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Minute for Mission
Refugee Ministry
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by Rick Greene
MISSION GRANTS TEAM MEMBER
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“We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
Jimmy Carter
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The above quote from Jimmy Carter is from his presidential debate with Ronald Reagan in 1976, about the USA not being a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. He went further to urge ”…renewed commitment to civil rights, human rights, domestic and around the world …” Over the years, American society has been often described as a melting pot, which results with every ingredient melted together homogenously, like milk. There are other theories about the amalgamation of our society, including the chili bowl and salad bowl theory. The latter is, this author’s favorite, that the salad bowl theory maintains the unique identities of individuals that would otherwise be lost to assimilation, which has the advantage of acknowledging the discrete identities and cultural differences of a multicultural society. | |
The U.S. Government has projected a 100% increase for the number of refugees for the upcoming year—an increase to 125,000. Since 1983, central Ohio has resettled over 16,000 refugees from around the world, most arriving in the past decade, and, since 2002, nearly half of the refugees resettled in Ohio have come to Franklin County. The current events in the world underscore the humanitarian need to help those forced to start over.
First Community’s Refugee Ministry Team has a long history of assisting refugee and immigrant families with the transition into life in Columbus. Since 1977, they have worked closely with resettlement agencies such as CRIS and UsTogether to sponsor new arrivals and to assist with emergency funds for expenses and unexpected costs not covered by federal assistance. They also help special needs situations, such as in-home English tutoring for those unable to attend group classes. The Refugee Ministry operates entirely on donations from the church and community.
As an example, First Community's Refugee Ministry Team are serving, or have served in the past, families from Syria, a family of ten from the Congo that has lived in a refugee camp in Tanzania since 1997, and a family of six who were all born in a refugee camp. Another refugee, who is now a member of our Church, had her story included in Immigration Nation on Netflix (episode 6) and suffered an acid attack in her homeland. She then fought for five years to successfully bring her children to Central Ohio with the help and support our Refugee Ministry Team.
First Community Church has begun Refugee Welcome Teams. Team participants have learned the process necessary to go through the steps to get refugee status in the United States and the challenges faced by resettling families. Welcome Teams assist these families in overcoming the challenges to successfully resettle and start a life here in Central Ohio.
| If you would like more information about First Community Church, its other Mission programs, or are interested in joining the Mission Teams, please email us at mission@fcchurch.com. | | |
Riverview International Center | |
Riverview International Center (RIC) empowers New Americans by supporting individuals, strengthening families, and nurturing community. This office is a place where people can walk in and get help with any question they may have about navigating life in America. If RIC cannot provide the help themselves, they will work hard to find someone that can. The goal is to be a flexible and community-oriented resource for whoever comes through their door.
In 2023, this organization provided service to more than 10,500 people. The RIC provides numerous essential services and programs, including career counseling, assistance navigating benefits, and classes for learning English, computer literacy, and sewing. For children, the RIC offers homework help and a Summer Reading Program. In addition, the organization provides community care, women's empowerment groups, citizenship assistance, a legal clinic, and field trips that celebrate the many cultures and groups represented in Riverview.
RIC has served 300 refugees, mainly from Haiti, Afghanistan, and the Congo, with an additional few from Ukraine. While most are documented, not all are; those who are not documented can receive only minimal services, such as English help and goods that can be distributed.
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Some of its funding is from grants. This group seeks grants primarily that provide funding for the general immigration population, not for specific groups of clients. In 2023, the Columbus Foundation named RIC as one of its 5 Nonprofits to Watch. The RIC and the other four cohort organizations were recognized as exemplary nonprofits represents growing, small- to medium-sized organizations serving the central Ohio region.
Much of their work is centered on the Riverview community northeast of the OSU campus. RIC recently moved to a new location. It previously had a 585 square foot space area with 8 employees--a very crowded office indeed. It is also conducting a feasibility study about how to reach immigrants in need who are currently not being reached.
NBC4 and the Columbus Dispatch recently featured stories about apartments where RIC had its offices and many of its clients currently live. Activities for families, walkability to a mosque and RIC, and affordability are all reasons many decide to live on Riverview Drive. Unfortunately, dozens in the RIC Columbus neighborhood are not sure where they are going to live after some received eviction notices (30 days notice and only in English) from the new property owner.
