Monday, March 8 UPDATE:

Wow. Just... WOW. We're blown away by the response this year. Y'all have the biggest hearts and they're going to make the biggest impact. We've flown past our goal of $7,500 and, as of this writing, we're $2,010 away from doubling it! This year's event is the most successful TTM we've had in our 45-year history.

Big shout-out to Sia Nyorkor of Channel19 News for her great piece on Sunday. You can watch her clip here: https://www.cleveland19.com/20...

Original Post:

Hi. We're Middleburg Heights Community United Church of Christ (yeah, it's a mouthful; call us MHCUCC). Our mission is "Come, for all are welcome. Stay, for God is still speaking. Go, and serve humanity."

One of our favorite ways to fulfill the "Go, and serve humanity" part of our mission statement is by supporting Church Street Ministries/Second Mile Outreach, an ecumenical faith-based nonprofit that runs a food pantry for Cuyahoga County residents, and a thrift shop (that also supplies household goods, furniture, and clothing to veterans and families transitioning out of homelessness).

In 2021, our youth and children are holding their 45th annual Teeter-Totter Marathon to raise funds that go directly to Church Street Ministries to feed our hungry neighbors. Please support our kids as they lead this effort, working toward food and economic justice in our area and teaching them they can and do make a difference in our world. Thank you!

Consider "tipping" our awesome platform, Givebutter, to cover the credit card processing fees. That way, 100% of your donation goes to make our Teeter-Totter Marathon successful (and, to reiterate, 100% of your donation goes to the food pantry)!

Image: CSM Board President & MHCUCC member Ann Over gives the kids some see-saw assist at 2019's TTM.

A SHARED MISSION
Church Street Ministries and MHCUCC share more than just a love of caring for our neighbors. Both the non-profit and the church started in 1948, just a few miles down the road from each other. We connected in ministry many years ago, and the monies raised from TTM have helped support CSM for several years. Both organizations cite Matthew 25:35-36 as a biblical base driving their missions: "... for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."

Throughout Northeast Ohio, one in six people (including children) is food insecure – meaning they may not know where their next meal will come from.

Image: Zack L., one of the MHCUCC kids, volunteers at a Fill-the-Truck drive for CSM held by the church in September 2020.

WHAT DOES CHURCH STREET MINISTRIES/SECOND MILE OUTREACH DO?

Provides critical assistance to families in our community for basic needs:
- Operates a food pantry. Membership in the Cleveland Food Bank guarantees high standards. The Food Pantry provides short term food assistance to those experiencing food insecurity. Families and individuals may come once a month to receive food to supplement their resources.
- Offers furniture, clothing and household goods for low cost.
- Collaborates with churches and other organizations who refer people in need.
Works with the VA to help veterans in transition with household goods.
Provides opportunities for individuals assigned to community service through partnership with the courts.
Offers support and guidance to those needing emergency assistance.
Donates clothing to women's and men's shelters.
Collects, manages, and distributes donations, including bulk item pick-up for a nominal fee.

Second Mile Food Pantry served 14,492 people as of the end of September 2020, compared to 13,339 in all of 2019. The pandemic has increased food insecurity across the nation as more families are in crisis.

VETERANS
Since June 2011, Church Street Ministries has collaborated with veteran organizations to help provide food, furniture, and household items to veterans in need. Special focus on helping veterans who have obtained housing after being homeless for a long period of time.

The "thank a veteran" program is sponsored by your monetary donations which are converted to gift certificates that are given to veterans to use at the Church Street Ministries' store.

Monetary support is greatly appreciated to purchase items needed and to balance out food donations. The pantry is able to buy food items at a lower cost through the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, maximizing your generosity beyond what you could at the grocery store.

Image: Some of the MHCUCC youth packing Thanksgiving meal bags at CSM in November 2020.

45th Teeter-Totter Marathon

By Middleburg Heights Community UCC

45th Teeter-Totter Marathon

To benefit Church Street Ministries Food Pantry