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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

October 2022

October 30, 2022

By Weekly Update

Weekly Update

Weekly Numbers

Households served via Drive-Thru

  • 61 on Tuesday, October 18
  • 52 on Thursday, October 20
  • 60 on Tuesday, October 25
  • 56 on Thursday, October 27

Households served via Pop-Up

  • 37 on Wednesday, October 19
  • 20 on Wednesday, October 26
  • 28 on Thursday, October 27
Monthly Statistics

Volunteers

Monday, October 31
8:30 – 9:30 am Cold Stocking (1)
3:30 – 5:00 pm MOFB Truck Unload (7)
5:00 – 6:30 pm Stock & Shop (4)

Tuesday, November 1
8:30 – 10:30 am Drive-Thru (3)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm Drive -Thru (4)

Wednesday, November 2
1:00 – 2:00 pm MOFB Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, November 3
8:30 – 10:20 am Drive- Thru (3)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm Drive-Thru (1)

Friday, November 4
9:00 – 10:00 am Direct Retail Pickup (1)
9:30 – 10:30 am Cold Stocking (1)

Click here to sign up

PUPdate

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

  • Oct 5:         Commons at Livingston – 35
  • Oct 12:       Hope Resource Center – 34
  • Oct 17:       South Park Apartment w/Franklinton Farms – 21
  • Oct 19:       Southpoint – 37
  • Oct 26:       Commons at Grant – 20
  • Oct 27:       Riverview International Center – 30

Total served for the month of Oct:  177 

Pop Up 2022 Monthly Totals:

  • January:        161
  • February:      159
  • March:           154
  • April:              162
  • May:              162
  • June:             225
  • July:              187
  • August:          210
  • September:    174
  • October:         177

YTD:            1,771  Individuals/families served 

We are excited to report our Southpoint Christmas is off to a great start.  We received ‘Wish List’ requests from 27 families with 82 children. Each child will receive two gifts totaling 164 gifts. We are thankful to have Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School, FCC congregation and our friends all help in making the wishes of Southpoint children come true.

The 4th and 5th graders from Sarah Oberlin and Amy Millers’ classes at Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School came to learn about Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry.  They came with bags filled with donations – 469 lbs of goods!  Yohan gave a tour of the pantry.  He answered questions and explained how the pantry is such an important part of our community.  Melody and Rose talked about why the Pop Up Pantry was formed and the upcoming Southpoint Christmas Gift Project with Wickliffe.

The Pop Up Team constantly experiences goodness all around us.  We are so grateful and send a big shout out to Rob, the store manager at ALDI’s in Upper Arlington.  Kathleen Hatcher generously has been purchasing plastic ALDI bags with handles to distribute groceries to our neighbors who walk to our sites at Hope, Southpark and Riverview.  Once he heard how we use them, he paid for our last box of 250 bags.  Kindness is everywhere!

Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry were represented and given a big shout out at the Riverview Fundraiser on October 18 at Mozart Cafe’. Carla Edlefson, Rose Kandel, Kitty Rohrer and Melody Smiley were there to represent our Team and show support to Riverview and the wonderful work they do to welcome and support the refugees coming to Columbus.

We welcomed our newest volunteers to our team:  Carol Bramschreiber, John Oberlin and Beth Simeon.  John is our newest sub driver willing to pick up the task to get our bags to the sites.  Beth and Carol come with caring hearts and lots of energy!  Welcome!

Melody and I are continually blessed to have the support of First Community/Heart to Heart staff and all the dedicated volunteers who give so much of their time and energy.

Serving in Faith,

Rose Kandel and Melody Smiley

Benefit Concert

Holiday Help

Groups, families, and individuals are welcome to sponsor a family or families that request holiday assistance this year through the purchase of gifts for them. Sponsors will be asked to contact their sponsored family directly to get ideas for Christmas gifts and make arrangements for delivery or pick-up. Anyone interested in the program should notify Heart to Heart by phone at x102 or email to hearttoheart@fcchurch.com.

Our dedicated volunteer and social worker extraordinaire, Kitty Rohrer, will get contact information and family make up from the clients, then match inquiring families with those looking to sponsor them. We will accept requests October 20 through December 9. After that date, all inquiries, both clients and sponsors, will be referred to other programs by our team of resource volunteers.

Donation Match

All financial contributions made to Heart to Heart from November 1 through December 31 will be matched up to $20,000. With the increase in both demand and cost of food in recent months, the food pantry needs additional financial resources more than ever. Please know that your doubled donation will be doubly appreciated this year!

