ARTS

FREE CONCERT: Roman Rudnystky, professor emeritus of Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music, returns to perform on Saturday, December 2, at 2 pm on the third floor of the Main Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (325 Superior Ave. NE)

WALKABOUT TREMONT: “Light up your holidays” with this free, arts-focused event around Tremont, on Friday December 8. Walkabout Tremont events are hosted on the second Friday of every month. Visit WalkaboutTremont.com for more details.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

HOMEWORK HELP: All K-12 students can receive free help with their homework at select branches of the Cleveland Public Library, including the Fulton Branch (3545 Fulton Rd.), the South Branch (3096 Scranton Rd.), and the West Park Branch (3805 W 157 St). The help is available from 3:30pm-6pm, Mondays thru Thursdays.

MERRICK HOUSE FREE YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM for Cleveland residents, Monday thru Friday from 2:30-5:30 pm at 1050 Starkweather Ave. in the Tremont neighborhood, for students ages 6-17.  The program offers homework assistance, snacks, arts and crafts, field trips, fitness activities and service projects. Some programs offered are Youth Leadership Council, Junior Achievement Curriculum, and Ambassador of Compassion Curriculum. Older students (ages 13-17) are encouraged to participate in discussions on issues affecting them today. For more information or to sign up for the Youth Program at Merrick House, which serves the West Side of Cleveland, call Cymone Morgan at 216-771-5077, ext. 130

CLOTHING

FREE CLOTHES AND HYGIENE ITEMS are available at Pearl’s Community Closet (6516 Detroit Ave., inside the Gordon Square Arcade). The community closet is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays by appointment only. It is open for drop-ins Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 pm-3:30 pm. It is closed the last weekend of the month. Masks required for entry! 216-374-5713, pearlempowered@gmail.com, clevelandpearls.org

COMMUNITY

COFFEE WITH COPS: The Cleveland Police Department is hosting another Coffee With Cops event at Civilization Coffee in Tremont, Thursday, November 30, from 9 am to 11 am at 2366 W 11 St., on the northwest corner of West 11 St. and Kenilworth.

CURBSIDE LEAF PICKUP runs from November 6 thru December 29 in the city of Cleveland. Residents can leave up to 20 bags of leaves on the curbside next to their regular trash for pickup. The City reminds residents to never rake leaves into the street, where they can clog sewer drains, create a hazard for motorists and cyclists, and affect snow and ice control.

FIRST DISTRICT POLICING COMMITTEE will host its next community meeting on Thursday, December 7, at St. Ignatius of Antioch (10205 Lorain Ave.), in the cafeteria.

EDUCATION

FREE CLASSES FOR SENIORS: Through Program 60, Ohio residents age 60 and older can register for regularly scheduled credit and noncredit courses at Tri-C on an audit, tuition-free, space available basis. Must register in person at an Enrollment Center. tri-c.edu/program60, 216-987-6000, enroll@tri-c.edu

FREE COMPUTER CLASSES are available at the ASC3 West storefront at 9926 Lorain Ave. The classes cover basic digital skills like parts of the computer, typing and mouse practice, email, internet safety, and zoom calls/video chat. To register, call or text 216-421-2305.

EMPLOYMENT

JOB CORPS offers free, hands-on training, campus living, meals, supplies, and a supportive community to 16- to 24-year-olds looking to jumpstart a career. Visit jobcorps.gov or call 800-733-JOBS (5627) for more information.

OHIO MEANS JOBS offers career coaching, help with applying for jobs, computer skills training, help with creating resumes and more. The job center at 1910 Carnegie Ave. is open Monday thru Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. Call 216-777-8200 or visit omjcc.us for more information.

ENVIRONMENT

RECYCLING PROGRAM: You can join Cleveland’s curbside residential recycling program by calling 216-664-3030 or visiting clerecycles.com. You will then receive a packet in the mail with a booklet explaining what can and can’t be recycled and a set of stickers to put on your blue recycling cart. Recyclable items can also be taken to one of two drop-off locations to be recycled: 3727 Ridge Rd. or 5600 Carnegie. Dial 311 for questions about cart stickers, recycling and trash carts, and Cleveland’s recycling program.

HEALTH

ADAMHS Board Releases Coping with the Holidays Booklet: The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County is offering tips on reducing extra stresses in its Coping with the Holidays booklet. The booklet is available on the ADAMHS Board website at adamhscc.org. 

CLEVELAND CARE CALLS is a free service offered by Cleveland’s Department of Aging and Public Safety that provides regularly scheduled automatic calls to check on a person’s well being. The program is open to all residents aged 60 or older or to adults with disabilities aged 18-59. You can select the date and time of the call, between 7 am and 11 am, Mondays thru Fridays. The automatic system will make several attempts to call you in a thirty-minute period. If there is no response, the department will contact anyone you have designated as an emergency contact, who can then decide if they want to do a home visit to check on you. You must complete an application to participate in this program. Contact the program’s director to sign up at 216-664-6316 or 216-664-2833.

