COLUMBUS November 2012 | Vol. 2 Issue 2

THANKSGIVING

CY Spotlight on the

Mid –Ohio Foodbank

Family Traditions

A look at City Year Columbus and their favorite traditions

Sam Sadlier @SamS_CYCO 2h

What is #makebetterhappen? It's serving extra hours, giving extra smiles

and extra support, having extra expectations. It's EXTRAordinary

What type of

Communicator

are you?

2 | cityyear.org

P U T T I N G I D E A L I S M

T O W O R K

C S X S A F E T Y T I P Sponsored by:

City Year Table of Contents

‎Kind words are the music of the

world.

F. W. Faber

Quote of the Day

6 Starfish Story: Turning Sand into Diamonds

Sam Sadlier shares a starfish story

<< << <<

Picture of the Month:

Wearing gloves during morning

greeting will save your fingers from

swelling up, when walking back into

the heated school.

8

CY Health Zone

An introduction into a healthy year of service from Zandra Casto 10

Rod’s Ruminations

Rod Swain shares what’s on his mind this month 11

Brit’s Corner

Brit Dziak shares why Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday

PITW #69

Systematically inspire!

A major responsibility of leaders is to

inspire, which means literally to

―breathe‎life‎into.‖‎We‎should‎seek‎

ways‎to‎―systematically‖‎inspire‎others,‎

both individually and organizationally.

If you inspire one other person to take a

positive action, you have doubled your

own impact. If that person inspires an-

other person, you have tripled your

impact — all while you are off inspiring

a third person! Inspiration is at the heart

of our work, for if we light the idealism

of others we can achieve things we

could never achieve alone. We must

always assume that everyone carries a

spark of idealism. As American philoso-

pher William James, calling for national

service at the turn of the century, said:

―It‎is‎only‎the‎question‎of‎blowing‎on‎

the spark until the whole population

gets‎incandescent.‖

On October 26, Juan Mosquera Cochran represented City Year Columbus on an AmeriCorps panel. City Year Columbus Alumni, Jack Wolfe, facilitated the panel.

14 CY Spotlight: MID-OHIO Foodbank

Jen Brown takes us through the who, what, where, when, and how

16 Fall Recipes

Mirria Martin gathered the best of the best submissions for fall foods

* Front Cover Credit: Brit Dziak

20 Family Traditions

Zandra Casto asked CYCO about their family traditions

City Year Columbus | 3

City Year Values

City Year’s core values represent the deepest beliefs and highest aspirations of our organization. We strive to ensure

that these values animate our culture of idealism, inspire our actions, and inform our decisions on a daily basis. They

serve as our north star, empowering us to stay true to ourselves through changing times as we strive to achieve our

mission.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Inclusivity

We embrace differences as strengths that

magnify our capacity to achieve shared goals.

Student First, Collaboration Always

The success of the young people we serve is

our preeminent foal, best achieved by working

in partnership with others who are dedicated

Belief In The Power of Young People

We are committed to harnessing one of the

most powerful forces for positive change at

Social Justice For All

We dedicate ourselves to building a more

just, equal, fair and compassionate world.

Level Five Leadership

We aspire to develop a culture of Level Five

leadership across the organization, fostering

a blend of great humility with intense profes-

Service to a Cause Greater Than Self

We dedicate ourselves to addressing shared

civic challenges through unified action.

Empathy

We strive to constantly walk in the moccasins

of others.

Ubuntu

I am a person through other people; my hu-

manity is tied to yours.

Teamwork

We strive to work powerfully together in a

unified effort to achieve our goals.

Excellence

We hold ourselves to the highest standards

as we strive to execute our mission and stew-

4 | cityyear.org

November is my favorite month of

the‎year.‎Maybe‎it’s‎because‎the‎

teasing of fall ceases and true winter

air reveals itself. Tank tops, short

shorts and flip flops are replaced with

retro sweaters, woven scarves,

leggings,‎and‎leather‎boots.‎Maybe‎it’s‎

the shorter days and longer evenings

with hot cocoa and adventures in

Camelot (Merlin, anyone?). Or maybe

it's the celebration of family that

makes this month so perfect: the

tearful reunions filled with hugs and

kisses, the hours spent around the

kitchen table hashing every memory

of past holidays, and the food that

puts you in a lazy-coma for two days.

Sadly, this year my happiness during

November doesn't stem from any of

these things. No cute outfits for me,

because most of my days are spent in

my uniform. Shorter days just mean

longer walks in the dark to and from

the bus on weekdays, and paying for

my ticket to go home for just four

days was not worth it.

