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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
Category

Pupdate

Pop-UPdate

By PupdateNo Comments

July in Review

Site Breakdown

  • 41 at Commons at Livingston July 2
  • 40 at Hope Resource Center July 9
  • 49 at Commons at Southpoint July 16
  • 34 at Commons at Grant July 23
  • 37 at Riverview International Center July 25
  • 45 at Hope Resource Center July 30

Client Statistics

  • 246 Visits
  • 81 Seniors
  • 326 Adults
  • 180 Children
  • 587 Individuals
  • 72 new families

Highlights

Our monthly brunches offer a chance to socialize and reconnect, and many of our 27 regular volunteers make it a point to attend. At our last meeting, Melody relayed that a client friend at the Hope Center proudly shared with her that his original music is available on You Tube and Spotify! On a less positive note, she also noted that the number of unhoused clients at Hope has been increasing. Amy, a new volunteer this year, shared that volunteering at Heart to Heart has been a blessing to her family.  She noted her teenage son’s enthusiasm about his work with the pantry.

A client friend at South Park apartments in South Franklinton was featured in an article by the Columbus Dispatch on July 17.

Looking Ahead

Last month, we mentioned our June 20 visit to South Park, the first one back this year. In the last couple of years during the summer, we have delivered non-perishables there as partners with Franklinton Farms, an organization that provided fresh produce.  This year, Franklinton Farms did not have enough resources to provide that service.  However, we found out that Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein’s office was coordinating several organizations that would provide goods and services, food, and activities to South Park at a Resource Fair on Friday, June 20. We appreciated that opportunity to be at the site with other organizations, as South Park is a neighborhood that has had a lot of violence. The result was a successful participation in a community event. Klein’s office is coordinating another Resource Fair at Lakeshore Apartments, near the old Eastland Mall, on August 15.  The PUP looks forward to participating in that Resource Fair as well.

Heart to Heart is collecting school supplies and backpacks from July 27 to August 10, for one of the PUP sites, Riverview International Center. Melody will deliver these later that same week, as Columbus schools begin the 2025-26 year on August 25. Click here for details on the drive.

Rose, Melody, Mark, and newcomer, Henry at Southpoint in July.

Rose says, “we rocked it on a humid day!” While temps only reached 79 degrees, the 90% humidity definitely made it feel hotter.

In the June 28 Weekly Roundup you may have read that access to fresh food, including produce, has been suspended for all MOFC’s partner agencies, including Heart to Heart. This is the shelf where produce is usually waiting for PUP to pack and deliver to clients. Sadly, it has been bare for weeks.  The result is that we have not been able to take produce to any of our sites over a month!

Pop-UPdate: July 2025

By Pupdate

June in Review

Site Breakdown

  • 41 at Livingston on June 4
  • 41 at Hope on June 11
  • 43 at Southpoint on June 18
  • 23 at South Park on June 20
  • 35 at Grant on June 25

Client Statistics

  • 182 visits
  • 69 seniors
  • 216 adults
  • 146 children
  • 431 individuals
  • 46 new families

Highlights

  • Melody met a man at Southpoint, who asked who she was , who she was with. While talking, he told her how grateful he was because he had been on the receiving end getting our groceries while having a car repaired.  It took 6 months. The car is fixed, he stopped our delivery so others who need it more may benefit. Makes one feel good that we helped in time of need and are appreciated.
  • We have appreciated that Amy Caskie helped us bag groceries and went with us to delivery sites on June 4 to Commons at Livingston, June 18 to Southpoint, and June 25 to Grant.  Likewise, Rev. Girard accompanied us to the Hope Resource Center on June 11.  We were glad they got the feel of serving our neighbors at those sites.
  • On June 20, we returned to South Park Apartments as part of a Resource Fair coordinated by the office of City Attorney Zach Klein.

Photos below from June 4 PUP delivery to the Commons at Livingston!

Amy Caskie rides along with driver, Bill Hinga!

Groceries packed and ready to grab.

Peggy and Kathleen ready to serve clients!

Pop-UPdate: June 2025

By Pupdate

May in Review

Site Breakdown

  • 37 at Livingston, May 7
  • 40 at Hope, May 14
  • 43 at Southpoint, May 21
  • 42 at RIC, May 23
  • 35 at Grant, May 28

Client Statistics

  • 197 visits
  • 69 seniors
  • 261 adults
  • 154 children
  • 484 individuals
  • 43 new families

Highlights

  • PUP delivers, rain or shine! On May 21, PUP volunteers  Katie Halley, Melody Smiley, and Mark Tucker deliver groceries to the Southpoint townhouses in the rain, as shown below.
  • On May 22, while packing groceries for Riverview International Center, volunteers found a perfect potato! What a spudtacular visual representation of our work at Heart to Heart.
  • On May 28, one of the residents of the Commons at Grant told us how much he appreciates getting toilet paper with the groceries we bring. It’s the little things