For the eighth year running, Jill and Duke Thomas have graciously made this pledge to support our mission to respond to God’s commandment to love one another. Heart to heart began serving the community in 1986, and still exists today thanks to the foundation laid by its task force and early leaders, including Jill. We are eternally grateful for the Thomas family’s ongoing support of our mission.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

A food collection will take place during all worship services on Sunday, November 13. The deacons will then help pack these donations for clients to be distributed prior to Thanksgiving.

2023 Calendar

Click the image to view all holiday hours and closings for Heart to Heart next year.

Training Opportunities

Food Safety Training

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

This training will be held via Zoom and registration is required to attend. Heart to Heart is Agency #1042

November 10, 10am
More Info | Register 

FreshTrak Training

This workshop will provide the fundamentals to get started with FreshTrak at your agency. Participants with learn how to administer the intake process using FreshTrak and will be guided on best practices for developing an efficient process in registering your clients. For agencies already using FreshTrak, this workshop will be helpful as a refresher of the basics.

Heart to Heart is Agency #1042
November 15, 10am
More Info |
Register

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.

Donation Match 2022

By Announcements

All financial contributions made to Heart to Heart from November 1 through December 31 will be matched up to $20,000. With the increase in both demand and cost of food in recent months, the food pantry needs additional financial resources more than ever. Please know that your doubled donation will be doubly appreciated this year!

For the eighth year running, Jill and Duke Thomas have graciously made this matching pledge to support our mission to respond to God’s commandment to love one another. Heart to Heart began serving the community in 1986, and still exists today thanks to the foundation laid by its task force and early leaders, including Jill. We are eternally grateful for the Thomas family’s ongoing support of our mission.

Donate Now!

Holiday Help 2022

By Announcements, Events

Program Overview

Groups, families, and individuals are welcome to sponsor a family or families that request holiday assistance this year through the purchase of gifts for them. Sponsors will be asked to contact their sponsored family directly to get ideas for Christmas gifts and make arrangements for delivery or pick-up. Our dedicated volunteer and social worker extraordinaire, Kitty Rohrer, will get contact information and family make up from the clients, then match inquiring families with those looking to sponsor them. We will accept requests October 20 through December 9. After that date, all inquiries, both clients and sponsors, will be referred to other programs by our team of resource volunteers.

General Information

  • We will match families and sponsors from October 20 through December 9. After which, all inquiries, both clients and sponsors, will be referred to other programs by our team of resource volunteers.
  • The program will be managed entirely by our volunteer Kitty Rohrer. She is a career social worker and has volunteered at Heart to Heart for over a decade.
  • All inquiries can be directed via phone to 614-488-0681 x102, or via email to Kitty. Please be patient with response times as there is but one individual managing the entire program.
  • Due to administrative constraints, we are unable to accept monetary donations or gift cards in lieu of family sponsorships this year.
  • If you’re unable to sponsor a family through Heart to Heart, please consider searching for local organization accepting this type of assistance. (Toys for Tots, Volunteers of America, etc.)
  • All financial contributions made to Heart to Heart in this time period will be routed to our general fund. No monies will be set aside for the purchase of gifts or gift cards for these client families.
  • We encourage group sponsorships! For instance, your guild, book club, or department at work can combine resources to provide support for an entire family.

Call 614-488-0681 x102

Sponsor Instructions

1. Contact us if you are interested in sponsoring a family this year. Please send an email indicating your preferences (if any) for:

  • number of sponsored families
  • family size
  • number of children
  • ages of the children
  • gender of the children
  • any other information that will be helpful in making a match

2. Kitty will reply to your inquiry with a match. She will include the general family makeup, a contact name and phone number. Essentially, the service we provide is to match families seeking assistance with those willing to provide it.

3. You are responsible for making contact with the sponsored family. You can interview them to get their wishlists and needs. There will be no suggested expenditures for each family, as we would like sponsors to help in the way they best see fit.

4. Make arrangements with the sponsored family for pickup or delivery of the gifts. How, when and where this is accomplished is completely up to you! With safety and convenience in mind, we suggest you to meet your family in the parking lot of one of the church campuses.

If you have not made a connection with the family by December 9, please leave a message for or email Kitty Rohrer.

