofit Say Yes organization 31 years ago, announced Cleveland’s selection Jan. 18 at the John Marshall Campus. Students who packed the gym stood and cheered, while others saw the event live-streamed in an overflow area and high schools across the District. “Say Yes to Education is the right thing at the right time for the Cleveland schools, for the city of Cleveland and for you,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson, who joined other community leaders in applauding the news. How the scholarship plan works Starting this spring, students can receive scholarship for up to the full value of tuition, minus federal and state aid, for any public two-year college, four-year college or Pell-eligible technical program in Ohio. Scholarships also can be used at the more than 100 private colleges and universities that belong to the National Higher Education Compact. The names of 12 new compact members were announced Jan. 18, including local institutions Case Western Reserve, John Carroll, Baldwin Wallace and Notre Dame. The scholarships can be used only for tuition, not for expenses such as housing, books and meals. Recipients must live in the District and attend CMSD or partnering charter high schools. Current high school students who maintain residency can qualify, but starting with the Class of 2023, recipients must have been enrolled continuously from ninth grade through graduation. Students entering the gym did not know why they had been called together; seniors Lynnae Howard and Jasmin Diaz were unaware even as they took the stage to extend greetings to dozens of community leaders and other adults in attendance. “People are in debt because of college,” said Lynnae, who plans to attend Ashland University, another new compact member, to study forensic science or prepare for a career in the sports industry. “It’s amazing we don’t have to worry about that.” “I think it’s going to change lives,” said Jasmin, who intends to study social work at Ohio State University. “A lot of people don’t have this kind of opportunity.” CMSD, Say Yes hope to reverse trend Under The Cleveland Plan, CMSD has seen its graduation rate reach a series of record highs, and fewer of those graduates have required remediation in college. But the number of District graduates who enroll in college within a year has gone down, with the most recent data available, for the Class of 2016, showing it at less than 50 percent. District CEO Eric Gordon and others believe the trend is related to cost. Gordon notes that Buffalo, another Say Yes chapter, has seen college enrollment rise. “Our families don’t have conversations about going to college,” Gordon said. “Parents don’t want to promise their kids something they can’t give them.” Say Yes Cleveland is a community effort. Besides the District, partners include Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland Teachers Union Local 279 and the Cleveland Council of Administrators and Supervisors, an association of District officials. Foundations and other entities provided strong support. “When there’s a challenge, we find a way to come together and make a difference,” Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish told the students in the audience Jan. 18. “We’re here for you, and we will not let you down.” The community is raising enough money for an endowment that will fund scholarships for 25 years – two generations of students. So far, more than 40 foundations, corporations, families and individuals have contributed nearly $90 million, or $15 million more than the national Say Yes organization had required to launch the chapter. The number needs to reach $125 million. Say Yes Cleveland will seek to raise the balance over the next five years, and leaders are confident they will reach their goal. Say Yes Cleveland is trying to create a culture around going to college or enrolling in other post-secondary training. They say the mindset is critical to keeping the region competitive in an ever-changing economy. “Have tenacity and dare to dream big,” KeyBank Chairman and CEO Beth E. Mooney, another speaker, told the students at John Marshall. “When you’re done, there’s a place for you in our companies.” To read the full story, visit ClevelandMetroSchools.org/news.
CLEVELAND – The City of Cleveland provides an update on the recovery operations following last night’s windstorm and reminds residents to take precautionary measures:
Downed Trees: The City today has eight tree crews clearing all the right-of-ways. Crews began yesterday and worked through the night clearing over 100 calls for service. Crews will continue clearing the known locations where trees are blocking or inhibiting traffic, sidewalks and driveways If you are impacted and believe there is a City owned tree that needs to removal please contact Urban Forestry at 216-664-3104.
Cleveland Police: Patrol officers were dispatched and responded to weather-related incidents including downed power lines, trees and poles, while repair crews worked to bring power to the citizens of Cleveland. Cleveland Police reminds drivers to treat all intersections as four way stops where the traffic signal is out or not operating properly. If you do see a traffic signal out of service you can report it by calling 216-420-8273.
