Through The Years

Sally & Jim Williams, instrumental in continuing GRIN service.

2017 move to 165 Granville Street

Coolers donated by the community.

Volunteers helping sort and keep things organized at the pantry.

Cid and Kai discussing the new space.

Volunteers getting ready for pantry.

Cid & Kai

Volunteers helping clients shop through our new space.

Heartland Bank, Kelly Law and Alison Lathey speaking with Beth Bentley, Program Director for GRIN.

2017 Chamber of Gahanna ribbon cutting.

2014 move to our first indepedent space at 760 Morrison Road.

Mayor Stinchcomb and Chamber President Leslie Blake presenting GRIN Brenda Johnston with award.

2014 Ribbon cutting at 760 Morrison Rd. space.

Mifflin Township presentation of monetary donations for our new cooler.

Brenda Johnston, GRIN Executive Director at Sanctuary GRIN event.

Volunteers arranging our new space.

GARA group with monetary donations for the GRIN cooler.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving give away.

2019 COVID Drive through.

New GRIN Truck

Back to School Fair drive through event

Drive through pantry

Toy drive

National Church Residence delivery

Our History

1972

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

1979

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.

1980

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.

1999

GRIN was incorporated.

2002

GRIN began providing assistance with utilities payments.

2011

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.

2013

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

2014

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.

2015

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.

2016

GRIN joined forces with Mid-Ohio.

2017

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

2020

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.

2021

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

2022

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