The news media reported recently that the new owner of the buildings, Peak Property Group, has made concessions of the inconvenience to the inhabitants and the loss of their community. First Community has been actively working with the RIC and the Church’s Refugee Ministry Team. The Heart to Heart Pop-Up Pantry also provides direct delivery of food to our Riverview neighbors (in 2023, 358 food boxes and 120 backpacks with school supplies). The Mission Finance team is currently reviewing a grant from RIC for meeting the huge need of our highly utilized Community Care program. This program helps to reduce food insecurity, supports housing stability, increases access to healthcare and improves student success.
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Members and friends of FC can help with the mission of the Riverview International Center by making donations to RIC (https://www.riverviewinternationalcenter.org/give) so they can continue its work of support and advocacy for our neighbors. Because of the current eviction of residents, RIC is asking for help with security deposits. There are immediate volunteer needs: summer reading with children, transportation to events or appointments, and office help. In addition to helping residents relocate, volunteers can collect/donate moving supplies, help neighbors make rental inquiry calls or fill out paperwork like change of address forms and rental applications, and assist neighbors with moving larger items to their new homes.
Volunteers are needed immediately for homework helpers, language assistance, special events aides, and drivers. RIC is additionally looking for volunteers for remote computer work; assist with grant writing (over 63% of revenue); distribute diapers, women’s pads and food boxes; serve on the board and board workgroups; teach or assist with sewing classes; office cleaning; light maintenance; gather a group of family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, social circles, and/or community members for a tour of the RIC; and RIC is willing to discuss any additional ideas you may suggest. If interested or would like information about volunteering, please contact Angelica Aguilar at RIC at angelica@riverviewinternationalcenter.org.
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World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
The World Refugee Day shines a light on the rights, needs and dreams of refugees, helping to mobilize political will and resources so refugees can not only survive but thrive. While it is important to protect and improve the lives of refugees every single day, international days like World Refugee Day help to focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution; similar to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph fleeing to Egypt. Many activities held on World Refugee Day create opportunities to support refugees. World Refugee Day was held globally for the first time on June 20, 2001, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was originally known as Africa Refugee Day.
In Columbus, the Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) is sponsoring a World Refugee Day Block Party on Saturday, June 22, 2024, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, at 4645 Executive Drive, Columbus, OH, 43220. This will be a family-friendly celebration of the strength, beauty, and cultures of the refugees and immigrants in our community, featuring global arts and crafts activities for families, as well as music, food, and dance from around the world.
Join us in worship on Sunday, June 23 at 11 am, First Community North. We will hear brief remarks from the Refugee Ministry Team and will be joined by members of the families recently resettled.
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by Shirley Barney
REFUGEE MINISTRY TEAM LEAD
The families are doing well and are thriving.
- Children are attending school and some will attend summer school to continue learning
- Some family members are studying to get their driver's license and attending driver’s school
- Our team continues to help with reading and writing. One lesson focused on familial words and relationships such as mother, father, son, daughter, etc.
- One family’s lease on their apartment will be ending soon and our team will help find a new apartment and support them in the move.
The RMT partners with CRIS (Community Refugee & Immigration Services) to support families in need and coordinate efforts when new families arrive in Central Ohio. CRIS has a fundraiser called Columbus Crossing Borders Project. All proceeds will be used to support refugee families in Central Ohio. Please see information below or visit the CRIS website for more details.
Help wanted:
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Donations:
- Washer & dryer
- Car donations
- Lawnmower
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Volunteers - Are you interested in supporting families or joining the RMT? Supporting resettling refugee families is extremely rewarding. Learn more at FCchurch.com/refugee.
If you are interested in volunteering or donating the items needed, please contact Shirley Barney.
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Support Local Refugees through C.R.I.S. | | |
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Heart to Heart
Monthly Update
by Yohan Kim
FOOD PANTRY MANAGER
May has been a month filled with giving at Heart to Heart. We have received an abundance of donations, thanks to First Community, Greensview Elementary, Grace Fellowship, Our Lady of Victory, CHOP5, Guild 7, Monday Night Meals, and more. Our volunteers have also stepped up in a big way, being a month that is part of our shoulder season, where volunteer numbers dip before the summer’s teens and new volunteers arrive. There have been Shop & Stock shifts with 2-3 of us, along with Drive-Thru shifts containing just a couple more. When powered by a solid process and sheer gusto, we get the job done just as well as we ever have.
The pantry is currently in need of soup, jelly, pancake syrup, tampons, and pads. Truth be told, those are items that we always need. Our next donation drive at First Community will be on Father’s Day, which is Sunday, June 16. We will be asking for shaving cream and disposable razors. Those donations will go a long way towards helping the 466 neighbors we saw in our Drive-Thru this month, as of this writing, including 100 new families, and the 196 through the Pop-Up Pantry.
