Heart to Heart Happenings Weekly Blog

Abuse Prevention Training

In January 2016, First Community Church and Akita staff made a commitment to protecting all children from abuse by offering training in the nationally recognized sexual abuse prevention program, Darkness to Light. First Community staff, whether they work with children or not and volunteers who work with children are required to attend a Darkness to Light sexual abuse prevention training. Re-certification for staff and volunteers who work with children is required every three years.

There are two training options currently available for staff and volunteers. Both will be held in Room 101 at First Community North. If you have not been trained, please click the Registration button to sign up.

• Tuesday, October 15, 6 – 8:30 pm
• Wednesday, November 20, 10 am – 12:30 pm

If neither of the in-person trainings work for you, please consider taking the training online in your own time. The cost of the training is $16.

• Online Training
• Learn more about Darkness to Light
• Minor Code of Conduct
• Code of Conduct Graphic

*If you or someone you supervise has been affected by abuse and is emotionally unable to take the training, please reach out to Rev. Mary Kate Buchanan.

@hearttoheartpantry

@hearttoheartpantry

Abuse Prevention Training

In January 2016, First Community Church and Akita staff made a commitment to protecting all children from abuse by offering training in the nationally recognized sexual abuse prevention program, Darkness to Light. First Community staff, whether they work with children or not and volunteers who work with children are required to attend a Darkness to Light sexual abuse prevention training. Re-certification for staff and volunteers who work with children is required every three years.

There are two training options currently available for staff and volunteers. Both will be held in Room 101 at First Community North. If you have not been trained, please click the blue Registration button to sign up.

• Monday, September 30, 2-4:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 15,6-8:30 pm

If neither of the in-person trainings work for you, please consider taking the training online in your own time. The cost of the training is $16.

• Online Training
• Learn more about Darkness to Light
• Minor Code of Conduct
• Code of Conduct Graphic

*If you or someone you supervise has been affected by abuse and is emotionally unable to take the training, please reach out to Rev. Mary Kate Buchanan.

Minor Safety Code of Conduct

This week, we posted these visual depictions of the guidelines set forth in the Code of Conduct released earlier this year. If you have any questions about The Code, please let us know.

Click image to enlarge.

Friendly Reminder

At Heart to Heart, our ministry is spread across 3 buildings spanning the entire FC South campus. With all the movement in and out of buildings, it may be hard to remember to keep tabs on everything. However, we ask that you make sure you are closing doors behind you when moving in and out of the buildings. Propping doors open for any period of time allows for pests to enter the building. If you see a door propped open and no one is around, please make sure it get closed!

Ohio State University’s Semester of Service

“Semester of Service is a leadership and service program that matches Ohio State students with local nonprofit organizations, where they serve on a weekly basis throughout the course of a semester. Students also participate in an educational curriculum to help prepare them to act as servant leaders in the Columbus community.  This experience provides students the opportunity to gain insight into the values and function of community service, while making a semester-long commitment to serve at a single agency.”

For the past two years, we have partnered with OSU’s SOS program. The program provides leadership, service and community engagement opportunities for the students. It also means that Heart to Heart has dedicated students every semester that are regularly volunteering. This semester, we will welcome Omar and Eliana as our OSU SOS volunteers! Omar’s first volunteer shift is September 17 and he will be working Tuesday morning’s drive-thru shifts. Eliana’s first day is September 24, and she will volunteer on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please introduce yourselves and welcome them to the volunteer team when you see them!

@hearttoheartpantry

Donations Needed

Christmas Program Volunteers

It may seem early, but plans for this year’s Heart to Heart Christmas program are underway. We are looking for additional volunteers to help us make the program a success. Click here to view the slideshow that gives a rundown of the program. Many details are yet to be determined and depend on volunteer help and availability. We are looking for volunteers to help administer the program. We specifically need:

• Gift Delivery Volunteers
• Gift Pickup Volunteers

Click the button below if you would like to sign up for one of these roles. If you have additional questions, please email Amy Caskie.

