Cleveland Area Food Pantry Site, Windermere-Living Hope UMC, Faces Closure

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio - Nov. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- East Cleveland, Ohio – Wednesday, November 13, 2013 from 11:00 AM -1:00PM, the Windermere-Living Hope United Methodist Church (UMC) Food Pantry Ministry will host what may be its last distribution of non-perishable food items to the residents of East Cleveland.

In partnership with the Cleveland Food Bank, Windermere-Living Hope UMC has operated a monthly food pantry for the past 5 years - - on average serving 150 residents per month.  Through the church’s partnership with the Hunger Network and the Cleveland Food Bank, it has also been able to host the Harvest Community Soup Kitchen for the past 15 years – now visited by over 250 residents per month.

Unfortunately, Wednesday could be one of the last times Windermere-Living Hope UMC opens the doors of its Food Pantry.  The church building is facing potential closure.  While the church’s ministry efforts and community impact is great, its members are small in number and increased financial support is needed to make repairs to the 100-plus year old edifice.

With this in mind, Windermere-Living Hope ‘s Food Pantry Ministry forges ahead and considers their work as an integral part of the church, viewing the Food Pantry “as more than a distribution of food - but a distribution of hope, love and joy,” to the city’s residents.

With the Thanksgiving holiday season fast approaching, members of Windermere-Living Hope look forward to serving the community once again.  East Cleveland’s Mayor, members of City Council and other local government officials have been invited to visit the Food Pantry on Wednesday, November 13, 2013.

Since 1899, Windermere-Living Hope UMC (formerly Windermere UMC) has strived to meet the needs of the East Cleveland, OH community through ministry efforts focused on spiritual formation and development; social service programming; and personal enrichment.  Through Change.org®, an on-line petition (http://www.change.org/petitions/united-methodist-church-c...) has been created to encourage UMC church officials to help the church stay open so that it can continue to offer vital services such as the Food Pantry Ministry.

For additional information contact:

Sharnell Woods

Windermere-Living Hope UMC, Community Outreach Ministry Co-Chairperson

Phone: 330.631.3789

Email: altruonee1043@gmail.com