By Rick Palsgrove
Groveport Editor
Groveport Madison Human Needs got a financial boost from the city of Groveport and the group is also gearing up for its annual school supply distribution.
On Aug. 10, Groveport City Council approved a donation of $5,000 to Groveport Madison Human Needs. The money comes from the Local Coronavirus Relief Fund and is to be used on coronavirus related expenditures and must spent by Oct. 15.
“This money is a pass through from the CARE Acts funds that the city of Groveport received,” said Christine Boucher of Groveport Madison Human Needs. “It was determined by council that, since we are an existing non-profit organization providing financial support to residents of our community in crisis, we could help with distributing the funds for those facing evictions and disconnects after the expiration of the governor’s moratorium to prevent each on July 31. The same is true with the Madison Township trustees who will contribute a portion of their CARE Acts funds to Groveport Madison Human Needs for the incorporated and unincorporated residents of Madison Township.”
School supply distribution
One of Groveport Madison Human Needs’ biggest events is its annual school supply distribution.
According to Boucher, donors can drop off school supplies and/or money donations on Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon in the circle drive in front of the Groveport Madison Schools District Office, 4400 Marketing Place, Groveport.
“This is a drive through drop-off coordinated by Groveport Madison Human Needs,” said Boucher. “Items will be separated and delivered to each school building for distribution as needed. We are collecting items now so when the district gets the go ahead to resume the hybrid plan and supplies are needed the buildings will be prepared. Financial donations collected will be divided up between the buildings and put on a gift card so they are available for whatever might be needed by the building.”
Financial donations can be made in person on Aug. 29, mailed to GMHN, P.O. Box 542, Groveport, OH 43125, or on the Groveport Madison Human Needs website, www.gmhn.org on the “Donate” through PayPal and by indicating in “notes” that this is for the school supply collection).
“Anyone in the community can participate, but our faith-based partners are the greatest contributors.” said Boucher, who said these include: Asbury United Methodist Church, Bride of Christ Church of God, First Baptist Church, Groveport United Methodist Church, Groveport Zion Lutheran Church, Madison Christian Church, TurnPoint Apostolic Church and Vine Life Assembly of God.
Boucher said this year the school supplies distribution will be limited to just the Groveport Madison Schools.
“In the past, and hopefully in the future, anyone who lives in the district but attends another school can receive supplies,” said Boucher. “The items needed are basic supplies like pencils, paper, crayons, etc. In the virtual environment, students will not need as much to do their school work, but we want the schools to be ready with supplies when school goes to in-session, so things like markers, glue sticks, and colored pencils should not be excluded. The best we can do right now is make sure not only our students have the tools they need, but so do our teachers when the students return to the buildings. During this time, we want to assure that our teachers are not digging in their own pockets for supplies.”
Boucher said COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place for the school supply distribution.
“The current plan is for this to be drive-through and drop-off only. We will do what we can to find the best and safest way possible to do this,” said Boucher. “The items will be stored in the district offices, divided among the buildings and delivered by the stellar maintenance staff. These changes are being made to our distribution because of COVID and Groveport Madison Schools not allowing anyone from the outside in the buildings so we had to modify the distribution. That and the uncertainty of how school was going to start added an extra question mark to how we would proceed.”
She said Groveport Madison Human Needs also coordinates the Christmas Adopt-a-Family, which will have some changes this year, too, due to COVID-19.
Boucher said it is the mission of Groveport Madison Human Needs to connect people in crisis in the community to resources and to promote cohesive households through community partnerships.
For information on Groveport Madison Human Needs visit its Facebook page or its website at www.gmhn.org.
