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Linden-based CDC partners with OSU Wexner Center on MLK Day delivered “sleeping bag” coats to Columbus’ homeless

 

Press Release

January 18, 2021, COLUMBUS (OH) – For the homeless in America, staying warm during the winter months, and uninfected during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a double challenge to their survival.

In remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Community of Caring Development Foundation, in collaboration with the OSU Wexner Medical Center STAR Trauma Recovery Center, will deliver care kits and highly innovative “sleeping bag” coats to homeless men at the YMCA of

Central Ohio and Men’s Shelter on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. The weather-resistant coat, packaged as an over-the-shoulder bag, can transform into a sleeping bag or a coat. The care kits from New Salem Baptist Church’s Bread of Life Food Pantry and other sources will include food, personal items, masks, sanitizers, and more.

“We are seeing an uptick in homelessness and despair as more are affected by the pandemic and its economic and mental health toll on our community,’ said Adam Troy, CEO, Community of Caring Development Foundation in Columbus, Ohio, the economic arm of New Salem Baptist Church. The donation targets men who are leaving the shelter and prefer to stay on the streets. “We must be smarter and lean on innovation and technology to find ways to improve lives and support our people in need.”

Sixty percent of all people experiencing homelessness are male. As of January 2019, Ohio had an estimated 10,345 experiencing homelessness on any given day, as reported by Continuums of Care to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). According to HUD, prior to the pandemic, Franklin County’s homeless population had increased 6% over the year to 1,900, 18% higher than five years ago. But the pandemic is putting a new strain on homeless services systems.

“The Men’s Shelter, operated by the YMCA of Central Ohio, is proud to serve over 200 men experiencing a housing crisis,” says Tiffany Hale, Director of Social Innovation, YMCA of Central Ohio, Van Buren Center. “The Y believes in serving with dignity, compassion, and respect and we believe that providing our men access to coats that transform into sleeping bags will be preparing our guests for any stage of their homelessness journey. Our guests are the experts of their own lives, and we are committed to supporting them in their process.”

The YMCA of Central Ohio’s shelter services for adult men offers the assistance and support needed to stabilize and maintain independent housing while providing access to those support services needed to achieve the highest possible standard of living.

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Mike Conley Donates $200,000 to Five Communities in Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

Supports programs in Utah, Memphis, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Arkansas

Community of Caring Development Foundation to partner with Columbus Urban League to facilitate outreach

(May 20, 2020) – In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley has donated $200,000 to benefit the communities that helped shape him and the state he currently represents on the NBA hardwood.

Conley’s comprehensive contribution to five communities will address food insecurity, homelessness and remote learning needs exacerbated by COVID-19. His $200,000 donation will be distributed among Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City; CodeCrew in Memphis, Tenn.; Community Shelter Board and the Columbus Urban League in Columbus, Ohio; the Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation in Indianapolis; and the New Haven Missionary Baptist Church in West Helena, Ark.

“Giving back and helping others is very important to me. The COVID-19 crisis has allowed me to slow down and appreciate who I am and where I am in life,” said Conley. “It has reminded me that I am in this position because of the support and sacrifices of others I’ve encountered all along the way. I wanted to be there for the communities that have been fundamental to my personal growth and are now suffering due to the effects of this pandemic. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”

A portion of the three-time NBA Sportsmanship Award winner’s donation will help Utah Food Bank continue to send increased amounts of product to its 182 partner agencies across the state. In addition, it will help offset the increased transportation costs of Utah Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry program, which is continually expanding to meet the sharp increase in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conley’s contribution will provide the equivalent of more than 194,000 meals for Utahns facing hunger.

Conley’s donation will also benefit CodeCrew in Memphis, where he spent the first 12 years of his NBA career. CodeCrew, in partnership with STREETS Ministries, will use the funds to acquire low-cost broadband internet services and laptops for students in Memphis to assist with distance learning. The nonprofit organization educates, mentors and trains underrepresented groups in tech to become innovators and producers.

In addition, the Jazz guard’s gift will support Community Shelter Board in Columbus, Ohio, the city where he attended college at Ohio State University and makes his offseason home. Conley’s investment will help slow the spread of the coronavirus by providing masks for every staff member and client in the homeless system. His contribution will also provide critically important personal protective equipment for staff working in isolation and quarantine shelters for those experiencing homelessness and infected with COVID-19.

