According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, during a power outage, food can be stored in a closed refrigerator for about four hours before it becomes unsafe to eat.
Frozen foods will last for 48 hours in the freezer if it is full and 24 hours if it is only half full. The mantra of food safety authorities is: “When in doubt, throw it away.”
If you’re running low on groceries, here are some options. We’ll update this post as needed.
If you or your organization provides food and is not on this list, please send information to [email protected].
Municipal recreation and health centers
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank will deliver meals to these locations on Friday at 1 p.m.
On the east side
Zelma Watson George Recreation Center, 3155 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., 216-420-8821
Collinwood Recreation Center, 6300 Lakeshore Blvd., 216-420-8323
J. Glen Smith Health Center, 11100 St. Clair, 216-957-5600
On the west side
Cudell Recreation Center, 1910 West Blvd., 216-664-4137
Michael Zone Recreation Center, 6301 Lorain Ave., 216-664-3373
McCafferty Health Center, 4242 Lorain Rd., 216-651-5005
Other resources
The Cleveland Liberation Center, 9801 Denison Ave., offers Wi-Fi, charging, kids’ activities, lunch from noon to 2 p.m., a family-friendly movie at 3 p.m. and dinner from 7 to 9 p.m. (This is the plan for Friday, August 9. Follow the center on Instagram for updates.)
Gatewood Home, 532 E. 185 St., offers Wi-Fi, free water and coffee, liquor for purchase, a game room with video and board games and a fenced backyard with tables and chairs, a grill, fire pit and basketball hoops.
Greater Cleveland Food Bank Products and Pantries
9 August: Distribution of products
MetroHealth Parma, 12301 Snow Rd., Parma, 216-409-3002, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m
Bethany Baptist Church, 1211 E. 105th St., 216-509-5156, 10 a.m. to noon
North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center, 1834 E. 55th St., 216-924-7193, 1-4 p.m
August 9. Pantries
Brookside Family Center, 3764 Pearl Rd., 216-541-1444, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m
University Settlement, 4800 Broadway, 216-641-8948 x136, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Greater Cleveland Food Bank Community Resource Center, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd., 216-738-2067, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m
10 August: Distribution of products
Fairhill Partners, 12200 Fairhill Rd., 216-299-9225, 10 a.m. to noon
Elizabeth Baptist Church, 6114 Francis Ave., 440-349-9941, 10 a.m. to noon
New Second Metropolitan Baptist Church, 2244 E. 55th St., 216-374-1928, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Second St. John Baptist Church, 717 E. 125th St., 216-258-1232, noon to 3 p.m
Grace Tabernacle Baptist Church, 5020 Mayfield Rd., Lyndhurst, 216-401-0414, 10 a.m. to noon
10 August Pantries
Greater Cleveland Food Bank Community Resource Center, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd., 216-738-2067, 9 a.m. to noon
South Euclid United Church of Christ, 4217 Bluestone Rd., South Euclid, 216-658-4254, 9 a.m. to noon
Call the Food Bank Help Center at 216-738-2067 to find the nearest food pantry or mobile pantry.
Replace spoiled food purchased with SNAP benefits.
If you receive SNAP benefits and your power is out for more than four hours, you can apply for benefits to replace the lost food.
- Fill out this form.
- Document the amount of food you lost. Take a photo of your refrigerator or provide a grocery receipt if you have one.
- You cannot claim more than the amount of benefits you receive in one month.
Ice, ice, maybe
FirstEnergy said free water and ice were available at 14 Giant Eagle stores, including seven in Cuyahoga County. The utility said residents without power could get one bag of ice and two gallons of water each. On Thursday, residents wrote online that at least one location – Westlake Market District – was unable to participate because its cash registers were down.
Giant Eagle at Avon Lake – 31990 Walker Road
Route 82 and I-77 Giant Eagle – 4343 Royalton Road
Biddulph Plaza Giant Eagle – 6300 Biddulph Road
Chesterland Giant Eagle – 12692 Chillicothe Road
Day trip Giant Eagle – 7939 Day trip
Midway Mall Giant Eagle Elyria – 320 Market Drive
Southgate Giant Eagle Maple Heights – 5321 Warrensville Center Road
Tyler & Center Giant Eagle – 8383 Tyler Blvd.
Giant Eagle of Middlefield – 15400 West High Street
Giant Eagle of North Madison – 6556 North Ridge Road
Parma-Broadview Rd Giant Eagle – 7400 Broadview Rd
Strongsville Market District – 15919 Pearl Road
Westlake Market District – 30275 Detroit Road (Reopens after registration)
Willoughby Commons Giant Eagle 36475 Euclid Avenue
The free giveaway runs until next Wednesday (August 14) or while supplies last.
