BEREA, Ohio -- If you happen to be walking in the vicinity of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 50 E. Bagley Road, between 9:30 a.m. and noon on a Tuesday and spot two or three people tending a sidewalk coffee cart, you’re invited to stop for a brew or two.
The “Red Door Cafe,” as the outdoor cart has been dubbed, debuted a year ago in an effort to connect with both Baldwin Wallace University students and members of the community, the Rev. David Radzik said.
He explained that the church stands at the intersection of Seminary Street and Bagley Road, between BW’s north and south campuses.
“We live in a society very walled off from one another. You’d be surprised at the percentage of people who walk past each other and don’t look at one another. But I think people are looking for relationships -- to get to know other people,” Radzik said.
“We have one student who told us this morning that stopping here for a cup of coffee and talking is a bright part of his week.”
Radzik said some people who stop sometimes bring up their personal struggles and triumphs.
“We talked to a guy who had served in Afghanistan, and we just talked about life in general. This is just people hanging out with people.
“When school is in session, we are always here, and if someone is struggling with something in their lives, Deacon Barbara Telfer and I are out here with our collars,” Radzik said.
And Radzik and Telfer find that nothing goes better with conversation than a cup of brew, which in the case of the Red Door Cafe is a hot pour-over cup of Red Cedar Coffee, produced right here in Berea, or Mystic Monk coffee, roasted in the Rocky Mountains by the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming.
“That sort of adds the ‘churchy connection,’” Radzik said with a chuckle.
Whatever the weather, “we don’t cancel,” Radzik said. “We put our snow jackets on, and when it rains, we’re out with our umbrellas. If it’s really cold, we brew inside the door so the glass doesn’t shatter when it hits the hot liquid.
“We’ve been here when it was below zero -- and everybody can appreciate a hot cup of coffee on a cold day.”
Better sleep: If you have “sleep issues” in your home and are looking for some tips so everyone can have a better night’s rest, a program sponsored by Connecting For Kids may be just what your looking for.
The program starts at 6:30 p.m. April 11 at the Cuyahoga County Library’s Middleburg Heights branch, 16699 Bagley Road.
Bridget Foley and Lauren Fegely, representing Certified Family Sleep Institute Pediatric Sleep Consultants from Little Snoozers, will discuss bedtimes, nap times and nap transitions, as well as what sleep should look like from birth to school age.
Foley and Fegely will also talk about the importance of a calming routine before bedtime, the room environment and various methods for helping children who have disabilities with their unique sleep challenges.
Register for this program online at www.connectingforkids.org/register, by email at info@connectingforkids.org or by calling/texting 440-4570-5908.
For the birds: John Matt Valencic of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland will host a multimedia presentation, “Summer birds of Northeast Ohio,” at 7 p.m. April 17 at the Cuyahoga County Library’s Middleburg Heights branch, 16699 Bagley Road.
This event will showcase 50 species through photographs, songs and many interesting anecdotes.
Registration is required. Call 440-234-3600 or register online at www.cuyahogalibrary.org.
Play ball: Registration is now open for for the Berea Baseball Association’s co-ed T-ball, ages 4-6; boys baseball, ages 7-18; and girls fastpitch softball, ages 7-18.
On-time registration ends April 9. Late fees will apply as of April 10. Register online at @BBABASEBALL.com.
Pantry fundraiser: An Empty Bowl Supper, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Berea, will be from 5 to 7 p.m. April 14 at St. Mary Catholic Church’s Father Gerrity Center, 250 Kraft St. in Berea.
Soup is donated by local restaurants. Dinner includes soup, salad, rolls, a cookie and a beverage. Ceramic bowls are created by and donated by local artists.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 7-14. Proceeds benefit local food pantries. Sponsorships are available.
For tickets, call 216-406-9355 or 440-665-2592.
SCAN Hunger Center Pantry: 39 W. Bagley Road, Williamsport Plaza. 440-260-7226. Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and 4 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday.
Church Street Ministries pantry: 1480 Bagley Road, 440-239-0549. Open noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Rise in Love: Free hot meal from 2 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, Keller Center, 66 Adalbert St. Eat in or carry out. The next meal is on April 16th.
Free Community Meals: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 276 E. Bagley Road, served from 5 to 6 p.m. on the second and last Wednesdays of the month. Drive-up only.
People’s Community Church pantry: 628 Wesley Drive, 440-234-0609. Open 10 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of the month. The next open pantry is on April 15th.
Second Mile Outreach Pantry: 1480 Bagley Road, 440-239-0549. Open noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Bread Ministry: Berea United Methodist Church, 170 Seminary St. 440-234-3525. Bread and pastries only. Noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Go to the church addition north side of Church Street, off Seminary. The pantry has double brown doors.
Free meals for students: Brook Park Branch Library, 6155 Engle Road. 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for students 18 and younger, in collaboration with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.
Pet Food Pantry: Animal Rescue Friends, 10015 E. River Road, Columbia Station, 10 a.m. to noon every Sunday. Contact 440-234-2034 or arfpet-pantry@gmail.com for more information.
Mini pantries: There are two Little Free Pantries located near People’s Community Church, 628 Wesley Drive, and Cuyahoga County Library’s Berea branch, at 7 Berea Commons. The Prospect Pantry is at the corner of Prospect Street and Jacqueline Drive.
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