Center Meets Needs for Hundreds of Area Neighbors Each Month
Grace Renier, a senior at Nordonia High School, delivers 185 assembled Easter baskets to The Emergency Assistance Center for distribution to families in need. This was the second year Renier organized the program to support her community.
By Emily Chesnic
To get through difficult times, which often includes the holidays, families in the community are receiving the work of “Grace.”
When Nordonia High School (NHS) senior Grace Renier learned there regularly are kids in the community in need of Easter baskets, she hopped in it to make a difference.
In 2020 and 2021, Renier, a member of the NHS National Honor Society, led the Easter Basket Project for The Emergency Assistance Center (TEAC), located at 9199 Olde Eight Road, Suite C, Northfield. TEAC provides food and other items to North Summit County residents in need.
“I have always loved volunteering and helping out whenever I can. This was the perfect opportunity to help my community and give back,” Renier said.
With assistance from fellow NHS Honor Society members, the Walsh Jesuit High School National Honor Society and St. Barnabus Catholic School, Renier recently assembled 185 Easter baskets to better the season for the community’s youngest residents.
“Grace did an excellent job organizing this. We are so grateful for her big heart,” said Joyce Hunt, TEAC Executive Director. “These baskets will bring so much joy to the parents and children we serve. It really brightens the center and brings a smile to our faces every time we look at them.”
Renier said each basket was filled with candy, toys, art supplies, bubbles, books and/or stuffed animals.
At the end of 2020, she started contacting schools specifically to see if they could help the cause by providing monetary donations or contributing supplies needed. Some drives for the program were held.
It was a little difficult to organize the Easter Basket Project this year amid the pandemic, but with some creativity, the effort still was “very successful,” said Renier.
“I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish,” she added.
The baskets now are being distributed by TEAC through April 1. Clients who scheduled their monthly food appointments will be able to receive a basket for their children, 11-years-old and younger, while supplies last.
The Easter Basket Project first began in 2016, when then NHS student and honor society member Kendra Lippincotti purchased baskets at a garage sale and decided to gather help from students, friends, and families to fill them with “goodies” for children, Hunt said.
After completing the Easter Basket Project her senior year, Lippincotti, handed it over to NHS student Madelyn Wells, who took charge of the project for two years. Then Renier stepped in so the project could continue.
“Grace took it over as a junior and is now a senior. I hope another student will continue this program. It brings so much joy to struggling families,” said Hunt.
Renier, who plans to study nursing at the Miami University of Ohio in the fall, said two juniors assisted her with the program this year, and she is hopeful they will agree to organize the program next year.
TEAC continues to serve additional households in need, as the pandemic still is impacting the Nordonia Hills community and beyond.
In February, 517 individuals were served by the center. This consisted of 202 households, including 159 senior citizens and 133 children, said Hunt.
In addition to the baskets for their children, in March, TEAC’s clients also are receiving extra items, including a coupon for a turkey or ham; five pounds of produce, including potatoes, romaine lettuce, celery, carrots, apples and oranges; and ingredients for strawberry shortcake, she said.
Last year, when some nonprofit organizations closed or reduced hours at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, TEAC continued to stay open 40 hours a week, making safety changes to ensure food and hygiene items continued to get to those in need, said Hunt.
During the pandemic, new volunteers came forward to help the community and individual donors also stepped in, purchasing food for TEAC when the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was low on supplies, as many food drives were cancelled to reduce the spread of COVID-19, she said.
“We are so grateful for the new and ongoing support we have received from individuals, businesses and organizations,” said Hunt.
For more information on The Emergency Assistance Center, including how to give help and receive help, visit www.teacenter.org.
Photo Courtesy of The Emergency Assistance Center
