Pupdate

Site Breakdown

• 41 at Commons at Livingston, September 3
• 40 at Hope Resource Center, September 10
• 46 at Commons at Southpoint, September 17
• 41 at Commons at Grant, September 24
• 31 at Riverview International Center, September 26

Client Statistics

• 199 Visits
• 75 Seniors
• 235 Adults
• 138 Children
• 448 Individuals
• 31 New Families

Highlights

• We adopted an official mission statement at our September 15 meeting
• The RSZ guild will donate jars of soup ingredients again this fall in time for Thanksgiving.
• New leadership plan:  Carla Edlefson, Melody Smiley, Kitty Rohrer, and Amy Wood, each agreed to accept responsibility for leadership for one of the sites where we deliver groceries.

Site Breakdown

• 40 at Commons at Livingston, August 8
• 40 at Hope Resource Center, August 13
• 44 at Commons at Southpoint, August 20
• 37 at Riverview International Center, August 22
• 41 at Commons at Grant, August 27

Client Statistics

• 202 Visits
• 76 Seniors
• 236 Adults
• 162 Children
• 474 Individuals
• 39 New Families

Highlights

• Katie, Amy and Melody noticed that we had some caramel dipping sauce.  They donated some bags of apples to take to Hope to go with the caramel sauce.
• Several team members have been searching for bargains on toilet paper to donate, so that we can include at least one roll for each family at all our sites.

This video was shown at a fundraiser for the Hope Resource Center. It features Scott Sanders, Director, some of the people that Hope has helped, plus a few white grocery bags and other evidence of the Pop Up Pantry!

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.

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!

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

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!

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

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.

Doug Roberts and Bobbie Doak carry bags from the van to doorsteps.

Mark Tucker drives the van while Doug Roberts co-pilots.