Heart to Heart food pantry will hold a once-a-month donation collection during Sunday worship services to promote material contributions for those attending First Community for worship. If you are attending services at North, please look for the donation station sign in the parking lot and drop off your donations before you come inside! If you’re attending services at South, please look for the donation cart at Crane welcome center, where you can drop off your donation with our volunteer.
We will share our theme each month in emails, blogs, newsletters and on the screens on Sundays. You can also view our schedule for the entire year below. We hope these fun themes will encourage donation participation!
2025 Schedule
Click the image to download a printable PDF (or grab a flyer at either church campus) to hang on your fridge.
School Supply Drive
July 27 through August 10.
Our goal is to provide filled backpacks for 150 students!
Scroll down to read more about this collection.
How To
1. Grab a flyer! The flyer has a list of items needed and everything else you need to know to participate. They’re available in FC North in the Rose Wing entrance or at FC South in the Coat Room, or you can click below to download a printable PDF!
Click to download printable PDF flyer
2. Go shopping. Consider taking advantage of this year’s Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday from August 1 to August 14. Don’t forget to take the list with you when you go to the store!
3. Buy the items on the list. You can shop online using our Amazon Wish List which we set up specifically for this drive. For this particular drive, it would be best to have the items shipped to you so you can assemble a complete kit. If you choose to have items delivered directly to Heart to Heart, please include a gift receipt with your name on it!
4. Pack the school supplies in the backpack. If they don’t all fit, try putting the whole kit in a large shopping or trash bag so the whole kit stays together.
5. Drop off your donation by August 10:
– At FC North a bin will be available in the Rose Wing entrance from July 27 – August 10
– At FC South a bin will be available in the Coat Room from July 27 – August 10
– On Sunday, August 10 additional collection bins will be available outside worship spaces
Spread the word
Tell your friends, neighbors, and small groups about this effort. Post on to your social media accounts, and share posts from Heart to Heart, too.
Follow us on social media:
Facebook @hearttoheartfoodpantry
Instagram @heart_to_heart_food_pantry
Learn more
Click here to read about the recipient organization, Riverview International Center.
Last year
Because of your generosity in 2024, we collected over 100 backpacks! Thank you to the volunteers that coordinated with and delivered to Riverview International Center: Melody Smiley and Mark Tucker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you collect donations for the Pop-Up Pantry instead of the regular Heart to Heart Drive-Thru?
There are a few reasons we collect donations for Riverview International Center!
- First, they have the means to easily store and distribute the items, whereas the drive-thru has limited storage space.
- There are many school supply and backpack distribution programs available throughout the city for those in need, including drive-thru clients. A list of Back to School Programs can be found at lssnetworkofhope.org/211centralohio, but even that list is not exhaustive!
- This is the one annual drive for use specifically by the PUP. The regular Drive-Thru uses the majority of the items collected throughout the year, and the Christmas program provides gifts to select families.
- Of all the PUP sites, RIC has the largest number of children among their clientele. Those served at the other PUP sites are mostly adults.
Why can’t I donate used items?
For this school supply drive, we accept only new items simply because we believe every child deserves them. The excitement of starting the school year with brand-new supplies, just like their peers, can build confidence and excitement for learning. Our goal is to treat all students as equals, not as recipients of leftovers. We’ve asked donors who have the means to give new items to show these students that they’re valued. Many thrift stores will accept gently used supplies, including First Community’s own Tri-Village Trading Post.
How do you choose the supplies listed?
The vast majority of children served by RIC attend Columbus City Schools. Each year, we review the district’s published list of school supplies needed for grades K-12. While each grade has a slightly different list, the items appearing most frequently across all grades are compiled into our list. To make participation in this drive more accessible, we eliminate the more expensive items (e.g. calculators) from our list. We then confirm with RIC that the items on the list are the most needed, and they will help residents find additional supplies as needed.
PLEASE NOTE
Donors are asked to purchase only the items listed on the flyers. Do not include school supplies not included on the list such as 3-ring binders, protractors, rulers and liquid glue, etc. We also ask you to refrain from donations of tissue boxes, cleaning wipes, and ziptop bags. While these are often requested by teachers, we cannot accommodate these bulkier items.
Adherence to the list means everything will fit into the backpack! This is also a good indicator of backpack size. Donors should keep in mind these backpacks will be used by children as young as 5 and as old as 19. While it’s fun to purchase a bag with a shiny unicorn or your favorite superhero, that limits the number of children that could use it. Neutral, durable backpacks can be used by students for several years.
The list was compiled intentionally, with attention to peripheral details. Your participation within the parameters outlined allows us to effectively manage project.
Can I make a financial donation instead?
We always welcome financial contributions and appreciate your generosity! However, all monetary donations made to Heart to Heart during this time period will be used for our general operations, rather than this specific project. Significant volunteer time and effort would be required to purchase, receive, and assemble a large number of school supply kits. This is also a fun opportunity for those who like to shop, especially for school supplies. Adults shopping for school supplies with their own children can participate in the selection of items, and adults can make it a learning experience.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Heart to Heart is a ministry of First Community Church EIN# 31-4383795. The church is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your gift may be tax deductible; please consult your tax professional.