Through The Years

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• The Gahanna Rotary, The Gahanna Ministerial Association and Pastor Donald Swift started giving out food to the community.

• Sally and Jim Williams helped with GRIN and then took over the pantry out of their home.  
• Thanksgiving boxes were given out to families in need. 

• Mifflin Presbyterian Church offered to house the food pantry.

1985

• Christmas Adoptions to help families in need began.

1995

• Lions Club joined forces with GRIN for Holiday Assistance.

• GRIN was incorporated.  

• GRIN began providing assistance with utilities payments.

• The GCMA began collaborating with GRIN to talk about consolidating services being provided in a variety of locations into a single location to serve the whole community.
• Fall 2011 - A Board was created to begin the planning and consolidation process.

The following services were provided by separate entities, but now integrated as part of GRIN: 

• Clothing free store (from Stonybrook) - Clothing for 420 families (currently discontinued)
• Summer Lunch Club (as part of the BRIDGE) - served 4650 lunches

• Executive Director, Brenda Johnston hired part-time to execute the directives of the Board
• Meijer at N. Hamilton Road chose GRIN as recipient for their “Simply Give Program”
• GRIN moved to 760 Morrison Rd, Gahanna to integrate several added programs.

GRIN began partnering with the Gahanna-Jefferson School District to provide:

• Snack packs to the 2015-2016 school year children in need on the weekends.
• Back to School fair providing school supplies, book bags and other services needed to start the new school year.

• GRIN joined forces with Mid-Ohio.

• Program Director, Beth Bentley was hired part-time to execute the directives of the Board and the Executive Director
• October, 2017, GRIN moved to a new facility at 165 Granville Street, Gahanna, OH, 43230

• March, 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic hit the community and increased the needs exponentially.   The community’s generosity helped GRIN to continue helping those in need. 
• With community donations, GRIN purchased a truck to help transport pick-ups from our partners and large events such as Back To School Fair.  This truck has also allowed us to start up a Mobile Food Pantry. 
• GRIN hired a part-time Food Pantry Manager.
• GRIN discontinued the Clothing Pantry.

• Began Mobile Food Pantry servicing community.
• Began home deliveries to those in need of such service.
• Executive Director was hired full-time.

• Together, we'll celebrate our 50th GRINiversary!
• Diverse food selections are now offered.