Pupdate

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

• April 5: Commons at Livingston – 31
• April 10: South Park Apts w/Franklinton Farms – 14
• April 12: Hope Resource Center – 33
• April 19: Southpoint – 40
• April 26: Grant – 27
• April 27: Riverview International Center – 26

Pop-Up 2023 Monthly totals:

• January: 153
• February: 161
• March: 190
• April: 171

Individuals/families served YTD:  675

We were excited to begin our seasonal site with Franklinton Farms to South Park Apartments.  Franklinton Farms was also able to secure an interpreter from CRIS, Alia Jama, to help us communicate with the Somalian families.  The weather was perfect as we welcomed and served 14 families on our first visit to South Park!  Many of the families have 8-12 members in one household.  We are so blessed to be able to provide them with food and toiletries.

We welcomed a new volunteer, Laurie Schumacher. She joined right in and got right to work! It was a pleasure to have her join us. Laurie hopes to return as her schedule allows. Thank you, Laurie!

Every site we are serving has added families. We feel fortunate to be able to help serve our community with the food that is needed to feed their families. One cannot describe the feeling of hope, love and kindness we each receive when we see and serve our neighbors. We are immensely blessed as much as our neighbors feel blessed by our pantry.

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

~Rose and Melody

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

• Feb 1:        Commons at Livingston – 31
• Feb 8:        Hope Resource Center – 34
• Feb 15:      Southpoint – 39
• Feb 22:      Grant – 20
• Feb 23:      Riverview International Center – 37

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals:

• January:     153
• February:    161

YTD:     Individuals/families served:  314

On February 8th, Hope Resource Center honored 52 of their brothers and sisters who they lost to addiction or gun violence with a touching and hopeful Memorial Service.  Their brothers and sisters were addicts/alcoholics who led complicated lives.  Unfortunately, society is quick to place a label on them and dismiss them.

Our Pop Up Team went to the Memorial Service honoring all our friends and neighbors who have passed.  It was heartbreaking to hear the names of those we served.  Our Pop Up team is blessed to have known them.  We continue to hold our Hope friends and neighbors in our prayers.

The work the Hope Resource Center does for so many is a gift.   A gift of ‘Love’ – A gift of ‘new beginnings’ – A gift of ‘life’ – A gift of ‘Hope’.  They are blessings and make this world a better place.  We are honored to be a part of this caring organization.

Several of our team attended the Heart to Heart Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.  It was good to get together and socialize with other volunteers.  We appreciate all the work Amy and Yohan put into making Heart to Heart run successfully and their continued support of our Pop Up Pantry.

We are grateful for everyone who contributes to Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry with their continued donations and service.

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

• Jan 4:        Commons at Livingston – 35
• Jan 11:      Hope Resource Center – 33
• Jan 18:      Southpoint – 39
• Jan 25:      Grant – 20
• Jan 26:      Riverview International Center – 26

Pop Up 2023 Monthly totals:

• January:   153

YTD:     Individuals/families served:  153

Our Pop Up Team’s 2023 began with the loss of our volunteer Carla Edlefson’s husband, Robert Barrow.  It is times like these that we hold our team of volunteers close.  We truly count on each other for friendship, love and support.  We continue to hold Carla and her family close in our hearts and in our prayers.

We welcomed new volunteers to our Pop Up Team:  Pam and Tom Dobies, Beverley Ervine and Pam Vazsonyi.  They are a great addition to our team.

Kathleen Hatcher received a donation of socks from Jim Taranowski.  We took them to our Hope Resource Center.  Our friends and neighbors were so excited to receive them.

Our team of volunteers continue to come and give of their time and energy each month.  We are so blessed by their service and dedication. The Pop Up Team looks forward to another year of serving our neighbors.

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

• Dec 7:       Commons at Livingston – 35
• Dec 14:     Hope Resource Center – 33
• Dec 21:     Southpoint – 38
• Dec 22:     Riverview International Center – 32
• Dec 28:     Grant – 20

Total served for the month of Dec:   158

Pop Up 2022 Monthly totals:

• January:         161
• February:       159
• March:           154
• April:              162
• May:               162
• June:              225
• July:               187
• August:           210
• September:    174
• October:         177
• November:     178
• December:     158

YTD:           2,107 Individuals/families served

As our 2022 year comes to a close, the Pop Up Team has been blessed to have this opportunity to be out in our community and to share love and support with our neighbors. In doing so, we ourselves have gained many blessings along the way.

