Good Neighbors, Inc. November 5, 2023 ​ The purpose of Good Neighbors is to help families and individuals in times of crisis and need with clothing, emergency food and support. ​The Good Neighbors Organization ​​ We are grateful to Wayside Furniture Company for their continued support. Once again, Good Neighbors is included in their annual charitable After Thanksgiving Giving Event . Our supporters who visit Wayside Furniture between November 24th and November 27th and make a contribution of up to $100, your contribution will be matched. Please specify which of our six Good Neighbors locations you would like your donation to benefit. Thank you for your support! https://www.wayside-furniture.com/giving Recent reviews on our Google Business Page: "Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Was able to get food for my family and I, they even included a chocolate cake that was a nice little treat. I would highly recommend registering and scheduling an appointment if your family is in need as well." "All the volunteers at this food pantry are always so very helpful! So grateful for this place!!" "I can’t thank everyone down here enough. Got a nice variety of food and toiletries etc. Me and my kids appreciate this soo much. Going to have a nice warm dinner tonight. Thank you!" Valerie Straw has retired from serving as our council president. She will continue to volunteer on Mondays and coordinate our food center's food drives. Thank you Valerie, for your many years of service and dedication to Good Neighbors and our community. Good Neighbors, Inc. Governing Council President- Jenny Siebert Vice President- Kathy Frye Treasurer/Secretary- Debi Foss Assistant Treasurer- Wilma McMasters Trustees: George Camilletti (Chair), Toni Amos , Beth Stalnaker Burch , Kathy Frye , Susan Reynolds , Bob Roberts , Jenny Siebert, Patricia Stiles , Alberta Veri and Bill Wise . Unit Management: Kat Wollyung (Interim Director-Cuyahoga Falls), Chris Krinjeck Bolyard (Ellet), George Camilletti (Goodyear Heights Food Center), Patricia Stiles (Green), Lee Thomas and Wilma McMasters (Superior-Wooster), Candy Lorkowski (Tallmadge). Good Neighbors Founders Laura McClure and Frances Watson. It was a simple beginning when they helped a family in need with winter clothing. Since 1957, Good Neighbors has grown from the basement of these caring women, to the first organized unit in North Hill, to sixteen centers. Currently, our volunteers operate six locations. Founder Laura McClure is pictured at our first Good Neighbors Unit in North Hill. In honor of Veterans Day, we are grateful to all who served. Unit Activities The Community Outreach and Food Center ​Of Good Neighbors The Good Neighbors Food Center's entrance and parking lot are located at 1460 Bingham Path, Akron, 44305 We recently purchased 2 new (replacement) freezers at the cost of $1,978. Our walk-in cooler needed repaired at the cost of $1,417 and roof repair on our annex building was $22,484. This year, insurance premiums for our organization were $15,512. Monday volunteer Cindy Johns purchased a large amount of eggs ​for our clients. Every week, volunteer Margo Terry purchases much needed items. Last month, her mother Betty Ratcliffe purchased gift cards and other items for our clients. Jenni Heid , daughter of volunteer Kelli Heid , donated dog food. Recently, supporter Judy Skidmore purchased dozens of personal hygiene items for our clients. Every week, supporter Doug Miller purchases much needed groceries and donates fish that he catches for our clients. Flowers Bakery donates bread and baked goods every week. Land O'Lakes Butter Company donates butter throughout the year. Whole Foods donates food every week. Westminster Presbyterian Church donates much needed groceries and personal care items every month, and funds every quarter. As they do every year, Andrea Siebert Kent and the Blossom Music Center Staff (Live Nation) donated non-perishable food that they collected at their end of the year party. Every year, the Summit County Prosecutor's Office donates calendars for our clients. The Goodyear Heights Branch of the Summit County Public Library donates used books throughout the year. Monday through Friday, our volunteers pick up food from the food bank and grocery stores. On most Tuesdays and Thursdays, our volunteers pick up orders of 15,000-16,000 pounds from the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank. IBH Volunteers continue to help unload our large orders. Recently, the Akron Community Foundation made a generous contribution to help purchase food. The Firestone Park Christian Church closed their doors in October 2022. Recently, they made a very generous financial donation. A happy belated birthday to our friend and supporter Bob Wilson . After recovering from a long illness and recently returning to volunteer, Dave Gindlesperger ​has now lost his wife Leone . Our deepest sympathy to Dave and his family. Our Monday volunteers have made financial donations