Two community programs devoted to helping those in need have joined forces.
The Free Store that operates out of Connections Church and Free Lunch Fridays, a new program operated by Heather Graves, have become partners.
"It's going to be awesome," said Graves.
The Findlay woman had come up with the idea of providing free sack lunches on Fridays as a way to help eliminate hunger in the community. She initially distributed the lunches at the site of the Little Free Pantry, on the corner of North Main Street and Midland Avenue. On the first day of the program, April 30, Graves gave away 15 lunches.
A blessing in disguise
Last week, while she was preparing to head up to the mini pantry with lunches, Graves found out that someone had reported her to the health department and was told that she'd have to find another location for the program.
"I was told I'd have to leave. Anywhere that prepares food, I have to use their kitchen and follow their standards," she explained.
Since Little Free Pantry is located in front of Cakes for Heaven's Sake, the meals would have to be prepared there. Graves, who makes the lunches at home and then transports them, said she didn't want to be a bother to the owner of the business.
But Graves was also devastated, thinking she'd have to cancel the giveaway just an hour before it was scheduled to begin. Luckily, she'd met Deb Kemp, who runs the Free Store at Connections Church, just a day earlier. Graves had seen Kemp's Facebook post about free toiletries she had available.
"I said, 'Look, I'm helping homeless families in the community. 'Can you please donate them to me?'" Graves said. And she said, 'Absolutely.'"
After she got the news the next day, Graves called Kemp in tears.
"She called me all upset about what happened, and I just told her to pack it up and bring it over," said Kemp. "This is a big parking lot, really. We had plenty of room, so that's what she did."
The pair checked with Connections Church Pastor the Rev. Jim Klausing, who gave them his blessing.
"Now she does her thing. And then she comes in and helps me with mine," said Kemp.
Graves relocated the lunch program to the church parking lot at 700 Rockwell Ave. Of the 50 lunches she had prepared, 45 were distributed.
"I put two signs up on each end saying 'Free lunch.' I actually walked down here to a neighbor's house and delivered two bag lunches to her sons, two little boys," she said.
Open to anyone
The Free Store is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays to take donations - items in good condition that can be passed along to others. Offerings range from clothing and furniture to toys, books and housewares. (The store will not be open on May 31, Memorial Day.)
The store is open to the public and for donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are spent taking things down; donations are not accepted that day.
"I'm flexible. I know people work those hours, and all they've got to do is call and we'll work out either a weekend day or an evening to where we can get together," Kemp said of anyone wishing to make a donation.
Graves said lunches will be available from noon to 2 p.m. Fridays in the church parking lot. The meals are available to anyone and everyone.
"The CEO of Marathon could come through, and I would give him a lunch," she said.
Graves has also started preparing food boxes for families in need. She said many people have been donating items including food, toilet paper and paper towels, which she is distributing on a first-come, first-serve basis. Since Saturday, she's provided for 37 families.
Graves will host a food drive to collect donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 22 in the church parking lot. She's asking for perishable and nonperishable food items and toiletries, as well as items for the Free Store. She'll continue holding a monthly drive to solely collect food donations during the same hours, on the third Saturday of each month.
'It's all about helping others'
In addition, Kemp noted the church has an ongoing collection for its school backpack program that provides supplies for children in need from kindergarten through high school. Tim Stimmel, who is an elder at the church and in charge of the program, said the church was able to help 56 children this year with items specifically requested by their teachers.
"And it wasn't just Findlay City schools," he said. "We did some from Carey, Arlington and Heritage Christian."
Kemp said they're expanding the program to include requests from teachers so they won't have to use their own funds to purchase items for the classroom.
"God touched them (the teachers) and had them do it, but I think if we can help them out a little bit, it would just make things a little easier," said Kemp.
Among the needed items are pencils, notebook paper, notebooks, Crayola crayons, washable markers, backpacks and boxes of tissues, she said.
Looking to the future, Kemp has contacted Findlay City Schools about the possibility of moving the ministry into Lincoln Elementary School when it's closed after this academic year.
"We need that much room for not only this, but they have a kitchen where Heather could serve her food," she said.
The move would be a dream come true, the women agreed.
"If we get Lincoln School, I will have my own section to store my stuff and serve more days a week," said Graves. "It's all about helping others."
For information about either the Free Store or Free Lunch Fridays, call Kemp at 419-294-9996 or Graves at 419-819-5813.
Wolf: 419-427-8419