February 2020

Mary Garvin
Tom Unger

New Looks

There’s a new look on the Mid-Ohio Foodbank website. They have recently updated their image to reflect their expanded focus and this article in the Columbus Dispatch explains the change.

Likewise, you may have noticed our slight branding update at Heart to Heart. Our logo now includes the words “a first community mission” in order to maintain our connection to the church.  Members of First Community started the roots of our ministry in 1986.

Student Volunteers

Sara Hager’s class from Grandview Heights visits Heart to Heart to help us weigh donations, organize and stock shelves.

Mary Garvin
Merydeth Tipton

Friends and family of
Daryl “Nick” Hodge

You are TEE-rrific!

Thank you to the 38 volunteers who joined us for dinner on Wednesday evening. We were glad to serve you and share in some fellowship. Lamar shared the pantry’s annual report and some cooking class footage with the group which we will be sharing with you all soon. Here are some photos from Wednesday!

Heart to Heart Sunday

Thank you to everyone who attended the Open House last weekend after Sunday worship services.  We had sixteen guests visit the pantry. We are also grateful to the volunteers who helped last Sunday, including those who provided cookies for the worship hospitality tables.

News from “the shop downstairs”

As you know, we share the First Community Annex building with several other ministries of the church. Most notably, the Tri-Village Trading Post which occupies the bottom floor and is a constant source of support and community for us. Here is a message from their director, Rebecca Wolfe:

Each year Trading Post volunteers choose area organizations to gift with money for their programs.  This year Choices and Huckleberry House were selected to each receive $5,000 from Trading Post.  Choices is Franklin County’s only domestic violence shelter helping protect those who are in need of escape from their domestic situations.  Huckleberry House helps youth ages 14-24 with issues facing them such as abuse, violence, neglect, poverty, and homelessness.  Many of these youth are those who have aged out of the foster care system with no place to go.

In addition, Trading Post gave back over $6500 to First Community Mission Council for the sale of items gleaned from the Garage Sale. All this, and the church received $59,000 in support of general ministries and mission efforts.

Thanks to all who donate, volunteer and shop – we are making a difference at Trading Post.

Beverly Minister
Kitty Rohrer
Jim Schilling
Merydeth Tipton

Due to vacations in the department, this post will take the place of the Saturday posts from February 8 and 15.

Recap from Lamar’s Vacation

I met with some movers and shakers in Guyana who are into the arts, eco-tourism, journalism, radio, and technology amongst other various fields. We sat down and had an intimate dinner and talked about life. Where we are from, our families, what’s important to us, etc. I must say outside of my time in Mississippi, I have never sat down and talked with such open people. They opened up shared things that I thought were very personal. Experiencing domestic violence, losing a loved one and more. It was so refreshing to be around such like-minded people, who were truly themselves, although they hold degrees and many titles. There was something truly human about them and how deeply they felt about life.

From left to right: Racquel, Sonia, Stan, Mia, Anthony

This is my new friend Emanuel (the human) and his not-so-friendly friend Sun Kar (Black Caiman). Emanuel is from 1 of 9 of the indigenous tribes that were first to be in Guyana. Awesome and interesting guy.

…and this ladies and gentlemen is Turtle Mountain! 984 ft and a sight of beauty to behold. Trees so green when the color forest green was created, I’m sure this is the picture they had in mind. Absolutely stunning. Lastly, if you look hard enough you can see the Essequibo river running east and west between the tree lines.

Hunger Hoedown

Thank you to everyone that supported us at the Hoedown last Friday. We appreciate your contribution whether you donated, volunteered or participated! We will give you fundraising results next week, but in the meantime, please enjoy these photos from the event.

Young Donor

We would also like to extend our thanks to Ethan Young, nephew of Steve and Sandra Young, our regular volunteers. Last week at the Hoedown, Ethan made a generous donation of $200 in memory of his grandfather, David. This money was earned from the sale of the matchbox cars that his grandfather had collected and left for Ethan when he passed away last year. This kind gesture shows that Ethan will continue the family’s legacy of giving.

Happy Birthday, Jill!

Our original director, Jill Thomas (pictured below) was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14.  After several years as Project Adelphos, over time the ministry grew and became known as Heart to Heart due, in part, to Jill. Also, the goal of the ministry was originally to connect individuals one-on-one. While we no longer use that model, we continue to promote the idea of community, connection and love.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Residents of Powell Senior Living spent an afternoon crafting beautiful homemade Valentine’s Day cards for the clients of Heart to Heart to deliver to their loved ones. Special cards made with lots of love!

MOFB February Order

Our February order from Mid-Ohio Foodbank totaled $993.33. Click here to view what we picked up on Monday.

January Stats

In January we served 441 Households over 8 service days. Read more about our January Statistics in the blog post.

Kroger Community Rewards

Time Period November 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020
Households participating: 274
Total donation for Heart to Heart: $ 1,177.54

Help provide for a family in need while shopping for yours. Follow this link to learn more about enrolling in the Kroger Community Rewards program benefitting Heart to Heart.

Recent Donations

Pepperidge Farm at 1174 Kenny Centre Mall has donated for the first time and we are looking forward to working with them in the future. Their donation totalled 220 pounds. Thank you to Marcy Miller for setting up this partnership.

We also received a donation from the Big Lots at 1451 W. Fifth Avenue. It included 106 pounds of dairy products and 204 pounds of dry goods.

Tri-Village Rotary club met bright and early Monday morning at Heart to Heart. They had been holding a competition to see who could solicit and contribute the most donations for us. In total, they brought us 2,901 pounds of food!