to our food center in memory of Leone. Sending our prayers and get well wishes to Richard McMasters . We were fortunate to have the University of Akron Nutrition Students volunteering during the month of October. On October 19th, our Thursday volunteers served 93 families in 3 hours. Our food center was open for 54 hours in October and we served 1,098 families. In August, our food center was open 57 hours and we served 1,165 families. From January through October, our volunteers have given 13,220 hours to serve more than 8,951 families (30,030 individuals) during the 495 hours we were open, and 90 students received back to school supplies. Since client visits are significantly increasing, we have been running low on food to distribute. In addition to food, we purchase bread, tissue paper, soap, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies and bags to distribute the groceries. When possible, we provide layettes, diapers, baby food, formula and pet food to clients referred for food. Charlene Nevada Krummel , George Camilletti and Debi Foss have been busy submitting grants for our food center and central office. George Camilletti manages and maintains our central office, food center and annex buildings. He also serves as the Good Neighbors Ways & Means Chairman and Trustee Chairman. We are open Monday through Thursday from 12-3 p.m., every week of the year. We only close for major holidays and inclement weather. Thank you to the Blossom Music Staff for their annual donation. The Cuyahoga Falls Unit of Good Neighbors The Cuyahoga Falls Good Neighbors is located at 1742 2nd Street, Cuyahoga Falls, 44221 Recently, Chick-fil-A , Cuyahoga Falls High School and Tiki Underground held fundraisers to benefit our pantry. HiHO Brewing Company will be holding their annual winter clothing drive to benefit our unit. From November 1st through November 12th, they will be collecting winter coats, gloves, hats, scarves, socks, blankets and other winter wear for our clients. So that our volunteers can travel and spend time with their families, our unit will be closed during the month of December. Our Christmas distribution will be held during the month of November. There will be volunteers working to maintain our building and restocking our food pantry while we are closed. From January through September, our volunteers helped more than 4,159 families (12,504 individuals) with groceries and clothing, and 555 students with back to school supplies. ​ For unit updates, additional information and to make online donations to benefit our unit, please visit our website at cfgoodneighbors.org . Kat Wollyung is serving as the Interim Director while we search for a new director and co-director. We are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Volunteer Mike Amos attended the Chick-fil-A and Cuyahoga Falls High School fundraiser to benefit Cuyahoga Falls Good Neighbors. The Ellet Unit of Good Neighbors The Ellet Good Neighbors is located on the first floor of North Springfield Presbyterian Church, 2630 Albrecht Avenue, Akron, 44312 Chris Krinjeck Bolyard, who manages the Ellet Unit, reported that clients are returning and client visits are increasing. Donations are down, as many of the churches that donated in the past, have their own food pantries now. We are in need of food and clothing donations. Grocery store gift cards and financial donations are always needed. Thank you for your support! We are open in the morning on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. for donations and client visits. The Green Unit of Good Neighbors The Green Good Neighbors is located in the back of Greensburg United Methodist Church, 2161 Greensburg Road, Green, 44232 Patricia Stiles, who manages the Green Unit, reported that we are very thankful to the City of Green for gathering food at the citywide trick or treat event at Boettler Park for Green Good Neighbors. We are busy planning our Christmas event. Letters were sent out to clients. We are in the process of finding people that will sponsor a child with Christmas gifts or donate items to be placed in a child's Christmas bag. Our biggest event is at Christmas time when we ask people to donate either Acme, Aldi or Giant Eagle gift cards. Gift cards in the amounts of $5, $10 or $25 are needed. We are grateful to local churches and businesses who help to support this event. We are grateful to the City of Green and to the Fed Ex Employees for their help and support throughout the year. The City of Green holds food drives throughout the year to benefit Green Good Neighbors. From January through September, our volunteers have given more than 6,289 hours to help more than 1,061 families (3,049 individuals) with food, and 559 families (1,774 individuals) with clothing, and 120 students with back to school supplies. For unit updates, additional information and to make online donations to benefit our unit, please visit our website at greengoodneighbors.org . We are open on Wednesday