Our History

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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 collaborated with GRIN to consolidate services provided in the community
• Fall 2011 - A Board was created to begin the planning and the consolidation process

The following services were provided by separate entities, but 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:

• Weekend Supplement food 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

• COVID-19 pandemic hit the community and increased the needs exponentially 
• GRIN purchased a box truck to transport food and to provide a mobile pick-up when needed  
• 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
• GRIN joined forces with community gardens

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

• Moved to 161 Granville St., walk-in freezer/cooler added
• Food pantry manager and program director's hours increased

2024

• Pantry Administrator hired part-time