Various organizations throughout Rocky River strive to lend a hand — or many volunteer hands — to assist residents in need.
Here’s a look at those initiatives:
Rocky River Women’s Club
Founded in 1954, RRWC is a nonprofit social and service organization that brings its 100-plus members together through service and fellowship events. RRWC will commemorate its 70th anniversary in spring 2024, according to Kathryn Brandt, president of RRWC.
“I joined RRWC because I wanted to get to know some people in the area,” Brandt says. “It was also surprising how much good the club does for the community.”
Brandt emphasizes that RRWC is much more than a social club. Initiatives include:
• The Rocky River Assistance Program that distributes food to people in need twice a week.
• An initiative that provides back-to-school bags filled with supplies.
• The “Adopt a Family” program, which provides gifts during the
holiday season.
The Rocky River Assistance Program
The Rocky River Assistance Program was initiated in 1984 by the Rocky River Women’s Club and supplies residents below the poverty line with food once a month. Families who enroll can receive five to seven bags of nonperishable food per month.
In addition, clients receive extra nonperishable food for Thanksgiving in November, and in December the RRWC Adopt-a-Family program provides gift cards to families along with gifts for the children. Enrolled children can also receive school supplies, healthy snacks, scholarships and new coats as part of the program.
“Food insecurity is a still an issue in Rocky River, so our main priority is to provide our clients with primarily nonperishable food,” says Diana White, co-chair of the Rocky River Assistance Program. “The program supplements whatever other support they get and is a way to help address the poverty gap.”
West Shore Meals on Wheels
West Shore Meals on Wheels, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, delivers freshly made, nutritious meals to community residents in need.
“The goal is to prepare and deliver meals five days a week to people who have difficulty shopping or preparing their own food,” says Lynda Kovach, director of West Shore Meals on Wheels. “We service seniors and nonseniors.”
Through donations, West Shore Meals on Wheels has brought meal costs down to $7 per day for cold lunch and a hot dinner.
The Village Project
The Village Project feeds families fighting cancer, according to Meredith La Vecchia, executive director.
VP provides three meals per week for individuals undergoing active cancer treatment and their families, doing so for up to six months at no cost. Its clients reside in Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake. Since its founding in 2010, VP has cooked and delivered more than 45,000 nourishing meals.
“We rely on and empower our team of exceptional volunteers to help us bring our mission to life,” La Vecchia says. “Cancer does not discriminate. It doesn’t care about socioeconomic status. It doesn’t care about the type, length or course of treatment. We offer people a chance to give back and experience the joy of helping their neighbors facing a cancer crisis.”
