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Minute for Mission
Pill Container Recycling Program
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35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. 37 Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” 40 The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV) | | |
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by Rick Greene
MISSION GRANTS TEAM MEMBER
The Missions program at First Community will start a pill bottle recycling program in September for both empty prescription and over-the-counter bottles. We are looking for volunteers to help with this program. We send these to Cincinnati and are especially looking for volunteer(s) who currently go there regularly to drop off the containers. This will help the Missions program save money for postage. If interested in volunteering with the program, please contact Rick Greene.
Americans fill over 4 billion prescriptions per year, begging the question, “What happens to all the plastic, empty prescription bottles?” The answer is a bit complicated as most curbside recycling programs generally do not accept these plastic bottles. There are other ways to recycle or reuse these bottles and keep them out of landfills, with specialized recycling programs using cleaned bottles for other purposes, following FDA guidelines.
At both FC South and North, look for bins to recycle these empty prescription and over-the-counter pill bottles. They will be in the coat room at First Community South and at the Rose Wing vestibule at First Community South.
Acceptable collection items include empty prescription and over-the-counter pill bottles with caps. We ask that those who donate to:
- empty the bottle of remaining medication (see below)
- rinse out and dry the plastic containers of residue
- entirely remove sticker labels that contains personal information
We will then send these to Matthew 25: Ministries in Cincinnati. This organization accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipment of medical supplies. Its pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment.
Matthew 25: Ministries provides humanitarian aid to the poorest of the poor and disaster victims. Its volunteers evaluate, sort, and process donated items before shipping them to people in need. These steps ensure that the products meet social, legal, and cultural requirements of the area. This organization works with more than 40 others in the U.S. and has partners in approximately 70 countries worldwide. In 2024, it shipped 937 containers of donated items (including medical supplies), totaling over 19 million pounds, helping over 23 thousand people.
Matthew 25: Ministries began as the result of a trip Rev. Wendell Mettey made with a group of doctors and nurses to Nicaragua in 1990. After seeing the seemingly endless poverty and devastation, Rev. Mettey made a promise to himself that he would find a way to help the people of Nicaragua and others in similar need. Upon returning, Rev. Mettey developed a system to recover excess products which were deemed no longer useful by U.S. corporations, and redistribute these items to people in desperate poverty.
In the early days, supplies were carried to Nicaragua in suitcases, then aboard United States Air Force cargo planes. Now aid is shipped via forty-foot seagoing containers and semi-trailers to the poorest of the poor and disaster victims. Since 1991, Matthew 25: Ministries has grown from a small suitcase ministry into an international relief organization distributing more than 20 million pounds of products each year. In total, Matthew 25 has sent more than 300 million pounds of aid across the United States and into approximately 70 countries worldwide.
For a complete listing of acceptable donations to First Community Church, please see the graphic at the bottom of this email. If you would like more information about First Community Church, its Mission programs, or are interested in joining the Mission Team for 2024, please email us at Mission@FCchurch.com.
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Heart to Heart
Monthly Update
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by Yohan Kim
FOOD PANTRY MANAGER
August has been the final month of the summer filled with teens in the Drive-Thru, with up to 20 volunteers per day distributing the food we work so hard to acquire and prepare. The other day, Kathleen from the Pop-Up Pantry pointed out how much effort it takes to get everything ready. As I often quote from Gen. Robert H. Barrow, “Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.”
Part of our supply chain are the organizations that donate. There are weekly donations of refrigerated food from Marc’s, frozen meat from Giant Eagle, and goodies from Nothing Bundt Cakes. The produce and refrigerated foods from the Mid-Ohio Foodbank Shop-Thru could be included, too. Our Lady of Victory supplies monthly donations of dry goods, always aiming for more than 200 pounds. The same goes for Penzey's with spices, CHOP5 with produce, and First Community through worship drives. August was backpacks for Riverview International Center. We also received a hefty amount of cat and dog food from Grandview Girls Soccer. And throughout the summer, we have received many pounds of produce from a variety of gardens, such as Share & Learn, Seeds of Hope, Barrington, and South Side Family Farms.
Teens returning to school means we have shortages in the Drive-Thru, which we need filled until the school year ends. The same goes for the “General Labor” shifts on Tuesday, September 3, and Thursday, September 5. Heart to Heart will be CLOSED that week for our annual deep cleaning, repairs, and hopefully some freezer swaps to ensure proper food safety. Know someone who would be a good fit? Pass along our website and SignUpGenius!
There is much that occurs behind-the-scenes, all of which ensures that our Drive-Thru and Pop-Up Pantry can distribute without issue. Whether you donate food, sign up to volunteer, or spread awareness about our work, it all contributes to a small yet mighty pantry that continually punches above its weight.
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Service Statistics
Households Served 805
- Drive-Thru Pantry 582
- Pop-Up Pantry 223
- New Families Served 178
Individuals Served 2,680
- Seniors Served 339
- Adults Served 1,378
- Children Served 963
Meals Served 24,120
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Incoming Materials
in pounds
- First Community Church 4,831
- Giant Eagle 2,122
- Marc’s 178
- Penzey’s Spices 21
- Mid-Ohio Foodbank 25,685 total weight
- Shop Thru 11,829
- Order 13,856
- Cost $6,486.05
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It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time
by Amy Caskie
DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS
It's Peanut-Butter-Jelly-Time! Peanut-Butter-Jelly-Time!
On September 15, we will be collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly in the parking lot of both church locations during worship services! This is a school lunch staple for many kids and we often have a hard time getting these items from our vendor, especially jelly! Please consider donating everyone’s favorite sandwich ingredients as the kids return to school this fall. More info on our monthly drives can be found at h2h.fcchurch.com/monthlydrives/.
