Community Involvement
Recent Blogposts
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Christmas Benevolence Project 2025 - THANK YOU!
This year, we once again give thanks to God for the Christmas Benevolence Project and for the ways he chose to care for many through it. We trust that the fruit of this season of giving will be felt not because of our efforts, but because of his mercy at work in our church, our community, and throughout Cleveland.
Since 2017, this project has given the Parkside congregation a chance to come alongside families in need during the Christmas season and to reflect the love of Jesus in practical ways. Throughout December, many volunteers generously gave their time to shop, wrap, and deliver gifts, while others supported the effort through prayer and financial giving. We are grateful for every expression of faithfulness that made this possible.
This year, Parkside families in need of encouragement and assistance received a gift book, postcard, and assorted gift cards to help with Christmas presents for their children and food for Christmas Day. In total, 84 families were served through the project, including families from our community, Health for Her Cleveland, the Sponsor-a-Family program through Geauga County Job and Family Services, and several local school districts. Each family also received a One Year New Testament, service information, a children’s gospel booklet, and a note from Parkside.
We praise God for the opportunity to come alongside the Chagrin Falls Community Center’s Christmas project, which served 75–80 families by providing food, children’s pajamas, and gift cards for parents. One Year New Testaments and children’s gospel booklets were included as well. We are also thankful for the ongoing partnerships God has given us with Scranton Road Bible Church and The City Mission in downtown Cleveland, which allowed us to support their Christmas outreaches by providing Bibles for children and teens and gifts for the men involved in the Crossroads Ministry.
Please join us in thanking God for providing these opportunities to serve, and ask him to use these small acts of faithfulness for his purposes. Please join us also in praying that those who received these gifts would come to know the greatest gift of all—salvation in Christ alone.
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2025 Thanksgiving Box Project - Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who helped make this year's Thanksgiving Box Project a success! More than 300 full Thanksgiving dinners were distributed to families. Please pray that those who received them will be drawn closer to Jesus as a result.
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Event
Christmas Benevolence Project 2025
Start Time: Fri 14, Nov. 2025, noon
End Time: Wed 31, Dec. 2025, 5 p.m.
Parkside Church desires to share the joy of Christmas with families in need, both in Cleveland through our partnerships with Scranton Road Bible Church, Health for Her, and The City Mission, and in our surrounding communities by partnering with local schools and organizations. By purchasing essentials and Christmas gifts, our goal is to offer families hope during the holiday season: the hope that comes from generosity, and the hope that comes from Jesus.
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The City Mission Immediate Volunteer Need
Over the past several months, we created an Intake Specialist role at Laura’s Home to better serve the hundreds of single women and single mothers seeking help. With Katie in this role, we’ve been able to maintain regular contact through a mass texting system with those who chose to remain on our waitlist. Currently, 325 women and children receive daily check-ins from Katie.
Immediate Outreach & Measured Need
• Yesterday, we reached out to our waitlist to ask if they needed food support during this time and offered each person a hearty bagged lunch.
• Within 25 minutes, 24% opened the message, resulting in requests for 238 bagged lunches.
• Engagement has continued to grow; with a 33% open rate, requests have increased to 314 bagged lunches.
• We expect this number to grown even more through Friday.
Distribution Plan
• We will serve the community at our Main Campus
• Beginning on Saturday we will distribute during 3:00–5:00 p.m.
• Distribution of hearty bagged lunches are for those on our waitlist, with the potential to scale as capacity allows and need increases
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Volunteer with Chagrin Falls Meals on Wheels, Inc.
People use meal delivery services for many reasons. It helps people stay independent in their homes. It helps those who are disabled or recovering from an illness or injury. And it helps those who are challenged by the rising cost of food while living on a fixed income.
Donations to Chagrin Falls Meals-on-Wheels enable us to prepare and deliver over 26,000 meals annually to an average of 72 clients per week. Clients only pay $6 for two meals per day, and no one is turned away for inability to pay. Donations help fund the gap between the price charged and the full cost of the food, supplies, one chef, and the rental space of a commercial kitchen. The 98 dedicated volunteers do all the rest to prepare, package, and deliver meals each weekday.
