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., 216-623-6969), the South Branch (3096 Scranton Rd., 216-623-7060), and the West Park Branch (3805 W 157 St, 216-623-7102). The help is available 4pm-6pm, Mondays thru Thursdays. Tutoring is generally scheduled in one-hour sessions. Contact your nearest tutoring locations for availability.

MERRICK HOUSE FREE YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM for Cleveland residents, Monday thru Friday 2:30pm-5:30 pm at 1050 Starkweather Ave. in the Tremont neighborhood for students ages 6-17.  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, 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 216-771-5077.

ARTS

COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER: The Pivot Art Center (2937 W 25 St.) offers free drop-in art making and gallery exploration for the whole family during open hours: Fridays 2pm-7pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10 am-5 pm. For group visits during open and non-open hours, email commartsinfo@clevelandart.org. For a full list of upcoming events, visit pivotartcenter.com.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY OPEN STUDIO: Arthouse Inc. (3119 Denison Ave.) offers a family-friendly, pay-what-you-can art workshop on the third Saturday of each month from 1 pm-3 pm. This month’s Friends and Family Open Studio will be on Saturday, January 18. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Visit arthouseinc.org to sign up or call 216-398-8556 for more information.

STREET STUDIO at St. Paul’s Church will be Saturday, Jan. 18th at 1 pm at St. Paul’s Community Church, 4427 Franklin Ave. All are welcome to share music, poetry, spoken word or to listen in support. Piano, drums, guitar, and microphones provided as well as coffee and snacks. All are welcome! For more information contact Ian Heisey at heisey2140@sbcglobal.net.

ASSISTANCE

CUYAHOGA COUNTY WOMEN, INFANTS & CHILDREN (WIC) NUTRITION PROGRAM provides nutrition education, nutritious foods and breastfeeding support. To be eligible you must be pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum (having a baby less than 6 months old) or be an infant or child less than five years old. You must also have a nutritional need and have household income that fits within the WIC guidelines. For more information, call 216-957-9421.

FREE LAUNDRY DAYS: BQ Washland (6912 Lorain Ave) is providing FREE laundry service for those in need on the third Thursday of every month, 1-3 pm and 6-8 pm. This month, the free laundry day will be on Thursday, January 16. For more information, contact St. Paul’s Community Church at 216-651-6250 or office@stpaulscommunityucc.org.

HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE WINTER CRISIS PROGRAM: Assistance is available thru March 31 to help with home energy bills thru the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Winter Crisis Program. The program, administered by CHN Housing Partners, helps Ohioans at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines pay their heating bills. Ohioans who are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected from their utility service, are transferring services, establishing new services, or at or below 25% fuel may also be eligible. Cuyahoga County residents can call 216-350-8008 to make an appointment, or they can schedule an appointment online at chn.itfrontdesk.com.  Appointments will be conducted by phone or video conference. For more information about the Winter Crisis Program, contact CHN Housing Partners at 216-325-1148. To be connected to a local Energy Assistance provider call (800) 282-0880 (hearing impaired clients may dial 711 for assistance) or visit energyhelp.ohio.gov.

THE HOPE CENTER FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS (15135 Triskett Rd.)offers a variety of resources for recent arrivals to the United States, including ESL and citizenship classes, immigration and legal services, job place and career services, after-school tutoring, child care, and transportation assistance. Visit buildinghopeinthecity.org for more information.

CELEBRATIONS

FREE ADMISSION to a variety of local museums is available Monday, January 20, in honor of MLK Day during normal visiting hours. This includes the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (rockhall.com), the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (cmnh.org), and the Maltz Museum (maltzmuseum.org). The Cleveland Museum of Art (clevelandart.org), which normally has free admission, will offer a variety of special programming in honor of MLK Day.

THREE KINGS DAY: Join us for a vibrant celebration of Three Kings Day, a festive occasion marking the end of the holiday season, from 4:15 pm-5:30 pm on Monday, January 6 at the Fulton Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (3545 Fulton Rd). Our event promises a rich blend of cultural traditions, interactive activities, and community fun for all ages.

