LoveLight might just be the best-kept secret in Portage County.
Founded 28 years ago, the nonprofit has provided 118,702 meals, more than 31,588 snacks and 5,820 shelf-stable weekend meals for children in lower-income neighborhoods across the county, the organization said. And they’ve accomplished this despite having no permanent home.
LoveLight has operated from various temporary facilities, including a community room at Villages of Franklin Crossing (formerly Silver Meadows apartments), Summit Gardens, Athena Drive, Indian Valley and elsewhere.
Now, LoveLight is asking for help. Specifically, $100 from 2,500 people or circles of friends until the group’s $250,000 goal is reached. The ask is a step down from its previous challenge, which set a $1,000 goal for 100 people or groups.
“We’re trying to reach out across northeastern Ohio and beyond to let people know that they have the opportunity to help children,” LoveLight Executive Director Betsy Justice said. “This emphasis allows people to participate more easily. Even if I don’t have $100, I can put in $10 and ask nine friends to join me, or $25, and ask three friends, depending on people’s financial situations.”
Funds will be used to purchase and renovate a former church on 8.5 acres at 1541 S. Water St. in Kent. LoveLight has been looking at the church since January.
“The owner [Portage Health Network, LLC] has been looking at other options if we’re not able to pull all the pieces together. They would of course like it to close as soon as possible,” Justice said, noting that if the church purchase doesn’t pan out, LoveLight will explore other properties in the Kent area.
LoveLight hopes to create an intergenerational child development and lifelong learning center dubbed STARCHILD, an acronym for Service, Teaching, Advocacy and Research Center for Human Integration, Learning and Development.
Justice, a New Jersey native, holds three Kent State degrees, including a master’s in applied sociology and a doctorate in educational psychology.
She said the property will serve as LoveLight’s first permanent home and will allow the nonprofit to offer tutoring programs, workshops, gardening, nature studies, outdoor activities, community theater and more.
During the height of the Covid pandemic in the summer of 2020, LoveLight provided 14,838 to-go meals, including 7,419 to-go breakfasts and 7,419 to-go lunches in four Kent neighborhoods and the Brimfield Community Cupboard. At the Kent sites, they also sent activities home for the children.
Between October 2020 and mid-August 2021, LoveLight distributed 35,722 to-go suppers and 31,588 snacks through the Brimfield Community Cupboard, Windham’s Renaissance Family Center and in Kent. It also provided 4,153 to-go breakfasts for Kent children.
Additional initiatives have included:
- StudyBuddies, which consisted of pairs of college students assisting pairs of public school children with their academics
- LoveLight Learning Center and neighborhood tutoring
- Licensed after-school program for children ages 5 through 14
- A mentoring program for lower-income eighth grade “at-promise” youth, in conjunction with Kent City Schools and community partners
- Professional Learning Communities Academy, which over the course of three school years provided professional development for teams of P-12 educators (270 individuals) in order to create Professional Learning Communities in their respective schools to increase student learning and teacher retention as well as improving school climate
- Initiating the Rhythmic Movement Training Symposia held at Kent State University and presented by Swedish psychiatrist Dr. Harald Blomberg. BRMT (Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training) exercises, which mimic natural baby movement patterns, have been found to improve attention, vision, reading, speech and handwriting as well as cognitive, emotional and motor functioning
- Tutoring PLUS, one-on-one sessions for youth and adults experiencing difficulties with academic and/or overall functioning; these sessions are focused on addressing underlying causes of these difficulties
Donations may be sent via paper checks to LoveLight, Inc. at P.O. Box 123, Kent, Ohio 44240. Deposits may also be made to the LoveLight Invest in Our Children savings account at Hometown Bank and Portage Community Bank, the LoveLight savings account at Huntington and Key banks, or the organization’s checking account at Chase Bank. Donors may also provide funds via Paypal using the QR code below or via Zelle, using [email protected].
People may also provide financial support through the LoveLight Shop with Gift Cards Circle of Friends project to provide an ongoing revenue source. Participants can use gift cards or many e-cards at restaurants, grocery stores and retail outlets, receiving the full value of the card while vendors donate a percentage of the card’s value to LoveLight.
Except for PayPal’s fees, 100% of donations goes to the 2,500-person challenge. None of the money is kept for administrative or other fees, Justice said.
Visit LoveLight’s website for more information.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.