We have been recognized by the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Chagrin Valley Jaycees, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles for the important work that we do. Founded nearly 50 years ago, we are an independent 501(c)(3) organization. We receive no government funding and so we rely on donations.
To Volunteer: Call Marty Robertson, Driver Coordinator, 440-724-1046.
To Apply For Meal Service: Call Sue Mansour, Recipient Coordinator, 440-668-9399 or Call Meals on Wheels Kitchen: 440-543-1405.
Sincerely,
Ken Anderson, President
Chagrin Falls Meals on Wheels, Inc. -
Event
Thanksgiving Box Project 2025
Start Time: Fri 24, Oct. 2025, 9 a.m.
End Time: Sat 22, Nov. 2025, noon
Every fall for the past 39 years, Parkside Church has helped provide complete Thanksgiving dinners to families in the Cleveland area. Boxes filled with non-perishable food and a whole roasting turkey are hand-delivered to those who might otherwise be unable to enjoy the holiday with a traditional meal.
We invite you and your family to join us as we partner with Scranton Road Bible Church to make this Thanksgiving Day brighter for more than 300 families.
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Love to Sing?
The Good Tidings Benefit Choir is looking for members to help our neighbors in need. We are an all volunteer choir to help The Geauga Hunger Task Force support our neighbors living with food insecurity.
The Choir will be singing the Christmas portion of GF Handel's Messiah. If you have a book, great. There will be copies to purchase there. You may join ages 16 and up. High school students can receive community service hours.
Practices start Sunday October 17th, 2025 at 1 pm at the Sisters of Notre Dame Chapel. Practices continue each Sunday until the performance Sunday December 7th.
This is a wonderful way to join others in improving lives right here in your community. One in every nine in Geauga County live with the risk of missing meals each day. Food insecurity does not discriminate. People cannot rest, learn, heal or work without proper nutrition. We believe YOU can raise funds and spirits for this holiday season.
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Volunteer with Samaritan's Purse - Disaster Relief
Are you interested in volunteering your time and services to the Samaritan's Purse, Disaster Relief team(s)? Samaritan's Purse is under the direction of Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son) and is an International Relief organization. A disaster may include flash flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires that have damaged homes.
Far beyond the physical help you will extend to the homeowners, the spiritual and emotional support you offer to them is even more important. The volunteer experience is rewarding and can be life-changing.
For more information please contact Pamela Schmidt, pamela.aloha@yahoo.com.
Blessings!
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Event
The City Mission Running with A Mission 2025
Location: Edgewater Park 7600 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway Cleveland, OH 44102
Start Time: Sat 6, Sept. 2025, 7:30 a.m.
End Time: Sat 6, Sept. 2025, noon
The City Mission’s 14th annual 5K run, 1-mile walk, and Kids Fun Run will take place Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Edgewater Park in Cleveland. This family-friendly event will welcome over 500 participants, and, best of all, event proceeds benefit the men, women, and children working to break the cycle of poverty through our programs and services.
Events like Running with a Mission enable the Mission’s transformative work in Cleveland, but its success is not possible without YOU! Your participation empowers life-changing programs offering care and compassion to hundreds of Cleveland’s men, women, and children.
SCHEDULE:
7:30 am – Registration Open and Fun Begins
8:45am – Welcome Ceremony
8:50am – Kids Fun Run
9:00am – 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk Begin
We look forward to seeing you at Running with a Mission 2025!
https://www.thecitymission.org/run/
LOCATION:
Edgewater Beach Lower Area 6500 Cleveland Memorial ParkwayCleveland, OH 44102
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Event
Back to School Bash 2025-Laura's Home
Location: Laura's Home Women's Crisis Center:18120 Puritas Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44135
Start Time: Fri 8, Aug. 2025, 5 p.m.
End Time: Fri 8, Aug. 2025, 7 p.m.
The Back to School Bash is an annual event to support the children of Laura's Home as they return to school. To supply the needs of each child takes many resources.
You can join The City Mission and Laura's Home by helping in one of these 4 Ways:
1. Purchasing items needed on the donations list
2. Adding to the fun by sponsoring part of their party
3. Volunteering to be a part of the festivities on Friday, August 8 from 5-7 pm
4. Making a donation to support the event