Holiday Sponsorship Program 2025: A Record Year of Hope
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Sending Hope Ohio's Third Annual Holiday Sponsorship Program was our most successful year to date. What began with a goal to sponsor 50 children grew far beyond anything we imagined — with your support, we served 140 children from 64 families across six local school districts, tripling our original goal. We extend heartfelt gratitude to InStep Health, Pearl Aesthetics and Wellness, FedEx, and Bridge Academy for making this project possible. Because of you, hearts were filled and hope was multiplied.
Third Annual Gently-Used Holiday Toy Drive
Our Third Annual Gently-Used Holiday Toy Drive once again proved to be one of our most impactful and beloved initiatives of the year. This project is only possible because of the continued dedication of The Richards Group, whose annual commitment remains the backbone of this initiative, and our partnership with the Look-Up Center, who organized multiple free pop-up toy shops for families. This year our community donated over 7,500 gently-used toys — more usable, meaningful, and impactful than ever for the families we served.
Jingle Bell Bazaar with the Granville Schools PTO
Sending Hope Ohio was honored to be sponsored by the Granville Schools PTO at their annual Jingle Bell Bazaar — a beloved craft show and holiday market featuring local artists and vendors. Highlights included a holiday market, festive food and drinks, a Book Fair, and a raffle benefiting our organization. We extend our sincere thanks to the PTO for their continued commitment to uplifting families in our community.
Food Insecurity and Homelessness
Our October community service projects focused on supporting neighbors facing food insecurity and homelessness — needs that have become increasingly urgent as living costs rise and temperatures drop. We provided practical, front-line resources such as gloves, socks, hand warmers, and food pantry support. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community, we nearly tripled our anticipated donations for local homeless individuals through the Newark Homeless Outreach.
9/11 Day of Service with Denison University
In September, Sending Hope Ohio teamed up with Denison University for our second annual 9/11 Day of Service, a hands-on day of learning and giving back for middle schoolers from Newark City Schools. The day focused on showing students how they can be 'everyday heroes' through empathy and small actions. They made cards for veterans and children in hospitals and created wellness water bottle kits, supporting Honor Flight Columbus, the Ronald McDonald House, and local homeless individuals.
Collecting School Supplies for Local Children in Need
In August, Sending Hope Ohio launched a successful initiative to collect school supplies for local children in need, partnering with The Richards Group (Granville) and Miller Insurance and Financial Group (Lancaster). Thanks to the collaborative effort, over 1,000 boxes of school supplies were collected and delivered to Newark City Schools, Granville Exempted Village Schools, and Southwest Licking Schools — ensuring students started the year with the tools they need to succeed.
Helping Pediatric Cancer Patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital
This summer, Sending Hope Ohio was honored to partner with The Ohana Foundation to continue the heartfelt legacy of Jaelynn, a courageous young girl who wished to share love and comfort with fellow pediatric patients. We supplied toys and activities for the hospital playroom and collected gift cards to ease the burden on families. We also promoted the Callahan Murphy Hare Foundation's blood drive and invited families to host lemonade stands for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Celebrating Independence Day in Our Community
Sending Hope Ohio was thrilled to be part of our 2nd Annual Fourth of July Parade in our hometown, Granville! From waving flags to sharing smiles, we had so much fun celebrating with our amazing community. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer, support, and join in the spirit of independence and hope — we can't wait to do it again next year!
Rolling Into Your Neighborhood
Have you heard?! Sending Hope Ohio is rolling into your neighborhood on PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION! Thank you to Webchick, Krile Communications, Fairfield County Transit, and the Fairfield County Board of Commissioners for making this possible!
Celebrating High School Seniors in Foster Care
Did you know that 25% of youth in foster care will not graduate high school or receive their GED? Our generous private donors came together to support our campaign benefiting Fostering Further. Thanks to their contributions, Sending Hope Ohio celebrated 20 incredible graduates, donating over $1,000 worth of graduation gifts and showering each with personalized cards of encouragement.
Making A House a Home
During February and March we completed our Making A House a Home project for a formerly homeless family with two children. With the generosity of our donors, we fully stocked a new home — furniture, kitchenware, linens, and everyday essentials — clearing our wishlist in record time. Sending Hope Ohio and Boldwomen Cleaning Services also offered professional mentorship and marketing guidance, helping the family launch their very own family business.
Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In January, we had the honor of participating in an event hosted by Denison University to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme, 'Building the Beloved Community: Service, Civic Engagement, and the Path Forward,' brought together a conversation panel, a resource fair (which we were proud to join), an MLK march, brunch, and workshops focused on civic engagement. A special thank you to Denison University for the invitation.