Cleveland Fire responded to over 359 emergency calls for service including motor vehicle accidents, wires and trees down, medical, fire, and carbon monoxide incidents.
Emergency Medical Service responded to over 271 calls for service which included medical emergencies, motor vehicles accidents and support to Fire for downed power lines.
Cleveland Public Power continues to address power outages due to last night’s high winds. Due to high winds and weather conditions, approximately 5,300 customers were impacted at some point during the storm. CPP had eight crews working throughout the night to restore power as quickly as possible. All major outages have been repaired and CPP is currently working to restore power to the remaining customers impacted by scattered outages. We anticipate power restored to all customers today.
If CPP customers are experiencing power outages, they should contact CPP at 216-664-3156. Additionally, high winds may have damaged poles or caused downed power lines.
Downed Powerlines: If residents see downed wires or damaged poles, do not touch them. Contact Cleveland Public Power at 216-664-3156 and on line atwww.CPP.org to file a report.
About the City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online atwww.city.cleveland.oh.us, Twitter at @cityofcleveland or Facebook atwww.facebook.com/cityofcleveland
Although most media attention is on the multi-million dollar amounts, many prizes of significant amounts are often won in West Park.
Here are some top amounts that were sold locally during the second half of 2018. There were many others.
$250,000 at Marc’s, 15030 Puritas Ave.
$ 65,000 at The Pantry, 4677 W. 130 St.
$ 50,000 at One-Stop Sunoco, 15240 Triskett Ave.
$ 50.000 at Friendly Food Mart, 4050 W. 140 St.
$ 27,175 at Charlie’s Beverage, 15803 Lorain Ave.
Every time you buy a $1 Lottery ticket, you contribute 25 cents toward the education of public school students in Ohio. This is a small but consistent part of education funding.
Eighteen schools in West Park are among those that benefit from the Lottery. West Park covers zip codes 44111 and 44135.
Where the money goes…
In fiscal year 2018, the Ohio Lottery generated a record $4.1 billion in sales. Of that, $3.16 billion came from the sale of traditional lottery games.
For every $1 customers spend on the Ohio Lottery, here is where it goes. This breakdown is for traditional lottery game sales only. It does not include sales, prizes, operation expenses or profits from video lottery terminal operations at Ohio’s seven racinos.
By law, Ohio Lottery profits support public school operations, K through 12. On average, 25 cents of each dollar is transferred to the Lottery Profits Education Fund (LPEF). From there, it goes to the Ohio Department of Education, which distributes it to public schools, based on a formula. The formula was determined by the Ohio General Assembly.
During fiscal 2018, the Lottery transferred $1.09 billion to the LPEF — the highest profit transfer in the Lottery’s 44-year history. Of that, $794.7 million was generated from the sale of traditional lottery games.
Since the Lottery began in 1973, more than $24 billion has been transferred to education.
-64 cents from each dollar is returned to Lottery customers in prizes. These prizes range from a $1 payoff on an instant ticket, to million-dollar prizes in multi-state games. During fiscal 2018, the Lottery awarded $1.99 billion in prizes.
-6.5 cents is paid in commissions to retailers who sell Lottery tickets. There are about 10,000 retailers in Ohio.
-4.5 cents goes to fund Lottery operations.
There are many factors that contribute to financing education. For more information on how Ohio schools are funded, visit education.ohio.gov.
Jerry Masek worked as a public information officer for the Ohio Lottery from 1992-2000.
Almost 10,000 retailers sell Lottery tickets in Ohio. In many cities, one or two retailers gain a reputation for selling winning tickets.
In West Park, that place is the EZ Mart Food Store, 4163 Rocky River Dr. at Valleyview Avenue.
Annually, the store sells more tickets than most other retailers in West Park — more than $1.14 million in fiscal 2018, and about $627,000 from July through December 2018.
More sales means more winners.
Several years ago, the store sold a $1 million winning ticket on a $20 instant game.
The store also sold a $50,000 Cash Explosion winner in May 2018, and a $250,000 Mega Millions winner in 2011. Posters announcing major winners are used as wallpaper throughout the store. Winners come from all over.
Customers come from near and far to buy Lottery tickets at the store, says Ron Ashraf, who owns the business with his brother, Shawn.