Friendly Reminder

At Heart to Heart, our ministry is spread across 3 buildings spanning the entire FC South campus. With all the movement in and out of buildings, it may be hard to remember to keep tabs on everything. However, we ask that you make sure you are closing doors behind you when moving in and out of the buildings. Propping doors open for any period of time allows for pests to enter the building. If you see a door propped open and no one is around, please make sure it get closed!

Christmas Program Volunteers

It may seem early, but plans for this year’s Heart to Heart Christmas program are underway. We are looking for additional volunteers to help us make the program a success. Click here to view the slideshow that gives a rundown of the program. Many details are yet to be determined and depend on volunteer help and availability. We are looking for volunteers to help administer the program. We specifically need:

• Client Interviewers
• Gift Delivery Volunteers
• Gift Pickup Volunteers

Click the button below if you would like to sign up for one of these roles. If you have additional questions, please email Amy Caskie.

Friendly Reminder

At Heart to Heart, our ministry is spread across 3 buildings spanning the entire FC South campus. With all the movement in and out of buildings, it may be hard to remember to keep tabs on everything. However, we ask that you make sure you are closing doors behind you when moving in and out of the buildings. Propping doors open for any period of time allows for pests to enter the building. If you see a door propped open and no one is around, please make sure it get closed!

Donations

We have a new donation opportunity at the church: empty pill bottles. You can read more about it in the September issue of On a Mission! Have you ever wondered what donations the church collects or what to do with your donations? There are so many that it can be hard to keep track ! Click below to enlarge the flowchart which shows what each ministry collects and how.

Christmas Program Volunteers

It may seem early, but plans for this year’s Heart to Heart Christmas program are underway. We are looking for additional volunteers to help us make the program a success. Click here to view the slideshow that gives a rundown of the program. Many details are yet to be determined and depend on volunteer help and availability. We are looking for volunteers to help administer the program. Specifically, we need:

• Client liaisons who will contact the clients that have been identified. They will interview the clients for their gift wish lists and needs. This role will likely start in September and end in November, depending on the responsiveness of clients sponsored. It would be beneficial for these volunteers to be comfortable using a computer/ internet.
• Gift Delivery volunteers willing to coordinate taking gifts to clients who would benefit from having gifts delivered to their home. These people will contact clients directly and meet them at their homes or at locations/times mutually convenient.
• Gift Pickup volunteers to staff the dates that clients are given to pickup gifts at First Community, should they choose that option. You will check in clients from a list, ensure they get everything they need, and communicate back with home base about progress. Dates are to be determined based on Facilities and Volunteer availability.

Click the button below if you would like to sign up for one of these roles. If you have additional questions, please email Amy Caskie.

FreshTrak Basic Training

(FKA PantryTrak)

This online via zoom 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.

The following dates and times are available:

• Thu, Aug 29 at 2 pm

Christmas Program Volunteers

It may seem early, but plans for this year’s Heart to Heart Christmas program are underway. We are looking for additional volunteers to help us make the program a success. Click here to view the slideshow that gives a rundown of the program. Many details are yet to be determined and depend on volunteer help and availability. We are looking for volunteers to help administer the program. Specifically, we need:

• Client liaisons who will contact the clients that have been identified. They will interview the clients for their gift wish lists and needs. This role will likely start in September and end in November, depending on the responsiveness of clients sponsored. It would be beneficial for these volunteers to be comfortable using a computer/ internet.
• Gift Delivery volunteers willing to coordinate taking gifts to clients who would benefit from having gifts delivered to their home. These people will contact clients directly and meet them at their homes or at locations/times mutually convenient.
• Gift Pickup volunteers to staff the dates that clients are given to pickup gifts at First Community, should they choose that option. You will check in clients from a list, ensure they get everything they need, and communicate back with home base about progress. Dates are to be determined based on Facilities and Volunteer availability.

