Vineyard Community Center

The Social Outreach Programs achieved the following: (1) Community Resource Coordinator continued Crisis Response to general crisis assistance program. CRT fielded 681 requests (increase of 185 requests from previous year) for help and distributed financial assistance to qualifying households; (2) Continued with a full time immigration attorney (pursuant to authorization granted in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals), hosted community awareness events and training, supported the growing volume of clients, provided 527 consults/case filings, continued monthly walk-in clinics at Northside Food Pantry, and continued community partnerships with Legal Aid for naturalization clinics and Catholic Charities to host asylum clinics;(3) Continued monthly food distributions by continuing Mobile Food Pantry - hosting monthly Fresh Produce Distributions in partnership with Mid-Ohio Food Collective. During the months of April through August 2024, 1,229 households were served at 4 locations over 5 months through the Mobile Food Pantry; 11,148 unique individuals were served through Northside Food Pantry's brick and mortar location; (4) expanded community garden in the Northland Neighborhood with produce distributed at the Northside Food Pantry; and (5) our staff continued in-person programming and activities like Alpha groups, Men's Bible studies, Men's Open Gym, Christmas Outreach, Easter Egg Hunt, monthly Movie Nights and off-site family events at the Columbus Clippers, Top Golf, and more with the assistance of 10 volunteers.

The VCC K-12 Program, which includes after-school, in-school and summer programming for school-age children works with four partner schools (Northland High School, Linden-McKinley STEM Academy, Northgate Intermediate and Avalon Elementary). The In-School Program served 65 students. The enrollment for the After-School program remained low due to the post pandemic impacts (increased transportation challenges prevented schools from dropping off students at VCC). The programs served the community as follows: (1) Increased service for daytime, in-school program by 30%. (2) Maintained partnerships with Future Ready and use of Learning Circles and DESSA tools for academic and social/emotional improvement; (3) The Vineyard Summer Program offered quality low cost or free summer services to 58 youth for 8 weeks (up 45% from prior year); (4)Re-introduced off-site field trips during the Summer Program, visiting 8 different locations throughout the summer; (5) Overall, VCC K-12 served over 135 (unique) youth during after-school, in-school, and summer programs, an increase of 30% compared to the previous year.

Vineyard Counseling Services provided professional care by incorporating biblically-based, psychologically sound methods in addressing mental health struggles.

The Free Health Clinics achieved the following: (1) Continued a partnership with Lower Lights Christian Health Clinic (FQHC) to utilize facility at Vineyard Community Center; (2) Created partnership with Columbus Cancer Clinic - offering monthly women's health cancer screenings at the Community Center; (3) The total patients served was 389 (72% increase from prior year; new coordinator hired; coordinator focused on building volunteer teams); (4) Organized over 50 volunteers with total of 866 consolidated volunteer hours provided, and the conservative overall value of services rendered exceeds $80,532.70; (5) hosted a Community Health Fair - partnered with over 20 community organizations to distribute resources, conduct screenings, and host an engaging educational experience for the community.

Vineyard Community Center hosted 44,638 visits from 8,128 unique community members (increased 113% largely from the reinstitution of sports leagues) for all programs and activities for the program year. VCC classes, events, and leagues were led by 57 volunteers (1,825 times volunteered) who served more than 3,873 hours.