They say April showers bring May flowers, and boy, have our bounties blossomed. A spirit of giving grows thanks to our friends in Missions and First Community, who put community first as a mission of the Spirit.
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Help Wanted
by Kitty Rohrer
RESOURCE LINE VOLUNTEER
Do you want to help those of our neighbors who have come upon hard times? Are you interested in learning more about the resources available to assist families in the Central Ohio area?
First Community receives calls daily from those in our community who need assistance with such basic needs/services as food, rent, utilities, (like gas, electricity, water) or emotional support for circumstances of all kinds. A team of three volunteers responds to these calls, providing support and information which helps to link callers with community resources. We are looking for a fourth person to be on call for two weeks out of eight (approximately once every two months) to respond to these calls.
The only requirement is that you be a caring, empathetic listener, willing to learn about our community and its resources. Prior knowledge is helpful, but not necessary as there is support available to provide information and guidance. If you're interested in volunteering, please leave a voicemail at 614-488-0681 x241 or send an email to hearttoheart@fcchurch.com.
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Week of Compassion
Thank you for your donations. On Sunday, May 5, we held a special offering online that raised $1,965 to support the flood relief efforts of WOC in Africa. For more information on Week of Compassion, visit
weekofcompassion.org.
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by Beth Hanson
TRADING POST VOLUNTEER TEAM LEAD
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The Trading Post continues to be a hopping business. Now that summer is here, we have added summer merchandise to our repertoire, including swim suits, cover ups, gardening books and supplies, pots & vases, shorts, flip flops, sandals, straw hats, bird feeders, etc. (Fourth of July items will be available shortly.) Every week we meet new customers who are just discovering us. In May alone we welcomed 52 brand new shoppers who made a special trip to find us in our unassuming, obscure location on the recommendation of a friend or the Google. One new customer called me from the South Campus parking lot, needing help finding us, so I walked outside and jumped up and down and waved my arms. | |  |
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We usually have 35-40 customers on any given day. Word-of-mouth and the internet are our best advertising. The same is true for people who donate items to the store. They have heard about the good work we do with our earnings through a friend or neighbor, and so we have received so many nice things from people we’ve never met who are clearing out a house, moving, down-sizing or just doing spring cleaning. The amount of donations we receive is often daunting, but in a good way. | |
Fortunately, we have recently been given the use of the former Spiritual Guidance Room in the Annex which we have turned into a clothes-sorting room. Each week we receive a mountain of clothing which is then sorted by a special crew trained to weed out items with stains, broken zippers, moth holes, etc. Once the wheat is separated from the chaff, they sort the clothing into seasons so that it is ready to price and put on the sales floor when each season arrives. | |
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Two of our most recent gigantic donations were items leftover from two May garage sales. The first was the so-called Mini Garage Sale held by the Guilds in the parking lot next to the Trading Post on the first Saturday in May. Even after a whole day of selling, they had scads of nice things left over, and they gave the Trading Post the opportunity to glean items before the Volunteers of America came to take the rest away. The things we took are selling like hotcakes, and of course the money goes to the church’s missions. | |
The second garage sale was held at First Community Village (FCV). Every year, the residents at FCV donate things they no longer need to an indoor garage sale. The morning of the sale, FCV staff are given the first opportunity to shop for bargains as a thank you for their hard work and TLC throughout the year. In the afternoon, the sale is open to anyone. For the last two years, the Trading Post has been invited to take any leftover items we thought we could sell in the shop. My sister Cathy and I went over at the end of their sale to see if anything was left that we wanted. As it turned out, we took so much that I have had to store it in my garage. We ended up with 23 large plastic tubs, 9 lamps, and a bunch of nice artwork. It was an exceedingly generous donation, but they were so grateful to us that we made their clean-up job less taxing. | | | |
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The Trading Post has a momentum that just seems to grow with every passing week as more and more people learn about our unique enterprise. We never, ever have a lull! If you haven’t been to the shop yet, please come see us! You will be delighted to discover such a clean, charming, happy little shop with a cornucopia of intriguing, useful, beautiful and unique items for sale. Afterwards, you will want to tell all of your friends about us…….and as you can see, we are counting on it! | | |
The Trading Post is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and the first Saturday of the month from 10 am to 4 pm. We are located in the basement of the Annex Building at the back of the South Campus parking lot. If you can find your way to the parking lot, but still can’t find the shop, give me a call and I will come outside and jump up and down waving my arms to direct you to the front door. | | |
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Closed June 3 - 7
for a Summer Vacation
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Habitat for Humanity
Northwest Partnership Completes Another Home
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by Ned Timmons
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY VOLUNTEER
First Community has done it again. We have completed our 37th house build along with our partners in the Habitat Northwest Partnership. We can be very proud of this accomplishment as we have been involved with Habitat for Humanity from the very first house that they built in the Columbus area.