Several regular customers have moved from West Park to Rocky River, about 10 miles away, but they still drive back to his store to buy Lottery tickets, Ron said.
Top-selling retailers in 44135 during fiscal 2018
EZ Mart Food Store, 4163 Rocky River Dr., $1.14 million
Convenient Food Mart, 14302 Puritas Ave., $848,207
Grayton Road Tavern, 4760 Grayton Road, $790,646
Winners Sports Bar & Grill, 5300 Riverside Dr., $741,008
Friendly Food Mart, 4050 W. 140 St., $501,209
Top-selling retailers in 44111 during fiscal 2018
Giant Eagle, 3050 W. 117 St., $1.17 million
Charlie’s Beverage, 15803 Lorain Ave., $1.13 million
Convenient Food Mart, 12520 Lorain Ave., $1.07 million
The Third Place, 3314 Warren Road, $946,392
T & W Mart, 15239 Triskett Road, $883,524
Waste will be collected on the regularly scheduled days
City Hall will be closed Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 in honor of President’s Day. However, the Department of Public Works WILL pick up waste on Monday.
There will not be a delay in waste collection pick-up.
For further information regarding waste collection, please call Cleveland’s Division of Waste Collection at (216) 664-3711.
About the City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online at www.city.cleveland.oh.us, Twitter at@cityofcleveland or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofcleveland.
The West Park United Church of Christ, 3909 Rocky River Drive, offers a free community meal on the last Sunday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., inside the church hall, accessed off the rear parking lot. All are welcome. Now that the cold weather has returned, the church’s mitten, sock, and hat line is up and running. Those in need may take a new article of clothing to help stay warm this winter.
The Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) continued emphasis on safety paid off in 2018, as almost every category of crime was down from 2017 totals.
Thefts, assaults, and other crimes against persons were down 33 percent, while minor crimes, such as disorderly conduct, dropped 87 percent.
Transit Police are on duty 24/7 to monitor activity on RTA buses, trains, rail stations and bus shelters, along the HealthLine and the CSU Line, and Public Square, said Transit Police Chief John Joyce.
Largest reductions: Auto theft was down 70 percent, robbery dropped 47 percent, and thefts were down 30 percent.
RTA offers active shooter training for all employees. In 2018, more than 1,200 employees were trained to respond properly in active shooter situations. More employees will be trained this year.
If you see something, say something.
Call Transit Police dispatch 24/7 at 216-566-5163.
Send a text message to 216-575-EYES (3937).
The Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) continued emphasis on safety paid off in 2018, as almost every category of crime was down from 2017 totals.
Thefts, assaults, and other crimes against persons were down 33 percent, while minor crimes, such as disorderly conduct, dropped 87 percent.
Transit Police are on duty 24/7 to monitor activity on RTA buses, trains, rail stations and bus shelters, along the HealthLine and the CSU Line, and Public Square, said Transit Police Chief John Joyce.
Largest reductions: Auto theft was down 70 percent, robbery dropped 47 percent, and thefts were down 30 percent.
RTA offers active shooter training for all employees. In 2018, more than 1,200 employees were trained to respond properly in active shooter situations. More employees will be trained this year.
If you see something, say something.
Call Transit Police dispatch 24/7 at 216-566-5163.
Kamm’s Corners Development Corporation (KCDC) and Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation along with The Cleveland Transformation Alliance and PRE4CLE will host the West Park School Choice Fair from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral Hall.
“Participating schools are K-8th grade, and from across both Wards 16 and 17” said KCDC Executive Director Steve Lorenz.
“It will bring together West Park’s private, parochial, and charter schools,” says JD Smith, who is the Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator at KCDC. “The idea is to connect local families to their local school options in one location, because there are a lot of good choices out there and going through all the choices can be overwhelming.”
According to Smith, he and other organizers want the event to give parents and school representatives a chance to talk one-on-one, offering a more personalized opportunity to connect. Lorenz mentioned that many of these schools fill up fast, noting “if you want to be sure to get your first choice, you really need to make your move now.”
