Pupdate

Anyone who volunteers at First Community knows many individuals who give their time to more than one mission. In our Pop-Up Pantry group, we have people serving with Heart to Heart’s Drive-Thru and Stock & Shop, First Community’s Refugee Ministry Team, Tri-Village Trading Post, Share & Learn Garden, with Deep Griha and other churches or community organizations.

One PUP volunteer actually continues serving at All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota, Florida while wintering there. Katie explains what her duties are at the food bank.

“I work the drive through at 4 different locations and stock/backpack at the warehouse.  Backpacking is making bags of approximately 8 snacks for kids to take home from school for the weekends.  The drive through locations I work serve between 75-160 families.” 

Kathleen and I rejoice in recognizing all our devoted donors, volunteers and drivers this month:  Neal Snyder and his dog Oreo, Richard Jacob, Pat Porterfield, the Trading Post, the Mat Makers, Bobbie Doak, Carla Edlefson, Kitty and Dick Rohrer, Janice Rook, Melody Smiley, Bruce & Ellen Crouthamel, Peg Roberts, Nancy Donaldson, Cathy Wheaton, Pam and Tom Dobies, Glenn Zook, John Oberlin, Mark Tucker, Boyce Lancaster and Les Sauer!!

We couldn’t begin to do our outreach without our volunteers and donors.  We are so thankful for their dedication.

“It’s time for some HEART work.”

~Rose and Kathleen

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

• February 7:          Commons at Livingston – 43
• February 14:        Hope Resource Center – 42
• February 21:        Southpoint – 44
• February 22:        Riverview International Center – 40
• February 28:        Grant – 36

Pop Up 2024 Monthly totals: 

• January:     238
• February:   205

YTD:  Individuals/families served:  443

National Church Residences
Commons at Grant

Travelers from all over come to join our team!  Even if it is just for a week or two!  We enjoyed having Lynn (close friend of Peg Roberts) help us bag two weeks in a row.  She traveled up from Houston, TX!!  We also welcomed Bill (Peg’s husband) who gave a welcomed strong hand with our heavy lifting!

Kevin Orsini received from MOFC 800 free microwavable containers and lids for the Pop Up Pantry.  We will be delivering them to Hope Resource Center in March.

Kathleen and I want to again recognize all our devoted donors, volunteers and drivers this month:  Neal Snyder and his dog Oreo, Richard Jacob, Pat Porterfield, the Trading Post, the Mat Makers, Bobbie Doak, Carla Edlefson, Kitty and Dick Rohrer, Melody Smiley, Bruce & Ellen Crouthamel, Peg and Bill Roberts, Nancy Donaldson, Pam and Tom Dobies, Glenn Zook, Mark Tucker, Boyce Lancaster and Les Sauer!!

We couldn’t begin to do our outreach without our volunteers.  We are so thankful for their dedication.

~Rose and Kathleen

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

• January 3:          Commons at Livingston – 40
• January 10:        Hope Resource Center – 40
• January 17:        Southpoint – 42
• January 24:        Grant – 36
• January 25:        Riverview International Center – 40
• January 31:        Hope Resource Center – 40

Pop Up 2024 Monthly totals: 

January:     238

YTD:  Individuals/families served:  238

We have had a busy start to our 2024. We had a fun adventure serving families at Southpoint this month.  The weather was especially cold that day.  We were bundled up and delivered door to door.  We were thankful the sun was shining which helped us out quite a bit.

The winter is hard on our friends at Hope Resource Center.  The center welcomes its neighbors in for a warm place to sit for a while and serves meals and provides clothing, and lends guidance and support to all who enter.  We are thankful for all the warm clothing donations we receive.  We take many bags of donated clothes and mats out to the site along with our many bags of food and toiletries.  This truly is a center filled with “HOPE”!  This is our favorite place to meet with our neighbors.  We are blessed beyond measure.

Kathleen and I know we couldn’t do what we do without our dedicated volunteers.  They consistently show up with positive attitudes and willingness to pitch in wherever there is a need.  Volunteering is so important to our team.  We want to give our neighbors a feeling of ‘hope’ and to feel ‘seen’ and ‘loved’.  In return, we are humbled.

We would like to recognize all our devoted donors, volunteers and drivers this month:  Neal Snyder and his dog Oreo, Richard Jacob, Pat Porterfield, the Trading Post, the Mat Makers, Tom and Pam Dobies, Peg Roberts, Bruce and Ellen Crouthamel, Carla Edlefson, Kitty and Dick Rohrer, Janice Rook, Melody Smiley, Glenn Zook, John Oberlin, Mark Tucker, Boyce Lancaster and Les Sauer!

We are so thankful for their dedication and we have made lasting friendships along the way.