TRI-C’S MLK CELEBRATION: Cuyahoga Community College is proud to present the 48th annual celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Playhouse Square. The event will feature a musical performance by Pastor Marvin L. Winans and will also honor Tri-C scholarship winners who embody the work of Dr. King and feature impassioned student presentations and inspiring performances by students from the Tri-C Creative Arts Academy. To reserve your free seat, call Playhouse Square at 216-241-6000 Monday – Friday from 10 am-5 pm. Or visit playhousesquare.org/events

COMMUNITY

CodeRED, an emergency contact system, allows you to receive emergency alerts and severe weather updates from the City of Cleveland. Call 216-664-4383 to sign up for this free service. Stay warm, stay safe, and let’s all do our part!

COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS: A news discussion group that meets on the second and fourth Sunday of every month from 9 am to 10 am at Harbor and Bridge at 4321 Bridge Ave. The next two meetings will be Sunday, January 12 and Sunday, January 26. The meetings are a chance to read, reflect, and respond to difficult and divisive issues. We often talk about local issues (housing, policing, politics, gentrification, etc.), and sometimes talk about more broad ones. Email Matt at mattw@harborandbridge.com for a copy of the article we’ll be discussing at the next meeting.

COMMUNITY GUIDE

THE PLAIN PRESS will publish its annual Community Guide in the March issue. The guide offers free listings of the names and phone numbers of nonprofit organizations and government agencies serving the neighborhoods that the Plain Press covers. If you know of a nonprofit organization that has changed its name, changed its phone number, or was not listed in last year’s guide, please email us at plainpress@gmail.com, or leave a phone message at 216-621-3060.

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.

SAY YES CLEVELAND offers a variety of free support services to students and their families. The services are available to all families with a student enrolled at a CMSD or partner charter school and include: after school programs, legal assistance, tutoring, food assistance, behavioral and physical health services, and help with housing. To learn more, visit sayyescleveland.org or meet with a Family Support Specialist, available at every school, to find out how they can connect you to the resources you need.

SEEDS OF LITERACY offers free adult basic education and GED classes and one-on-one tutoring. Services are available at both their westside (3104 W 25 St, third floor) and eastside locations (13815 Kinsman Ave). Call 216-661-7950 or visit seedsofliteracy.org to enroll.

HEALTH

THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CLEVELAND AREA CHAPTER regularly offers a free education program, Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research, in various locations throughout the year. To find upcoming programs near you, visit alz.org/crf and search by your zip code. Those concerned about themselves, or a loved one, can contact the Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland Area Chapter office at 216-342-5556 to schedule a care consultation and be connected to local resources that can help. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Helpline can be reached 24/7 at 800-272-3900.

CLEVELAND RAPE CRISIS CENTER offers 24/7 access to free, anonymous support via text, online chat, or phone call. Call or text 216-619-6192 or 440-423-2020. You can also visit our app (no download needed) at app.clevelandrapecrisis.org to learn about preventing sexual violence, developing healthy relationships, supporting a friend who needs help, and more.

FREE SMOKE ALARMS are available to Cleveland residents thru Operation Save-A-Life, a program of the American Red Cross and Cleveland Fire Department. The smoke alarms are installed by Cleveland firefighters at no cost to the resident. To apply, call the 24-hour hotline at 216-361-5535. Please note that the application and installation process may take up to 90 days.

FREE ELECTRIC STOVES: If you or someone in your home has asthma and you cook with a gas stove, you may be eligible for a new electric stove at no cost to you, thanks to a new program from MetroHealth in partnership with the EPA. Cooking on a gas stove is a major source of indoor air pollution and may worsen asthma. For more information, contact Maria Figueroa at 216-778-3343 or mfigueroa1@metrohealth.org.