There are currently more than a dozen schools expected to attend this event. There will also be prizes, giveaways, and activities for children. Attendance is free! Contact JD Smith at 216-252-6559, Ext 1300 with questions.
Director Eileen Wilson says this big orange board was at The Hope Center, located at 15135 Triskett Rd., when they first moved into the church in 2015. Someone wrote “It’s a Beautiful Day” at the top of the board, and so began a tradition. New members write the phrase in their native language when they begin their journey with The Hope Center.
A group of Congolese refugees were walking along West 30th Street one day and saw something that reminded them of home. It was the Trinity Lutheran Church with its rustic brick façade and three red doors. The church reminded them of the place they used to pray back home in Africa, so they decided to ask if they could worship there.
Inside, a non-profit called Building Hope in the City was working with Cleveland residents on issues such as literacy and inequality. The organization did outreach work with various groups of marginalized people but had yet to begin working with refugees. They met, and The Hope Center was born.
The Hope Center, 15135 Triskett Rd., is headed by director Eileen Wilson, a travel enthusiast and the daughter of two German immigrants who came to the United States in the 1950s.
“We didn’t go and find refugees,” Wilson said. “They found us.”
The Hope Center began its service in 2015, with a group of just 25 immigrants and refugees. At the end of February, it will celebrate its four-year anniversary, with over 200 people walking through the door each week.
Wilson, a former Information Technology professional, began her career of outreach after being laid off from her job. It prompted her to ask to help teach Bhutanese refugees to speak English.
“I, like many people, thought ‘Where is Bhutan?’ ‘What is a refugee?’ How did I not understand what was going on in the world?” Wilson said.
It was during this time that Wilson began to notice a gap in the assistance provided to immigrants and refugees as they integrated into their new communities. The main refugee resettlement agencies in Cleveland are funded to provide aid during the first 30 to 90 days after a refugee’s arrival in the country. After this window, they are expected to attain employment, have their children in school, and be self-sufficient.
Although these agencies will assist in any way they can beyond this window, there are always new refugees arriving and funding is limited.
Wilson noticed that a crucial time to help refugees move from a place of mere survival to becoming thriving members of the community was approximately one year after resettlement.
“Many of them would live their entire lives between work, their home, and confined to their native culture,” she said. “This doesn’t allow them or their families to move forward.”
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Virtually every refugee comes to America in situational poverty. They often arrive on our shores with only a suitcase and sometimes several children for whom they must provide. The Hope Center aims to ensure this situational poverty does not become generational poverty.
To accomplish this goal, The Hope Center provides a vast array of classes and services to help refugees thrive in Cleveland. One of the most important resources provided by The Hope Center are the mentors who are assigned to an individual or family and guide them through their journey of assimilation.
There are currently approximately 25 mentors each working with a family for about six months. The nature of the mentorship is completely dependent on the individual needs and goals of each family. In addition, The Hope Center offers English courses, preparation for the U.S. Citizenship exam and legal assistance from the full-time attorney on staff. There is even a small café from which to get snacks and refreshments between classes, along with a van providing transport for those residing within a two-mile radius of the center.
Next month, The Hope Center will begin a program for its members to prepare for and earn their GED — a monumental accomplishment which will alter the trajectory of their lives and the lives of their families.
Offering these life-changing services would not be possible without the love and generosity from the residents of West Park and greater Cleveland. Sixty-percent of The Hope Center’s funding comes in the form of donations from individuals and churches, while the rest is provided by grants and various foundations.
To assist in their own funding as well as provide work experience for its members, Building Hope in the City opened the Common Threads thrift store (22049 Lorain Rd) in June of 2016. There are approximately 20 immigrants and refugees from The Hope Center staffing the store at any given time.
It didn’t take very long for Common Threads to become a shining example of the contributions that can be made by our new neighbors. The upscale thrift store turned a profit after just two short years, as well as won Cleveland Scene’s best thrift store award in both 2017 and 2018.
While Wilson has been elated by the community’s support in reaching out to immigrants and refugees, she hopes people will hear their story and feel inspired to get involved.
“The Hope Center isn’t just a place for refugees,” she said. “It’s also a place for Americans to interact with the world around them.”
