Vineyard Community Center

Vineyard Early Childhood Center achieved the following: (1) Maintained the rating of a "Four Star" quality center through Ohio's "Step Up to Quality" program, which recognizes excellence in early childhood education programs; (2) Continued development of VECC included ongoing focus on professional development for the staff; (3) Created a robust Pre-K readiness program that included a pre-k only classroom, kindergarten readiness curriculum, and kindergarten readiness events - not limited to Bus Tour, multiple family events, Kindergarten Teacher Interview, and more; (4) Maintained a 50% rate of enrollment of children from low to moderate income families (measured by eligibility for Title XX), reflecting continued diversity of families served; (5) Provided services to parents and children through community partnerships - not limited to vision screening to preschool students (in partnership with OSU), monthly story time and book delivery from Westerville Library, Family Photos (spring and winter) and student art show; and (6) against licensed capacity of 104 children per day, had average daily attendance of 36 children (lower enrollment due to change in staffing infrastructure).

The Social Outreach Programs achieved the following: (1) Community Resource Coordinator continued Crisis Response to general crisis assistance program. CRT fielded 681 requests (increase of 185 requests from previous year) for help and distributed financial assistance to qualifying households; (2) Continued with a full time immigration attorney (pursuant to authorization granted in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals), hosted community awareness events and training, supported the growing volume of clients, provided 527 consults/case filings, continued monthly walk-in clinics at Northside Food Pantry, and continued community partnerships with Legal Aid for naturalization clinics and Catholic Charities to host asylum clinics;(3) Continued monthly food distributions by continuing Mobile Food Pantry - hosting monthly Fresh Produce Distributions in partnership with Mid-Ohio Food Collective. During the months of April through August 2024, 1,229 households were served at 4 locations over 5 months through the Mobile Food Pantry; 11,148 unique individuals were served through Northside Food Pantry's brick and mortar location; (4) expanded community garden in the Northland Neighborhood with produce distributed at the Northside Food Pantry; and (5) our staff continued in-person programming and activities like Alpha groups, Men's Bible studies, Men's Open Gym, Christmas Outreach, Easter Egg Hunt, monthly Movie Nights and off-site family events at the Columbus Clippers, Top Golf, and more with the assistance of 10 volunteers.