While we will advertise and encourage specific donations on a theme, we continue to accept all our typical donations! If you can’t make it to worship, visit h2h.FCchurch.com/donate for donation instructions during the week!
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by Shirley Barney
REFUGEE MINISTRY TEAM LEAD
Help Wanted
Our team will be welcoming a new family over the next couple of months. We are looking for volunteers to help refugee families resettle to life in Columbus, by helping with the following:
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- Gather household items (dishes, utensils, etc.)
- Stocking their pantry
- Clothing collection
- Apartment Setup
- Airport welcome
- Hot welcome meal
- Apartment move in
- Transportation assistance
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Donations Needed
- Washer & dryer
- Car donations
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If you are interested in volunteering or donating the items needed, please contact Shirley Barney. | | |
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Monday Night Meals
Monthly Update
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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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August 25, 2024
Hi all!
*NOTE: we will be harvesting on Tuesday at 8:30am instead of 9. Temperatures this week will be uncomfortable, so we will harvest, weigh and be on our way.*
Of course if you wish to show up closer to 8am, that is perfectly ok too…whatever works best for you. If you feel like you don’t want to be out in the heat this week, please stay home.
❤️😊 🥵
Our total yield as of 8/20/24 is 592 pounds! Yeah! This is even more impressive given that the State of Ohio is in a legitimate drought:
"Columbus, OH is on pace for the driest summer on record (Since 1948) with only 5.03" of rain since June 1st. The prior record was 6.00" in 1951 and with limited to zero rain in the forecast the record could easily be broken.“ (source: Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District).
We have Erik Mars, who installed our amazing Rain Bird irrigation system a few years back to thank for this. I can control time and duration for watering from an app on my phone from anywhere. This has made a HUGE difference in the health of the plants!
Thank you all for continued support!
Kate, Loren, Cheryl
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August 18
Hi all!
Thank you all for last week! We certainly were efficient, which is fantastic!
This week we will also have a session that is short and sweet - plus we get the produce to the pantry sooner, which is always a good thing!
Our total as of August 13 is 552 pounds. Yeah!
The tentative plan for the next few months is:
- continue our shorter sessions (just harvesting) in August and September
- start harvesting carrots 🥕 in October
- start clean-up in October; disassemble the old compost pile and dispose of the remaining overgrown weeds, etc. Also start the bed clean-ups as crops are finished for the season (weeding, adding additional soil and mulch)
NOTE: I have encouraged everyone to cut zinnias to take home - good to encourage additional zinnia blooms and eliminates having to deadhead.
Pictures also of: chocolate vine blooming, and calls lilies coming up amongst the Okra.
Have a pleasant Sunday and Monday - see you all soon!
Kate, Loren, Cheryl
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August 14
I left this on the whiteboard yesterday. After spending over an hour deadheading zinnias and cosmos 🙂, I would love instead for people to cut and enjoy*! Plus, cutting Zinnia flowers encourages more and healthy reblooms. ❤️
Thanks, Kate
*please visit the garden outside of school hours to do so
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August 11
Hi all!
Another exciting harvest week!
First - Jan joined dad this past Friday to check and harvest - thank you.
Second - I re-added up all of the containers, bags and individual count of produce and have fresh and accurate stats for everyone as of August 9, 2024:
509 pounds in total
- Onions - 50 count (from April)
- Garlic - 300 count
- Cucumbers - 324 count
- Collards - 120 bags
- Green Peppers - 24 count
- Green Beans - 3 containers
- Okra - 54 containers
- Cherry Tomatoes - 98 containers
- 4th of July tomatoes- 173 containers
So we are doing well! We still have Carrots to harvest in the coming few months, so that will add some heft!
We planned to plant onion seeds (to harvest in early December), but after researching, I discovered Ohio does best with “Long-day” onion types which are planted in early Spring with a late summer harvest. So…..next Spring for the onions! 🧅 also explained why many local nurseries did not carry onion seed right now.
We will again most likely have a session only from 9-10 as we all have become efficient. Plus, the produce makes it to the pantry sooner. Of course if you wish to stay longer and visit, feel free.
Thanks much!!!
Kate, Loren, Cheryl
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August 4
Hello all!
I hope everyone had a nice week…we are back at it again Tuesday!
Our new total as of July 30 is 433 pounds. We should be proud!
This week we will be harvesting tomatoes, cucumbers, Okra, peppers and collards.
NOTE: this week’s session will be shorter this week as we are just harvesting, so plan on 9-10.
Just as an FYI, the daycare is closed this week.
Also, if anyone would like zinnias, feel free to swing by and cut some!
Thanks!!!
Kate, Loren, Cheryl
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Monthly All Teams Meetings
A Standing Invitation
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Upcoming Meeting Schedule
Tue Aug 27 at 6pm in Grace Hall, FC North
Guest Speaker: Loren Van Deusen, Share and Learn Gardens
Tue Sep 24 at 6pm in Grace Hall, FC North
Guest Speaker: Rev. Aaron Hopkins, South Side Family Farms
Tue Oct 22 at 6pm in Grace Hall, FC North
Guest Speaker: TBD
Tue Nov 19 at 6pm in Grace Hall, FC North
Guest Speaker: Anna Taft, Tandana Foundation
date change to accommodate Thanksgiving holiday
Tue Dec 17 at 6pm, location TBD
Christmas Party
date change to accommodate Christmas holiday
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News from our Mission Partners | | | | |
