Customers are at the heart of everything we do at Mid-Ohio Food Collective, and that’s why we are proud to announce the launch of our Customer Advisory Council (CAC), a new effort to center the voices and perspectives of people we serve in meaningful ways.
The CAC is made up of customers who have received services from MOFC or our partner agency network within the past 12 months. Council members will work together to provide open feedback on MOFC services, act as customer advocates, and bring the voice of our community into MOFC’s decision-making processes.
“I want to help with the stigma of food insecurity in my community,” said Donna Wade, a council member. “No one should feel ashamed for being hungry.”
Council members will dedicate four hours a month to council work, which includes monthly meetings and check-ins with MOFC CAC organizer Nicole DeLozier.
After several rounds of interviews to determine best fits, MOFC is proud to introduce the inaugural CAC, which includes seven members (pictured below):
Jessica Birrer
Shannon Follins
Janetta Powell
Rachel Rives
Donna Spontak
Donna Wade
Robynne Watson
The opportunity to apply for a seat on the council was shared with partner agencies across MOFC’s 20-county footprint. All seven council members are from Franklin County, but MOFC Strategy and Insights Manager and Council Organizer Nicole DeLozier hopes customers from other counties apply too. It would help MOFC understand and address the unique challenges faced by different communities, she said.
Nicole said the launch of the CAC is a major first for MOFC.
“The Customer Advisory Council represents a shift toward more responsive services,” she said. “The first class of council members are trailblazers, setting the stage for future members and helping us build a stronger, more responsive organization. I want to thank them for being the voice of our community.”
On February 19, 2025, MOFC held a kick-off meeting and celebration for the Customer Advisory Council.
At the kick-off, council members had their headshots taken, ate lunch prepared by the Mid-Ohio Kitchen, and were warmly greeted by MOFC CEO Matt Habash, who called customers “the most important piece in the mosaic of our work.”
As Matt explained, customer feedback has informed MOFC’s operations for years. For instance, a past customer shared that the only two days her local food pantry was open were days she worked, so she wasn’t ever able to come. That feedback is a big reason why the Mid-Ohio Markets at Gantz and Norton Road are open more than 30 hours a week (including Saturdays and evenings). MOFC hopes to gain similarly valuable insights from its new CAC members, Matt explained.
With the launch of the MOFC Customer Advisory Council, there’s now a dedicated place for customer voices to be heard.
“It was inspiring to hear Matt describe how one voice can change the whole process,” said Robynne Watson, a council member. “It’s exciting to feel included in the conversation.”
Interested in becoming a council member? Applications are still open for this year’s CAC. Customers from any of the 20 counties MOFC serves are encouraged to apply.