The Badhi Family (mom and two boys) are now the proud owners of a new home that they helped to build in the Linden area. The home was dedicated on May 11. The financial and volunteer contributions to this work cannot be overstated. Thank you for the continued support.
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In The Garden
Updates from the Share & Learn Garden
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The Share and Learn Garden at First Community North sits on the property behind the Mary Evans Child Development Center. All the produce grown in the garden comes directly to Heart to Heart. The garden is managed and harvested by a small but mighty and fun group of volunteers. Master Gardeners Cheryl and Loren VanDeusen, and their daughter, Kate Paulson, are the group's leaders. The group convenes on Tuesday mornings, weather permitting. We receive weekly updates from Kate Paulson during the growing season, including these excerpts below. | |
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May 26
Hi friends!
Thank you to everyone for last week…cucumber and tomato planting, kids’ bed repairs, a lot of weeding, assembly of the new lightweight wheelbarrow, and stacking up the old row covers.
This week won’t be too rigorous. Here are the goals:
- plant sunflower seeds in the canoe (located in the playground)
- trim off the lower leaves of the tomatoes (promotes airflow and diverts more energy towards fruit production)
- reassemble kids’ water station (have to ask Leigh Anne where this is stored) There are little watering cans that hang on a rack and will encourage the kids to water the kids beds. The rack and cans were taken down during the pandemic.
- weeding (always!)
I hope everyone has a pleasant Memorial Day weekend!
Kate, Loren, Cheryl
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May 19, 2024
Hi all!
First, a big thank you to everyone for all of the hard work last week. Isaiah was a trooper and put together 2 raised beds for the teachers to use with the kids. Joy, Kathleen Lennon, Kathleen Hatcher and Marcy planted the collard greens and Okra seeds. I got the zinnia/cosmos bed squared away, and Mike filled the new kids’ raised beds and placed additional soil where it was needed. The Hanhilammis donated and planted marigolds at the end of the raised bed to enjoy (and keep pests away!). Thank you!
This week includes:
- assembling the new lightweight wheelbarrow (will be handy for weeding)
- stripping the Agribon from the row covers and storing neatly (not sure we will need covers this year, and the frames need completely rebuilt).
- prepping pots for future pollinator plants (pots beside the arches, pots in the daycare)
- locating and setting out the watering can station (for kids beds)
- a tremendous amount of weeding!
Because a great deal of weeding needs completed, please bring your gloves, a bottle for drinking water, and a hat for sun protection. It will be hot 🥵 Tuesday.
Kate, Loren, Cheryl
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May 12
Hi gardening friends!
Firstly, Happy Mothers Day to everyone that celebrates. 👏🏻
Secondly, a BIG thank you to all the hard work this past session. Both types of tomatoes, peppers and cabbage plants were successfully planted. A few pollinator plants were placed in pots, and carrot seeds were sown.
John and Mike tilled the zinnia/cosmos bed as well as added soil to pots and beds that still needed it. A thank you to Ryan, John’s friend for helping with the heavy lifting. Isaiah was amazing with his auger and cage placement skills.
This week’s session this Tuesday, May 14 should again be some work. The plan (always subject to change) is to:
- plant the collard plants
- sow the zinnia/cosmos bed
- sow okra in triangle bed
- assemble the veg trug raised bed and add soil (for the kids to grow what they would like in)
- assemble the new cloth lightweight wheelbarrow (perfect for easier weed collection and transportation!)
- seed pollination area in the garlic bed with zinnia and cosmos (an aside: the bee balm in the center of the garlic bed did not come back…unsure why)
- repair rotted kids beds (new wood sides) add soil and plant cherry tomatoes in kids beds
If we don’t complete all of the above, that is ok. We are ahead of schedule due to the early warmer weather. And, we are supposed to have fun! 🤩
Kate, Loren, Cheryl
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May 5, 2024
Hi Amy!
Very pleased with the garden progress…we almost have everything planted! We have some lovely new volunteers and Isaiah (who also volunteers at the pantry) is the hardest working 15 year old I have met.
Kate
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May 5, 2024
Hi friends!
