Village Project “Nourish”

The fourth annual “Nourish,” a fundraiser for the Village Project, welcomed more than 500 guests to the Hyland headquarters in Westlake for an evening of food, fun, entertainment, fellowship and giving.

The Village Project has been nourishing its neighbors experiencing a cancer crisis for more than eight years. During that time, more than 27,000 meals and sustaining services have been delivered to more than 275 families in Avon, Avon Lake, Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake.

Since its inception in 2010, Village Project has experienced a growth of more than 600 percent. It currently boasts more than 600 volunteers, from ages two to 90, who serve through cooking, gardening, shopping, delivery, yard care and client relations. This growth forced the organization to move its base of operations from a church basement to its own headquarters. That facility was expanded again in 2018, to double its previous size, in order to support continued development, allow for community involvement and enable more clients to be served. The headquarters now includes a community gathering space for cooking classes, private parties and meetings. The nonprofit organization recently opened a retail shop in the enlarged facility where people from the community can purchase the tasty and wholesome foods that the Village Project shares with its clients. Proceeds from Project Shoppe help to provide an income stream for the growing organization.

Guests at “Nourish” sampled the Village Project’s healthy, delicious food served at stations throughout Hyland. They enjoyed a silent auction and raffle for a dream vacation, musical entertainment by the Bay High School Honors Quintet, Bay High School Choraleers, Bobby Vincent and Todd Thibo. “Nourish” raised more than $100,000 to support the Village Project. STORY BY CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN/PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC EAKIN