Honestly, I think November is my

favorite month because my birthday

falls on the eleventh. For a whole

week, I prep myself for a day full of

selfish wants and desires. Even better,

this year my birthday falls on a

Sunday, allowing us to have that

Monday off (See! Even the veterans

are rooting for me to have an

absolutely marvelous day)! At a party

recently, I mentioned how exciting it

was to be turning 23! Everyone was

astonished that I was excited about

getting older, and I was reminded that

there is nothing special about being

23 years old.

Is it really that weird to look

forward to each year that awaits me?

Why do we think that ages 16 to 30

are the only years worth living? How

brainwashed are we that we think

these mere fifteen years of youth are

all we have of life? And if they're

supposed to be the greatest years of

our lives, why does our society pay so

much attention to how fast they go

by instead of enjoying them in the

moment?

In‎my‎eyes,‎I’ll‎be‎fortunate‎to‎

grow‎old.‎I’m‎reminded‎of‎this‎every‎

morning‎when‎a‎soldier’s‎face‎

appears on my television screen, or

when a student comes to school in

tears from the loss of a sister who

graduated high school the year

before, or when a friend is diagnosed

with cancer, or when an earthquake,

hurricane, or tsunami hits a country.

I‎would‎be‎spitting‎in‎God’s‎face‎

if‎I‎didn’t‎rejoice‎for‎every‎year‎I’m‎

blessed‎with.‎I’m‎not‎naïve‎to‎think‎

that time is bountiful, but despite the

struggles that accompany the joys, I

look forward to each year that passes

because‎reflecting‎back‎on‎where‎I’ve‎

been‎and‎where‎I’m‎going‎is‎the‎most‎

powerful tool I have in my mission

of service. I rejoice in time and its

healing powers, the wondrous

experiences it provides me, and its

ability to change me.

I’m‎pumped.‎Bring‎on‎another‎

November.

With‎the‎time‎I'm‎given,‎I’ll‎keep‎

trying to change the world.

█‎Sarai‎Veronique‎Exil

6 | cityyear.org

If you had told me two months

ago that I would have the beginning

to a beautiful starfish story half-way

through‎October,‎I‎wouldn’t‎have‎

believed you. However, I know now

that my Cohort at Mifflin High

School is a group of 23 shining

diamonds in the rough.

The first diamond, I have been

lucky enough to dig up and start to

brush off, began toeing the line of

truancy just a few weeks into the

school year. As we know, missing

school means missing work. She

quickly fell behind in her core classes,

Math and English Language Arts. I

started giving her positive

reinforcements when she was there

by making a point to tell her how

excited I was to see her in school

again, and making sure I was

constantly offering her extra support

during a pull out session, or by

creating a late assignments folder

with all her missing work in it; all the

while checking in with her teachers

and keeping everyone up to date.

Although reluctant at first, she did try

to work with me. We fought through

misunderstandings and confusion

which‎led‎to‎success.‎It‎wasn’t‎long‎

before she came to me for extra help

and even asking her dad if she could

stay after school (this is still a work in

progress, but I have faith).

Then, two weeks ago, my bright

student came to school EVERY

SINGLE DAY for a week, for the

first time all school year. I was

beaming and so excited to see this

change in her. What is even more

exciting is that I found out she has

raised her Math grade from an F to a

C, just in time for the end of the first

grading period. Seeing her face light

up at her own accomplishment was

inspiring and so heart warming. I have

no doubt in my mind that this

diamond is going to dominate this

school year.

Sam Sadlier @SamS_CYCO 18m

Giving a smile. Taking a cool down walk with a student. Being a friend, mentor and

coach. Refusing to give up. THAT is #makebetterhappen

Above: Sam Sadlier with Father on Make a Difference

Day during Parents, Families, and Friends weekend.

City Year Columbus | 7

Other resources

Go to Experience Columbus.com for other

free or affordable events in the Columbus

area

Sign-up to gofobo.com to receive tickets for

free movie screenings

Check out local restaurants to see what spe-

cials they offer. Applebee’s and BD Mongoli-

an BBQ has ½ appetizers on weeknights

Cold Stone gives out free ice cream for your

birthday!

Columbus Commons provides various festivi-

ties for Columbus residents including but not

limited to festivals, free work out sessions,

and free movies. For select months out of the

year, Columbus Commons show a variety of

films. So bring your cozy blankets and pop-

corn for a night of fun.