Last Thursday’s session was extremely productive. The red mulch was laid, the tomato cages were set, all of the 4th of July tomatoes got planted and half of the Sungold tomatoes. I straighten up the tool shed, so things should be easier to locate. The garlic was fed blood meal to help spur the final growth (garlic won’t be harvested until around the 4th of July).
I tested the rain bird irrigation system, and it works perfectly. In the last few days, we certainly haven’t needed it! LOL.
Thank you to Issiah, John, Dave, Sam, Joy, and Loren for working so hard Thursday.
This week’s goals include a lot of planting:
- plant remainder of the Sungold tomatoes
(FYI, I purchased additional stakes to support the tomato cages..)
- plant collard greens, cabbages and pepper plants
- plant nasturtium and succulent plants in pots
- plant carrot, cucumber and okra seeds
- add additional soil and hummus where needed to beds and pots
As Columbus’ weather has changed (we are now zone 6a, change from zone 5b), and are now warmer. The new frost free date is May 1. Because of this, we can plant sooner (which we have done this year), extending our growing season. To take full advantage of this, we may add another session this week to get all of the plants in, which equals produce sooner.
I know some of you are unable to volunteer your time on Tuesday mornings, so if a group would prefer to come another day this week…the Tuesday crew can leave a to-do list on the white board. Let me know! Thank you.
**Please note: If it is raining fairly steadily, assume we are not gardening and I will be in touch via email about a new time. This statement applies to any session this entire summer. ☔️
Kate, Loren and Cheryl
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April 27, 2024
Hello friends,
Thank you for a fantastic first week ! ALL of the beds were cleaned and tilled. I believe this is a record. Welcome again to the new volunteers, it is amazing having additional help!!!
The next 2 weeks will be hoppin'! Here is a punch list for the next two sessions:
- red mulch put down on beds. The red mulch reflects up onto the tomato plant increasing yields as well as discourages weed growth.
- plant holes drilled out (literally) thru the red mulch…makes planting so much easier!
- tomato, pepper and cabbage plants planted (the collard plants are a little small, so need another week).
- nasturtiums planted amongst the tomato and pepper plants…discourages bad bugs, are pollinators and pretty.
- carrot, cucumber and okra seeds planted (will be May 7)
- new row covers constructed (most likely May 7, May 14 and May 21)
- Veg Trug (for the preschoolers to use and grow stuff) assembled and dirt added (most likely May 7)
- Containers in the middle shed organized and stacked by size. The containers will be utilized to portion out produce. So much easier if they are organized ahead of time!
We harvested 11 pounds of onions last week…the pantry will still busy at 11:20 last Tuesday, so I am sure the onions were appreciated.
See you all Tuesday!
Kate, Loren and Cheryl
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Updates from our Partners | | |
Healing Arts Mission
Included are two thank you notes from the organization in response to your generous donations on Easter Sunday. Those donations were put to use immediately in the organization's Port au Paix area primary school, and for clean water and aid in the mountain area of Demier. We are happy to support their work in Haiti during such a turbulent time.
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Little Bottoms Free Store
Included below are recent thank yous from the organization, plus a copy of last year's impact report. The Mission Grants Team is pleased to support such a worthy cause! The organization also asked me to share information about a fundraiser...
Meza is teaming up with Little Bottoms Free store to provide an at-home happy hour for two delivered to your doorstep! Each package provides two bottles of wine and a charcuterie box for two with a delicious selection of meats, cheeses, and other sweet and savory treats! $25 from each box purchase benefits Little Bottoms in their work fostering a safe, nurturing environment while providing essential baby supplies to disadvantaged Franklin County Ohio families with children aged 3 and under. Purchase your package by Monday June 3 at: https://tinyurl.com/littlebottomsfundraiser
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Tandana Foundation
The recent grant awarded to Tandana from the Mission Grants Team was used to expand their Environmental Program in Mali. This letter explains how the impact of increased water supply benefits these communities in countless ways and improves their overall wellbeing. We are proud to continue supporting this impressive organization!
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All Teams Meeting Summer Venue | |
Did you miss the last issue of On a Mission!? View it, and all past issues, by clicking the link below. | |
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Did you know Heart to Heart is on social media? Click the buttons below to follow us. We also have a blog! Read the weekly blog posts at h2h.FCchurch.com/blog | |
Did you know Trading Post is on Facebook? Click the button below to follow us. You can also sign up for the email list for occasional announcements, sales, and events. | |
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News from our Mission Partners | | | | |
