Through the Community Rewards program, Kroger makes a contribution to Heart to Heart every time you shop. In the quarter beginning November 1, 2021 and ending January 31, 2022 we earned $1088.70 from the 266 participating households.

Enroll your Kroger customer loyalty card in the program today. Visit https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards and choose Organization #TB926 (First Community Church).

See how much your participation earned for us last quarter!

This training class is provided by Mid-Ohio Foodbank online for volunteers and staff of their supported food pantries. If you are interested in learning more, please click the links below. Heart to Heart is Agency #1042

Ohio Benefits Training
Thursday, March 31, 10 am to 12 pm
Read More | Register

This training class is provided by Nationwide Children’s Hosptial. Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children is an evidence-informed prevention solution that increases knowledge, improves attitudes, and changes child protective behaciors. The training combines two 45 minute video sessions filled with real people and real stores along with a 30-minute virtual discussion about protecting children. During the discussion, you’ll receive a list of local resources to support healthy, happy kids.

Stewards of Children
April 13, 5 – 7:30 pm
June 18, 10 am – 12:30 pm

Visit FamilySafetyandHealing.org for registration information

Households served via Drive-Thru

• 25 on Tuesday, February 22
• 39 on Thursday, February 24

Households served via Pop-Up

• 28 on Wednesday, February 23

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, February 28
8:45 – 9:30 am Cold Stocking Shift (2)
9:30 – 11:00 am Dry Stocking Shift (4)
10:30 – 11:30 am Set-Up Shift (2)
3:30 – 5:00 pm MOFB Truck Order Unloading (7)

Tuesday, March 1
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (3)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (6)

Wednesday, March 2
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, March 3
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (5)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (4)

Friday, March 4
9:30 am – 10:30 am  Cold Stocking Shift (2)

These training classes are provided by Mid-Ohio Foodbank online for volunteers and staff of their supported food pantries. If you are interested in learning more, please click the links below. Heart to Heart is Agency #1042

Ohio Benefits Training
Thursday, March 31, 10 am to 12 pm
Read More | Register

Households served via Drive-Thru

• 42 on Tuesday, February 15
• 31 on Thursday, February 17

Households served via Pop-Up

• 39 on Wednesday, February 16

Volunteers, mark your calendars. More information coming soon.

Virtual Volunteer Event
Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 6 pm
Zoom Meeting

Columbus Arts Festival
June 10-12, 2022
At the riverfront in the Arena District

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, February 21
Closed for President’s Day

Tuesday, February 22
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (1)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (4)

Wednesday, February 23
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, February 24
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (1)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (1)

Friday, February 25
9:30 am – 10:30 am  Cold Stocking (2)

These training classes are provided by Mid-Ohio Foodbank online for volunteers and staff of their supported food pantries. If you are interested in learning more, please click the links below. Heart to Heart is Agency #1042

Ohio Benefits Training
Thursday, March 31, 10 am to 12 pm
Read More | Register

This training will be taught by Julie Richards, Director of K-5 Ministry at First Community Church. The safety of the children we serve is our top priority, so anyone who volunteers with children or is a staff member is required to attend our Darkness to Light sexual abuse prevention training. Re-certification for staff or volunteers who work with children is required every three years. Please register to attend one session at First Community North.

Darkness to Light
Sunday, February 20, 3-5pm
Read More | Register

Households served via Drive-Thru

• 47 on Tuesday, February 8
• 36 on Thursday, February 10

Households served via Pop-Up

• 49 on Wednesday, February 9

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, February 14
8:45 am – 9:30 am Cold Stocking (1)
9:30 am – 11 am Stocking Shift (2)
10:30 am – 11:30 am Set Up Shift (2)
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Order Unloading (8)

Tuesday, February 15
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (2)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (5)

Wednesday, February 16
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, February 17
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (4)

Friday, February 18
9:30 am – 10:30 am  Cold Stocking (2)

Volunteers, mark your calendars. More information coming soon.

Virtual Volunteer Event
Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 6 pm
Zoom Meeting

Columbus Arts Festival
June 10-12, 2022
At the riverfront in the Arena District

The Pop Up Pantry team delivered food directly to families at the following agency sites during the month of January:

• January 5:     Commons at Livingston-35
• January 12:   Hope Resource Center-30
• January 19:   Southpoint Village Apartments-38
• January 26:   Commons at Grant-28
• January 27:   Riverview International Center-30

Monthly totals for 2022:

• January 161

Kitty Rohrer recently visited with the new agency contact at Wedgewood Village Apartments, a site we had planned to start serving last year.  Due to their staffing issues, we were unable to set up a monthly Pop Up Pantry delivery at that time.  These issues are now resolved and we will be working with Wedgewood over the next few months to begin service to this site.

