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Do Justice. Love Kindness. Walk Humbly.
Director: (614) 488-0681 ext. 106
Manager: (614) 488-0681 ext. 203
hearttoheart@FCchurch.com
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Tuesdays 9am to 12pm
Thursdays 9am to 12pm
First Community South
1320 Cambridge Blvd. Columbus, OH 43212
Monthly Archives

June 2022

June 25, 2022

By Weekly Update

Weekly Update

Service Statistics

Households served via Drive-Thru

  • 71 on Tuesday, June 14
  • 40 on Thursday, June 16
  • 51 on Tuesday, June 21
  • 49 on Thursday, June 23

Households served via Pop-Up

  • 19 on Monday, June 13
  • 38 on Wednesday, June 15
  • 33 on Wednesday, June 22

We will be closed on Monday, July 4.

Looking Forward

A couple weeks ago, our Heart to Heart Task Force met with guest Dr. Glen Miles to discuss the facilities recommendation that was released in March by the Strategic Planning Committee at First Community Church. While the recommendation includes relocation of Heart to Heart, we are reminded that a recommendation is not a plan. Dr. Miles encouraged our team to take this as an opportunity to imagine our ideal food pantry, and plan for the future with an open mind. At this point, only one thing is for sure: we will continue to operate as we are now, using space in both the main church and annex buildings, until a plan is made for relocation. That being said, we can imagine there are many questions about how the process will unfold and the timeframe.

We want to give everyone the opportunity to ask questions and imagine an ideal future. While Heart to Heart staff will not be responding directly to all questions and comments received on this form, we will be sure to read each of them. We will then review them, looking for common themes, and compile the most frequent and urgent questions. These will then be given back to Dr. Miles to take to the Strategic Planning Committee.

We cannot express enough how vital our volunteers are to this mission. Your questions and suggestions are necessary as we move forward with making changes at Heart to Heart. While we ask you to keep your responses concise for the purposes of this questionnaire, we understand that there is more conversation to be had, more dreaming to be done and a lot of work ahead of us! If you have any questions about this questionnaire, please email hearttoheart@fcchurch.com

Click here to complete the questionnaire.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Next Week

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, June 27
8:45 – 9:30 am Cold Stocking (1)
9:30 – 10:30 am Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Tuesday, June 28
8:30 – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (1)
10:00 – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (2)

Wednesday, June 29
1:00 – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, June 30
8:00 – 9:00 am Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)
8:30 – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (5)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (5)

Friday, July 1 
11:30 am – 1:00 pm Stocking (3)

Click here to sign up

New Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for a volunteer, preferably a social worker or someone with similar experience. This person would join our existing team of resource callers that answer voicemails from those looking for additional financial assistance. Requests include assistance for rent/house payments, utilities, medical bills, etc. Our team refers these clients to programs that fit their specific needs and have funding available, and helps them pursue the next step.

The group currently consists of volunteers Kitty Rohrer, Lynn Snowden, and April Bryant. They take turns checking the voicemail and returning calls for 2-3 weeks at a time. All three of these dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers have been in this role for years. They share expertise and news with one another regarding these resources, so the entire team can provide the best service to our community.

Kitty coordinates the schedule, and would be happy to discuss this opportunity with you, should you be interested. Click here to send Kitty an email.

Training Classes

Ohio Benefits Training

Participants in this training will gain a better understanding of ways to connect eligible individuals to SNAP Benefits, including the ability to pre-screen and use Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal. Participants will be able to determine the right outreach strategy for their agency.

  • Participants will discuss ways to connect clients to social Benefits such as SNAP/Medicaid/ and OWF.
  • Participants will take away how to submit SNAP/ Medicaid/ OWF benefits using Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal.
  • Best tips and tricks in navigating common barriers to assisting individuals.

Ohio Benefits Training
June 30, 10 am

Visit mofc.org/agency-360 for registration information

Food Safety Training

The next Food Safety – Person In Charge training will be hosted by Agency360 via Zoom in September. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

* Identify food safety risks
* Take appropriate action when someone has symptoms of foodborne illness or is diagnosed with a reportable disease
* Follow good personal hygiene and hand care practices
* Identify cross-contamination risks and methods for prevention
* Implement effective cleaning and sanitizing procedures
* Identify appropriate pest prevention measures and signs of pest infestations
* Maintain facilities and equipment in compliance with regulations

You may also choose to take the training online through ServSafe for $22 or State Food Safety for $12.

Once you complete the training, email us a copy of your certificate which ensures you attended the training and passed all the required quizzes and tests associated with the class.

