UWLC to host Community-Wide Food Drop-Off on May 16 as a final call for help for Feed Lake County

United Way of Lake County is hosting a community-wide food drop-off on Friday, May 16 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Office Max location in Mentor as a final call for help to raise food and funds for Feed Lake County.

According to the Ohio Department Board of Education, many local school districts are seeing an increase in student poverty rates, leading many students to apply for free lunch programs. Painesville Schools has an 87.3% student poverty rate, Mentor Schools has a 29.5% student poverty rate and Willoughby-Eastlake Schools has a 27.3%.



In addition, From January 1, 2014 to May 1, 2014, 2-1-1 has received 3,503 calls for food, which is a 26% increase for the amount of calls for food during the same time frame in 2013.

While the need for food continues to grow, this year's Feed Lake County food drive is down in both money raised and pounds of food raised. United Way of Lake County is asking companies, organizations, schools, churches, individuals, etc. to put together one last ditch effort to raise food and money for Feed Lake County before the nonprofit organizations conducts a county-wide distribution to the local food pantries the week of May 19. The most requested food items are boxed or canned meals, spaghetti sauce, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned fruit and tuna.

We ask you or your organization to please consider organizing a food drive in conjunction with United Way of Lake County and then drop off the results on Friday, May 16 at the Community Food Drop-Off.

How can YOU help:

• Organize a food drive at your company or organization and then donate the food items and money collected to United Way of Lake County. For more information, contact Gayle Sikula at 440.639.1082 or Gsikula@uwlc.org.
• Make an individual monetary or food donation to United Way of Lake County and send to 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, Ohio.

The money collected during Feed Lake County will be used to make food purchases throughout 2014 to help restock food pantries later in the year. 

United Way's LIVE Super Raffle drawing is NEXT FRIDAY. Get your tickets now!

United Way of Lake County's LIVE Super Raffle drawing is NEXT FRIDAY at 5:30 p.m. at the Great Lakes Mall (in front of Macy's). Time is running out to purchase your tickets.

 

Local companies and individuals have combined to donate 56 BIG TICKET items including a 2014 Ford Fusion 2-year Lease (or $5,000 cash option), two cruises, vacations to Disney World, Fort Myers, FL, Harbour Town, SC, Chicago, IL, Erie, PA, airline tickets, electronics, sports tickets, gym and spa packages, and many, many more prizes.

Super Raffle tickets are now on sale on United Way of Lake County's website: www.uwlc.org. (*Important NOTE - online sales will conclude at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, March 13 - if you wish to purchase tickets on Friday, March 14 you can do so at the mall from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in front of Macy's.)

Tickets for Super Raffle are $5 each or six for $25. Aside from the website, tickets can also be purchased by phone at 440.352.3166 or in person at United Way of Lake County's office, 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, OH 44060.

Money raised during Super Raffle benefits 74 partner programs that United Way of Lake County funds. These programs focus on senior citizens, health & human Services, children & families and basic needs.

If present at the live drawing, winners can pick from available prizes. A separate drawing for the Ford Fusion will be held at United Way of Lake County's Celebrity Server event, which is Thursday, March 13, 2014 at LaMalfa.

Top prizes include:

• 2014 Ford Fusion 2-year lease OR $5,000 cash option from Classic Automotive Group
• Five-day Cruise from Asa Cox Homes
• Eight-Night Mexico Getaway from Right Track Benefits
• Harbor Town, SC Vacation from The Crockett Team
• Caribbean Cruise for Two from Right Track Benefits
• Chicago, IL Weekend Getaway including a Ladies & Gentleman Salon & Spa day and tickets to The Second City
• Disney World Vacation
• Fort Myers, FL Vacation from Stanley Steamer
• Erie, PA Casino Getaway from Presque Isle Downs & Casino
• 20 Captains Tickets with $200 toward food and drink from Lake Health
• One Year of Massages from Ladies & Gentlemen Salon & Spa
• Year of Services from Edge Hair Studio
• One Year Fitworks Membership with Personal Trainer from Mentor Fitworks
• Six VASER Shape Treatments from Vanek Plastic Surgery
• Cosmeceuticals & Massages from Vanek Plastic Surgery
• Forever Young Package from Vanek Plastic Surgery
• 60" Flat Screen Television from The Lubrizol Corporation
• 32 GB iPod Touch with Wi-Fi from The Lubrizol Corporation
• One Year of Free Lawn Mowing from Sharp Edge Tree & Landscape
• Airline tickets from Anonymous 

To see all 59 prizes, visit www.uwlc.org.  