A portion of Conley’s $200,000 contribution will also assist the Columbus Urban League in
Ohio in its mission to create hope and opportunity for the nearly 40,000 African American
and disadvantaged urban families it touches every year. In partnership with the Community
of Caring Development Foundation, an arm of New Salem Baptist Church, the donation will
help the Columbus Urban League meet the basic food needs of the nearly 350 families
whose children have been a part of its outreach programs this past year.

Conley will also be investing in the city where he spent his high school basketball career with
a gift to the Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation. The Jazz guard’s investment in the
foundation’s Education Equity Fund will support the largest school district in the state of
Indiana. Funds will be utilized to provide internet connectivity for students, district-wide
professional development for teachers and preparation for re-entry into the classroom after
months of isolation.

Finally, Conley’s donation will support the New Haven Missionary Baptist Church in West
Helena, Arkansas, the state where he was born and raised. Conley’s contribution will provide
personal protective equipment for members of the community based in the Arkansas Delta.

Conley’s donation is aligned with the “Acts of Caring” platform of NBA Together, the global
community and social engagement campaign launched by the NBA family in response to the
coronavirus pandemic. “Acts of Caring” aims to harness the reach of the NBA and its
partners to galvanize support for those most impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Conley won the NBA HORSE Challenge last month, which included a donation from State
Farm of more than $200,000 on behalf of the participants to charities focused on
coronavirus response efforts. In partnership with Save the Children and No Kid Hungry, the
Jazz guard also read Fox in Socks online to benefit the Save With Stories campaign in
response to the needs of children during school closures.
—@JazzDoingGood or utahjazz.com—
About the Utah Jazz
Founded as the 18th member of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1974, and located in Salt Lake City since 1979, the Utah Jazz are committed to excellence as a team and in the community. On the court, the Jazz are the second-winningest team in the NBA over the last 30 years, having won nine division titles and two Western Conference championships along with 16 seasons of 50-plus wins, and are supported by one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports. Away from the court, the Jazz are very active in the local community and have assisted a multitude of organizations and worthy causes by way of charitable donations, service and grants through Larry H. Miller Charities. The Utah Jazz also operate the Junior Jazz program, the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA, featuring more than 60,000 players and an additional 13,000 volunteers who take part annually across seven states. For more information on the Utah Jazz, visit
www.utahjazz.com.
About Utah Food Bank
Founded in 1904, Utah Food Bank has operated under various names but remains true to its mission of
Fighting Hunger Statewide by providing food to a statewide network of 182 emergency food pantries and agencies. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 45.7 million pounds of food and goods, the equivalent of
approximately 38 million meals, to families and individuals in need. For more information about Utah Food Bank, visit www.utahfoodbank.org.
About CodeCrew
CodeCrew is a non-profit tech organization that empowers youth and adults in Memphis from
underrepresented communities in tech to be tech innovators and producers through practical, hands-on computer science education and training. For more information about CodeCrew, visit www.code-crew.org.
About Community Shelter Board
Community Shelter Board leads a coordinated, community effort to make sure everyone has a place to call home. CSB is the collective impact organization driving strategy, accountability, collaboration, and resources to achieve the best outcomes for people facing homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio. With the support of a compassionate community, our system of care served 15,000 people last year with homelessness prevention, shelter, street outreach, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing. For more information about Community Shelter Board, visit www.csb.org.
About the Columbus Urban League
For more than 100 years, the Columbus Urban League has not wavered. We remain steadfast in our
commitment to create hope and opportunity for the nearly 40,000 African American and disadvantaged urban families we touch every year. We proudly offer an authentic, integrated system of services that touch every neighborhood in Columbus and Franklin County. This work strengthens families, overcomes barriers, achieves economic mobility, fosters entrepreneurship, constructs on-ramps to wealth creation through smart financial practices, and teaches children critical academic and life skills. For more information about the Columbus Urban League, visit www.cul.org.
About the Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation
The Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation partners with the Indianapolis Public School District to ensure all students have the resources and support they need to pursue their dreams with purpose. For more information about the Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation, visit www.ipsfund.org.
About the New Haven Missionary Baptist Church Coming from humble beginnings with just four families meeting in a home in 1984, New Haven Missionary Baptist Church in West Helena, AR has grown into an international family of believers who are committed to their mission to exalt the Savior, equip the saints and to evangelize the sinner. For over three decades, “The Haven” serves not only as a church home, but also as a source of help and encouragement to the community. For more information, visit Facebook | New-Haven-Missionary-Baptist-Church-1483456605262996.

Media Contact: Frank Zang, (801) 325-2570, frank.zang@lhm.com or Matt de Nesnera,
(703) 554-5499, matt.denesnera@utahjazz.com

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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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