Food Safety – Person In Charge
September 8th at 10am via Zoom
Visit mofc.org/agency-360 for registration information.

And what does the Lord
require of you
But to do justice,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly
with your God?
Micah 6:8 NKJ

Our mission at Heart to Heart is to respond to God’s commandment to love one another.
Our vision of Heart to Heart is to model God’s love by:
Cultivating a loving community
Honoring individual gifts
Feeding bodies and souls
…and seeing everyone as a child of God

In accordance with Federal law and U.S.D.A. policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability.

Holidays 2023

By Announcements

Closed for Client Services

Heart to Heart will be closed for all client service hours and volunteer shifts on the following days. Please plan accordingly.

Independence Day

  • Monday, July 3 through Wednesday, July 5

Annual Closure & Labor Day

  • Monday, September 4 through Friday, September 8

Election Day

  • Tuesday, November 7

Thanksgiving

  • Thursday, November 23 through Friday, November 24

Christmas & New Year

  • Monday, December 25 through Monday, January 1

 

Closed for Volunteer Shifts Only

Heart to Heart will be closed in observance of these holidays. The pantry will be closed for volunteer shifts only, as these are not regular client service days.

  • Monday, January 2
  • Monday, January 16
  • Monday, February 20
  • Monday, April 10
  • Monday, May 29
  • Monday, June 19
  • Monday, October 9

 

The Pop-Up Pantry (PUP) volunteer team creates and manages its own working schedule. These closures do not necessarily indicate the days the PUP will or will not be serving. Please contact the PUP team leaders for further information.

Likewise, First Community Church may or may not be operating during these closings. For more information on church closings, visit FCchurch.com

June 11, 2022

By Weekly Update

Weekly Update

Service Statistics

Households served via Drive-Thru

  • 72 on Tuesday, June 7
  • 52 on Thursday, June 9

Households served via Pop-Up

  • 39 on Wednesday, June 8
Monthly Stats

Update from Mid-Ohio Food Collective

As costs continue to rise, and supply chain issues persist, it seems everyone is tightening their belts. Many volunteers have noticed a less variety and availability of items from Mid-Ohio Foodbank (MOFB), and we have seen a decline in material donations from our direct retail partners. MOFB addressed the issue in a letter directed to their partner agencies, including Heart to Heart. Click below to read the response.

MOFB Letter

Looking Forward

Last week, our Heart to Heart Task Force met with guest Dr. Glen Miles to discuss the facilities recommendation that was released in March by the Strategic Planning Committee at First Community Church. While the recommendation includes relocation of Heart to Heart, we are reminded that a recommendation is not a plan. Dr. Miles encouraged our team to take this as an opportunity to imagine our ideal food pantry, and plan for the future with an open mind. At this point, only one thing is for sure: we will continue to operate as we are now, using space in both the main church and annex buildings, until a plan is made for relocation. That being said, we can imagine there are many questions about how the process will unfold and the timeframe.

We want to give everyone the opportunity to ask questions and imagine an ideal future. While Heart to Heart staff will not be responding directly to all questions and comments received on this form, we will be sure to read each of them. We will then review them, looking for common themes, and compile the most frequent and urgent questions. These will then be given back to Dr. Miles to take to the Strategic Planning Committee.

We cannot express enough how vital our volunteers are to this mission. Your questions and suggestions are necessary as we move forward with making changes at Heart to Heart. While we ask you to keep your responses concise for the purposes of this questionnaire, we understand that there is more conversation to be had, more dreaming to be done and a lot of work ahead of us! If you have any questions about this questionnaire, please email hearttoheart@fcchurch.com

Click here to complete the questionnaire.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Next Week

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, June 13
8:45 – 9:30 am Cold Stocking (1)
9:30 – 10:30 am Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Tuesday, June 14
8:00 – 9:00 am Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)
8:30 – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (3)
10:00 – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (2)

Wednesday, June 15
1:00 – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)
5:00 – 6:30 pm Shop & Stocking (1)

Thursday, June 16
8:00 – 9:00 am Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)
8:30 – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (5)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (5)

Friday, June 17
9:00 – 10:00 am Direct Retail Pickups (2)
9:30 – 10:30 am  Preshop Shift (1)

Click here to sign up

New Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for a volunteer, preferably a social worker or someone with similar experience. This person would join our existing team of resource callers that answer voicemails from those looking for additional financial assistance. Requests include assistance for rent/house payments, utilities, medical bills, etc. Our team refers these clients to programs that fit their specific needs and have funding available, and helps them pursue the next step.

