Our History

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

Sally and Jim Williams took over the food pantry in their home.  Thanksgiving boxes were given out to families in need. 

Mifflin Presbyterian offered to house the food pantry.

GRIN was incorporated.  

Christmas Adoptions to help families in need began.

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 new 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: 

• Food Pantry/Financial Assistance
• Clothing free store (at Stonybrook) - Clothing for 420 families (currently discontinued)
• Summer Lunch Club (as part of the BRIDGE) - served 4650 lunches

• Executive Director, Brenda Johnston hired 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. 
• 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.

• Began Mobile Food Pantry servicing community.