Claim Your Directory Listing, Help the Westlake Assistance Program

If you own a business or manage an organization in Westlake, we've got a webpage for you in our Directory! And although we've got all of the basic information, if you 'claim' your page, you can upload photos, advertise sales and interact with customers.

Plus, if you claim your page during the month of April, we'll donate $5 of advertising to the Westlake Assistance Program to support their mission of providing basic staples to city residents.

One hundred percent of all donations to the Westlake Assistance Program goes right back into the community. Whether it's a little extra food to help make ends meet, a warm coat or new school supplies, the donations go a long way to improve the lives of your neighbors.

And in a down economy, the program is becoming more popular.

“Recently, we’ve had more families with children and older adults struggling,” said Joyce Able Schroth, director of community services. “Social services needs to be there to fill in the gaps.”

The program serves Westlake residents with little or no income, supplying a three day's worth of non-perishable food each month.

“They can be individuals to large families,” Able Schroth said. “They can also be people who have exceeded the income amount, but that recently lost their jobs. Folks that qualify are all ages. We have families with infants, and then we have older adults who are homebound."

At Christmastime, the Westlake Assistance Program served over 100 individuals and families, and plans to serve over 70 with .

In some cases, the program will pair children with sponsors who can “adopt” them for a school year.

"For our lowest of low income folks, if they have children, we allow individuals to adopt that child with the needs of their school supplies," Able Schroth said, adding that she sponsored a child herself last year.

The program is completely anonymous, and can really make a huge difference in your neighbors' lives. Able Schroth shared the story of one woman who came into the offices for help with her child's school supplies.

A company wanted to adopt a student in the city and help out throughout the year with things like school supplies, cupcakes for birthday parties and Valentine’s Day cards.

The woman at first said she didn’t need anything, but after a little while, she told Able Schroth that she didn’t have sheets for her bed, and could use a bottom sheet.

Able Schroth put out the call, and in the end, the woman had to make two trips to collect all of the donated sheets, blankets and pillows.

“Everyone was crying,” Able Schroth said. “It shows how sweet and caring the residents and the people who work in the city are.”

So check out the one-minute, step-by-step video on how to claim your webpage, or simply visit the Directory and search for your business or organization.

Don't see it, or need help? Just email Editor Kate Spirgen  at kate.spirgen@patch.com.