JANUARY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: If you suspect someone is experiencing a mental health crisis or is contemplating suicide, consider reaching out to them with empathy and understanding. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Dial 911 if it is an emergency. The Jason Foundation is another available resource. The Jason Foundation is dedicated to the awareness and prevention of suicide through educational programs and provides tools and resources to identify and assist those who are at-risk. For more information on helping your friends and loved ones who are suffering with a mental illness, please visit jasonfoundation.com.

OHIO PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE: Problem gambling treatment is available at low or no cost to Ohioans. The Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline operates 24/7 at 1-800-589-9966 to provide resources to callers. Specialists can also connect callers with treatment options within 24 hours. You can also visit GamblingHelpOhio.org to find gambling treatment in your area.

HOMELESS

IF YOU NEED SHELTER contact  Cuyahoga County’s Coordinated Intake office at 216-674-6700. Hours of operation: 8 am – 8 pm, Monday – 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.

WESTSIDE HOMELESS CONGRESS: The Homeless Congress, sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), is made up of unhoused/homeless residents that come together to solve local problems in the homeless community. Please join us the second Tuesday of every month at noon at St. Paul’s Community Church (4427 Franklin Blvd.) This month’s meeting is on Tuesday, January 14. A limited amount of bus passes will be given out to participants at the end of the meeting. Questions? Call NEOCH at 216-432-0504 or visit neoch.org/homeless-congress.

LIBRARIES

CANVAS PAINTING FOR KIDS: Children and teens are invited to come express themselves through art as library staff guide them through painting a winter-inspired landscape on canvas. Monday, January 13, 2025, 4:30pm – 5:30pm at the South Brooklyn Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (4303 Pearl Rd).

CAPTURE AND EDIT – DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS:  Join library staff twice a month from 4:45 pm-5:45 pm with your digital camera or phone to learn basic and intermediate digital photography skills at the Jefferson Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (850 Jefferson Ave). You’ll learn how to utilize camera functions, compositional techniques, and editing software to create photos you are proud of. This month, classes will be on Wednesday, January 15 and Wednesday, January 29. Visit cpl.libcal.com/event/13132976 to register for this free class.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL RUBBER DUCKY DAY: Rubber duckies have gone from a childhood bath toy to gracing the ponds of Jeeps everywhere. Join us for a fun day as we explore Rubber ducky lore and play some fun duck-themed games.  Every participant will go home with their very own rubber duck. Monday, January 13, 4 pm – 5 pm at the Eastman Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (11602 Lorain Ave).

LEGAL AID AT THE LIBRARY: Have a legal question?  Need to chat with an attorney about a problem related to money, housing, family, employment or other issues?  Stop by our Legal Aid Brief Advice and Referral Clinic on Saturday, January 25, starting at 10 am at the Carnegie West Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (1900 Fulton Rd).  Please bring all relevant paperwork with you. All clinics are first come, first served for people with low-income who have civil legal issues. Attorneys are available for brief advice and referral only. Advice clinic attorneys do NOT represent you. If you need legal representation, you may be referred to The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland or another service provider. Need help now? Legal Aid is open 24/7 online, taking intake applications at lasclev.org/contact.  Questions? Call 1-888-817-3777 or visit lasclev.org.

RECREATION

FLOOR HOCKEY CLINICS: The Monsters, Cleveland’s minor league hockey team, will be visiting several schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District during the 2024-25 season to introduce a floor hockey curriculum and host a clinic. After the first visit led by members of the Monsters staff, the school will receive all the equipment in addition to a lesson plan to allow floor hockey to be incorporated into their physical education programs. To have your school considered for future involvement in this program, please reach out to the Monsters Community Relations team at monsterscommunity@clevelandmonsters.com.

FREE SKI TRIP FOR KIDS: Children aged 6 to 17 years old are welcome to join Merrick House staff for a fun, safe, and FREE ski trip this winter to Alpine Valley in Chesterland, Ohio. We will be hosting trips every Tuesday from January 14 through February 18. To sign up, contact Ms. Yonna at 216-771-5077 or grab a paper application from the front desk of Merrick House (1050 Starkweather Ave).