Once a shipment of food arriving Friday runs out, Church Street Ministries in Berea will be empty, Minister Frannie Millward says.
The local ministry is no stranger to the effects of the current economic situation, its donations from churches, businesses and private individuals at an all-time low.
Couple that with a growing need and you have a formula for the lacking resources.
“Tripled the number of people that we’ve had within this last year. Tripled the number of people we have fed,” Millward said.
One of those people is Tim Fink, who has been unemployed for awhile except for a few odd jobs. The pantry helps Fink feed himself and his 9-year-old boy. Without the food he gets at Church Street Ministries, Fink said it would be “really hard.”
Church Street Ministries also provides school supplies and assistance with rent and utility bills.
But the money is running out – and quickly.
“Our funds are nearly gone as of the end of this month,” Millward said.
The need, however, is not. Millward said she sometimes has 50 phone messages from families needing emergency help awaiting her.
“I’ve had many people cry in my office because they’re embarrassed, but they have nowhere else to turn to help their family,” Millward said.
Church Street Ministries is a non-profit outreach agency which serves all of Cuyahoga County.
Donations of cash or check can be made by contacting Millward at Church Street Ministries, 398 W. Bagley Road, Suite #10, Berea, Ohio or by calling 440-826-4603. All donations are tax deductible.
article courtesy of Newsnet5.com