The Hope Center is always looking for any help they can get from generous Clevelanders. To get involved with refugees and their loved ones, you must complete a brief background check, child safety course and short seminars; such as “Building Hope 101” and “Refugee 101”. Altogether, these courses amount to approximately four hours of training.
Upon completion of these preliminary requirements, volunteers are then given a choice between becoming a mentor or assisting The Hope Center in some other way. For instance, assisting with tutoring sessions which are held at the center every Tuesday and Thursday or looking after children while their parents are in class. One neighbor shows his support for The Hope Center by
providing lawn care. Another generously donated playground equipment for the newcomer’s children.
Wilson attributes countless Hope Center success stories to the volunteers who take time out of their schedules to reach out and touch the lives of people who weren’t given the same chances in life.
“They don’t need us to save them and to hold their hands,” she said. “They just need to be given support and the tools to succeed.”
You can find further information about The Hope Center’s mission as well as upcoming events and ways to get involved at https://buildinghopeinthecity.org/cleveland/the-hope-center/.
On March 9th, The Hope Center will be screening ‘On Exile’ for the neighborhood at 1 p.m. The movie was produced by the Community Development Corporation at Kamm’s Corners and follows the stories of several refugees who are residing in Cleveland today.
Wilson hopes residents of West Park and beyond will join them for the screening and perhaps decide to get involved.
“I really want the neighbors to know that we want to be part of their community,” she said.
“There’s so much talent here and they can help us in ways we have yet to fully realize.”
Eileen Wilson pointed to her bulletin board and asked if I could guess what this meant. I thought for a moment and then told her I was stumped. She smiled from ear to ear and giggled to herself and said: “World Piece!”) Director of the Hope Center Eileen Wilson.
Students at CMSD’s Campus International K-8 School are collecting warm clothing and other items that they will leave outside the school for people in need to claim.
At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, students will fasten plastic bags with basics such as hats, scarves, gloves and socks, along with tarps that the homeless can use to take shelter, to a fence behind the school.
Campus, located at 2160 Payne Ave. on the grounds of Cleveland State University, is erecting the “Wall of Love” in partnership with Holly Jackson, a Cleveland resident who began the practice after enduring her own hard times. Since November, she has put up about three dozen walls in the Cleveland area, including some that have been restocked.
Though previous projects have drawn volunteers, the Campus K-8 wall is her first partnership. Teacher Kate Grzelak contacted Jackson after seeing media coverage of her charitable endeavors.
The project aligns perfectly with the school’s International Baccalaureate model and its focus on making a difference in the world. Work on the “Wall of Love” has filtered across grade levels and into instruction.
“A big part of International Baccalaureate is the action and service component,” said Sheila O’Rourke, Campus International’s IB coordinator. “All learning you do should involve some kind of action or service.”
Kindergarten teacher Renee Hubeny’s class incorporated the list of new or gently used items sought in the drive into lessons comparing needs and wants. On Friday, they expanded to math, grouping donated items into sets of 10.
“They’re very excited about it,” Hubeny said. “They’re learning what needs are. They want to help others.”
An eighth-grader named Daivieon had planned to organize a fund-raiser for the homeless as a service project. Instead of competing with other appeals, he offered to help coordinate the “Wall of Love.”
His duties included overseeing the making of signs soliciting the donations of clothing and other items. He also gave sales pitches to younger students, encouraging them to bring in “anything you have laying around” to add to the goods piled in bins.
“I wanted to impact homeless people’s lives; I’ve always been interested in helping the homeless,” he said. “Whenever I see the homeless, if I have even a little bit of change, I ask my Mom, ‘Can I give it to them? They need it more than I do.’ ”
Jackson started putting up the walls to help people who do not know where to turn for help, are too embarrassed to ask or just flatly refuse to do so. She has strict rules: Don’t leave donations at a wall; contact her. Items should be placed in plastic zipped bags to prevent damage. Don’t leave a mess. Take only what you need from the wall and pay it forward when able.
Local and national media attention has fueled interest in her efforts and unleashed appreciation that she finds humbling.
“I never expected it to take off the way it did. I started doing another and another and another,” she said. “I just want to make the world a better place.”
