Press Release - WTAM & Cleveland Guardians to "Stuff the Truck" For Providence House

Posted June 07, 2023 in Press Releases

Newsradio WTAM 1100 and The Cleveland Guardians are teaming up to host a special “Stuff the Truck” donation drive this Friday, June 9, to benefit Providence House, a non-profit organization focused on keeping children safe and families together and supporting them through crisis.

The Stuff the Truck event will take place from 5 am to 7 pm in Gateway Plaza between Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, where WTAM will be broadcasting live with Mike Snyder, Bill Wills, Jimmy Malone, Carmen Angelo, and Bloomdaddy throughout the day!

A truck donated by Berea Moving and Storage will be on-site for local companies and members of the community to drop off essential needs items for the children and families of Providence House. The list of requested items can be found at provhouse.org/stuffthetruck.

The donated items will be used by Providence House at its Family Preservation Crisis Nurseries, which provide free, voluntary, non-custodial emergency shelter to children newborn to 12 years old whose families are experiencing crisis, and will also be distributed to families working with the organization to address challenges and enhance stability for the future. In the last five years, 99% of families who had children stay at Providence House reunited after successfully addressing the crisis situations that led them to the organization.

Between 5 am and 3 pm, donations can be driven up to the truck at Gateway Plaza by entering from Ontario Street. From 3 pm to 7 pm, Gateway Plaza will be closed to vehicular traffic, but donations can be dropped off to volunteers on Ontario Street near Eagle Avenue or brought to Gateway Plaza on foot - so anyone headed to the Guardians game can participate on their way into Progressive Field!

Karen Dolan, Providence House Board Member and longtime champion, and Natalie A. Leek, President and CEO of Providence House, will be on-site throughout the day, greeting donors and sharing the impact of the community’s generosity.

Karen and Paul Dolan, Chairman and CEO of the Guardians, are co-chairs of the Providence House Giving Hope for the PHuture East Campus expansion project. Providence House is currently wrapping up construction of its new Crisis Nursery on Cleveland’s East Side to help address a dramatic increase in the need for its services. The new East Campus will allow Providence House to serve 250 additional children and 400 additional families every year.

All are invited to help Stuff the Truck and make a difference in the lives of children and families in our community!

Here is the schedule for the event:

4:30 am - Berea Moving and Storage Truck arrives

5 am - The Wills & Snyder Morning Show begins LIVE from Gateway Plaza; drive-up donations begin

9 am - The Jimmy Malone Show begins LIVE from Gateway Plaza

10 am - The Bloomdaddy Show begins LIVE from Gateway Plaza

3 pm - Gateway Plaza closes to vehicular traffic; donations can be dropped off on foot or handed to volunteers on Ontario Street near Eagle Avenue

6 pm - Guardians Gameday with Carmen Angelo begins LIVE from Gateway Plaza

7 pm - The event ends as the Guardians Game begins

About Providence House

Providence House has helped keep more than 14,000 children safe and families together in the last 42 years, embracing them with support to enhance stability and strengthen communities.

Providence House provides free, voluntary, 24/7 emergency shelter to children newborn through age 12 whose families are experiencing crisis situations such as homelessness, domestic violence, sobriety, mental health, or medical challenges. Its Family Preservation Crisis Nursery is a safe, licensed, homelike environment for children that gives parents and guardians peace of mind knowing their children remain in their custody and are receiving loving care.

While their children stay at Providence House, parents and guardians engage with its Social Work Team to address the challenges they’re facing through counseling, parenting education, trauma services, case management, and connections to more than 130 community partner agencies to provide support and build a strong foundation for their family’s future.

Providence House families come from nearly 30 zip codes across Greater Cleveland. The majority of families served are led by single moms of color. Last year, 20% of families came to Providence House without any income, and nearly 100% met the ALICE threshold of earning non-living wages.

Providence House also offers community-based services, including a Community Education and Resiliency Program and a Community Referral Program that provides essential need items to families through referrals from partner agencies.

Its West Campus is located in Ohio City, and its new East Campus will be opening soon in the Buckeye-Shaker Neighborhood.