OSU’s Free Community Care Kits Available May 13 at New Salem

Wednesday, May 13, 2 to 7 p.m. *or while supplies last
New Salem Baptist Church
2956 Cleveland Ave.
Columbus, OH 43224

Building and supporting healthy communities is a key mission for The Ohio State University and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Vulnerable populations may experience disproportionately negative effects during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery period.

To address this need and to help at-risk populations return to work, social activities and family responsibilities safely, the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, in collaboration with New Salem Church and the Community of Caring Development Foundation, will be distributing complimentary Community Care Kits that include isolation-grade masks, hand soap, hand sanitizers, toothbrushes and toothpaste. The kit also includes paper bags to store the face masks when not in use. (While isolation-grade, these masks are not approved for use by providers in clinical settings.)

Distributions will occur in the areas of greatest need, including the ZIP codes 43219, 43211, 43207, 43223 and 43203.

The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is partnering with the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Public Health, Franklin County Public Health, Columbus City Schools and the National African American Male Wellness Initiative along with other community partners to distribute these kits.

We’d like to thank L Brands and the City of Columbus, Superior Dental Care and the community for their generous donations to these kits.

Other locations:

Monday, May 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. *or while supplies last
East High School
1500 E. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43203

Tuesday, May 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. *or while supplies last
3223 Allegheny Ave.
Columbus, OH 43209

Thursday, May 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. *or while supplies last     
Our Lady of Guadalupe Center
409 Industry Drive
Columbus, OH 43204

Friday, May 15, 2 to 7 p.m.
Kroger
1441 Parsons Ave
Columbus, OH 43207

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Adam Troy joins Stephanie Hightower on the Urban League/Radio One COVID-19 Forum

Listen for Adam Troy with Stephanie Hightower on Joy 107.1 today between 12:20-12:30 p.m. as he talks about Community of Caring Development Foundation Bread of Life Food Pantry and the need for more assistance in the Linden area. You can listen live from their website: https://joycolumbus.com/listen-live/.

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Saints on Streets bring Health & Hope to Linden during COVID-19 pandemic

New Salem’s Saints on Streets (SOS) Volunteers Distribute Care Packages to Church’s Closest Neighbors

New Salem Baptist Church and the Community of Caring Development Foundation, through the “Health & Hope” initiative and SOS (Saints on Streets) outreach ministry, follow the commandment to “love our neighbors” by distributing CARE packages to more than 100 households in the “adopted” blocks surrounding New Salem Baptist Church.  Volunteer “connectors” began distributing CARE packages on Saturday, May 9, 2020 from 10 a.m. at the New Salem Baptist Church, 2956 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43224 (main parking lot).  Once a highly desired neighborhood of choice, the Linden community now struggles with both physical deterioration and economic challenges. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic only exasperated these challenges, leaving many families and individuals out of work and trying to make ends meet. The CARE packages will include canned and dry goods, pasta, peanut butter, the 2020 Franklin County Children’s Services Resource Guide, and other items.

Community Connectors are needed to help distribute these CARE packages. This is the perfect opportunity to serve while maintaining social distancing and strong safety measures.

The Community of Caring Development Foundation (CCD Foundation)

As the Community and Economic Development Arm of New Salem Baptist Church, The Community of Caring Development Foundation (CCD Foundation) has planted seeds of hope and health in Linden and witnessed what can be accomplished when neighbors join together to create a connected community. Over the last three years, we have continued our commitment to investing in the lives of individuals and families by providing access to affordable housing for more than 1,000 families, over 300,000 meals, $20,000 in community grants and more than $70,000 in academic scholarship awards. We are proud to call the Linden community HOME! Visit us at https://callingallconnectors.org/tourdelinden/.

 

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Opinion: COVID-19 hits hardest in communities of color

Columbus Dispatch Guest Opinion 

Two months ago, New Salem Church’s 30-year-old food pantry was a place where the community was welcomed inside the doors. The environment was full of conversation, music and laughter. You could find a pat on the back, a hug and a word of inspiration.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed all of that. Now, for the safety of our volunteers and clients, cars line up in the church’s parking lot, people phone in their orders, our volunteers bring boxes of food and other necessary household items out to the car, load them and then watch clients drive away to make room for the next car.