The Wexner Center for the Arts offers free

admission and extended hours every

Thursday

Visit events.columbusalive.com for other

events that are offered throughout Columbus

Shopping/Events

Jeffersonville Prime Outlets

Located about an hour outside of Columbus, Jeffersonville Prime Outlets features several discounted, name brand

stores that will surely accommodate the fashionista (or GQ) within.

Gallery Hop in the Short North

Take a stroll down good ole High Street and experience masterpieces of local artists. Indulge in the various festivities

and partake in the social life of the Short North every first Saturday of the month at Gallery Hop. Gallery Hop is a

Columbus tradition that encompasses everything about music, art, and fashion.

Goodwill

What better way to reuse, recycle, and reduce than shopping at the thrift store? As a City Year member, you can

definitely stretch a dollar by purchasing slightly used clothing or even accessories for your home. You can even find

brand new items for literally a fraction of the suggested retail value. Find a local thrift store near you.

Hint: Try shopping at thrift stores in affluent neighborhoods. Residents typically donate their quality items to their

closest Goodwill.

Pictures retrieved from : http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi

Food

Bodega

1044 North High Street

Offering over 50 beers, Bodega is

a THE hot spot on Mondays. They

serve grilled cheese sandwiches

with chips and a pickle all for only

$1-you can’t beat that. And don’t

forget to order the tomato soup, it

is to die for!

Benihana

8781 Lyra Drive

Benihana is a popular restaurant

serving Japanese cuisine, hibachi

style. Although their dinner prices

are pretty expensive, they have

really great happy hour and lunch

specials. To top it off, you can

sign-up to their Chef’s Table

where you will receive $30

towards your meal in the month of

your birthday.

Ugly Tuna Saloona

1546 North High Street

With fresh fish and‘ ugly’ owners,

Ugly Tuna is not your average

place to eat. This Saloona offers

an unorthodox happy hour, which

they term Ugly Hour. Ugly hour is

an extension of their happy hour

with even better rates. Be careful,

because it can get Ugly!

STIPEND Living on a

Tamar Carr | CY Culture Corner

8 | cityyear.org

Here’s‎the‎thing‎about‎Thanksgiving:‎my‎family‎recognizes‎it‎as‎the‎time‎I‎

parade around the house mumbling something about a turkey genocide and

demanding an equally satisfying vegetarian meal. For the past ten years, my ever-

patient mother (you have to be patient to deal with a child like this) has watched

me‎gag‎while‎she‎pulled‎a‎turkey’s‎organs‎out‎of‎its‎butt.‎What‎she‎doesn’t‎know,‎

however,‎is‎that‎Thanksgiving‎is‎my‎favorite‎holiday,‎and‎here’s‎why:

1.‎Kids‎table.‎I‎will‎sit‎at‎the‎kid’s‎table‎until‎I’m‎100.‎Older‎relatives‎use‎this‎

time to talk politics/jobs/all that grown-up‎stuff‎I’m‎not‎ready‎for.‎Kids‎use‎that‎

time to watch mashed potatoes squish through their teeth, to whine about

waiting in line for seconds, and to sit the cat at the table with a napkin tied

around her neck.

2. No presents necessary. On our City Year budget, we can hardly afford the gas

to get home for Thanksgiving, let alone a cheesy popcorn basket for our

Grandpa. Food is the way to my heart, so just bring me some green bean

casserole‎and‎we’ll‎call‎it‎even‎until‎Christmas.

3. Card games with rowdy relatives. For 23 years I have watched my mom and

her five brothers begin a friendly game of Euchre only to end in screaming

matches‎filled‎with‎lines‎such‎as‎―that’s‎for‎shooting‎me‎in‎the‎leg‎with‎the‎BB‎

Gun‎when‎we‎were‎8!‖‎I,‎of‎course,‎get‎a‎laugh‎out‎of‎this‎(from‎the‎kid’s‎table‎

where‎I‎am‎playing‎Go‎Fish‎because‎I‎still‎don’t‎understand‎Euchre).

4.‎Eating‎until‎I‎pass‎out.‎Finally,‎a‎time‎when‎I‎can‎do‎this‎without‎society’s‎

scathing judgment. We used to have a game where we timed how quickly

Grandpa fell asleep, but once he figured out our scheme, he learned to hide in

places‎so‎we‎couldn’t‎catch‎him.‎This‎got‎tricky‎once‎he‎started‎getting‎older‎and‎

we‎found‎him‎in‎the‎next‎door‎neighbor’s‎car.