The group currently consists of volunteers Kitty Rohrer, Lynn Snowden, and April Bryant. They take turns checking the voicemail and returning calls for 2-3 weeks at a time. All three of these dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers have been in this role for years. They share expertise and news with one another regarding these resources, so the entire team can provide the best service to our community.

Kitty coordinates the schedule, and would be happy to discuss this opportunity with you, should you be interested. Click here to send Kitty an email.

Training Classes

Ohio Benefits Training

Participants in this training will gain a better understanding of ways to connect eligible individuals to SNAP Benefits, including the ability to pre-screen and use Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal. Participants will be able to determine the right outreach strategy for their agency.

  • Participants will discuss ways to connect clients to social Benefits such as SNAP/Medicaid/ and OWF.
  • Participants will take away how to submit SNAP/ Medicaid/ OWF benefits using Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal.
  • Best tips and tricks in navigating common barriers to assisting individuals.

Ohio Benefits Training
June 30, 10 am

Visit mofc.org/agency-360 for registration information

Darkness to Light

This training class is provided by Nationwide Children’s Hosptial. Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children is an evidence-informed prevention solution that increases knowledge, improves attitudes, and changes child protective behaciors. The training combines two 45 minute video sessions filled with real people and real stores along with a 30-minute virtual discussion about protecting children. During the discussion, you’ll receive a list of local resources to support healthy, happy kids.

Stewards of Children
June 18, 10 am – 12:30 pm

Visit FamilySafetyandHealing.org for registration information

Food Safety Training

The next Food Safety – Person In Charge training will be hosted by Agency360 via Zoom in September. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

* Identify food safety risks
* Take appropriate action when someone has symptoms of foodborne illness or is diagnosed with a reportable disease
* Follow good personal hygiene and hand care practices
* Identify cross-contamination risks and methods for prevention
* Implement effective cleaning and sanitizing procedures
* Identify appropriate pest prevention measures and signs of pest infestations
* Maintain facilities and equipment in compliance with regulations

You may also choose to take the training online through ServSafe for $22 or State Food Safety for $12.

Once you complete the training, email us a copy of your certificate which ensures you attended the training and passed all the required quizzes and tests associated with the class.

Food Safety – Person In Charge
September 8th at 10am via Zoom
Visit mofc.org/agency-360 for registration information.

And what does the Lord
require of you
But to do justice,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly
with your God?
Micah 6:8 NKJ

Our mission at Heart to Heart is to respond to God’s commandment to love one another.
Our vision of Heart to Heart is to model God’s love by:
Cultivating a loving community
Honoring individual gifts
Feeding bodies and souls
…and seeing everyone as a child of God

In accordance with Federal law and U.S.D.A. policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability.

May 2022 Stats

By Statistics

Service Statistics

  • Households Served: 559
  • Seniors Served: 275
  • Adults Served: 1016
  • Children Served: 654
  • Individuals Served: 1945
  • Meals Served: 17,505
  • Families Served by Drive-Thru Pantry: 397
  • Families Served by Pop-Up Pantry: 162

Food Received
(in pounds)

  • First Community Church: 2,542
  • Giant Eagle: 2,173
  • Marc’s: 423
  • Penzey’s Spices: 160
  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank:  21,560
    • Order: 15,757 ($5,045.70)
    • Shop Thru: 5,803

 

Pop UPdate: May 2022

By Pupdate

In May, the Pop Up Pantry delivered to the following sites:

  • May 4: Commons at Livingston – 35
  • May 11: Hope Resource Center – 36
  • May 18: Southpoint Village Apartments – 34
  • May 25: Commons at Grant – 28
  • May 26: Riverview International Center – 29

Total served for the month of May is 162

We are happy to report we will be resuming deliveries with Franklinton Farms to Southpark Apartments. Bagging and storage delivery will begin on June 9.  Volunteers will be on site with Franklinton Farms on June 13 for distribution.

Hope Resource Center has requested our Pop Up for additional delivery as the need remains great.  We will increase numbers served to 40 on the 2nd Wednesday.  Our second delivery of 40 will be on the 5th Wednesday of the month (June 29, Aug 31, and Nov 30).

Our team sent a healing message to Richard Jacob.  We continue to hold him in our thoughts and prayers.

We are excited to welcome Bobbie Doak as a weekly Pop Up volunteer.  Bobbie recently moved to Columbus and wished to continue volunteering at a pantry.  She comes with great experience.  Welcome Bobbie!

