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12/20/2011

You Can Help the YMCA of Central Ohio Feed Those in Need

Your act of compassion could change a life

What does the YMCA of Central Ohio Shelter Services do?

The YMCA of Central Ohio works year round to provide temporary shelter for homeless citizens.  During the winter months, the shelter system must expand its capacity to ensure that people are not in the elements at night and have a safe warm place to sleep.  The YMCA operates the alternate shelter site in Columbus.  The overflow shelter operation hours are 7:00 pm to 7:00 am, seven days per week.

How many people are usually at the alternative shelter in the winter months?

During the winter months, the sharp increase in those needing assistance requires the staffing of an overflow shelter, which the YMCA oversees seven days a week from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The site has the capacity to serve up to 130 individuals each night. The meals served at the shelter often provide the only daily nourishment people receive, which is why a hot meal at night is so very important.

How can I help?

In addition to shelter, the YMCA of Central Ohio Shelter Services needs help this holiday season and winter months with a very basic need: prepared food. Folks entering the shelter each night may have only had the opportunity to eat one meal that day, which may or may not have been a hot meal.

The following donations are needed:

• A full, hot meal for 130 homeless adults, or
• A meal product for 130 homeless adults that can be served cold or heated in a microwave, or
• Food items such as a meat, pasta, salad or a combination are accepted and appreciated as is their delivery (if the food cannot be delivered, the YMCA can arrange for pick-up), or
• Breakfast pastries or baked goods to feed 130, or
• Ground coffee, or
• Ready-to-drink powdered mix that is reconstituted with water, or
• Plastic eating ware, Styrofoam cups and paper plates, or
• Condiments, such as salt, pepper, mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard (individual packets would be best).

I’m ready to donate; what do I do next?

It’s easy and direct. Contact the YMCA directly: Jeff Hogle, Lead Service Coordinator, Housing Initiatives, YMCA of Central Ohio at 614-774-2442 or e-mail him: jhogle@ymcacolumbus.org.

If you would like to offer additional help, the YMCA would appreciate additional donations including donating one meal a week for a month or one meal a week until mid-March. 

I’d like to donate but need to understand if I am taking a risk by providing food. Can you give me any information on this or direct me to a resource?

According to the Columbus Public Health Department, the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 2305.37 provides civil immunity for non-hospitals, persons, charitable non-profit corporations, and Food Service Operations/Retail Food Establishments as defined under 3717.01 ORC, when making good faith donations of perishable food fit for human consumption, either directly or indirectly to needy people.  Click on this link to view the applicable code.