The Pop Up Pantry team donated several bags of clothing items to Hope Resource Center (Hope) in January.  Volunteer Cathy Wheaton donated baby furniture to Riverview International Center (RIC).  Donations from our church groups included mats made by the Mat Makers team for Hope.  Handmade hats and scarves made by the Knitting Group were provided to Hope and RIC.

Each month we are working to ensure our food meets the needs of the families we are serving at each site.  We have developed guidelines for our sites that have cultural preferences as well as those that are without the ability to prepare foods due to their current living situation.   We have learned and grown spiritually in getting to know these families and are grateful for the opportunities to continue our service to them.

We are saddened by the passing of Melody Smiley’s husband, Matt, after a long illness. Melody lovingly cared for Matt at home over the course of his illness. We are sending many prayers and love to her and her family during this time.

In February, our Pop Up Pantry will be delivering food to our agency sites on the following dates:

• February 2, 11a-2p, Commons at Livingston
• February 9, 10a-2p, Hope Recovery Services
• February 16, 11a-2p, Southpoint Village Apartments
• February 23, 11a-2p, Commons at Grant
• February 24, 12:30p-3:30p, Riverview International Center

The Pop Up Pantry continues to be blessed by the support and commitment of our volunteers and the church.  We look forward to expanding this outreach ministry of Heart to Heart.

These training classes are provided by Mid-Ohio Foodbank online for volunteers and staff of their supported food pantries. If you are interested in learning more, please click the links below. Heart to Heart is Agency #1042

Ohio Benefits Training
Thursday, March 31, 10 am to 12 pm
Read More | Register

This training will be taught by Julie Richards, Director of K-5 Ministry at First Community Church. The safety of the children we serve is our top priority, so anyone who volunteers with children or is a staff member is required to attend our Darkness to Light sexual abuse prevention training. Re-certification for staff or volunteers who work with children is required every three years. Please register to attend one session at First Community North.

Darkness to Light
Sunday, February 20, 3-5pm
Read More | Register

Households served via Drive-Thru

• 50 on Tuesday, February 1
• Closed on Thursday, February 3

Households served via Pop-Up

• 35 on Wednesday, February 2

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, February 7
8:45 am – 9:30 am Cold Stocking (2)
9:30 am – 10:30 am Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru
9:30 am – 11 am Stocking Shift (1)

Tuesday, February 8
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (3)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (1)

Wednesday, February 9
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, February 10
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (1)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (3)

Friday, February 11
9:30 am – 10:30 am  Cold Stocking (2)

As we announced last week, our dedicated volunteer, Melody Smiley, lost her beloved husband last week. A service will be planned in Matt’s memory in the near future. In the meantime, an obituary has been posted online:

Obituary | Matthew T. Smiley of Hilliard, Ohio | Tidd Family Funeral Home 

Volunteers, mark your calendars. More information coming soon.

Virtual Volunteer Event
Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 6 pm
Zoom Meeting

Columbus Arts Festival
June 10-12, 2022
At the riverfront in the Arena District

These training classes are provided by Mid-Ohio Foodbank online for volunteers and staff of their supported food pantries. If you are interested in learning more, please click the links below. Heart to Heart is Agency #1042

Food Safety
Wednesday, February 9, 1 pm to 3 pm
Read More | Register

Fresh/Pantry Trak Basic Training
Thursday, February 10, 10 am to 12 pm
Read More | Register

Ohio Benefits Training
Thursday, March 31, 10 am to 12 pm
Read More | Register

Households served via Drive-Thru

• 32 on Tuesday, January 25
• 35 on Thursday, January 27

Households served via Pop-Up

• 28 on Wednesday, January 26

We send our deepest condolences to our friend, Melody Smiley. Her husband, Matt, passed away this past week, after a long illness. In his final days, he was surrounded by a loving community and his family including Melody and their six children. Melody has volunteered with Heart to Heart for over a decade, and with First Community Church even longer. Please send your prayers to their entire family. As soon as they are available, we will share memorial arrangements with volunteers wanting to pay their respects.

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, January 31
9:30 am – 11 am Stocking Shift (1)
Set-up shift canceled- this week only.

