This Friday - 9/27 - we welcomed Julie Erwin Rinaldi, a Dublin AM Rotary member and the new Executive Director of the Dublin Food Pantry.
For over 46 years, the Dublin Food Pantry has provided food and essential items to individuals and families within our community who are experiencing food insecurity. The Pantry serves residents throughout the City of Dublin and Dublin City Schools District who are spread across eight zip codes and three counties.
Erwin-Rinaldi has been an active member of the Dublin A.M. Rotary since 2009, serving as president and Literacy Committee chairperson. She and her husband, David, have enjoyed volunteering together for the Miracle League of Central Ohio, Meals on Wheels, Salvation Army, and other local non-profits through their years in Dublin.
“I am thrilled to continue to work with the community to develop creative, caring ways to support those who need a helping hand. I hope to maximize the long-standing community partnerships that I have made in my previous work to continue to find ways to create hope and healing.”
While not everyone realizes the extent of hunger in the Dublin community, hunger continues to grow. More than 4,700 households live on less than $35,000 annually in our community and nearly 16% of Dublin students are considered economically disadvantaged.
To meet the growing needs of its neighbors, the Dublin Food Pantry launched a $3 million comprehensive capital campaign in 2022 to purchase and renovate a larger, more accessible facility from which to serve the community. Thanks to the generosity of the Dublin community, the Pantry began serving clients at its new home at 6608 Dublin Center Drive on October 11, 2023.
The new space is certainly being put to good use. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, the Food Pantry has had a nearly 30% increase in the number of households served, with a 22% increase in overall Pantry visits during the first quarter of 2024. That equates to 171,447 equivalent meals distributed in just the first three months of the year.
As the Dublin Food Pantry enters this new phase, the continued support of the community is vital to ensuring the most vulnerable receive the food and essential items necessary. As the demands on the Pantry continue to increase, additional financial and human resources are required to meet those needs.
If you have not visited the new Pantry, we invite you to do so. To learn more about the Pantry and how you can get involved, visit us online or email Julie at Director@DublinFoodPantry.org.
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