However, there are some downsides to this majestic holiday.

1. Black Friday. No, 17 year-old cousin, I will not move my car for you at 4 a.m.

so you can go wait in line for two years to get three dollars off of a Wii.

2.‎Macy’s‎Day‎Parade.‎More‎like‎Macy’s‎Day‎bore-ade.‎I‎don’t‎have‎the‎attention‎

span for this, especially when I know my six year-old cousins are playing Rock

Band upstairs. Have you ever heard a six year-old‎sing‎―Blitzkrieg‎Bop‖?

3. Uncomfortable-looking‎Polish‎food.‎I‎know‎this‎isn’t‎a‎problem‎for‎all‎of‎us,‎

but‎you‎have‎not‎had‎nightmares‎until‎you’ve‎seen‎your‎uncles‎return‎from‎Little‎

Poland with all things pickled and enough blood sausage to reassemble the pig

right‎then‎and‎there.‎Thank‎goodness‎for‎our‎pastries…

Hope you all have a fantastic Turkey Day filled with lots of grub, giggles, and

gizzards. Gobble gobble!

Brit Dziak

Brit’s Corner:

Loved this article? Give Brit a shout out on Twitter

@ BritD_CYCO!

Thanksgiving

#makebetterhappen

Down

1. an abundant meal, usually reserved for celebrations

2. a group of people who leave their native land to start a sublet community in a

formerly unchartered area

4. the initial traverler to a certain area, responsible for developing land, housing,

and finding resources

5. a larger brown or reddish bird with large tail feathers, a thick body and charac-

terized by a bearded beak

6. a procession of festive nature that usually includes a marching band, decorative

floats, and special citizens

8. the characteristic of being from a particular place or environment

9. a plant known for it's edible, tuberous roots

11. a stage of weather patterns that occur in the time between Summer and Winter

thick, seasoned, juices that are produced as meat cooks and used as sauces for

other foods

Across

3. a sign of gratitude for services received or for blessings presented to

5. the agreement between two parties two end a conflict and carry on with peace

and honesty

6. somebody who journeys to a foreign land ahead of other inhabitants, usually as

a sign of devotion to religion

7. a red, acidic fruit used mainly in juices, sauces, and jelly

10. the time of the year that fully grown crops are collected for use during the com-

ing months

12. to be appreciative of items or services received

Thanksgiving Crossword Puzzle

CY’s Newest Role: Itty Bitty Kitty Committee

While the ever-dedicated‎members‎at‎LMSA‎(okay,‎so‎I’m‎biased)‎were‎

pumping kids up with morning greeting a month ago, a group of

students presented them with a little orange furball covered in mud who

followed them to school. After various phone calls and lots of stress

later,‎Brit’s‎love‎for‎all‎things‎cute‎and‎cuddly‎(a‎nice‎way‎of‎describing‎a‎

cat lady) surfaced and she and Dani have since adopted him. Named the

wee baby Seamus (five points if you get the reference), this little kitty is

now spoiled and enjoys following you into the bathroom, terrible

smelling wet food, and snuggling for days. Although not quite a panther,

Seamus has become our Linden McKinley mascot. BY: Brit Dziak

10 | cityyear.org

CY Culture Corner | Zandra Casto

During my time as a Team Leader with AmeriCorps NCCC, I had the fortune of being part of a fantastic tradition of recent graduates lacking useful college degrees in this economy. Living on about $100 a week means that you cannot afford many things…especially‎fancy‎extravagances‎like‎―DVDs‖‎or‎―DVD‎Players.‖‎Because‎of‎this, we got to experience an ingenious little device called a ―VCR‖‎and‎a‎magical‎place‎called‎the‎―Goodwill‎VHS‎Aisle.‖‎Over‎the‎years,‎