Tuesday, February 1
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (2)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (7)

Wednesday, February 2
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, February 3
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (5)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (4)

Friday, February 4
9:30 am – 10:30 am  Cold Stocking (2)

Volunteers, mark your calendars. More information coming soon.

Virtual Volunteer Event
Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 6 pm
Zoom Meeting

Columbus Arts Festival
June 10-12, 2022
At the riverfront in the Arena District

Households served via Drive-Thru

• 23 on Tuesday, January 18
• 38 on Thursday, January 20

Households served via Pop-Up

• 38 on Wednesday, January 19

Total Served: 99

We still need help with some shifts next week. The number of volunteers needed is indicated in parathesis after the shift time and description.

Monday, January 24
8:45 am – 9:45 am Cold Stocking Shift (2)
9:30 am – 11 am Stocking Shift (1)
10:00 am – 11 am Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop-Thru (1)
3:30 pm- 5:00 pm MOFB Truck Unloading (7)

Tuesday, January 25
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (3)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (4)

Wednesday, January 26
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop Thru (1)

Thursday, January 27
8:30 am – 10:30  am Drive-Thru (5)
10:00 am – 12:30  pm Drive-Thru (4)

Friday, January 28
9:30 am – 10:30 am  Cold Stocking (2)
10:00 am – 11:30 am Pre-shop (1)

Click to enlarge

Volunteers, mark your calendars. More information coming soon.

Virtual Volunteer Event
Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 6 pm
Zoom Meeting

Columbus Arts Festival
June 10-12, 2022
At the riverfront in the Arena District

In the early days of the pandemic, a small team of Heart to Heart volunteers got together in fellowship and began discussions about the need to help families with food insecurity during uncertain times.  While Heart to Heart quickly transitioned from a walk-in service to a new drive-through service, fewer families were coming to the pantry.  Knowing that our pantry was blessed with an abundance of food and that food insecurity was growing, we felt determined to find a way to help more families. Recognizing transportation might be a barrier to coming to the drive-through service, we envisioned a mobile pantry that would take our food directly to families in their local communities.

With this vision in mind, our six founding volunteers developed a proposal for a new outreach ministry of Heart to Heart.  Our plan was to deliver food items from our pantry to various sites in Columbus by partnering with local human service agencies.  Through the support of Heart to Heart’s Director and with the blessing of Dr. Miles, the Pop Up Pantry was created in July of 2020.

The Pop Up Pantry began by delivering food to an agency site one day a week. Our small team of volunteers worked through new processes for bagging food while maintaining pandemic safety precautions of masking and social distancing.  To further ensure a safe environment, food was bagged outside through the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter months.  Additional volunteers were recruited to help with driving the church van and unloading bags of food at the sites.  By the end of 2020, the Pop Up Pantry outreach ministry had delivered food to 745 families at our agency sites.

In addition to delivering food weekly in our first year, the Pop Up Pantry coordinated a Christmas toy and gift drive for children of the families at Southpoint Village Apartments (Southpoint), one of our agency sites.  Southpoint is a supported housing complex servicing those with disabling mental illness, chemical dependence, and chronic homelessness.  We were fortunate for the opportunity to partner with Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School, whose students, families, and staff generously donated many of the toys and gifts.  We were also blessed by donations from Guild Groups D and RSZ, Share and Learn Garden, church families, and friends.  These donations truly made Christmas wishes come true for the children at Southpoint!

During 2021, the Pop Up Pantry was able to expand to two days a week, adding new agency sites and volunteers.  Balancing safety with pandemic surges during the year continued to be an important priority.  Our small team of volunteers worked diligently throughout the year, managing a large workload each week. Through the ongoing commitment of our founding volunteers and the dedication of our volunteer team, the Pop Up Pantry served 1,714 families last year.

In 2021, the Pop Up Pantry held its second annual Christmas toy and gift drive for families of children at Southpoint. At the start of the drive, families identified “wish lists” of gifts for their children.  For the second year in a row, 100% of these “wish lists” were fulfilled enabling us to provide 172 gifts for 86 children.  We are thankful for the generosity and goodwill of students, families, and staff at Wickliffe, church groups, and friends again this past year.

Our calling has gone beyond the provision of food from the pantry at our agency sites. In addition to our gift drive for Southpoint, volunteers have collected and delivered clothing items for Hope Resource Center (Hope).  Hope provides compassionate care to those living with addiction and the resources needed to enrich and transform their lives. Many of those served by Hope are also experiencing chronic homelessness. Additionally, our six founding members made monetary donations last year in honor of our van drivers to Hope and Riverview International Center (RIC).  RIC helps New Americans with meeting their basic needs, strengthening families, and a nurturing community.