Client Instructions

1. Contact us if you are interested having your family sponsored. Please send an email indicating the general makeup of your family, including:

  • primary contact name and phone number/email address
    • if a phone number, list the best days and times to get ahold of you
  • family size (number of adults, number of children)
  • ages and genders of the children
  • any other information that will be helpful in making a match
    • if possible, include your children’s wish lists, needs, and clothing sizes if applicable

2. Kitty will provide your family’s contact information and any details provided with a sponsor.

3. The sponsor will get in touch with you to discuss the family’s wishlists, etc. You will make arrangements directly with your sponsor for obtaining the gifts. With safety and convenience in mind, we suggest you to meet your family in the parking lot of one of the church campuses.

If you have not heard from your sponsor by December 9, please leave a message for or email Kitty Rohrer.

October 15, 2022

By Weekly Update

Weekly Update

This Week’s Numbers

Households served via Drive-Thru

  • 62 on Tuesday, October 11
  • 50 on Thursday, October 13

Households served via Pop-Up

  • 34 on Wednesday, October 12
Monthly Statistics

Volunteers

Monday, October 17
8:30 – 9:30 am Cold Stocking (1)
3:30 – 5:00 pm MOFB Truck Unload (5)
5:00 – 6:30 pm Stock & Shop (3)

Tuesday, October 18
8:30 – 10:30 am Drive-Thru (3)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm Drive -Thru (4)

Wednesday, October 19
1:00 – 2:00 pm MOFB Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, October 20
8:00 – 9:00 am MOFB Shop Thru (1)
8:30 – 10:20 am Drive- Thru (3)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm Drive-Thru (1)

Friday, October 21
9:30 – 10:30 am Cold Stocking (2)

Click here to sign up

Monday’s Order

click image to enlarge

Benefit Concert

Holiday Help

Groups, families, and individuals are welcome to sponsor a family or families that request holiday assistance this year through the purchase of gifts for them. Sponsors will be asked to contact their sponsored family directly to get ideas for Christmas gifts and make arrangements for delivery or pick-up. Anyone interested in the program should notify Heart to Heart by phone at x102 or email to hearttoheart@fcchurch.com.

Our dedicated volunteer and social worker extraordinaire, Kitty Rohrer, will get contact information and family make up from the clients, then match inquiring families with those looking to sponsor them. We will accept requests October 20 through December 9. After that date, all inquiries, both clients and sponsors, will be referred to other programs by our team of resource volunteers.

Donation Match

All financial contributions made to Heart to Heart from November 1 through December 31 will be matched up to $20,000. With the increase in both demand and cost of food in recent months, the food pantry needs additional financial resources more than ever. Please know that your doubled donation will be doubly appreciated this year!

For the eighth year running, Jill and Duke Thomas have graciously made this pledge to support our mission to respond to God’s commandment to love one another. Heart to heart began serving the community in 1986, and still exists today thanks to the foundation laid by its task force and early leaders, including Jill. We are eternally grateful for the Thomas family’s ongoing support of our mission.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

A food collection will take place during all worship services on Sunday, November 13. The deacons will then help pack these donations for clients to be distributed prior to Thanksgiving.

2023 Calendar

Click the image to view all holiday hours and closings for Heart to Heart next year.

Training Opportunities

FreshTrak Training

This workshop will provide the fundamentals to get started with FreshTrak at your agency. Participants with learn how to administer the intake process using FreshTrak and will be guided on best practices for developing an efficient process in registering your clients. For agencies already using FreshTrak, this workshop will be helpful as a refresher of the basics.

Heart to Heart is Agency #1042
October 20, 2pm
More Info |
Register

Food Safety Training

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

This training will be held via Zoom and registration is required to attend. Heart to Heart is Agency #1042

November 10, 10am
More Info | Register 

Advocacy 101

Register today and join the conversation. Mid-Ohio Food Collective’s Tim White- Director, Government Relations and Advocacy, and Hallie Carirno – Grassroots Government Relations Specialist will lead the  open forum discussion as you-

  • Explore ways to push back and advocate against the continued assault on the SNAP program.
  • Dive into the issues both state and federal which impact foodbanks and pantries; from funding to regulatory oversight.
Heart to Heart is Agency #1042
October 25, 10 am
More Info |
Register

FreshTrak Training

This workshop will provide the fundamentals to get started with FreshTrak at your agency. Participants with learn how to administer the intake process using FreshTrak and will be guided on best practices for developing an efficient process in registering your clients. For agencies already using FreshTrak, this workshop will be helpful as a refresher of the basics.

Heart to Heart is Agency #1042
November 15, 10am
More Info |
Register

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.