Pop-UPdate: May 2025

By Pupdate

Client Visit Statistics

April 2025

  • 240 visits
  • 71 seniors
  • 319 adults
  • 193 children
  • 583 individuals
  • 74 new families

Site Breakdown

  • 39 at Livingston on April 2
  • 40 at Hope on April 9
  • 41 at Southpoint on April 16
  • 35 at Grant on April 23
  • 44 at Hope on April 30*

*If a month has five Wednesdays, the PUP returns to Hope on the fifth Wednesday

PUPdate

  • The group said goodbye to John and Sarah Oberlin, who are moving out of state. The couple has been involved with Heart to Heart over a decade. For example, John’s worked in the Share & Learn Garden at FC North and driven for the Pop-Up Pantry. When Sarah was a classroom teacher, she brought her students to the food pantry at least once a year! We are sad to see them go but wish them the best of luck and good weather.
  • The team continues to overcome the obstacles that come with serving at the South Park/Franklin Farms site during the summer. At this point, the PUP has not scheduled dates for this location.
  • One of this team’s leaders, Kathleen, has faced serious health obstacles since March. Because of her dedication to Heart to Heart, she is clearing the hurdles that prevented her return to regular service at PUP. Her commitment is admirable and we are glad to have her back on Wednesdays!

Pop-UPdate: April 2025

By Pupdate

PUPdate

On April 21, Carla Edlefson wrote, “The PUP volunteers find encouragement by praying together each week as we begin our work of preparing groceries for delivery to our neighbors.”

Client Visit Statistics

March 2025

  • 195 visits
  • 71 seniors
  • 282 adults
  • 169 children
  • 522 individuals
  • 45 new families

Pop-UPdate: February 2025

By Pupdate

PUPdate

Carla Edlefson writes, “PUP delivers, no matter the weather. On Wednesday, February 19, Pop-up Pantry volunteers braved 20 degree temperatures to deliver groceries to the doorsteps of residents of Southpoint Apartments.”

Thank you to this obviously dedicated team of volunteers for helping our neighbors that cannot visit the Heart to Heart drive-thru!

Kathleen Kennedy-Hatcher. Bobbie Doak, and Melody Smiley keep smiling through chattering teeth.
Kathleen Kennedy-Hatcher. Bobbie Doak, and Melody Smiley keep smiling through chattering teeth.
Doug Roberts and Bobbie Doak carry bags from the van to doorsteps.
Doug Roberts and Bobbie Doak carry bags from the van to doorsteps.
Mark Tucker drives the van while Doug Roberts co-pilots.
Mark Tucker drives the van while Doug Roberts co-pilots.

Pop-UPdate: August2024

By Pupdate

PUPdate

Estimated meals provided YTD: 36,765
Families served in August 2024: 204
New Households: 60

  • Grant 08/28: 35
  • Riverview International Center 08/23: 25
  • Southpoint 08/21: 39
  • Hope 08/14: 40
  • Livingston & Franklinton Farms 08/07: 65

The Pop Up Pantry continues to deliver dry goods to between 25-40 clients each Wednesday. No part of this mission would be possible without our amazing crew of volunteers! They bag groceries, inventory supplies, load/ unload/ and drive the church van on delivery days. We enjoy each other and our mission! We’ve recently added some new volunteers. If you’re interested in learning more about PUP contact Kathleen Hatcher (614-843-5510) or Carla Edlefson (614-329-5380).

At their potluck dinner on August 28 the members of Women’s’ Guild groups learned about the Hope Resource Center, one of our sites. Director Scott Sanders described how the center follows the example of Jesus by providing meals, clothes, free medical care, addiction/ mental health resources and compassion to our neighbors living on the street and/or suffering with addiction and its hardships. The HOPE Center was very grateful for generous donations of personal care items from Guild members.

We are so grateful to be a part of Heart to Heart and will continue to bag and deliver food!

Pop-UPdate: July 2024

By Pupdate

PUPdate

Estimated meals provided YTD: 32,256
Families served in July 2024: 223

  • 42 on July 3 Livingston
  • 20 on July 3 at Southpark w/ Franklinton Farms
  • 41 on July 10 Hope Resource Center
  • 40 on July 17 Southpoint
  • 40 on July 24 Grant
  • 40 on July 31 Hope Resource Center

From Kathleen Hatcher:

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!

Pop-UPdate: June 2024

By Pupdate

PUPdate

Kathleen Hatcher reports “The PUP June delivery numbers were as follows:

  • 6/5 : 62 Livingston / Southpark & Franklinton Farms
  • 6/12 Hope: 40
  • 6/19 Southpoint: 41
  • 6/26 Grant: 45

We did not deliver in June to RIC ( Refugee International Center) due to some difficulty with new office space for delivery. We are working on a solution so we can continue to serve them in July. The hot weather may have slowed us some but it didn’t stop us !”