Launch for PITCH In draws closer

Committee hoping to have new community assistance program operating this fall

Perry Village’s new community assistance program is moving closer to the point where it can begin providing services to residents in need.

That’s the assessment of Village Councilman Rick Walker, who is also part of a five-member committee working on the formation and operation of PITCH In.

Walker, during the Aug. 13 Village Council meeting, provided an update on the PITCH In panel’s accomplishments. He serves on the committee with fellow council members Jean Schonauer and Elias Coss and community volunteers Theresa Wetzel and Carmen Tibaldi.

PITCH In will recruit and assign volunteers to help people with various work that needs to be done inside or outside their homes.

The first word in the title of the program’s name stands for Perry Investing Toward Community Help. It was decided to add the word “In” to create a phrase that would attract attention and be easy to remember.

One of the committee’s priorities is to create a visual element to connect with the program’s name.

“We’re still working on a logo, refining a logo, trying to keep it

simple but keep it Perry,” Walker said.

When it comes to raising public awareness, the committee is aiming to promote PITCH In through social media networks.

Plans also are in the works to add a tab to the perryvillageohio.com website, giving visitors the opportunity to access more

information. The PITCH In web page would include forms to be filled out by program volunteers and residents seeking help through the program.

Another subject being considered by the committee is background checks for volunteers who interact with residents.

“We’re discussing having the volunteers get themselves checked, and when they pass, the PITCH In program could reimburse them,” Walker said.

One question that arose at the council meeting dealt with where volunteers could go for background checks. Two places suggested by council members and administrators were the Perry School District and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Along with developing criteria on how requests for assistance will be prioritized and approved, the committee also is focusing its attention on volunteer recruitment.

“The first thing we’re going to need is volunteers,” Walker said.

The program will start by focusing on fairly simple tasks, such as lawn and yard care, washing windows and cleaning gutters, he added.

Mayor James Gessic asked Walker to estimate when PITCH In might start performing projects for village residents.

“We’re hoping for fall,” Walker said. “It’s going to depend on the volunteers.”