DEPRESSION AND SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD):  If you or someone you love is struggling with depression and/or thinking about suicide, get help now. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, is a free resource, available 24 hours a day for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7 text line where trained crisis counselors support individuals in crisis.

IN-SCHOOL CLINICS: MetroHealth is partnering with your school district to offer health care services on-site at your child’s school. Services offered by the clinics include physicals, mental/behavioral health care, immunizations, dentistry, and care for chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and allergies. Call the MetroHealth School Health Program at 216-957-1303 or speak with your school nurse to set up an appointment. The program will be at the following schools from 8 am-4 pm on the following days: Buhrer K-8 on Dec. 13, Garrett Morgan on Dec. 21,Halle K-8 on Dec. 15, and Lincoln West on Dec. 5. It will be at Scranton K-8 School from 7:45 am-3:45 pm on Dec. 20.

MEDICAID RE-ENROLLMENT: Federal protections that prevented states from dropping people from their Medicaid rolls expired on March 31, 2023. Now Medicaid recipients have to re-enroll each year. To check to make sure your enrollment is in good shape, go to benefits.ohio.gov or call 1-800-324-8680.

MOMSFIRST: Are you pregnant? Do you live in the city of Cleveland? The MomsFirst program can help you learn how to deal with the stress that comes with being a parent; connect you to resources for housing, education, and healthcare; teach you how to keep your baby safe; and find birth control options that work for you. To enroll, visit momsfirst.org or call 216-664-4194.

VACCINE CLINICS: In partnership with Cleveland Department of Public Health (CDPH), the LGBT Community Center at 6705 Detroit Ave will be hosting walk-up vaccine clinics. We will be offering flu and MPOX vaccines. Clinics will be held from 4 pm-7:30 pm on Wednesday, December 6, and Wednesday, December 20.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

FREE HOLIDAY CONCERT: Get into the holiday spirit with Tri-C’s Creative Arts Academy Holiday Choral Concert at 3 p.m. on Wednesday December 20 at the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library, in the Louis Stokes Wing Lower Lobby.

MESSIAH SING: The Trinity Chamber Orchestra, soloists and conductor Todd Wilson present selections from Handel’s beloved oratorio “Messiah” with the audience as the chorus at Trinity Cathedral (2230 Euclid Ave.) on Wednesday December 13 at 12 pm.

NUTCRACKER EXTRAVAGANZA: Enjoy the second annual Nutcracker Extravaganza with Dance Arts by Regina at 3 pm on Saturday, December 2, at the Carnegie West Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (1900 Fulton Rd.).

SNOW DAY: Saturday, December 9, from 2 pm-6pm, in the Gordon Square Arts District, in the area surrounding W65th and Detroit.

WINTERLAND: Downtown Cleveland Inc. and its partners will offer a variety of free events throughout the holiday season in and around Public Square and Tower City, including caroling, bingo, eggnog tasting, concerts, and Santa. The events officially kick off with the tree lighting ceremony on Saturday November 25 on Public Square. Festivities begin at noon, while mainstage programming begins at 4 pm and the tree lighting is scheduled for 6 pm. Fireworks will immediately follow the tree lighting. For a complete list of all Winterland activities, visit winterfestcle.com/events.

HOMELESS

IF YOU NEED SHELTER contact Cuyahoga County’s Coordinated Intake office at 216.674.6700. Hours of operation: 8 am-8 pm, Monday thru Friday. After hours and weekends please call 2-1-1 for an on-call Coordinated Intake representative. If it is after hours, women in need of assistance may also go directly to Norma Herr Women’s Center, 2227 Payne Avenue, and staff will assist you in contacting Coordinated Intake the following day.

RESOURCES

LA MARIPOSA is a program for Latina girls aged 8 to 17 that involves leadership development, life skills, etiquette, social emotional learning and improving self esteem. It also includes free food and field trips. For more information or to register, visit humadaop.org.

VOLUNTEERING

READING TUTORS WANTED: The AARP Foundation Experience Corps is seeking people 50 years old or older who are interested in volunteering as reading tutors to help students become better readers by the end of third grade. Volunteers must possess a high school diploma or GED and be able to pass a criminal background check. They must also be able to volunteer at least four hours a week during the school year and be available at least twice a week during school hours. All are welcome and we strongly encourage volunteers who are people of color, indigenous, immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ+ to apply. Monthly allowances may be available. Visit tinyurl.com/GCV-ExpCorps

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging is seeking volunteers to help address food insecurity and reduce social isolation in older adults. Opportunities include: Meal Delivery, either in your own car or riding in one of our trucks; Meal Delivery Assistants, who greet drivers and help load their cars with meals; and Wellness Callers, who offer companionship to older adults. Visit our website, benrose.org, to fill out an application. For more information, contact volunteering@benrose.org or 216-373-1932.