WESTERN HILLS
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Your Community Press newspaper serving Addyston, Bridgetown, Cheviot, Cleves, Covedale, Dent, Green Township, Mack, Miami Township, North Bend, Westwood
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016
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BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Mike McKee gets high marks as neighbor
Sue Schloss quietly makes difference wherever she goes Bob Schloss says he has a front-row seat when it comes to witnessing the difference Sue Schloss makes wherever she goes. He says in 16 years of marriage, time after time, he has watched his wife roll up her sleeves and make things happen. When a church member’s home was lost to fire, Sue set up a clothing drive to help. They needed somewhere to stay short-term, and she offered them a place under her roof, as she was leaving town for a week. The incident opened her eyes to the fact that others have also suffered this misfortune, which led to working with a group that established a community clothing and food pantry at the Oak Hills United Methodist Church in Bridgetown. Since its inception seven years ago, Sissy’s Pantry has served many hundreds of families and is open to any who appear at the door. Bob says his wife is tireless in her efforts to offer assistance to those in need and gets involved per-
Delhi resident Sarah Burnett says her neighbor Mike McKee gets high marks as the perfect “Neighbor Who Cares.” “Mike grew up in Delhi, moved away, and recently moved back to his childhood neighborhood in order to take care of his mom,” she said. While she says he has many qualities you would hope for in a neighbor, he goes beyond merely maintaining civil relationships with his immediate neighbors. “Mike is on friendly terms with nearly everyone,” she said. “It’s a common sight to see him talking to or helping out just about everyone in the neighborhood. Kids play in his front yard; teens frequent his basketball hoop. Seniors stop to chat with him. He appears to know everyone by name –even the dogs.” Burnett says when her trash cans
blew over in a wind storm, Mike picked up all of the garbage “even though it had blown a considerable way down the street.” When a small household flood destroyed her living room carpet, Mike was there to help install new carpet. She says his helping hands reach beyond the neighborhood. After seeing a great need in the low-income apartments he maintains, he organized a neighborhood toy drive. He is a regular helper at Delshire Elementary events and he coaches youth football and baseball. “Besides driving his own children to school, Mike is often the head carpooler for neighbors’ children as well,” Burnett said. “His commitment to my neighborhood has made my community a much better place.” Jennie Key, jkey@communitypress.com
sonally with many of the patrons, listening and offering a loving ear. Inspired by the obvious overwhelming need in the community she initiated a free monthly dinner in 2011 open to all. “When she learns of a family with specific needs she works tirelessly and without fanfare, always trying to find a solution,” he said. Bob says his wife is the ultimate go-to person, the one who will take an idea and make it work. “She does all of this and so much more without asking for recognition or desiring fanfare, but if you were to ask anyone who knows her or who is a recipient of her goodwill they would tell you of the difference she has made in their lives,” he said. “I know all this and have seen it first-hand. One might think I’m biased – of course I am, but I defer to the hundreds of others whose lives she has touched with her compassion and desire to serve.” Jennie Key, jkey@communitypress.com FORREST SELLERS/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Beth Strawhun, left, and Sarah Beach are volunteers at My Neighbors Place, a Westwood association that helps those in need.
Loving outreach offered by volunteers at My Neighbors Place
FILE PHOTO
Green Township resident Sue Schloss organizes a rack of women’s clothes at Oak Hills United Methodist Church. Schloss and her husband, Bob, volunteered to open a new pantry at the church, where those in need can get clothing and emergency food items.
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Westwood residents looking for a welcoming atmosphere don’t have far to go. “My Neighbors Place” was set up to assist those in need as well as provide a helping hand. “I feel it is a wonderful outreach which helps provide for people’s physical, spiritual and social needs,” said CQBeth Strawhun, who has been a volunteer there for more than seven years and is a resident of Westwood. “It provides a place people can come and experience a caring and loving atmosphere.” Strawhun, whose husband, Lee Strawhun, is pastor of Westwood United Methodist Church, works with about 40 volunteers made up of neighbors and
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community members. She helps coordinate the ladies luncheons at My Neighbors Place. “When it started out, it was a place where people could get free clothing, housewares and food,” she said. “Now it’s developed into a place where they can experience love, caring and acceptance.” Worship services are offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Breakfasts are also served on Thursdays. A clothing store and food pantry also operate from My Neighbors Place. Earlier in the month, Strawhun and CQSarah Beach, who is director of My Neighbors Place, were setting up a See NEIGHBORS, Page 2A
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