There’s been a “new normal” for just about everything in the seven months since the pandemic started, and the community is on the brink of another learning curve – navigating the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Employees of the North Royalton Food Bank are expecting requests for assistance to rise as stimulus packages run out and the larger economy continues to find ground. There’s been a 60 percent increase in the amount of people the food bank is serving, notes Terry Close, mission and ministry coordinator at Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, which houses the North Royalton Food Bank. Those in need can get assistance from the food bank on a monthly basis and during the city’s large-scale distribution days that occur every other month. The next such event is set for Oct. 24. Food assistance also comes from monthly produce markets designed for low-income seniors but open to anyone and a monthly community meal that continues to attract record crowds. Monthly food boxes can include shelf staples like dry cereals, nonperishable canned food items and hygiene items like paper towels and disinfecting wipes, said Judy McLaughlin of the Office on Aging & Human Services.
Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church will again host its Care & Share Thanksgiving Meal on Nov. 26. Registration for this free Thanksgiving meal begins Nov. 1 with the church. This year, meals can either be delivered to homebound residents or picked up at the Royalton Road church. Visit royred.org for details as they are posted.
Leaders are also beginning their preparations for the annual Adopt-a-Family charitable Christmas program that helps provide a special assortment of presents for residents in need. This year, Close said she will be reaching out to businesses for their donations of funds and gift cards. For more information on these assistance programs, call the Office on Aging & Human Services at (440) 582-6333 and Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church at (440) 237-7958.
The city schools are also discussing their individual charitable holiday drives involving students. One such initiative is the annual giving gift card tree at Royal View Elementary.
“The project will begin in November and we will need to have all of the gift cards collected by December 4,” said Principal Kirk Pavelich in an email. “We are looking for $25 increments in gift cards for three stores: Marc’s, Target and Walmart as we believe these will be most beneficial to the community members who are in need during the pandemic.”
Food Drive
The student body at NRHS is participating in the Food Drive for the North Royalton Food Pantry. This event will begin on Monday, October 26th and continue through Friday, November 6th. Our goal this year is to collect 1,000 nonperishable food items for the families in need.
Adopt A Family Program
Each year our staff participates in the “Adopt a Family” program. In the past years Christmas gifts and gift cards have been collected for our North Royalton families less fortunate than ourselves. This year, due to Covid-19, we are being asked to purchase gift cards from Marc’s, Target and Walmart in the amount of $25 or less. Donations of checks are also appreciated.

By SARA MACHO HILL
Contributing Writer