~Rose and Kathleen

In December, the Pop-Up Pantry delivered to the following sites:

• December 6:          Commons at Livingston – 39
• December 13:        Hope Resource Center – 43
• December 20:        Southpoint – 40
• December 21:        Riverview International Center – 40
• December 27:        Grant – 36

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals: 

• January:         153
• February:       161
• March:            190
• April:               171
• May:                226
• June:              190
• July:                188
• August:           237
• September:     215
• October:          181
• November:      254
• December:      198

Totals for 2023 per site:

• Livingston: 400
• Hope: 608
• Southpoint: 475
• Grant: 338
• Riverview International Center: 358
• Southpark: 185

YTD:  Individuals/families served:  2,364

Our Pop Up Team was able to deliver Christmas presents to 27 Southpoint families.  There were 82 children and 145 gifts total.  We thank Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School students, families and staff for their generous help as well as many church members, groups and families with this project.  It is their generosity that brings joy to so many in such heartwarming ways.

As we end 2023, we are looking ahead to 2024.  We will continue to serve the current sites. Our many sites have grown in number and we are thankful for Heart to Heart in supporting the Pop Up Team.

Our Pop Up Team is also continuing to grow and lead in many different ways. Melody Smiley has been involved with Heart to Heart for many years. Melody has been a driving force for our Pop Up Team.  Her years of service to Heart to Heart and her giving heart has made working with her an honor.  I have been blessed to Co-Lead with her for the past two years.  Melody will be stepping down from the Co-Lead position but not leaving the Pop Up Team.  She will continue to be a presence each week.  Another longtime Heart to Heart Volunteer, Kathleen Hatcher, has agreed to step into Melody Smiley’s Co-Lead position beginning in January.

We are continually blessed and grateful for everyone who contributes to Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry with their continued donations and service.  We couldn’t do all this without the dedicated individuals who give so freely to our community in need.

~Rose and Melody

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

• November 1:          Commons at Livingston – 39
• November 8:          Hope Resource Center – 42
• November 13:        Southpark/Franklinton Farms – 22
• November 15:        Southpoint – 40
• November 16:        Riverview International Center – 40
• November 22:        Grant – 31
• November 29:        Hope Resource Center – 40

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals:

• January:         153
• February:       161
• March:            190
• April:               171
• May:                226
• June:              190
• July:                188
• August:           237
• September:     215
• October:          181
• November:      254

YTD:     Individuals/families served:  2,166

Our seasonal site to Southpark in South Franklinton ended this month.  We worked alongside Franklinton Farms from April – November and served 185 families.  We have had the pleasure of working with Becca Brown, Executive Director at Franklinton Farms, for the past several years.  She has taken a new position and will be leaving in December.  Emma Gardner, Philanthropy Coordinator, and Michelle Nowak, Farm Manager, will be our contacts moving forward.  We wish Becca well as she begins her new job.

Our visits to Hope Resource Center have seen an increase in individuals seeking a hot meal, clothing, free on site health clinic and our Pop Up Pantry food. The need is growing.  In October, Hope had 1,593 visits (774 women and 819 men).  We are grateful that Heart to Heart and our Pop Up team are able to be there for those in need.  We have formed many friendships and enjoyed many conversations with our neighbors.

The Southpoint Christmas Gift drive is coming to a close.  We have 27 families signed up.  There are 81 children and 145 gifts total.  Janice Rook and Mark Tucker have been working to coordinate the gifts so all the children’s wishes are granted.  Our Pop Up team will deliver the gifts to Southpoint on Monday, December 11th.

We appreciate all the donors who have contributed to our Southpoint Christmas.  Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School was a big part of this effort along with Women’s Guild Groups, Couple’s Circles, Share and Learn Garden group, many family members and friends along with many others from outside the church.  It is heartwarming to have so many individuals be a part of such an important project to bring cheer to the children at Christmas.

Our team is continually blessed and grateful for everyone who contributes to Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry with their continued donations and service.  We couldn’t do all this without the dedicated individuals who give so freely to our community in need.

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

• October 4:          Commons at Livingston – 40
• October 9:          Southpark Apts w/Franklinton Farms – 30
• October 11:        Hope Resource Center – 40
• October 18:        Southpoint – 40
• October 25:        Grant – 31

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals:

• January:         153
• February:       161
• March:            190
• April:               171
• May:                226
• June:              190
• July:                188
• August:           237
• September:    215
• October:         181

YTD:     Individuals/families served:  1,912

We are happy to share that Guild Group RSZ members prepared 155 jars of dried bean soup jars and donated them to the Pop Up Pantry for our sites. This was a labor of love getting all this completed in one meeting – a big undertaking for sure.  Danielle at Commons at Grant was happy to be serving the residents the Bean Soup.  See photos attached.

Our Southpoint Christmas Gift Drive is beginning to take shape.  This will be our fourth year granting wishes for the children at Southpoint.  Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School will once again partner with the Pop Up Team to give the school children, along with their families and staff, an opportunity for Service Learning and giving back to our neighbors in need.

As always, our team is continually blessed and grateful for everyone who contributes to Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry with their continued donations and service.  We couldn’t do all this without the dedicated individuals who give so freely to our community in need.