September 2022 Stats

By Statistics

Service Statistics

  • Households Served: 575
  • Seniors Served: 283
  • Adults Served: 1,022
  • Children Served: 745
  • Individuals Served: 2,050
  • Meals Served: 18,450
  • Families Served by Drive-Thru Pantry: 401
  • Families Served by Pop-Up Pantry: 174

Food Received
(in pounds)

  • First Community Church (total)  5,952
  • Giant Eagle  654
  • Marc’s     512
  • Penzey’s Spices  155
  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank (total weight) 16,817
    • MOFB Order total WEIGHT  11,631
    • MOFB Order total COST  $6,645.16
    • MOFB Shop Thru Weight ONLY 5,186

 

Pop UPdate: September 2022

By Pupdate

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

  • Sept 7:       Commons at Livingston – 35
  • Sept 14:     Hope Resource Center – 35
  • Sept 19:     South Park Apartment w/Franklinton Farms – 20
  • Sept 21:     Southpoint – 37
  • Sept 22:     Riverview International Center – 27
  • Sept 28:     Commons at Grant – 20

Total served for the month of September:  174 

Pop Up 2022 Monthly Totals:

  • January:        161
  • February:      159
  • March:           154
  • April:              162
  • May:              162
  • June:             225
  • July:              187
  • August:          210
  • September:   174

YTD:            1,594  Individuals/families served  

Plans are underway for our Pop Up Team to bring some joy to the children at Southpoint. Once again we are joining forces with Upper Arlington’s Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School.  This will be our third year giving the children at Southpoint a special Christmas.  More details to come in our October/November Report.

Our numbers have gone down at The Commons at Grant.  Some of the residents have said they are receiving the same items from other pantries.  It’s too much of the same and they have extras.  We explained to Grant that Mid-Ohio Food Collective plus all the pantries have a food shortage which makes supplies short and not as varied.  Many are still very grateful for our continued help.  We plan to continue even with the numbers being lower.  We told them we would still serve those residents that are counting on us for help.

 

Hope Resource Center has been in the news recently.  They are working on fixing some issues to better serve their neighborhood.   We are grateful to continue to be a part of their mission and serve those in need.

 

We welcome our recent and newest volunteers:  Katie Halley, Marcy Miller and Cathy Wheaton.  The Team is blessed to have the help.  They are a wonderful addition to our Pop Up Team.

Melody and I are continually blessed to have the support of First Community/Heart to Heart staff and all the dedicated volunteers who give so much of their time and energy.

Serving in Faith,

Rose Kandel and Melody Smiley

October 8, 2022

By Weekly Update

Weekly Update

This Week’s Numbers

Households served via Drive-Thru

  • 76 on Tuesday, September 27
  • 52 on Thursday, September 29
  • 59 on Tuesday, October 4
  • 32 on Thursday, October 6

Households served via Pop-Up

  • 20 on Wednesday, September 28
  • 35 on Wednesday, October 5

September 2022

Service Statistics

  • Households Served: 575
  • Seniors Served: 283
  • Adults Served: 1,022
  • Children Served: 745
  • Individuals Served: 2,050
  • Meals Served: 18,450
  • Families Served by Drive-Thru Pantry: 401
  • Families Served by Pop-Up Pantry: 174

Food Received
(in pounds)

  • First Community Church: 5,496
  • Giant Eagle: 480
  • Marc’s: 304
  • Penzey’s Spices: 231
  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank: 14,972
    • Order: 11,631 ($6,645.16)
    • Shop Thru: 3,341

Click here to view Statistics by Month

Announcements

Next week we will share plans for our holiday assistance program. We will also share an announcement about financial donations!

Volunteers

Monday, October 10
8:30 – 9:30 am Cold Stocking (1)
5:00 – 6:30 pm Stock & Shop (2)

Tuesday, October 11
8:30 – 10:30 am Drive-Thru (3)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm Drive -Thru (5)

Wednesday, October 12
1:00 – 2:00 pm MOFB Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, October 13
8:00 – 9:00 am MOFB Shop Thru (1)
8:30 – 10:20 am Drive- Thru (4)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm Drive-Thru (2)

Friday, October 14
9:30 – 10:30 am Cold Stocking (1)

November Sign-Up Genius has been published, as well. 

Click here to sign up

Message to the Staff

FCC Team:

It is with great pleasure and gratitude that I announce two promotions:

Amy Caskie has been promoted to Director of Missions and Yohan Kim has been promoted to Heart to Heart Food Pantry Manager. Yohan will now be reporting to Amy. This re-alignment simply makes sense organizationally and acknowledges the level at which both Amy and Yohan have been performing for some time now.

Please join me in congratulating them!