AmeriCorps members have built up an impressive collection of video cassettes for future generations of former English majors to enjoy. One of these gems was the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast. Upon viewing this movie again as an adult, I had a few observations and was made to feel thankful for one thing in particular. First of all, I think the movie has some interesting lessons relating (loosely) to service. At the beginning, we find a rich, spoiled prince. When a beggar stops by one night asking for a place to take shelter, he turns her away from his lavish castle. But the joke is on him when the beggar turns out to be a powerful enchantress who punishes the prince to be enslaved in the body of a hideous beast and turns all of his servants into talking pieces of furniture and other various dinnerwares. Is this how someone as fortunate as the prince should treat the less fortunate? Absolutely not. If you are as affluent as he is, you have to be more respectful. It is short sighted to be so selfish and dismissive of poverty in your own front yard like that. This is a lesson we can all take to heart as we head out to serve in our community. However, watching this movie for the first time since childhood, my other reaction was one of confusion and anger over the rampant injustice taking place‎before‎my‎eyes.‎When‎you‎think‎about‎it,‎did‎the‎Beast’s‎punishment‎really‎fit‎the‎crime?‎Yes,‎the‎―Beast‎Formerly‎Known‎as‎Prince‖‎was‎a‎total‎jerk, but transfiguring him into a horrifying monster seems a little extreme, doesn’t‎it?‎Furthermore,‎what‎about‎how‎she‎punishes‎the‎innocent‎house‎servants to what is arguably a worse and more demeaning fate as living, breathing couches? If nothing else, Beauty and the Beast makes me very thankful that I am an American. At least I live in a country with constitutional protections against rogue enchantresses prowling the countryside dispensing their own brand of vigilante justice. I mean, she disguised herself as a beggar woman and then as soon as she catches the prince in an act of moral weakness, BOOM!...she reveals herself as a sorceress. Hello? Entrapment anyone? Only in France could‎something‎like‎this‎happen…‎

ROD SWAIN | Rod’s Ruminations

Beauty and the Beast

City Year Columbus | 11

Happy Thanksgiving

M A S S A C H U S E T T S M P

K J G R Z I O S M Z E Z S L T

Q M I G S J L R T X C P Y G S

N A X J L R V I N M C M F Q E

C G N I F F U T S U O Q Q B V

R O X U T D P W C U C M Q W R

A A R C R I E F T Y D O J L A

N S G N G R Y H N J H X P A H

B H N O I E M F B G S N G I N

E K Z A K L S Z G A U M U J A

R A F R T S R D A D F R I P S

R R U D D I N I N R C H U U F

Y T R O V F R P K R U W T P I

N D Q C V Q Y U F A M I L Y Y

G V M G R P B B P F P K H X O

Throughout this edition of the City Year Columbus

Magazine, Casey Dykes, provides some joyous

activities for all of us to participate in. Feel free to

download and print this edition to play.

CORN

CORNUCOPIA

CRANBERRY

FAMILY

HARVEST

MASSACHUSETTS

PLYMOUTH

PURITANS

STUFFING

TURKEY

CY Quiz | Sarai Exil

What type of Communicator are you? In this day and age, communication is the key to success. If you are looking for a new job, networking is

essential. If you are working on a team, listening is a must. If you are serving a student with a tendency to

misbehave, communicating rules and expectations is critical! Take this quiz to find out how you communicate!

Learn more about how your communication skills affect your growth as a leader and the people around you

with more research. These questions are based off of first reactions. Write or circle your answers.

1) Student calls you by your first name. You:

A. Push through! Ignore it!

B. “Excuse Me?” Force students to correct behavior

C. “It’s Mr/Ms _______”

D. Push through, but correct it after they’ve done it more than five times

2) In the classroom, your teacher asks you to escort a student to the bathroom. Your response is:

A. “No.” That’s not my job.

B. “Sure!” You weren’t doing anything else.

C. “Umm … yes,” but you feel uncomfortable.

D. “Sure.” While walking the student, you text your partner CM, “Mr/Ms ____, is making me escort again!”

3) During a 1:1 with a manager, you greet constructive criticism with

A. Apologies, apologies, apologies

B. A smile or a tear, but you talk to multiple CMs about it’s unfairness

C. Resentment! You bring up other CMS who have done the same thing.

D. A realization of the criticism's truth, and questions for future progress

4) While leading a meeting with your team, two CMs continuously laugh or snicker. You:

A. Tell them to stop.

B. Ask “what’s so funny?”

C. You ignore it.

D. You bring it up later with each of them separately explaining how it was a distraction to you.

5) A focus list student stands on top of a desk screaming and dancing or crawls out of a cabinet:

A. Inform them that this action is inappropriate

B. Tell them to get down, immediately

C. Allow the teacher to handle the behavior

D. Laugh at the student, and tell them to cooperate or get written up!

Tally your response to each question below. 1) A. Passive B. Aggressive C. Assertive D. Passive-Aggressive, 2) A. Aggressive B. Assertive

C. Passive D. Passive-Aggressive 3) A. Passive B. Passive-Aggressive C. Aggressive D. Assertive, 4) A. Aggressive B. Passive-Aggressive

C. Passive D. Assertive 5) A. Assertive B. Aggressive C. Passive D. Passive-Aggressive

Passive _________________ Assertive ______________________ Passive- Aggressive _______________________ Aggressive __________________

Everyone has a tendency to be one of these types of communicators, but every now and then, we react differently. Research more to find out how to

become a more assertive communicator when done with this quiz.