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

• September 6:         Commons at Livingston – 34
• September 11:       Southpark Apts w/Franklinton Farms – 29
• September 13:       Hope Resource Center – 42
• September 20:       Southpoint – 40
• September 27:       Grant – 31
• September 28:       Riverview International Center – 39

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals:

• January:      153
• February:     161
• March:         190
• April:            171
• May:             226
• June:            190
• July:             188
• August:         237
• September:   215

YTD:     Individuals/families served:  1,731

The Pop Up Team has worked alongside Robert Riley from Franklinton Farms for two year during the Spring and Summer seasons distributing food and fresh produce.  Robert was instrumental in having an interpreter help us at Southpark and he always brought wonderful produce to share with the neighbors.  September was Robert’s last month with Franklinton Farms.  He has taken a full time position with the State Department.  We wish him well in his new endeavor.

Our Southpoint Christmas Gift Drive is beginning to take shape.  This will be our fourth year granting wishes for the children at Southpoint.  Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School will once again partner with the Pop Up Team to give the school children, along with their families and staff, an opportunity for Serve Learning and giving back to our neighbors in need.

We also want to thank Richard Jacob for his generous donations of toiletries to the Pop Up Team each week.  So many of our neighbors do not receive these necessary items and are so very grateful for his generosity.

Our team is continually blessed and grateful for everyone who contributes to Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry with their continued donations and service.  We couldn’t do all this without the dedicated individuals who give so freely to our community in need.

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

• August 2:         Commons at Livingston – 29
• August 9:         Hope Resource Center – 40
• August 16:       Southpoint –  40
• August 21:       Southpark Apts w/Franklinton Farms – 26
• August 23:       Grant – 31
• August 24:       Riverview International Center – 30
• August 30:       Hope Resource Center – 41

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals:

• January:     153
• February:    161
• March:        190
• April:           171
• May:            226
• June:           190
• July:            188
• August:        237

YTD:     Individuals/families served:  1,516

Our Pop Up team welcomed another guest volunteer.  Jennifer, Honorary Niece of Peg Roberts, came all the way from Houston, Texas, and was a part of our team for a day.  She was an expert bagger!  We all learned a few new things.  We enjoyed hearing about her work at NASA.

Heart to Heart/Pop Up Pantry had a very successful Backpack Drive.  We were able to deliver 131 filled backpacks on Thursday, August 17 to Riverview International Center and five more filled backpacks were delivered on August 24 and 31.  A grand total of 136 filled backpacks, some extra supplies and food storage containers made for a very successful School Supply Drive.  We are so very grateful to the congregation, family and friends who donated to this project.

We are also thankful for the many blessings the Share and Learn Garden has provided to the Pop Up Pantry.  The families we serve have been so happy to receive such wonderful and delicious produce.

Our team is continually blessed and grateful for everyone who contributes to Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry with their continued donations and service.

~Rose and Melody

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

• July 5:         Commons at Livingston – 29
• July 10:       Southpark Apts w/Franklinton Farms – 19
• July 12:       Hope Resource Center – 40
• July 19:       Southpoint –  40
• July 26:       Grant – 30
• July 27:       Riverview International Center – 30

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals:

• January:     153
• February:    161
• March:        190
• April:           171
• May:            226
• June:           190
• July:            188

YTD:     Individuals/families served:  1,279

Our team welcomed new volunteers:  Sandee Reim and her daughter, Chloe.  It was so nice to have them join us.  Both were a great help and they hope to return.

We are aware of some of the issues Southpark Apartments has been experiencing these recent months.  We are watching the news carefully and if at any time we do not feel safe, we will not put ourselves in harm’s way.  We set up our pantry in the park/playground area along with several other volunteers from Franklinton Farms. During the summer months we have also been joined by the Columbus City School district as they serve lunches each day in the same area.  There are a lot of families that come to take advantage of the food being offered by us all.  Since there have been many large families with 8-12 in a household we will adjust accordingly with our food supply.

Heart to Heart/Pop Up Pantry will be kicking off our backpack drive August 1.  We are planning to deliver over 150 filled backpacks to Riverview International Center before school begins mid-August.  Look for the Heart to Heart blog for more information.

Our team is continually blessed and grateful for everyone who contributes to Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry with their continued donations and service.

~Rose and Melody

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

June 7:        Commons at Livingston – 31
June 12:      South Park Apts w/Franklinton Farms – 25
June 14:      Hope Resource Center – 38
June 21:      Southpoint – 39*
June 22:      Riverview International Center – 30
June 28:      Grant – 27*

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals:

January:     153
February:    161
March:        190
April:           171
May:            226
June:           190*
YTD:     Individuals/families served:  1,091*

*estimated numbers will be available in August.

The Pop Up team has been blessed with new volunteers. We welcomed Mildred, close friend and neighbor to Melody, and Sheryl, sister-in-Law to Rose. Sheryl came all the way from Canada! They both enjoyed seeing the Pop Up Pantry at work and were amazed at all the Pantry does for the community!

The Pop Up team delivered 79 Birthday Cake boxes to Southpoint. All the boxes were decorated by the children from Wickliffe Progressive Elementary school. The families at Southpoint were excited to receive them and happy to celebrate with their children on each of their birthdays! See photos below.

Our team will be working with Heart to Heart again on our annual backpack mission. We will again be delivering to the children at Riverview International Center in August. Details can be found in the Heart to Heart Blog.

Our team is continually blessed and grateful for everyone who contributes to Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry with their continued donations and service.