Seth Stearns | Executive Director of Operations
First Community | Where Everyone is Accepted
1320 Cambridge Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43212
(614) 488-0681, Ext. 287
sstearns@fcchurch.com | FCchurch.com

Social Media

Pop UPdate

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

  • Sept 7:       Commons at Livingston – 35
  • Sept 14:     Hope Resource Center – 35
  • Sept 19:     South Park Apartment/Franklinton Farms – 20
  • Sept 21:     Southpoint – 37
  • Sept 22:     Riverview International Center – 27
  • Sept 28:     Commons at Grant – 20

Total served for the month of September:  174 

Pop Up 2022 Monthly Totals:

  • January:        161
  • February:      159
  • March:           154
  • April:              162
  • May:              162
  • June:             225
  • July:              187
  • August:          210
  • September:   174

1,594  Households served Year to Date  

Plans are underway for our Pop Up Team to bring some joy to the children at Southpoint. Once again we are joining forces with Upper Arlington’s Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School.  This will be our third year giving the children at Southpoint a special Christmas.  More details to come in our October/November Report.

Our numbers have gone down at The Commons at Grant.  Some of the residents have said they are receiving the same items from other pantries.  It’s too much of the same and they have extras.  We explained to Grant that Mid-Ohio Food Collective plus all the pantries have a food shortage which makes supplies short and not as varied.  Many are still very grateful for our continued help.  We plan to continue even with the numbers being lower.  We told them we would still serve those residents that are counting on us for help.

Hope Resource Center has been in the news recently.  They are working on fixing some issues to better serve their neighborhood.   We are grateful to continue to be a part of their mission and serve those in need.

We welcome our recent and newest volunteers:  Katie Halley, Marcy Miller and Cathy Wheaton.  The Team is blessed to have the help.  They are a wonderful addition to our Pop Up Team.

Melody and I are continually blessed to have the support of First Community and Heart to Heart staff and all the dedicated volunteers who give so much of their time and energy.

Serving in Faith,
Rose Kandel and Melody Smiley

Click for All PUPdates!

Training Opportunities

FreshTrak Training

This workshop will provide the fundamentals to get started with FreshTrak at your agency. Participants with learn how to administer the intake process using FreshTrak and will be guided on best practices for developing an efficient process in registering your clients. For agencies already using FreshTrak, this workshop will be helpful as a refresher of the basics.

Heart to Heart is Agency #1042
October 20, 2pm
More Info |
Register

Food Safety Training

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

This training will be held via Zoom and registration is required to attend. Heart to Heart is Agency #1042

November 10, 10am
More Info | Register 

Advocacy 101

Register today and join the conversation. Mid-Ohio Food Collective’s Tim White- Director, Government Relations and Advocacy, and Hallie Carirno – Grassroots Government Relations Specialist will lead the  open forum discussion as you-

  • Explore ways to push back and advocate against the continued assault on the SNAP program.
  • Dive into the issues both state and federal which impact foodbanks and pantries; from funding to regulatory oversight.
Heart to Heart is Agency #1042
October 25, 10 am
More Info |
Register

FreshTrak Training

This workshop will provide the fundamentals to get started with FreshTrak at your agency. Participants with learn how to administer the intake process using FreshTrak and will be guided on best practices for developing an efficient process in registering your clients. For agencies already using FreshTrak, this workshop will be helpful as a refresher of the basics.

Heart to Heart is Agency #1042
November 15, 10am
More Info |
Register

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: October 2022

By Volunteer

Colleen Evans

I started volunteering at Heart to Heart in late summer 2021. I work part-time from home, and when my son went back to school, I had some extra time to spare. My husband and I were married at First Community, and our son was baptized there, so I decided to check out Heart to Heart. What drew me to the drive-thru shift was being able to see and connect with our neighbors who turn to the pantry for help. They are very grateful for the help they receive, but I feel just as grateful to be able to help them.

I work in the animal welfare field, so I understand that dogs and cats are very much part of the family. I noticed that when we had pet food to offer, those who needed it were extra grateful to be able to get something for their pet in addition to the rest of their family. Through my contacts at Columbus Humane, I was able to connect their pet food pantry to Heart to Heart, and since then I have picked up and delivered approximately 1,300 pounds of pet food.

This summer I introduced our 10-year-old son to Heart to Heart, and he loved loading up the cars, and passing out candy and books to the kids who came through. By the end of his first shift, he was moving me aside saying “I got this mom” and loading up the dry goods by himself. He still asks about Yohan and the other Thursday drive-thru crew. I’m happy to instill in him a sense of community service and caring that I hope he will carry with him forever.