Grace LaVecchia with Doris Swanson-Pollock and Patrick, Meredith, Pat, Abby and JoAnn LaVecchia

Jason and Jennifer Albers with Julie Hardis Ware and Peter Gierosky

“Nourish: A Recipe for Hope” brought more than 250 guests to the Emerald Event Center in Avon to support the Village Project and its clients.
Since 2010, Village Project has provided over 45,000 meals to more than 450 cancer patients and their families in Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake. More than 600 volunteers of all ages utilize their unique gifts and talents in areas ranging from the kitchen to the garden to food delivery.

Joe and Stephanie Waldron with Beth and Paul Palamara

“It is truly a blessing to honor, celebrate and pay tribute to our most important stakeholders, our clients,” Meredith LaVecchia, Village Project executive director said. “We could not do what we do without our volunteers, donors and supporters. Because of you, we are able to provide the hope our clients rely on each day.”
Stacy Windahl, the event’s featured speaker, has known of the Village Project first as a volunteer and then as a client. She shares her experience as a cancer patient and survivor with others needing support and inspiration.

Ed and Holly Colleran with Ellie and Larry Bricmont

This year’s Nourish fundraiser honored Holly Colleran as volunteer of the year, and Elizabeth Lis as student volunteer of the year. Colleran has been a Village Project volunteer since 2011, logging in more than 850 volunteer hours. Lis, a senior at Bay High School, started volunteering at Village Project in 2022 and continues to volunteer one to two times a week.
The $85,000 raised at “Nourish: A Recipe for Hope” will enable Village Project to continue its mission of working together as a community to provide nourishing meals and support for Northeast Ohio families fighting cancer. STORY BY CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN/PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC EAKIN