Meeting Recap

David and Penny Trowbridge Honored for Decades of Service

Police Chief Tom O’Deens presented David and Penny Trowbridge with a mayoral proclamation recognizing their decades of generosity and service to the Strongsville community. For approximately 27 years, the couple’s farm and produce stand have provided fresh fruits and vegetables to local residents, while their donations have helped neighbors facing food insecurity.

Chief O’Deens praised the Trowbridges for quietly helping others without seeking recognition. Their contributions to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Audrey’s Outreach have helped provide thousands of meals.

Accepting the honor, David thanked Penny, their family members, and the volunteers and organizations who help harvest and distribute the produce. He also reflected on his 20 years of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Immokalee, Florida, and encouraged others to discover the rewards of service. “Donating or volunteering—it’s infectious,” he said. “Once you start it, you just want to do more.”

Program: OneHope NEO

Friday’s speakers from OneHope NEO, the primary beneficiary of the 2027 Chili Open, shared how a simple act of kindness can become the first step toward lasting change. Introduced by member Ed Plaspohl, the team described its work serving individuals and families in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.

Father Bob recalled an early winter coat distribution in a cold, dark parking lot. Among those who came was Erica, a young teenager who needed coats for herself and her siblings. That encounter began a relationship that helped her stay in school and eventually attend Cleveland State University, where she is preparing to become a teacher.

Her story illustrated the message at the heart of the presentation: meeting an immediate need opens the door, but walking alongside someone creates opportunities for a better future.

OneHope NEO puts that approach into practice through food and coat distributions, community gatherings, housing assistance, education support and connections to health care and employment services. The speakers reported serving approximately 10,000 to 20,000 people annually, with about 100 volunteers participating each month.

They shared examples of neighbors who found safe housing, secured employment, continued their education or avoided eviction through timely assistance and personal guidance. A summer leadership program helped approximately two dozen high school students prepare applications, practice interviews and obtain jobs.

The team also discussed the challenges families face when increased earnings trigger a loss of public benefits. Helping people navigate those transitions is part of OneHope NEO’s broader effort to support lasting stability.

For Rotarians, the connection to Service Above Self was clear.