Tour Village Project's building renovation at Sept. 16 open house

Diagram of the Project Pillar expansion

So what’s been going on at the Village Project headquarters in Bay Village this summer? Well, besides VP’s multigenerational volunteers continuing to prepare and deliver hundreds of meals each week for its clients, something very special has been happening to the building itself.

Because Village Project’s client base has increased 600 percent since its inception in 2010, the organization decided earlier this year to try to address space limitations in its facility that threatened to prevent further growth and expansion. The space next to its current offices, which formerly housed Thomas & Thomas Photography, became available, and thus was born Project Pillar.

Project Pillar is Village Project’s initiative to fund expansion of its headquarters by leasing the adjacent office and renovating the space to meet its needs, which include:

• kitchen expansion, providing the ability to double the number of client meals, thereby serving twice as many clients;
• additional storage, enabling bulk purchases which will reduce food and packaging costs;
• volunteer training;
• client engagement;
• indoor fresh herb growing;
• community engagement, including hosting cooking classes and corporate dinners. 

Project Pillar is well on its way to hitting its fundraising goal through donations and grants, and renovation of the building has been taking place this summer.

Now, Village Project would like to invite the community to take a peek at the exciting results. On Sunday, Sept. 16, from 5-7 p.m., an open house will be held at the new and improved facility located at 27378 W. Oviatt Road in Bay Village.

The public is invited to enjoy coffee and desserts as they tour the headquarters building. Don’t miss this chance to get a look-see at VP’s new retail storefront that will feature some of its specialty food and gift items.

Open house attendees also will get the opportunity to leave their mark on the project. Be a “Champion of Change” – bring your spare coins and currency to help Village Project meet its $200,000 Project Pillar expansion goal. A donation of $10 or more awards you the opportunity to help decorate the accent wall in the activities room by illuminating HOPE and eliminating cancer.

Please contact Village Project at 440-348-9401 or info@ourvillageproject.com to let the staff know that you will be attending.

More details about Project Pillar can be found on Village Project’s website: ourvillageproject.com.