Community West Foundation Grantee Spotlight: Village Project

Providing Nourishment to Families Facing Cancer

“What’s for dinner?” is a question that buzzes in family’s homes on a daily basis. But in the wake of a cancer diagnosis, dinner is put on the back burner. Village Project’s meal delivery program helps alleviate the burden of planning, shopping and cooking meals for families battling cancer.

Founded 11 years ago, each member of the affected family receives 3 meals per week, but that’s not all. The organization also brings them a bouquet of flowers and notes of encouragement hand-crafted by volunteers and signed by the student and adult cooks each week. These little extras are intended to help brighten their day and help them remember they are not alone on their journey.

How much does it cost? Nothing. Because of the funding support Village Project receives from organizations like Community West Foundation and others, they are able to provide this service to the community for free. They currently serve clients in Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake. The food delivery volunteers are nicknamed “delivery angels” since that has been the response from many clients.

Village Project serves between 25-30 families each week (that is 150-200 meals per week) but has the capacity to grow. “We have both a Culinary Director and Kitchen Leader on staff to run our kitchen, but the meals are cooked by volunteers,” explained Executive Director, Meredith LaVecchia. All meals are prepared by volunteers of varying ages. Many high school students from all the communities they serve help out with the food prep. “It’s rewarding to see these volunteers come together for a common purpose, many don’t know one another at the start, but as time goes on, you see friendships start to form.” People can volunteer at any age. They have volunteers as young as 2 years old spanning to retired individuals looking to make a difference, whether it be in the kitchen, community garden or the Village Project Shoppe.

“The thing that inspires me most are the thank you notes we receive from families expressing gratitude,” commented LaVecchia. One family even expressed that every week when they receive their meals they pray for the volunteers who helped prepare the food. “It’s more than food that we are bringing these families; it’s hope, love and compassion.”

The COVID pandemic has not slowed them down. “Cancer still exists,” LaVecchia expressed. “As long as we can continue to bring our volunteers together safely, we will continue to provide meals to our families.”

To learn more about Village Project, visit their website OurVillageProject.com or call 440-348-9401.

For more information, contact Community West Foundation at 440-360-7370 or visit CommunityWestFoundation.org.