CLEVELAND, Ohio — Each day, thousands of documents, from books, to manuals, to business cards, are printed and packaged at Northern Ohio Printing.
Recently, menus are the majority of what’s being printed and Northern Ohio Printing President Gary Chmielewski is proud to say the company is doing so at no cost for restaurants affected by COVID-19.
- The Cleveland-based printing compmany is using its resources and equipment to help Northeast Ohio restaurants
- They’re offering one thousand menus, fliers, or coupon sheets per restaurant location
- Truman’s 216 is providing 100 meals to local first responders per day and they had “free appetizer” coupons made to hand out with deiveries
“The most impacted I would have to say are the restaurants,” said Chmielewski. “That’s kind of where my heartbeat is, for those people, because talking to a lot of them, they’re down to like one quarter of their staff and really day by day, just kind of getting them by one day at a time and it’s been really hard to hear their stories.”
Chmielewski says local restaurants make up a very large part of the company’s clientele and for those that remain open, advertising is essential.
“They can put a carryout menu or a coupon for people to come back and come back maybe later in the week or tell a friend or family member, ‘hey, we got carryout at this restaurant and we have their menu here and we want to support them,’” he said.
Finance director of Truman’s 216 Lauren Pepple says the restaurant took advantage of the offer immediately.
“It really shows that not only Gary and his Northern Ohio printing, but this community Cleveland, is really coming together and supporting each other and that’s important now and that’s important in the future,” said Pepple.
Northern Ohio Printing is offering one thousand menus, fliers, or coupon sheets per restaurant location.
While the state is under stay-at-home orders, Truman’s 216 is providing 100 meals to local first responders per day and they had “free appetizer” coupons made which they give out as they deliver meals.
“Once we open, we want to continue to show our appreciation to the people who protect and serve us in different ways, so that’s great, so every time we go out into the community, whether it’s a hospital, Cleveland Clinic or University Hospital or the fire department in Shaker or a police station in Cleveland, they’re getting these coupons. We’re getting the message out that when we’re open we want them to the first ones in to show our thanks.” Pepple says.
Chmielewski says the 26-year-old Cleveland company wants to do its part to help to bring in customers and some hope to restaurants hard hit by COVID-19.
“I love Cleveland and I’ll do anything to help our community and what we want to do is bring them some hope and that’s really what all of us want at a time of crisis.” Chmielewski says.