Boyce Lancaster is back!  We are happy for his recovery and his return to driving for the Pop Up.  As always, we remain grateful for all our drivers.

Melody and Rose are honored to co-lead this mission with our wonderful team of dedicated volunteers.

2022 Monthly Totals:

  • January: 161
  • February: 159
  • March: 154
  • April: 162
  • May: 162

Serving in Faith,
Rose and Melody

June 4, 2022

By Weekly Update

Weekly Update

Service Statistics

Households served via Drive-Thru

  • 31 on Tuesday, May 31
  • 61 on Thursday, June 2

Households served via Pop-Up

  • 35 on Wednesday, June 1

Volunteer Next Week

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, June 6
8:45 am – 9:30 am Cold Stocking (1)
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm  MOFB Order Unloading (4)

Tuesday, June 7
8:30 – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (4)

Wednesday, June 8
1:00 – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Shop & Stocking (4)

Thursday, June 9
8:30 – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (2)
10:00 – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (5)

Friday, June 10
9:30 – 10:30 am  Cold Stocking Shift (1)
9:30 – 10:30 am  Preshop Shift (2)

Click here to sign up

Pop UPdate

In May, the Pop Up Pantry delivered to the following sites:

  • May 4: Commons at Livingston – 35
  • May 11: Hope Resource Center – 36
  • May 18: Southpoint Village Apartments – 34
  • May 25: Commons at Grant – 28
  • May 26: Riverview International Center – 29

Total served for the month of May is 162

We are happy to report we will be resuming deliveries with Franklinton Farms to Southpark Apartments. Bagging and storage delivery will begin on June 9.  Volunteers will be on site with Franklinton Farms on June 13 for distribution.

Hope Resource Center has requested our Pop Up for additional delivery as the need remains great.  We will increase numbers served to 40 on the 2nd Wednesday.  Our second delivery of 40 will be on the 5th Wednesday of the month (June 29, Aug 31, and Nov 30).

Our team sent a healing message to Richard Jacob.  We continue to hold him in our thoughts and prayers.

We are excited to welcome Bobbie Doak as a weekly Pop Up volunteer.  Bobbie recently moved to Columbus and wished to continue volunteering at a pantry.  She comes with great experience.  Welcome Bobbie!

Boyce Lancaster is back!  We are happy for his recovery and his return to driving for the Pop Up.  As always, we remain grateful for all our drivers.

Melody and Rose are honored to co-lead this mission with our wonderful team of dedicated volunteers.

2022 Monthly Totals:

  • January: 161
  • February: 159
  • March: 154
  • April: 162
  • May: 162

Serving in Faith,
Rose and Melody

Ohio Benefits Training

Participants in this training will gain a better understanding of ways to connect eligible individuals to SNAP Benefits, including the ability to pre-screen and use Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal. Participants will be able to determine the right outreach strategy for their agency.

  • Participants will discuss ways to connect clients to social Benefits such as SNAP/Medicaid/ and OWF.
  • Participants will take away how to submit SNAP/ Medicaid/ OWF benefits using Ohio Benefits Self Service Portal.
  • Best tips and tricks in navigating common barriers to assisting individuals.

Ohio Benefits Training
June 30, 10 am

Visit mofc.org/agency-360 for registration information

Darkness to Light

This training class is provided by Nationwide Children’s Hosptial. Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children is an evidence-informed prevention solution that increases knowledge, improves attitudes, and changes child protective behaciors. The training combines two 45 minute video sessions filled with real people and real stores along with a 30-minute virtual discussion about protecting children. During the discussion, you’ll receive a list of local resources to support healthy, happy kids.

Stewards of Children
June 18, 10 am – 12:30 pm

Visit FamilySafetyandHealing.org for registration information

And what does the Lord
require of you
But to do justice,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly
with your God?
Micah 6:8 NKJ

Our mission at Heart to Heart is to respond to God’s commandment to love one another.
Our vision of Heart to Heart is to model God’s love by:
Cultivating a loving community
Honoring individual gifts
Feeding bodies and souls
…and seeing everyone as a child of God

In accordance with Federal law and U.S.D.A. policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability.

Volunteer of the Month: June 2022

By Volunteer

Tom and Carol Rieland

“It’s such an honor to be able to be able to help out.  We are proud of First Community’s ongoing commitment to serving our neighbors at a time of great need.  What also makes the experience special is the amazing volunteers we have gotten to know – praying, joking and enjoying our service together.”