12 | cityyear.org

City Year Columbus | 13

Passive Aggressive One who appears passive on the surface but are

really acting out in anger in a subtle, indirect, or

behind the scenes way. These actions, or sarcasm,

denying issues, and inappropriate faces are due to

feelings of powerlessness and resentment, while real

issues are never addressed so they can’t mature.

Pass ive One who prefers to avoid expressing opinions of

feelings, protecting rights, or identifying needs.

They tend to not respond to anger-induced

situations, but allow grievances to amount

causing explosive behavior over small behaviors.

After the outburst, they feel shame, guilt and

confusion, so they return to being passive which

can cause immaturity because real issues are

never addressed.

Assertive One who clearly states opinion sand feelings, and

firmly advocate for their rights and needs without

violating the rights of others. They feel connected to

others and in control of their lives, so they are able to

mature because they address issues and problems as

they arise.

Every person should try to aim to be more assertive!

Aggressive One who expresses feelings and opinion and

advocates for their needs in a way that violates the

rights of others. Aggressive communicators might feel

powerless, speak in a loud voice, be impulsive, and

are not good active listeners, and always blame

others instead of owning their issues, and thus are

unable to mature.

November Birthdays

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Jen B. 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 Zandra 9 10

11 Sarai 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30

*Sorry to Anna Habib whose October 27th birthday was missed in the last edition.

14 | cityyear.org

With‎the‎arrival‎of‎November,‎this‎month’s‎holiday‎begins‎to‎invade‎our‎thoughts.‎We‎begin‎to‎feel‎the‎anticipation‎for‎delicious turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and pumpkin pie - it‎makes‎me‎hungry‎just‎thinking‎about‎it!‎I’m‎not‎sure‎about‎everyone else, but eating enough good food to initiate a semi-comatose‎state‎is‎my‎family’s‎idea‎of‎a‎Thanksgiving‎tradition.‎Food has become such an integral part of this holiday, but what about families who struggle to put food on the table throughout the year, let alone prepare a holiday feast? As‎Thanksgiving‎approaches,‎it’s‎important‎that‎we‎remain‎conscious‎of‎the‎fact‎that‎not‎everyone‎is‎as‎fortunate‎as‎we‎might be, particularly in the city we serve. As we know, Columbus is home to many organizations that work to make the community‎better‎for‎everyone.‎During‎the‎month‎of‎November,‎let’s‎remember‎those‎organizations‎fighting‎to‎ensure‎that‎every family is fed this holiday season.

- Jen Brown

Quick Facts about Mid-Ohio Foodbank (MOF)

Fifty-seven percent of the people MOF serves have had to choose between food and utilities.

Forty-three percent have had to choose between food and shelter.

MOF has 14,000 volunteers that provide 50,000 hours of hands-on service every year.

Seventy-one percent of the people served have earned a high school diploma, while 23% have

completed some college or earned a two-year degree.

Thirty-five percent of the food requested received by MOF from food pantries are for children.

MOF handles over 45 million pounds of food each year, allowing their partner agencies to provide

more than 100,000 meals each day.

For every $1 received from donors, MOF distributes $8 worth of groceries.

Over the past year, MOF distributed over 16 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to community

members in need.

CY Spotlight | Jen Brown

City Year Columbus | 15

What?

Where?| Who?

How? Now known as Mid-Ohio Foodbank, this organization has been in operation for over 30 years, working to keep people fed in central and eastern Ohio. The program began in April of 1980, working under the title Operation Feed Foodbank. Under the direction of Executive Director Duane Jager, Operation Feed Foodbank distributed over 205,000 pounds of food within its first year. Over the next few years, the organization expanded and joined other local food banks as a member of the Second Harvest network. In 1986, the present-day title was adopted, the organization moved to a larger warehouse on West Mound Street, and they distributed 9.5 million pounds of food. As the years went on, Mid-Ohio Foodbank developed into an even more expansive program, and they branched out to begin educating community members about hunger, with the debut of

their website in 2002. Today the organization serves the communities of Central and Eastern Ohio by distributing food and groceries to families in need. Last year alone, over 40 million pounds of food were distributed by Mid-Ohio

Foodbank.