Since its inception, over 2,400 families have been served through the Pop Up Pantry. We’re so very grateful for our partner agencies who’ve enabled us to reach out to these families.  These agencies include National Church Residences, Hope Resource Center, Franklinton Farms, and Riverview International Center.

We’re blessed by our church family and the groups who work with us to support the Pop Up Pantry and the communities we serve.  The Share and Learn Garden team has provided nutritious produce during the growing season.  The Monday Night Meals team has provided leftover bread items and desserts each week.  In addition, the Trading Post has donated clothing to Hope and the Mat Maker group has made many mats for Hope.  We could not serve our families without the ongoing efforts of our wonderful team of volunteers and support from Heart to Heart’s leadership.

This journey has brought us many blessings in serving others with grace and compassion as God calls us to do.  Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the opportunities the Pop Up Pantry has provided to us.  We look forward to continuing to serve and expand this outreach ministry in the New Year.

Blessings,
Carla Edlefson
Kathleen Hatcher
Rose Kandel
Kitty Rohrer
Janice Rook
Melody Smiley

Households served via Drive-Thru

• 42 on Tuesday, January 4
• 52 on Thursday, January 6

Households served via Pop-Up

• 35 on Wednesday, January 5

Click here to view our complete service and volunteer statistics for December.

Some shifts have been changed and added in the New Year. Details are on the Sign Up Genius. Please click the lightbulb below to view and sign up!

Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Month for January, Emma Ponitz. Read what Emma has to say about volunteering with us here.

All, you may have heard that the CDC has updated their policies with respect to quarantine and isolation.  The chart here details the new guidelines which we will follow.

Masks provide one of the best means of protection. We want to continue to stringently enforce the mask mandate, especially during worship and other gatherings. There is now quite a lot of information about the type of mask that is the most effective, mostly due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. Obviously, the best is the N95, followed by the disposable blue surgical masks.  A cloth mask does not provide much protection. You may want to think about what kind of mask you are wearing, especially if you are in a public setting around people for more than 15 minutes. I have gone to wearing the N95 mask in church and when I go to events.  I will wear a cloth mask if I am walking in a hallway from my office or in a store.   Why you should upgrade your mask as the Omicron variant spreads – CNN

Lastly, because of the mask mandate, we do not want to be providing any [served] food or refreshments. Not because there can be transmission from the preparation of the food, but because people will be unmasked while consuming the food or drink. We hope we can lift this requirement once the surge is behind us.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Be safe and have a Happy New Year!

Paul R. Anderson, CPA, CAP
Executive Director of Operations, First Community Church

Click image to enlarge.

Starting this year, we will do our best to provide order information prior to its arrival at Heart to Heart. We hope this will help you understand our processes, food budget, and challenges.

The Pop Up Pantry team delivered food directly to families at the following agency sites during the month of December:

• December 1:  Commons at Livingston-38clients
• December 8:  Hope Recovery Services-25 clients
• December 15: Southpoint Village Apartments-38 clients
• December 22: Commons at Grant-28 clients
• December 23: Riverview International Center-30 clients

Monthly totals for 2021:

• January 144
• February 135
• March. 121
• April. 130
• May. 127
• June. 124
• July. 132
• August. 132
• September. 150
• October. 178
• November. 182
• December 159

The Pop Up Pantry was created in July of 2020. The vision of our six founding volunteers was to expand Heart to Heart’s outreach to families within their local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. During 2021, our volunteer team served food to a total of 1714 families.  Since it’s inception, over 2400 families have been served through the Pop Up Pantry. We are grateful for the agencies who’ve worked with us to reach out to these families, including National Church Residences, Hope Recovery Services, Franklinton Farms and Riverview International Center.

In addition to weekly food deliveries, the Pop Up Pantry conducted its second annual Christmas gift and toy drive for the children of families at Southpoint Village Apartments, one of our agency sites. Southpoint is a supported housing complex for those with disabling mental illness, chemical dependence or chronic homelessness. At the start of the drive, families identified “wish lists” of toys and gifts for their children.

Again this year, 100% of the “wish lists” of gifts were fulfilled thanks to the generosity and goodwill of students, families and staff at Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School as well as Women’s Guild Groups D and RSZ, Share and Learn Garden, church members and friends. 172 toys and gifts for 86 children were delivered by the Pop Up Pantry team to the families at Southpoint. In addition, we were blessed to receive several monetary donations which enabled us to purchase gift cards for all 27 families who participated in the gift drive.