From February to March, we saw a steady increase in new clients, up 32%, and senior citizens, up 28%. The line grows longer each week with people who’ve never needed help putting a meal on the table. In the U.S., the black community is taking the biggest hit. People are hurting and dying disproportionately as we struggle to control the COVID-19 world pandemic. And in Columbus’ Linden community, we are feeling the full wake of the curve.

Linden residents felt the COVID-19 pandemic free fall before most Ohioans as Linden-based restaurant and hospitality workers began losing income on March 5, 2020, when Gov. Mike DeWine, for safety reasons, prohibited spectators and exhibitors from attending a major sporting event in Columbus.

Nearly 60% of employed Linden residents work low-wage service industry jobs, and 58% of neighborhood residents are housing cost-burdened. Additionally, more than 38% of all households in Linden include children, who are typically fed at school. The loss of income for many residents has exacerbated tenuous housing situations.

The area’s food insecurity and housing instability are sure to intensify during the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath. The gap of inequity in health outcomes and social determinants of health that existed before the world pandemic is now wider than ever before and deadlier.

The two largest food pantries in Linden, Bread of Life Food Pantry run by New Salem’s Community of Caring Development Foundation and St. Stephen’s Community House, are among the few still open. In addition to requests for food, more people are calling daily for rent and utilities assistance.

In the ongoing months, as the impact on our economy and our communities is unveiled, we must think through what public policy changes are needed in a post-COVID-19 world to improve our quality of life and eradicate the inequities that arrest our full potential, keeping many citizens struggling behind the rest of society.

In the meantime, we are all aware of the need for more testing and tracking in Columbus’ communities of color and throughout the city. And there is an urgent need for data collection, specifically in the African American and Hispanic communities so we can better understand how the virus spreads and find ways to mitigate it.

A slow, gradual reopening of the economy is the best approach and will bring relief, hopefully, for our area’s workers who are ready to go back to earning a living. However, we must remember the disproportionate number of people of color, many working in essential jobs around the city, who are vulnerable citizens with high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, heart disease and undergoing cancer therapy. They need our ongoing protection during these times of uncertainty. We all have a role to play. Let’s be responsible.

And let’s remain faithful and be a resource people can depend on, even if it’s just your next-door neighbor or an elderly family member. During these challenging times, we must be there for our neighbors and then make it our new normal.

The future is uncertain; it is going to be a long, hard road for us all. But if we remain committed to helping others, donating and volunteering when we can, staying at home and wearing a mask in public, we can successfully practice social distancing without becoming socially disconnected.

#Lindenstrong

Adam K. Troy is director of missions, New Salem Baptist Church and chief engagement officer of the Community of Caring Development Foundation, the economic and development arm of New Salem Baptist Church.

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Coronavirus may accelerate income gap, experts fear

 

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200412/coronavirus-may-accelerate-income-gap-experts-fear

Columbus Dispatch Sunday story: Shanell Gray, right, who lost her hotel job due to the coronavirus outbreak, tells volunteer Kerri Sullivan where to place food she was picking up at the Bread of Life Food Pantry run by New Salem Baptist Church. For Shanell, Wednesday’s was her first visit to a food pantry. (Eric Albrecht/Dispatch)

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Doors are Open: New Salem Church Bread of Life Food Pantry Weathers the Coronavirus Pandemic Storm

Press Release

 

New Salem Church Bread of Life Food Pantry Weathers the Coronavirus Pandemic Storm; feeding 200+ per week

Community Food Pantry restructures distribution process to keep volunteers and clients safe; relying on donations and goodwill to keep the doors open

 

COLUMBUS (Ohio) – The small tan house next door to New Salem Baptist Church’s main parking lot is like any other house on Agler Road in Linden. But inside, it’s bustling with volunteers – wearing face masks and gloves, practicing social distancing, sorting food, and preparing boxes for those who need it the most.

Just two months ago, the Bread of Life Food Pantry was a place where the community was welcomed inside the doors: The environment full of conversation, music, and laughter, one could find a pat on the back, a hug, a word of inspiration or all three.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed all of that.

Now, cars line up in the church’s parking lot, people phone in their orders, volunteers bring a box of food and other necessary household items out to the car, and then they drive away to make room for the next car.

The Bread of Life Food Pantry, run by the Community of Caring Development Foundation, New Salem’s non-profit arm, and St. Stephen’s Community House, are the two largest food pantries in Linden and among the few still open since the onset of the pandemic. Each organization is currently struggling to meet demand and predict increased strain on resources through Ohio’s May 1, 2020 Stay-at-Home Order. The church’s food pantry services more than 200 people per week.

