CLEVELAND — Some volunteers in Cleveland are taking small steps to make a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness in the community.
What You Need To Know
- Cleveland Cares packages are being prepared to distribute during the 30th annual Homeless Stand Down
- This year’s event is coordinated by Business Volunteers Unlimited
- Each bag contains some clothing items, toiletries, and other items to assist those experiencing homelessness
“I don’t know who’s going to get this bag, but I hope that it’s a blessing to them in a time that they need it,” said Tiffane Cowan.
Cowan color-coded Cleveland Cares packages during a volunteer shift with her FirstEnergy coworkers.
“It seems like a simple job, but it’s an important job, so we can get the right stuff to the right people,” she explained.
The FirstEnergy teammates are helping prepare 1,500 bags.
“We will be expert bag-taggers when we are done,” Cowan said.
The bags will be distributed by area agencies as a part of this year’s Homeless Stand Down. Each will be filled with toiletries, clothing, and other necessities.
The pandemic is preventing the groups from gathering in-person for their traditional event, but it’s not stopping people from helping their neighbors in need.
“To make sure that our people, that everybody in the community is cared for,” said Business Volunteers Unlimited director of business engagement and hands-on Heather Englander.
Englander helps connect companies and individuals interested in giving their time and talents to non-profits through Business Volunteers Unlimited.
“We all need help at different times in our life and for different things,” she said.
This is the 30th year for the initiative helping the homeless, and the first time it’s been coordinated by BVU.
“It’s so important to remember that we have so much strength when we come together around things,” Englander said.
The bags account for a fraction of those experiencing homelessness in the community. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact number, but Englander estimates about 22,000 people in Cuyahoga County have no place to call home — even temporarily.
“That’s a traumatic temporary situation,” she said. “To not know where you’re going to sleep that night. To not know where you’re going to feel safe.”
FirstEnergy volunteers like Troy Rhoades said they are blessed to be able to give to others and help provide some essential items to people at a time they’re most in need.
“I’m a military veteran, so I’ve always been in that business of serving,” he said.
The group is showing those who may feel forgotten, that the community cares.
“I mean, nobody’s immune to the whole poverty thing in this time that we live in right now,” Rhoades said.
The Cleveland Cares packages will be distributed during the Homeless Stand Down on Feb. 13.
Business Volunteers Unlimited is still accepting donations to cover the cost of the bags. The group also always welcomes volunteers.
