food centers of excellence

Margaret is an 82-year-old great grandmother who splits her heart medication in half to afford a loaf of bread.

Carrie is a 25-year-old working mother of three who goes to bed hungry so that her children can eat since her husband passed away last year from cancer.

John is a 48-year-old unemployed autoworker who struggles to feed his own family while caring for his elderly parents.

The circumstances are different, but the need is the same. Thousands of our friends, neighbors and relatives – including children – are hungry and need our help. No one in Cleveland should have to choose between buying groceries or life-sustaining medications – between paying rent, or feeding their children.

That's why WSEM Food Centers of Excellence have become among the largest food distributors to families in need on Cleveland 's West Side . The Centers have three facilities: Brookside, Community Corner and Near West, which provide 750,000 meals a year and more than 19,000 outreach and supportive services to families and children. Thanks to WSEM, Margaret, Carrie and John are all receiving the food and other support services they need to get them through difficult times.

Each facility provides individuals and families with a three-day supply of emergency food once per month, as needed. The Centers are also the only food pantries on the West Side that provide information, referrals and support services in both English and Spanish, including food stamp application processing.

The resale shop at Community Corner is open Monday through Friday and Brookside's shop is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. The shops offer access to affordable, gently used or new clothing and small household items. Free clothing vouchers are available for those who qualify. Both shops have special dollar days, including $4 bags every Friday at Community Corner and a $3 bag sale the last week of the month at Brookside.