MY Project USA's Youth Volunteers Passed 2.5M+ Meals & Snacks To 90,316 Neighbors In 3 Years
3000 Volunteers Contributed $288,750 In Free Labor
Unprecedented Record Set By Columbus Muslim Youth In MY Project USA
Support This Initiative & More Tomorrow on #GivingTuesday On Facebook & Double Your Impact.
Dear Community,
Hungry children are easy prey. Food Insecurity is a real issue. So much so that I have seen kids picking up food from trash when they are hungry. It's an issue so much that a meal gives leverage to a drug dealer, a pimp, any criminal on a child as they lure them in to committing crimes in exchange of meals. sometimes sex slavery cases starts simply by providing meal to a hungry child. That's exactly why we started a food pantry as soon as we embarked our journey of protecting our youth and families from criminals in the neighborhood.
This week marked the third anniversary of our partnership with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and the grand kickoff of our food pantry: MY Family Pantry. In these three years (156 weeks), we closed on one Saturday only due to to severe snow storm. We have served more than 2.5 million meals and snacks to about 90,000 individuals. Our pantry is hundred percent led and managed by youth volunteers, mostly college and highschool students. The pantry is open on every single Saturday serving an average of 10,000 pounds of food to about 150 families lately.
The services provided by our pantry are way more than just providing food. It has become a place for all of our clients to seek any other services/goods that they might need. In the last three years, at several occasions, our clients have received hundreds of free clothing, household items, Eid toys and games, financial aid to pay their rents and bills, legal aid, dental supplies, winter gears and so much more.
In addition, in these three years, about 50 young adults have been trained into different leadership roles, team work, conflict resolution, time management, customer services, cultural competency, money management and in general how to run a successful pantry efficiently for a very long term. This itself is a great investment in our community and we are so proud of it.
Indeed, the impact is way larger than the words could describe. Only God can asses and reward each and every pantry leader, volunteer, donor and well wisher who made it possible for us.
For those of you who have already contributed and plan to continue supporting in any way, THANK YOU!
For those of you who have not joined this caravan yet. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
This is your chance to join this blessed caravan of community care-takers. This is your project. Help us by paying the rent and utilities of MY Deah's store that houses this pantry. Help us by monthly or one-time donations so we could expand our pantry to more clients with more food and goods.
Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday. Please donate on Facebook at 8 am and double your impact because Facebook will be matching up donations up to the first 7 million donated on Facebook.
Want to join us in making this winter warm for more children? we are raising money to buy coats and other winter geras for children in need right here in Columbus and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps.
Winter is already harsh. It looks like it will be another longer, harsher winter. We have received multiple requests for more winter gears from an elementary school and families in the neighborhood.
We are in need of buying following items: Winter Coats, Hats, Gloves, Mitten, Socks, Ear Muffs, Pants. An elementary school has also requested for khaki and navy uniforms.
Please donate generously. At this time of the year, we think we can do good shopping on Black Friday.
Great Opportunity For Undergrads & Highschool Youth To Gain First Hand Nonprofit Work Experience While Empowering The Young Ones
A big shout out to four amazing youth who have taken lead in reorganizing our Reading Warriors Program in Wedgewood Village Apartment. Under the leadership of Raifa Alhag-ali, Safa Mohamed, Roman Joseph and Simon Joseph have done great job running the program since the beginning of this year. They are now expanding their team.
We have six positions on the board that we would like to fill with passionate and dedicated people. We are dedicated to providing a free-of-cost, safe and educational space to elementary and middle school-aged children in under-served communities once a week on Wednesdays from 4-5:30 pm in the Wedgewood Neighborhood.
Please check the application for more information. Please help us spread the word.
Click Here For More Details Or To Apply
MY Deah's Store New Drop Off Locations & Winter Hours
10 Locations In Columbus & 2 Locations in Dayton To Drop Off Donations - Truck Pick Up Available For Large Donations
You can now drop off your donations of new and gently used clothes, shoes books, toys and other small non-breakable items in a donation box near you. These location Include:
Noor Islamic Cultural Center - 5001 Wilcox Rd. Dublin 43016 Masjid Omar Ibn El-Khattab - 580 Riverview Dr, Columbus, OH 43202 Masjid Nimrah - 4501 Refugee Rd, Columbus, OH 43232 MAS Youth Center - 4615 Northtowne Blvd, Columbus, OH. 43229 Turkish American Society of Ohio (TASO) - 2885 W Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43235 Ahlul Bayt Society - 2580 W Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43235 The First Congregational Church - 444 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215 Quick & Easy Mart - 4197 Cleveland Ave. Columbus MY Deah's Store - 3036 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, OH 43204 - During Business Hours Only MY Deah's Warehouse - 4004 Fondorf Dr. Columbus, OH 43228 Dayton Mercy Society - 2277 Maue Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342 Osman Gazi Mosque - 1508 Valley St, Dayton, OH 45404
We are looking for more locations. If interested in helping us or have any other question, please contact us at info@myprojectusa.org.
MY DEAH'S WINTER HOURS (NOV.EMBER - FEBRUARY) MWF 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Dental Hygiene Of Our Youth Is Important To Us
Columbus State Community College of Dental Hygiene Program Came To Help
Thank you to the wonderful folks at the Columbus State Community College of dentistry for coming to teach our Reading Warriors and Hilltop Tigers Soccer Team members in the Wedgewood community about the importance of dental hygiene.
After the youth were taught how to properly brush and floss their teeth, received a bag full of dental hygiene goodies, they had a huge pizza party where we played some games and had some fun before we ended the day.
My Project USA values our partnerships with various organizations, programs, program directors and everyone else that help our youth succeed. It takes a village to do this work, and we encourage you to join us!
Learn more about our organization, programs and volunteer opportunities at myprojectusa.org.