News from Community Resource Services
NOVEMBER 2021
Thanks for Making A Difference!
Top Gun Donation!
These incredible cheerleaders from the Rubies squad at Top Gun All Stars Ohio collected donations to make these amazing Thanksgiving baskets! They are filled with 240 pounds of food, gift cards and lots of super cute Thanksgiving items! We are so very grateful for this donation that our families will absolutely love!
Annual Cleaning Supply Collection!
The student's from Mrs. Tomlin's class at Avon Lake High School held their annual collection of cleaning supplies recently! These students dropped off 312 pounds of paper towels, dish soap, all-purpose cleaner and more! Thanks to these awesome students and to everyone that donated to their collection!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
A really great way to support CRS during the upcoming holiday season is to volunteer to be a Salvation Army Bell Ringer! This year we will be manning kettles at the Giant Eagle in Avon Lake and the Hobby Lobby in Avon so we'll be looking for lots of people to volunteer! Click on the following links to sign-up for a shift:
CRS Holiday Assistance Programs
Santa's Workshop provides a wonderful Christmas for our families. Each child receives a coat, pajamas, and a wish list item and each family receives a Family Basket. Santa's Workshop if stocked with donated items so if you are interested in donating, please contact Amy at [email protected] and she will provide you with a list of items that we need.

CRS is once again collaborating with Walmart's "Registry for Good" - a great way for donors to shop from the comfort of their own homes. We have created this gift registry from the wish lists provided by our families.


All items purchased on the Registry for Good will be delivered directly to CRS!
 
We are always in need of TEEN GIFTS! Small denomination gift cards to local fast food restaurants, sportswear, toiletry gift sets, etc. Email Amy at [email protected] for additional ideas.
Family Baskets are another CRS holiday tradition! This program was developed in an effort to provide families with a basket of items that they need and would enjoy. Here are some great family basket ideas:
 
-Family Game Night - filled with board games, snacks, etc.
-Christmas Basket - filled with small decorations, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, etc.
-Baking Basket - filled with cookie sheets, measuring cups, cookie mix, sprinkles, frosting, etc.
-Italian Dinner Basket - filled with non-perishable food items for a spaghetti dinner
-Ice Cream Basket - filled with ice cream dishes, toppings, sprinkles and a gift card to purchase ice cream
-Snow Day Basket - filled with hats, gloves, sled, snowman making kit, etc. 
 
These are just suggestions. You can use a reusable laundry basket (or other creative container) and your imagination to create anything you think our families would like! 
We are also collecting food for Holiday Food Baskets. Here is a list of some of the items that we will be including: hot chocolate mixes, small cans of coffee, sugar cookie mixes including frosting and festive sprinkles, apple sauce, muffin mixes, baked beans, Velveeta Shells & Cheese (or any brand that doesn't call for butter and milk), au gratin potato mixes.
MEIJER HOLIDAY SIMPLY GIVE CAMPAIGN
Meijer is a family company that is focused on enriching the lives in the communities where they do business. The Simply Give Campaign has continued to be an important way that they support their commitment to feeding hungry families.

The campaign will run from now through Saturday, January 1, 2022. Customers will be invited to join their efforts by purchasing $10 Simply Give donation cards which are located at each cash register. Meijer will match each $10 card that is purchased with an additional $10 donation to CRS!
DOUBLE MATCH DAYS: From now until November 25th, Meijer will match each $10 customer donation with $20!
Caring Hearts Charity Ball
We are very excited to announce that planning is underway for the Caring Hearts Charity Ball being held on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at The Shipyards Event Center in Lorain. The Charity Ball is our largest fundraiser of the year! The event features a sit-down dinner, music, dancing, auctions, raffles and many other ways to support CRS. Sponsorship opportunities at all levels are available and we are also accepting donations for our live and silent auctions. Please contact Sheila at [email protected] more information.
CRS has truly been blessed this month with many donations of non-perishable items for our food pantry.Thank you to the following businesses and organizations:

Avenbury Ladies of the Lake, Avon Lake Giant Eagle, Barry Bagels, Bay Presbyterian Church, Bay Presbyterian Food Pantry, Christ Church Westshore, Eastview Elementary PTA, Holy Spirit Church, Holy Trinity Parish, Hooks for Hunger, Hunger Network Food Rescue, New Westsiders, and PJ's from Grandma.

This is in addition to the many individuals who bring donations to the CRS office on a daily basis.

We are so very grateful for all of the donations that help keep our food pantry well stocked. Thank you for making a difference, right here at home!
Don't forget to log into the Amazon Smile website when you make your purchases from Amazon! Amazon Smile will donate .5% of your eligible Amazon purchases when you choose "Avon Lake Community Resource Services" as the charity of your choice.

Amazon Smile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same services.

As of August 2021, Amazon Smile has donated $628.02 to CRS! Thank you to everyone that has already chosen CRS as your charity!

Please login to smile.amazon.com today to begin supporting CRS while you shop!
Community Resource Services is a responsive, community-based organization whose mission is to diminish the effect of poverty in Avon and Avon Lake. We provide basic needs assistance and individualized resource and referral services in a compassionate and confidential manner.
We believe in a community where every resident is free from poverty.