Click the button below if you would like to sign up for one of these roles. If you have additional questions, please email Amy Caskie.

FreshTrak Basic Training

(FKA PantryTrak)

This online via zoom 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.

The following dates and times are available:

• Thu, Aug 29 at 2 pm

Christmas Program Volunteers

It may seem early, but plans for this year’s Heart to Heart Christmas program are underway. We are looking for additional volunteers to help us make the program a success. Click here to view the slideshow that gives a rundown of the program. Many details are yet to be determined and depend on volunteer help and availability. We are looking for volunteers to help administer the program. Specifically, we need:

• Client liaisons who will contact the clients that have been identified. They will interview the clients for their gift wish lists and needs. This role will likely start in September and end in November, depending on the responsiveness of clients sponsored. It would be beneficial for these volunteers to be comfortable using a computer/ internet.
• Gift Delivery volunteers willing to coordinate taking gifts to clients who would benefit from having gifts delivered to their home. These people will contact clients directly and meet them at their homes or at locations/times mutually convenient.
• Gift Pickup volunteers to staff the dates that clients are given to pickup gifts at First Community, should they choose that option. You will check in clients from a list, ensure they get everything they need, and communicate back with home base about progress. Dates are to be determined based on Facilities and Volunteer availability.

Click the button below if you would like to sign up for one of these roles. If you have additional questions, please email Amy Caskie.

FreshTrak Basic Training

(FKA PantryTrak)

This online via zoom 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.

The following dates and times are available:

• Thu, Aug 29 at 2 pm

PUPdate

July 2024

Our food delivery numbers have remained  steady at all sites—- 30 to 42 customers. We give 2 bags of non-perishable food to each; that’s lots of bags!

In early August we will sort and assemble back packs for the children of Riverview International Center. The FCC Congregation’s  generous donations help make this mission possible! Many Thanks!

Kathleen Hatcher

Christmas Program Volunteers

It may seem early, but plans for this year’s Heart to Heart Christmas program are underway. Every year, planning for Christmas starts near the end of summer and we need every second to make the program successful! We are looking for additional volunteers to help us make the program a success.

Last week we had our first volunteer meeting to help work out details of the program. Click here to view the slideshow that gives a rundown of the program. Many details are yet to be determined and depend on volunteer help and availability.

Everyone will have the opportunity to be donors to the program through gift purchases. We are only looking for volunteers to help administer the program right now. Specifically, we need:

• Client liaisons who will contact the clients that have been identified. They will interview the clients for their gift wish lists and needs. This role will likely start in September and end in November, depending on the responsiveness of clients sponsored. It would be beneficial for these volunteers to be comfortable using a computer/ internet.
• Gift Delivery volunteers willing to coordinate taking gifts to clients who would benefit from having gifts delivered to their home. These people will contact clients directly and meet them at their homes or at locations/times mutually convenient.
• Gift Pickup volunteers to staff the dates that clients are given to pickup gifts at First Community, should they choose that option. You will check in clients from a list, ensure they get everything they need, and communicate back with home base about progress. Dates are to be determined based on Facilities and Volunteer availability.

Click the button below if you would like to sign up for one of these roles. If you have additional questions, please email Amy Caskie.

FreshTrak Basic Training

(FKA PantryTrak)

This online via zoom 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.

The following dates and times are available:

• Thu, Aug 29 at 2 pm

Minor Code of Conduct

Please review the Minor Code of Conduct for First Community Church (click the image below to enlarge). This policy has been approved by our Personnel Committee as an official policy regarding the safety of children in our ministries. We ask for your patience over the next several weeks as we adjust our ways to follow these guidelines. When volunteering, do your best to use good judgement, err on the side of safety, and allow us grace to figure it all out. Every one of us is responsible for the safety of the children at First Community, and together we can help to prevent abuse in their lives.