Our Southpoint Christmas Toy Drive was a success.  On Monday, December 12, our Pop Up Team was able to deliver 168 gifts, gift wrap and cards!  The families were so happy to have their children’s wishes come true and many shared thanks.

The Pop Up Team is so fortunate to have the support from First Community Heart to Heart. They have given us the opportunity to continue our outreach in serving our neighbors. The Trading Post has helped us give our friends at Hope Resource Center warm clothing and the Mat Makers provide mats for them.  Richard Jacob continues to bless us with his gracious donations of toiletries each month.  Monday Night Meals help provide bread as they can.  We have so many individuals who volunteer and we are so very grateful to them.  Some volunteer weekly, some monthly and some just once.  We could not do this without them.

The Pop Up Team looks forward to another year of serving our neighbors.

~Rose and Melody

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

• Nov 2:      Commons at Livingston – 35
• Nov 9:       Hope Resource Center – 25
• Nov 17:     Riverview International Center – 30
• Nov 21:     Southpoint – 38
• Nov 21:     Grant – 20
• Nov 30:     Hope Resource Center – 30

Total served for the month of Nov:   178

Pop Up 2022 Monthly totals:

• January:         161
• February:       159
• March:           154
• April:              162
• May:              162
• June:              225
• July:               187
• August:           210
• September:    174
• October:         177
• November:     178

YTD:           1,949 Individuals/families served

Our Southpoint Christmas Toy Drive is off to a great start.  We continue to receive donations.  Our goal is to grant 28 families with 84 children totaling 168 gifts.  Each child will receive two gifts.  We are so thankful to have Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School, FCC congregation and our family and friends all help make the wishes of Southpoint children come true.

We served our neighbors at HOPE Resource Center at their new location this month.  They are now housed at First United Brethren Church on S. Wheatland Ave.  Their hours are M, W, F 9:30-12:30.  Now our neighbors have a place to sit inside and eat a meal, receive clothing, mats and our pantry food.  We were able to spend time and visit with our new friends.

Our Pop Up Team is grateful for some cake donations from Mary Youngquist.  She sends some to us that we give to our sites.  There are blessings all around us. Melody and I are continually blessed to have the support of First Community/Heart to Heart Staff and all the dedicated volunteers who give so much of their time and energy.

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

• Oct 5:         Commons at Livingston – 35
• Oct 12:       Hope Resource Center – 34
• Oct 17:       South Park Apartment w/Franklinton Farms – 21
• Oct 19:       Southpoint – 37
• Oct 26:       Commons at Grant – 20
• Oct 27:       Riverview International Center – 30

Total served for the month of Oct:  177 

Pop Up 2022 Monthly Totals:

• January:        161
• February:      159
• March:           154
• April:              162
• May:              162
• June:             225
• July:              187
• August:          210
• September:    174
• October:         177

YTD:            1,771  Individuals/families served 

We are excited to report our Southpoint Christmas is off to a great start.  We received ‘Wish List’ requests from 27 families with 82 children. Each child will receive two gifts totaling 164 gifts. We are thankful to have Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School, FCC congregation and our friends all help in making the wishes of Southpoint children come true.

The 4th and 5th graders from Sarah Oberlin and Amy Millers’ classes at Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School came to learn about Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry.  They came with bags filled with donations – 469 lbs. of goods!  Yohan gave a tour of the pantry.  He answered questions and explained how the pantry is such an important part of our community.  Melody and Rose talked about why the Pop Up Pantry was formed and the upcoming Southpoint Christmas Gift Project with Wickliffe.

The Pop Up Team constantly experiences goodness all around us.  We are so grateful and send a big shout out to Rob, the store manager at ALDI’s in Upper Arlington.  Kathleen Hatcher generously has been purchasing plastic ALDI bags with handles to distribute groceries to our neighbors who walk to our sites at Hope, Southpark and Riverview.  Once he heard how we use them, he paid for our last box of 250 bags.  Kindness is everywhere!

Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Pantry were represented and given a big shout out at the Riverview Fundraiser on October 18 at Mozart Cafe’. Carla Edlefson, Rose Kandel, Kitty Rohrer and Melody Smiley were there to represent our Team and show support to Riverview and the wonderful work they do to welcome and support the refugees coming to Columbus.

We welcomed our newest volunteers to our team:  Carol Bramschreiber, John Oberlin and Beth Simeon.  John is our newest sub driver willing to pick up the task to get our bags to the sites.  Beth and Carol come with caring hearts and lots of energy!  Welcome!

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

• Sept 7:       Commons at Livingston – 35
• Sept 14:     Hope Resource Center – 35
• Sept 19:     South Park Apartment w/Franklinton Farms – 20
• Sept 21:     Southpoint – 37
• Sept 22:     Riverview International Center – 27
• Sept 28:     Commons at Grant – 20

Total served for the month of September:  174 

Pop Up 2022 Monthly Totals:

• January:        161
• February:      159
• March:           154
• April:              162
• May:              162
• June:             225
• July:              187
• August:          210
• September:   174

YTD:            1,594  Individuals/families served  

Plans are underway for our Pop Up Team to bring some joy to the children at Southpoint. Once again we are joining forces with Upper Arlington’s Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School.  This will be our third year giving the children at Southpoint a special Christmas.  More details to come in our October/November Report.

Our numbers have gone down at The Commons at Grant.  Some of the residents have said they are receiving the same items from other pantries.  It’s too much of the same and they have extras.  We explained to Grant that Mid-Ohio Food Collective plus all the pantries have a food shortage which makes supplies short and not as varied.  Many are still very grateful for our continued help.  We plan to continue even with the numbers being lower.  We told them we would still serve those residents that are counting on us for help.

Hope Resource Center has been in the news recently.  They are working on fixing some issues to better serve their neighborhood.   We are grateful to continue to be a part of their mission and serve those in need.

We welcome our recent and newest volunteers:  Katie Halley, Marcy Miller and Cathy Wheaton.  The Team is blessed to have the help.  They are a wonderful addition to our Pop Up Team.

Melody and I are continually blessed to have the support of First Community/Heart to Heart staff and all the dedicated volunteers who give so much of their time and energy.

Serving in Faith,

Rose Kandel and Melody Smiley

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

• Aug 3:        Commons at Livingston – 35
• Aug 10:      Hope Resource Center – 33
• Aug 15:      South Park Apartment w/Franklinton Farms – 18
• Aug 17:      Southpoint – 37
• Aug 24:      Commons at Grant – 21
• Aug 25:      Riverview International Center – 31
• August 31:  Hope Resource Center – 35

Total served for the month of August:  210

2022 Monthly Totals:

• January:      161
• February:     159
• March:         154
• April:            162
• May:             162
• June:            225
• July:             187
• August:         210

YTD: 1,420 individuals/families served

This past month, Heart to Heart asked for 50+ filled backpacks, and to our surprise, we collected 148 filled backpacks.  We thank all the individuals who contributed to this Backpack Project!  The Pop Up Pantry delivered them to Riverview International Center.  Within a few days, all 148 backpacks were distributed.  As we were delivering the backpacks, several children were running to the van all smiles and excited!  It was heartwarming to see their joy!  Blessings all the way around!

Our Team would like to acknowledge our devoted van drivers:  Boyce Lancaster, Les Sauer, Mark Tucker, Steve Young and Glenn Zook.  They are all so willing to give of their time loading the van and driving all around Columbus to help us deliver to our many sites. They step in to help each other out driving when others need a week off, which is a big help to us.  We are forever grateful for their time, dedication and service.

We are so grateful to all our regular volunteers who continue to show up week after week.  With this said, we are still looking for more individuals who would like to come join our Pop Up Team.  We typically begin Wednesdays at 11:00.  We end around 12:45 if just bagging; 2:00 if traveling to the site.  Heart to Heart and the Pop Up Team are always open to more volunteers.

Melody and I are continually blessed to have the support of First Community/Heart to Heart staff and all the dedicated volunteers who give so much of their time and energy.

Serving in Faith,
Rose Kandel and Melody Smiley
Volunteer Co-Leads
Pop Up Pantry, Heart to Heart