Through its many partnerships – existing on the local, state, and federal levels – the organization works to meet the needs of hungry families in and around Columbus. Specifically, Mid-Ohio Foodbank serves the community by collecting and distributing food products, groceries, and fresh produce; educating people about hunger; supporting advocacy through hunger-relief programs; and working with other organizations and individuals who strive to make sure basic human needs are met. The organization also gathers resources, including cash donations and food products, through the use of community food drives, including the annual Operation Feed Campaign. Mid-Ohio Foodbank will be hosting more events over the next few months, with the help of the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the Columbus Zoo, and other partnering organizations. As‎Columbus’‎battle‎with‎hunger‎is‎far‎from over, support from community members and volunteers is greatly appreciated. To become one of the roughly 14,000 volunteers the organization relies on each year, or to find out more about the organization’s‎initiatives,‎check‎out‎http://www.midohiofoodbank.org or www.mofb.volunteerhub.com, or follow Mid-Ohio Foodbank on social media: @Mid_OHFoodbank or http://www.facebook.com/midohiofoodbank.

Mid-Ohio Foodbank serves Columbus and‎the‎surrounding‎area‎in‎order‎―to‎build‎& sustain a community that makes food accessible‎to‎all‎people‖,‎as‎written‎in‎their‎organization’s‎vision‎statement.‎The‎organization’s‎website‎also‎proclaims‎five‎key values that they strive to embody in their work.

Why?

“We recognize that the Foodbank alone cannot solve

the issue of hunger in our

community, so we welcome and

encourage collaboration with

any & every organization that

shares our vision.” Joan Lloyd Mid-Ohio Foodbank

Five Core Values

Quality: We are committed

to providing quality service to

the charities, consumers, and

food industry partners we

serve.

People: We are committed to

treating all people with

dignity, courtesy, and

respect.

Stewardship: We are

committed to using the food

and financial resources

entrusted to us wisely and

with full accountability to the

public.

Integrity: We are committed

to honesty and fairness in our

relations with others.

Diversity: We are committed

to the value of diversity in all

“Fresh is the future. Each year in the U.S. 3 – 6 billion pounds

of produce goes unused. Getting this food from the farm to the tables of those is need is our biggest challenge but also

our greatest opportunity to increase the amount of food we

distribute.” Joan Lloyd

Mid-Ohio Foodbank

Food is a basic human need, and no one in our

community should wake up or go to bed hungry. I am inspired to do what I do because at the end of the day, someone who might otherwise go hungry, has

food on their table.” Joan Lloyd

Mid-Ohio Foodbank

Information‎adapted‎from‎MOF’s‎website:‎

http://www.midohiofoodbank.org/. Further

support and all quotes taken from contact with

Ms. Joan Lloyd, Operation Feed Campaign

Director at MOF

Operating out of the central office, located at 3960 Brookham Drive, Grove City, OH, the organization serves a network of over 550 partner agencies, primarily in Franklin county but spread across roughly 20 counties in Central and Eastern Ohio. Partner agencies include emergency food pantries and shelters, senior centers, afterschool programs and day cares, and soup kitchens. The organization also works with local farms to provide fresh produce to those they serve.

12 | cityyear.org 16 | cityyear.org

Recipes | Mirria Martin

A Taste of FallA Taste of FallA Taste of Fall Pumpkin Pie French toast

You will need:

- Thick slices of bread

- 2/3 a cup of milk

- 4 eggs

- Melted butter (amount varies based on size of pan)

- Pumpkin pie spice (to taste)

- Cinnamon (to taste, but start with 2 tsp

Steps:

1) Blend milk, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon in a shallow bowl

2) Submerge toast slice into the mixture, allowing it to soak in

3) Heat pan, coating the bottom in butter

Sweet Potato Hash

You Will Need: - 1-3 tablespoons oil - 1 large 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled & diced - 1 small onion, diced - 1-2 clove(s) of garlic, pressed or heavily diced - 1-2 carrot(s), peeled - 1 red pepper, diced [optional] - 1-2 eggs [optional] - Seasonings: Paprika, Law ry's Seasoned Salt, Pep per, Ground Red Pepper [as pre ferred] - tofu, cubed [optional]

Steps:

1) Heat 1-2 tablespoons in a pan

2) If using tofu, fry in the oil until gold-en brown, otherwise continue

3) Sauté onions for a few minutes

4) Add sweet potatoes

5) Add garlic

6) Sauté on medium heat until pota-toes get a little soft (tip: To speed this up, you can cover the pan)

7) Add pepper

City Year Columbus | 13 City Year Columbus | 17

Spaghetti Squash Pasta

You Will Need:

- One spaghetti squash

- Four cheese tomato sauce

- Mozzarella shredded cheese

and/or parmesan shake cheese

- Olive oil

- 1 red pepper

- Two chicken breasts

- 1 onion

- 2 cloves of garlic

- Seasoning for chicken, such as

basil, chicken seasoning, pepper

or garlic salt.

Steps:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2) This part is tricky! Use a large knife to

saw the squash in half as evenly as possi-

ble. Use patience, it will happen eventual-

ly.

Sweet Potato Chili

You Will Need:

- 2 cups sliced onion (1 large)

- 20 oz peeled and cubed sweet potato

- 2/3 cup diced zucchini

- 1-2 cans black beans (or another bean)

- 28-oz can diced tomatoes

- 1 1/2 T chili powder

- 1 tsp cumin

- 1 tsp salt

- 2 tsp orange zest

- 1 cup water (or broth)

Steps:

1) Combine all ingredients in large pot

3) Heat the squash in the microwave for 7

minutes.

4) Allow it to rest in the microwave for 2

minutes

5) While the squash is cooking and resting,

remove excess fat from the chicken and slice it

into pieces

6) Begin cooking the chicken

in a pan with olive oil

7) Season the chicken with

desired spices

8) Remove squash from micro-

wave and take out the spa-

ghetti-like substance from the

shell. (Tip: If this is difficult to

do, try heating it up a little

longer)

8 | cityyear.org 18 | cityyear.org

Recipes continued | Mirria Martin

Pumpkin Pie Spice Cake

You Will Need:

- 16oz can pumpkin pie filling

- Bag of Spice Cake mix

Steps:

1) Mix pumpkin pie filling and cake mix in large bowl

Squash Stuffing What You Need:

- 1 med. buttercup squash, cooked - 1/4 c. butter - Salt to taste - 6 slices bacon, fried & crum-bled - 3 slices bread cubes - 1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (save 1/2 c. for top-ping)

Steps:

1) Scoop out warm cooked squash

2) Add butter, salt, bacon, bread, and 1

cup of cheese

3) Mix together

4) Put in buttered

casserole dish

5) Top with re-

maining cheese

Photo Credits:

Leaves: publicdomainpictures.net

Spaghetti Squash: delish.com

Pumpkin pie French toast: closetcooking.com

Sweet Potato Hash: eatingoutloud.com

Squash Stuffing: tasteofhome.com

Pumpkin Pie Spice Cake: noshmyway.com

Apple crisp: food.com

City Year Columbus | 9

City Year Columbus | 19

Curry Butternut Squash Soup

You will need:

- 1 ½ tbs butter

- ½ onion, chopped

- 3 cloves garlic, minced

- 2 sprigs thyme

- 1 butternut squash, roasted and cut into cubes

- 4 cups chicken or veggie stock (low sodium)

- ½ cube chicken bouillon

- 1 tsp cumin

- 1tbs hot curry (you can use a mild curry, but the hot curry adds nice heat for a cold day)

- 1 cup evaporated milk

Food Network Apple Crisp

You Will Need:

- 5 pounds McIntosh or Ma-coun apples

- Grated zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon

- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 2 teaspoons ground cinna mon

- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

- 1 1/2 cups flour

- 3/4 cup granulated sugar

- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

- 1 cup oatmeal

- 1/2 pound cold unsalted butter, diced

Steps:

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 14 by 2-inch oval bak-ing dish.

2) Peel, core, and cut the apples into large wedges. Combine the apples with the zests, juices, sugar, and spic-es. Pour into the dish.

3) For topping, combine flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and cold butter in the

- Salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

1) Cut squash in half and roast upside down @ 400 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Cut into cubes.

2) Melt butter in large pot and add garlic, on-ion, and thyme and cook until onion is transparent.

3) Add stock and squash and simmer 10 mins.

20 | cityyear.org

CY Spotlight | Zandra Casto

City Year Columbus | 21

City Year Columbus

EDB Committee Jen Brown, Tamar Carr, Zandra Casto, Casey Dykes,

Brit Dzaik, Sarai Exil, and Mirria Martin