Under the capable leadership of Rose Kandel, the Pop Up Pantry team members, who worked tirelessly to coordinate this Christmas initiative, were Carla Edlefson, Kathleen Hatcher, Kitty Rohrer, Janice Rook, Melody Smiley and Mark Tucker. We are grateful for the assistance of Sarah Oberlin and Amy Miller, who coordinated the drive at Wickliffe, as well as our church family and friends who helped to make Christmas wishes come true for these children.

Also in December, Pop Up Pantry founding volunteers made monetary donations to two of our agency sites, Hope Recovery Services and Riverview International Center. These donations were made in honor of our wonderful volunteers who drive the church van and transport food each week to our sites: Glenn Zook, Steve Young, Mark Tucker, Boyce Lancaster and Leslie Sauer.

In January, our Pop Up Pantry will be delivering food to our agency sites on the following dates:

• January 5, 11a-2p, Commons at Livingston (1st Wednesday)
• January 12, 10a-2p, Hope Recovery Services (2nd Wednesday)
• January 19, 11a-2p, Southpoint Village Apartments (3rd Wednesday)
• January 26, 11a-2p, Commons at Grant (4th Wednesday)
• January 27, 12:30p-3:30p, Riverview International Center (4th Thursday)

Through the ongoing support and commitment of our volunteers and the church, we look forward to continuing to serve and expand this outreach ministry of Heart to Heart during 2022.

On January 17, we celebrate the lasting impact of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. The church will be closed for the holiday, and for a few Monday holidays thereafter. In 2021, we developed an alternative schedule that allows us to have the holiday off while still being prepared to serve clients on the following Tuesdays.

We understand not everyone who regularly volunteers on Mondays and Fridays will be able to make the change to their own schedules. However, the holidays are so few that we are able to make it work! We will cancel all shifts Monday, January 17, and add the following:

• Friday, January 14, 10-11:30 am Preshop Shift
• Friday, January 14, 11:30 am Stocking Shift
• Tuesday, January 18, 7:45 am – 8:30 am Direct Retail Pickup

The following are dates Heart to Heart will be closed for all volunteer and client service activity in 2022:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (01/17/22)
• President’s Day (02/21/22)
• Good Friday (04/15/22)
• Easter Monday (04/18/22)
• Memorial Day (05/30/22)
• Independence Day (07/04/22)
• Labor Day (09/05/22)
• Annual Pantry Closure (09/12 – 16/22)
• Indigenous Peoples Day (10/10/22)
• Veterans Day (11/11/22)
• Thanksgiving (11/24 – 25/22)
• Christmas (12/26/22 – 1/2/23)

The Pop Up Pantry team delivered food directly to clients and their families at the following agency sites during the month of November:

• November 3: Commons at Livingston-37 clients
• November 9: Franklinton Farms-15 clients
• November 10: Hope Recovery Services-34 clients
• November 17: Southpoint Village Apartments-36 clients
• November 18: Riverview International Center-30 clients
• November 24: Commons at Grant-30 clients

Monthly totals for 2021:

• January 144
• February 135
• March 121
• April 130
• May 127
• June 124
• July 132
• August 132
• September 150
• October 178
• November 182

We completed our last delivery of the year for Franklinton Farms clients in November. This site is seasonal and we will resume service in the spring of next year. Through word of mouth, we’ve had inquiries from potential agency sites which we continue to explore.  We hope to be able to add more new sites sometime in the new year.

The Christmas toy and gift drive for our families at Southpoint Village Apartments continued in November with “Wish Lists” for 168 gifts fulfilled for 86 children. We will be delivering these wonderful gifts to Southpoint in mid-December. Again this year, we’re grateful for the generosity and goodwill of Wickliffe Elementary School, our church members, and our Pop Up Pantry volunteers in making Christmas special for these children.

Our Pop Up Pantry schedule for December is:

• December 1, 11a-2p, Commons at Livingston (1st Wednesday)
• December 8, 10a-2p, Hope Recovery Services (2nd Wednesday)
• December 15, 11a-2p, Southpoint Village Apartments (3rd Wednesday)
• December 22, 11a-2p, Commons at Grant (4th Wednesday)
• December 23, 12:30p-3:30p, Riverview International Center (4th Thursday)

Through the ongoing support of our dedicated volunteers and our church, we look forward to continuing to serve this outreach ministry of Heart to Heart.