Chad Maxeiner, WARM’s Director of Operations, has also seen a tremendous increase in participation in the Share Bac a Pac program, a program providing healthy foods and snacks to children who are at risk of hunger on weekends and school breaks when free and reduced meals are not available. Over 6,000 students in the Westerville City School District are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program, making them eligible for the Share Bac a Pac program. “We planned for around 550 backpack participants per week (a 22% increase from last school year), but we are seeing numbers closer to 730 per week,” said Maxeiner. The operations team at WARM said these increases are directly related to families trying to figure out how to do more with less. “What and who do I pay?,” said Maxeiner. “People are juggling higher rent and utility bills, increased fuel costs, and basic necessities like coats, gloves and shoes. The money only goes so far.”
Local Events Promote Reuse for Greener Future Before you toss out that lamp that won’t turn on or that old, shabby dresser from the spare bedroom, consider giving them a chance at a second life. Every old thing lying around the house has the potential to make a comeback; either through repair or creative reuse. Making choices that reduce waste, save resources and bring a bit of fresh energy to the “stuff” around us is a small and impactful way to create a greener future. In April, Sustainable Westerville will host two events that promote sustainable practices for community members: the Repair Cafe and ReUse-A-Palooza. The Repair Cafe will feature experts who will voluntarily help repair a wide variety of household items; free of charge. Tools and materials will also be on hand to use and to purchase, if needed. Those visiting the Repair Cafe can bring along broken items, like lamps, hair dryers, clothes, bikes or toys.
“We continue to look for innovative ways to address the increasing needs of our clients including working with the Mid Ohio Food Collective to leverage our buying power to purchase food at reduced prices,” said Schmitt.
ReUse-A-Palooza is a free curbside exchange that was created to keep reusable items out of landfills and give them a new home and purpose. Furniture, toys, clothing, tools and other household items are all welcome. Residents can participate by placing clean, usable items curbside so others may take what they need, which extends the lifespan of the discarded items.
“Supply and cost issues have been particularly challenging this past year for food banks everywhere including Mid Ohio Food Collective. Milk, eggs and butter were especially scarce, forcing WARM to purchase these on our own,” said Maxeiner.
“We throw out mountains of items everyday,” said Bethany Vosburg-Bluem, events chair for Sustainable Westerville. “Things which practically have nothing wrong with them can easily find new life after a simple repair or a creative reuse.”
Both Schmitt and Maxeiner are grateful to the Westerville community for their support of WARM. However, there is more work to be done. Schmitt encourages those who can consider a monetary or food donation to help fight hunger here in Westerville.
The Repair Cafe will be held on April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon and the ReUse-A-Palooza will be held on April 27 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both events will reoccur in the fall. For more information visit www.sustainablewesterville.org.
“We are part of a collective effort with other community organizations. Poverty is a complex issue, best served by the collective efforts of community organizations. Working together, we strive to give our community members what they need and help them on a path to self-sufficiency,” said Schmitt. To donate to WARM or to see an up-to-date list of the most needed items, please visit www.warmwesterville.org.
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