 

FACEBOOK PROMOTION  

Between now and Wednesday, March 12 we are putting on a Facebook promotion that you'll definitely LIKE.

Below are the details:

"LIKE" us on Facebook & purchase $50 United Way of Lake County Super Raffle now through 3/12/14, and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!

IMPORTANT:
* Entrants must "LIKE" us on Facebook at the time of drawing in order to be eligible to win.
*Entrants must make a minimum $50 United Way of Lake County Super Raffle purchase and enter promo code "Social Media" at checkout to be eligible to win.

* Each additional $50 purchase gains entrant another chance to win!  

United Way of Lake County to host Spa Day January 30. Sign up now!

United Way's Women's Winterfest: Food for the Holidays is THIS Thursday!

United Way of Lake County will be hosting "Women's Winterfest: Food for the Holidays" -- an event for women featuring the best holiday foods from the county's various local restaurants, bakeries and hotels. All proceeds from the event go to women's programs in Lake County.  

RSVP to Kristin Kozar at 440-639-4583 or kkozar@uwlc.org.

  

The event is THIS THURSDAY from 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm at Pine Ridge Country Club. Registration starts at 5:30 pm and the program begins at 6:30 pm.

  

Tickets are $50 at the door which includes three wine tickets. There will be an assortment of food from local vendors, food demonstrations, holiday décor and more than 25 auction items.

  

Women's Winterfest is the perfect night out to get together with friends and other women to enjoy holiday food samples, music and décor while giving back to the community.

Participating vendors, thus far, include: Great Harvest Bread, Confectionary Cupboard, Tommy's Jerky, Skye, Food for Thought, Melt Bar & Grilled, Pickle Bill's, Dino's, LaMalfa, Tastefully Simple, Sweet Love Cookies, Market Spice, Cold Stone Creamery, Reider's Market and many more.

  

Students from the Brown Aveda Institute will also be offering beauty treatments at no cost and live music will be provided by students from the Fine Arts Association.

  

Sponsors include: Vanek Plastic Surgery, Wells Fargo Advisors, Huntington Bank and Salida Woods.

Salvation Army needs volunteers for manning Red Kettle's during holiday season

Dear Friend,

Since 1897 The Salvation Army has been a tradition during the Christmas Season; bringing out their Red Kettles accompanied by ringing bells to various locations throughout our community and the country.  The Red Kettle Campaign is our primary means of financing a multitude of programs that benefit the less fortunate in Painesville and the Lake County area such as:

• Feed up to 120 people each day  • Provide the homeless a place to shower and keep warm

• Distribute Christmas gifts to over 1500 children  • Tutoring for 30 children per day

• Weekly program for up to 60 teens  • Back to School back-pack program for 2,000+ children

We know there are many individuals and businesses who would like to contribute financially to our worthy cause, but due to the economy, they understandably are not in a position to do so.  However, there is another, very simple way you can have a positive effect on increasing donations to help us continue ‘doing the most good’.

Therefore, we are seeking families, civic organizations, church and school groups or businesses to man a kettle location for 1 day.  Kettles are open from 10-8 from Nov 15 – Dec 24.  If you split that time frame in to 2 hour shifts, it means you only need 5 people to cover ringing the bell for 1 day! Your donation of time can mean increasing donations at a kettle from $500-$700 to approximately $1500.00 in 1 day!  Giving your time for 2 hours/1 day is equivalent to writing us a check for $1500 dollars; monies which will stay and be used right here to benefit those in our own neighborhoods.

There are 22 kettle locations to choose from; one located conveniently near you.  Please call the Painesville Citadel today at 440-354-3774 and ask for Jon or Billie who can provide further details, schedule you/your group and answer any questions you may have.

 Thank you for your consideration.  Your generosity is much appreciated.  God Bless,

Major Robert Bender, Salvation Army Painesville Division and the 2013 Red Kettle Campaign Chairs

Maria Zampini, UpShoot LLC and Tricia Nelligan Ambrose, The News-Herald                        

Join the following groups who’ve generously committed to manning a Salvation Army Red Kettle this Christmas Season! We appreciate all of our guest ringers whether it is for 1 hour, 1 day or 1 week!

Committed to 4 days:

Lake Catholic High School – Staffing 4 kettles after school for 4 days!

Committed to 2 days:

Christ Crusaders

Leadership Lake County

Committed to 1 day:

Fire Chiefs of Lake County

North Coast Lions Club

Nursery Growers of Lake County, Ohio

Painesville Rotary

Salvation Army Advisory Board – Staffing 2 kettles

Willoughby Hills Methodist Church

Committed to a partial day:

Painesville Assembly of God – Teen Group