Volume 1, Issue 4 (September 2025)
Welcome to MOFC Story Bites, where we share bite-sized stories about real people living with or fighting food insecurity. In this special edition for Hunger Action Month, we meet customers and volunteers who fight hunger however they can.
Cathy
Cathy is a customer, a volunteer, and a delivery driver at the Mid-Ohio Market at Center of Hope.
“I appreciate all the help they give me. And I just need to be there for other people,” she said.
Cathy was a UPS driver before she lost her income. When the Center of Hope needed someone to pick up orders from Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Cathy volunteered. She hasn’t stopped since.
In her own car, Cathy drives other seniors to the market in Knox County. At first, she’d pick them up on her usual shopping days, but now she takes groups throughout the month. Cathy also ‘fixes’ them home-cooked meals when she’s able.
“It’s a privilege to help,” she said. “And if I was in that position, I’d want someone to be kind to me too.”
erin
Erin used to get food assistance when her three children were young. Now, her kids are grown, and she’s paying it forward by helping her great aunt get to the local pantry and volunteering in the community.
“Three kids ate a lot of food, but it helped so much when I needed it,” Erin said about food assistance. “It feels really good to give back.”
Erin goes with her aunt Karen to the Madison County Food Pantry, an MOFC partner agency, to pick up fresh produce, bakery items, and pantry staples. In addition to stretching her aunt’s food budget, the outings are a chance for quality time together.
“She keeps me on my toes. We both went from sitting in the house doing nothing to getting out and about,” Erin said. “It’s nice to be able to help when it’s needed. If the time came that I needed help again, I’d hope someone would help me.”
kathy
Kathy was ashamed of needing food assistance until a friend convinced her to go to the Mid-Ohio Market at Center of Hope in Knox County. Now she encourages others to go too.
“God said, ‘be a good steward of what you get,’ and so I do,” said Kathy.
She recently saw a stranger eye her near-empty shopping cart and say, “This cost me $100.” Kathy gave the woman directions to nearby food pantries. She’s done this many times.
Kathy is also trying to get her church pantry to pick up fresh produce from the Center of Hope. Her small town in Coshocton County has few resources. “This community needs it,” she said.
The healthy food Kathy gets at the Center of Hope has ‘saved’ her. It’s why she wants others to see there’s no shame in food assistance.
“I’m not scared to open a cupboard and see nothing in it anymore,” said Kathy. “Go out and let people know there’s help.”