“We are doing our best not to let COVID-19 stop the church from carrying out its mission, and that’s to feed as many families as possible – mind, body, and soul,” said Adam Troy, Director of Missions and Chief Engagement Officer of the Community of Caring Development Foundation. The Bread of Life Food Pantry doors have been open to the Linden community for nearly three decades.

“We had to make some adjustments to our distribution process, recognizing that these are hard times for many families in our Linden community and we’re here to do our part. We are thankful for our volunteers who work tirelessly and our members who continue to provide the resources to make this happen.”

That said, Troy sees the line of cars in the parking lot growing longer each week.

Linden residents felt the freefall from the COVID-19 pandemic before most Ohioans as Linden-based restaurant and hospitality workers began losing income on March 5, 2020, when Governor DeWine prohibited spectators and exhibitors from attending a major sporting event in Columbus that draws over 80,000 people from around the world. On March 15th, bars and restaurants across the State officially closed, schools closed on March 16th, and more closures followed until the State issued a stay-at-home order on March 22nd.

Nearly 60% of employed Linden residents work low-wage service industry jobs, and 58% of neighborhood residents are housing cost-burdened. Additionally, 38%+ of all households in Linden include children, who are typically fed at school. The loss of income for many residents has exacerbated tenuous housing situations and heightened families’ food insecurity.

“The area’s food insecurity and housing instability are sure to intensify during the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath,” Troy said. “We remain faithful and will continue to be a resource people can depend on. It’s important that we are there for our neighbors in these challenging times.”

Contact: Karla Thornhill Coleman, 248.978.3280 or karla@thornhillcom.com

 

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Bread of Life Food Pantry

The Bread of Life Food Pantry is working hard to meet the critical need for food during the COVID-19 Crisis. For more information, go to https://church.newsalemcares.org/content/food-pantry. CLIENTS MUST SCHEDULE their future appointments at the Bread of Life Food Pantry as followed:

 

  • Phone: 614-341-2282

 

  • Text: 614-702-7772

 

 

 

 

You can help to support the Bread of Life Food Pantry by giving a Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.donation online at https://callingallconnectors.org/donations/give/. The food pantry is also in need of volunteers on Wednesdays from 5:00-7:00 pm, and Fridays 10:00-12:00 pm. Volunteers assist with food selection, stock pantry shelves and bring groceries to cars. Fridays are especially in need of male presence and muscle! Sign up to volunteer HERE. Contact Adam Troy at (614) 267-2536 with any questions.

 

Community of Caring Development Foundation (CCD Foundation)

As the Community and Economic Development Arm of New Salem Baptist Church, The Community of Caring Development Foundation (CCD Foundation), 2956 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH 43224, has planted seeds of hope and health in Linden and witnessed what can be accomplished when neighbors join together to create a connected community. Over the last three years, we have continued our commitment to investing in the lives of individuals and families by providing access to affordable housing for more than 1,000 families, over 300,000 meals, $20,000 in community grants and more than $70,000 in academic scholarship awards. We are proud to call the Linden community HOME!

 

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Governor DeWine Issues “Stay at Home” Order

Today, Governor DeWine issued a “Stay at Home” order which requires all Ohioans to stay at home, and limit trips to essential errands only. The order will go into effect Monday at 11:59 p.m.

It is important that we take this order seriously to stop community spread of COVID-19. We are at a critical point in our fight to stop the spread of this virus, and we must follow the governor’s order.

But this order should not cause panic, and I urge the residents of Columbus to act responsibly. You will still have access to the necessities you need to keep the community healthy and safe, including grocery stores, pharmacies and health care.

For government, businesses and nonprofit organizations that will remain open to serve critical needs and provide essential services, this is not business as usual. Employees who can work from home should, and steps should already be in place to allow employees to practice safe social distancing and assure proper sanitation. We should redouble our efforts to ensure steps we’ve taken to protect our employees are being followed in practice.

For individuals, to the extent you must leave home, follow the advice of public health experts. Limit your movement, practice safe social distancing, and wash your hands.

Finally, while these are challenging times, it is not a time for fear. Instead, we must rely on facts. Our decisions should put the common health and well-being of our community and our families first.

Be patient with one another. Support each other and be kind.

These are times unlike any most of us have ever seen, but together we will get through this and we will emerge stronger, smarter and healthier.

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From the City of Columbus — Office of the Mayor

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