Weekly Update
Statistics
Households Served
- 60 in Drive- Thru on Tuesday, June 4
- 9 at Pop-Up Pantry on Wednesday, June 5
- 48 in Drive-Thru on Thursday, June 6
- 38 total new families this week
- Families Served YTD: 3,968
Upcoming Closing
On Wednesday, June 19, First Community will be closed in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. There will be no standard volunteer shifts at Heart to Heart that day, but we will have another Mission Volunteer Workday. See below for details. Click here for a complete list of holiday closings.
Volunteers Needed
The following shifts next week are still in need of volunteers. Please click the button below to sign up for one of these open shifts.
Monday, June 10
- 8:30 am- 9:30 am Cold Stocking (2)
Tuesday, June 11
- 8:30 am- 10:30 am Drive Thru (1)
- 10:00 am- 12:30 pm Drive-Thru (4)
Wednesday, June 12
- 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm MOFB Shop-Thru (1)
- 5:00 pm- 6:30 pm Shop & Stock (1)
Thursday, June 13
- 8:30 am- 10:30 am Drive Thru (2)
- 10:00 am- 12:30 pm Drive-Thru (4)
Wednesday, June 19
- Church & Heart to Heart closed for Juneteenth Holiday
- Mission Workday Volunteers needed 10 am to 2 pm, see below
News
Welcome Rev. John Girard
Rev. John Girard is the newest member on staff at First Community, as Minister of Mission & Justice. John comes to First Community from Broad Street United Methodist Church where he served as Senior Pastor of the downtown church for the past three years. Prior to that he served in a variety of United Methodist clergy roles in the Columbus metro area for two decades.
This Month
Have you ever asked yourself:
Who packs the bags we give out in the drive-thru?
Where does the food we distribute come from?
June is your chance to find out! Regular volunteers are encouraged to take the opportunity to volunteer for something at Heart to Heart they don’t usually do. For instance: if you’re usually volunteering Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the drive-thru, check out a Monday or Wednesday evening Stock & Shop shift, or vice versa.
Wonder where the frozen meat comes from? Check out a cold-stocking shift or direct retail pickup. We encourage volunteers to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes and understand the entire process at Heart to Heart. Just check out the sign-up genius and find an open spot where you don’t usually go!
Filming
Starting Monday and for the next three weeks you’ll see First Community’s Worship Technology Team filming at Heart to Heart. Led by Stewart Pitchford, the team will be shooting scenes at the food pantry at each shift, both onsite and offsite. The footage will be compiled into videos to be used by Heart to Heart for educational purposes.
We are asking volunteers to be aware of and prepared for this by doing the following:
- Sign the Photo & Social Media Waiver and submit it via email to hearttoheart@fcchurch.com or turn it in to Yohan.
- Let us know if you do not want to be recorded. Please speak up! If you’re not comfortable being on camera, we will accommodate your request!
- If you’re willing to speak on camera about what you’re doing, please let Yohan know. We will have opportunities for volunteers to summarize their work on film.
- Wear your Heart to Heart t-shirts while volunteering. Don’t have one? Click the icon below to purchase a t-shirt online!
PUPdate
In May, the Pop Up Pantry, delivered to the following sites:
- May 1: Commons at Livingston – 42
- May 1: Southpark/Franklinton Farms – 15
- May 8: Hope Resource Center – 41
- May 15: Southpoint – 41
- May 22: Grant – 42
- May 23: Riverview International Center – 15
- May 29: Hope Resource Center – 41
Pop Up 2024 Monthly totals:
- January: 238
- February: 205
- March: 201
- April: 206
- May: 237
YTD: Individuals/families served: 1,087
Click here to read the entire update.
Donation Drive
On Father’s Day, June 16, Heart to Heart will hold a shaving supply during worship services. You can donate razors, shaving cream, aftershave, even things like beard oil! Our volunteers, Becky and Susan, will be waiting outside worship spaces to take your donations at both First Community North (in the parking lot) and First Community South (outside the Crane Welcome Center).
While we will advertise and encourage specific donations on a theme, we continue to accept all our typical donations! Visit h2h.fcchurch.com/monthlydrives to view and download a printable PDF (or grab a flyer at either church campus) to hang on your fridge! We hope these fun themes will encourage donation participation.
Mission Workday
On Wednesday, June 19, many people have the day off to observe the Juneteenth holiday. If your celebration plans allow for it, please consider spending a few hours volunteering at Heart to Heart. We will have a volunteer workday from 10am to 2pm led by Amy Caskie, Director of Missions. The sign up genius includes more details about the work!
Social Media
Make sure you are following the Heart to Heart on both Facebook and Instagram. Social media is one of the best ways for the world to share information! Every time you like or comment on one of our posts, it promotes engagement across the platform. When you share our posts, the information is immediately visible to those in your circle! It quickly helps spread our message- whether it be resource information, a plea for donations, or a volunteer opportunity. Sharing on social media is an easy way to support our mission. Check out these posts from the past week to see what you may have missed.
Volunteer Training Opportunities
Mid-Ohio Food Collective Trainings
The Mid-Ohio Food Collective offers regular training opportunities for food pantry staff and volunteers. Trainings on FreshTrak and Food Safety will help you learn more about pantry operations and make you an even more effective volunteer! They also occasionally offer training on advocacy, and other topics that may be of interest to you.
For most trainings, volunteers will need to register with an agency name and number: Heart to Heart Agency #1042
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:
- Wed, Jun 13 at 2 pm
- Thu, Jul 25 at 10 am
MOFC Food Safety Training
Level 1 Person In Charge
This training was developed by Feeding America and ServSafe for those who partner with foodbanks and is relevant to the work you are doing in your communities.
The course is online, at no-cost to your agency and once taken and successfully passed, the certification never expires for the person who takes the training!
The following dates and times are available:
- Fri, Jun 14 at 10 am
- Mon, Jul 8 at 10 am
3-Part Learning Journey
Facilitator Daniel Juday, will explore inclusion, culture, barriers and obstacles in the work that we do while learning tools for building better relationships with our customers, co-workers, and volunteers.
All sessions will take place in-person at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective main campus: 3960 Brookham Dr. Grove City, OH. 43123.
For more information on this 3-Part training and a link to sign up, please click here.
- September 12 Part. 3 – Understanding Our Team
Advocacy 101
Join the Conversation
MOFC’s Government Relations Team- Tim White and Hallie Carrino-Lee will host an open forum to discuss the State Budget and its effects on essential programs and benefits for your customers.
Explore ways to push back and advocate against the continued assault on SNAP and othe Hinger/Feeding issues and what’s happening on Capitol Hill.
Bring your questions and prepare to engage! Registration is required. This session of Advocacy will be held via ZOOM.
- Thu, Jun 13 at 10 am