Pickerington Church of the Nazarene

62198140- I’m working with wonderful family who has adopted three amazing children from foster care. Each child faces unique challenges, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), autism, ADHD, and anxiety. Daily struggles with elopement and meltdowns make their safety a constant concern. Every day requires vigilance and love as they work to create a nurturing environment where their children can thrive. 2 of the children struggle with elopement, putting them at risk of wandering from home. Their meltdowns, which can happen daily due to sensory overload or anxiety, sometimes result in aggression, necessitating constant supervision to ensure their safety and the safety of others. The family is in need of a secure fence which would allow the children to safely enjoy outdoor play while granting them the space to decompress on challenging days. It would serve as a deterrent to elopement and offer peace of mind. By ensuring that their playtime is separate from neighborhood children on days when they feel overwhelmed, this fence can also protect those around them. The family has an estimate for 3 different styles of fences: Pressure treated wood: $7,504 Pressure treated 4x4 and Cedar 2x4 + fence boards: $9,564 6' White Vinyl: $12,112

A brave 22-year-old caregiver has stepped up to care for her 17-year-old sister through a kinship placement. Despite her young age, she has taken on this responsibility with love and determination. Recently, she suffered a broken wrist, making it impossible for her to work. She and her sister are currently staying with another sister and her sister’s fiancé while she searches for a stable place to call home.

She is doing everything she can to support her little sister, including applying for SNAP benefits and Medicaid, and is now waiting to hear back on the status of those applications. In the meantime, she has been relying on food pantries, but those resources are limited and don’t always meet their needs.

She is seeking help with groceries so she can provide healthy, nourishing meals for her sister and herself. She is also in the process of applying for unemployment and actively searching for housing to give her sister a sense of stability and home.

This young woman and her sister have already faced so much at such young ages, yet they continue to move forward with strength and hope. Any support with groceries or gift cards would mean the world to them. The family is incredibly grateful for any kindness shown during this difficult time.

A loving and supportive family has recently welcomed a 4-month-old child into their home while also caring for their own biological child. As they work hard to provide a safe and nurturing environment, their financial responsibilities have significantly increased. Due to the added costs of caring for the new child, the family has fallen behind on two essential bills: utilities and electricity. Assistance with these bills will help the family catch up and maintain a stable, comfortable home environment for both children. Any help for this family would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

This devoted grandmother is doing her best to care for her three beloved grandchildren—a 16-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old boy. Recently, she suffered a stroke and spent time in the hospital. She is now back home, recovering, and trying to maintain a stable environment for her grandchildren. Living on a fixed income, she’s facing a difficult challenge: her bathtub is no longer draining, making daily care and hygiene a struggle. She is kindly asking for help—whether it's someone who can repair the tub or assist her in finding a plumber. Any support during this time would mean the world to her and her family.

Festa is reaching out on behalf of a family of 7 who attends our 3-Generation Family English as a Second Language (ESL) program. They are expecting a baby in a few months, and they are in need of a crib and mattress. Their other children are several years older, and due to a couple moves they were unable to keep most of their baby items. The family's budget is tight, and they do not have funds to purchase a crib. They would welcome a new crib/mattress or a used crib that is in good condition and not subject to any recalls. Thank you for considering!

62231414- A loving family has taken in their 2 cousins ages (10) and (11) and the family has 2 bio kids of their own. One of the children does have some behavior issues and the family was able to get get help for that children. This loving family are doing the best they can to provide the basic needs for all the children but it has been a struggle due to the family loosing the financial assistance they were receiving for the 2 children. The family is in need of some home repairs. The family stated that the back door is broken and the edges of the door is falling apart, the siding on the home is cracking, the shower is leaking and the children's shower is also leaking and missing tiles from the shower wall. The garage door opener is broken too and so is a window. The family has a WELL that they get water from and they stated that they had the Well fixed but think that it still might need some work. It was stated that having enough food is challenging since they have 2 more people in the home. The family is in need of financial assistance to help with food and home repairs. The main caregiver is due to have surgery soon and the family will be down to one income and they are hoping that someone can help their family. Gift card for groceries, Any help for this family would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. * Blessings*

We are working with a single mother and her 3 children (ages 11, 7 and 4) who have fled their home due to domestic violence. Two of the children have special needs. She and the children are currently staying with her parents while she determines next steps. We are connecting her with legal resources and some support for basic needs. She has asked about counseling for herself and her youngest child (the other 2 children receive counseling through their school). We would love to connect her with a free counseling service, or ask if a church partner would be willing to cover the cost of a couple counseling sessions with a local provider.

A devoted grandmother, who has lovingly stepped in to raise her eight-year-old granddaughter, is in need of support to provide her with school uniforms. She is doing everything she can to care for her granddaughter, but being on a fixed income and facing reduced work hours during the summer—due to her job with Columbus City Schools—has made it difficult to afford the essentials. The cost of the uniforms is around $200, and any support would mean the world to this family. Your kindness would help ensure this little girl can start school feeling confident and prepared.

A devoted and loving caregiver is currently raising her 11-year-old grandson and 4-year-old granddaughter, providing them with a safe, stable, and nurturing home. Despite facing challenges, she continues to pour her heart into giving these children the love and care they need.

Recently, her television stopped working. Watching movies together after school and in the evenings has become a cherished part of their routine—it brings comfort, helps support the children’s emotional well-being, and strengthens their bond as a family. She is hoping for support in replacing the TV, whether through a donation of a gently used one or help in obtaining a new one, so they can continue enjoying those special moments together.

Additionally, clothing gift cards would be a tremendous help, as she is on a fixed income and doing everything she can to provide for the children on her own. Any support—big or small—would make a meaningful difference in their lives and be deeply appreciated.

A dedicated great-grandfather and his wife currently have legal custody of their 10-year-old great-granddaughter and 3-year-old great-grandson. Due to recent health needs, the great-grandfather now requires a hospital bed in their home. However, the hospital bed and their regular bed cannot both fit in the room. He is seeking support in obtaining a smaller bed—preferably a full-size—for his wife to accommodate the space limitations.

This mother has three young children in her home and needs assistance with cleaning and organization of the family home. The home conditions are described as very dirty and cluttered. There is dog & cat in the home. The conditions in the home were described as deplorable. The children's beds were observed to have no bedlinens and dirty discolored mattresses. The parent is in need of assistance with cleaning and decluttering to ensure the children all have a safe clean home free of bugs , clutter and debris. A cleaning company is being requested.

A 20 year old went to court to take custody of their two siblings, 7 and 15, in 2023 due to their parents' struggle with substance abuse. Their siblings safety and well being were at risk, and they stepped in to provide them with stability and the care they needed. They have struggled financially but have been getting by. The 20 year had a stable job that they thought would be long term. So once they got custody of their siblings they used their savings to get ahead on bills and buying necessary household items for them all. Unfortunately, they lost that job and had some medical issues. Despite the setbacks, they have been working for DoorDash and UberEats while looking for a new job to keep an income in the house. They just recently got a warehouse job with a consistent schedule and weekly pay. Since losing their job they are just a little behind on rent and asking for help to catch up so these siblings can stay together and not lose their housing. They will be able to keep up their rent moving forward with this new job. Any support would be greatly appreciated.