Generosity and gratitude are not limited to the holiday season for the staff and board members of East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC). Year after year, our most eagerly anticipated events are the times we can give back to our community and this year was no exception.
As the year comes to a close, we are grateful to be part of such a generous organization, and for all the community care and connection that we experienced throughout the year.
Some of the highlights from the past year include:
Christmas Families
EANDC staff members select gift tags from the tree in our lobby and purchase gifts to give away. This year, our staff provided gifts for three families, two from the Energy Services program, and one family of tenants. This includes eight children whose smiles make this event one of our most cherished holiday traditions.
Veteran's Lunch
Staff personally delivered prepared meals to ten veterans and their families, and also sent thank you cards to honor the service veterans who live in our community. We are deeply grateful for their service, and we are honored to provide safe, affordable housing for veterans.
Books-a-Million Holiday Toy Drive
Wow! People were VERY generous for this city-wide event. The EANDC community collected 392 donations, including toys and books for youth and teens. These donations, which were collected as part of the Books-a-Million annual drive, has an estimated value of $4,000+.
Project Grad
EANDC staff collected and donated two boxes of books and crafts for children in first – sixth grades in our community, with an estimated value of $250+.
Winter Wonderland
More than 300 community members attended this festive annual tradition where Santa visited, and youth enjoyed crafts, treats, and activities sponsored by EANDC and our community partners. We are especially grateful for the support of a $5,500 grant from CareSource for making this event possible.