See what FACCES families have to say about being a member watch the family interviews. If you have not already joined, click the link to sign up today! Become a FACCES Family Member.
See what FACCES families have to say about being a member watch the family interviews. If you have not already joined, click the link to sign up today! Become a FACCES Family Member.
FACCES would like to highlight Anthony and Denise Davis as our March faces of FACCES. They have been actively involved since the beginning. Together they regularly attend our Urban Gardener’s Gatherings, where they not only participate but also contribute insights on gardening to the community.
The couple have donated their time, talent, and treasures, making a significant impact on our program and our mission. Their friendliness and warm demeanor make them a joy to work with and easy to talk to. Their consistent engagement and enthusiasm are contagious.
We are incredibly grateful to Anthony and Denise Davis for their continued support of FACCES. We look forward to many more years with them. Thank you, Anthony and Denise, for being such valuable members of the FACCES family!
We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on Central State University as our Faces of FACCES. Their support and commitment to community enrichment have contributed to our program’s success.
Central State has been a valuable partner, actively participating in our Urban Garden initiatives and dedicating their expertise to educating our community on sustainable gardening practices. During our Urban Gardener’s Gatherings, their knowledgeable instructors have conducted classes, sharing insights on planting, cultivation, and helping the community better utilize the environment around them.
A standout contribution from Central State has been the implementation of the 4-H program, providing our youth with valuable lessons on hydroponic tower gardening. This knowledge empowers young individuals to engage in the process of growing their crops and preparing meals from the produce they harvest from the hydroponic tower—all within the comfort of indoor spaces. This demonstrates that one does not necessarily need a traditional garden or extensive land to grow their own food. We extend our thanks to Central State University for constantly being active at FACCES and contributing to our shared mission of fostering a healthier and more educated community. Together, we are planting the seeds for a brighter future!
We would like to acknowledge and highlight Lavesea Clardy as the January 2024 Faces of FACCES. Her commitment to understanding and listening to the community makes her impact that much more personal. Lavesea is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Life Coach offering services to mothers on budgeting and increasing their independent living skills.
“I really want to highlight to parents the importance of mental health and how it doesn’t just impact them, but their children as well.”
During the Virtual Family Gathering December 6th, 2023, Lavesea spoke on Mental Wellness during the holiday season. Families were able to give feedback and enjoy the interactive experience. She now has a focus on completing the supervision of her license and expanding her clinical pallet to better understand the community. Lavesea has also taken an active role in supporting the FACCES Mental Wellness pillar coming soon!
We at FACCES want to say thank you to Lavesea for her amazing work. We look forward to her continued success in her journey and as a member of the FACCES Mental Wellness Committee.
On November 28, the Friends of FACCES event took place, bringing together friends, family, and supporters of the FACCES organization. The evening was filled with joy, laughter, and a shared mission to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
The venue was buzzing with excitement as attendees enjoyed delicious food, refreshing drinks, and the company of their loved ones. One of the highlights of the evening was a game of bingo, which featured fun facts and data about FACCES’ accomplishments from the 2022 –2023 fiscal year. Goals for the upcoming year were also shared.
During the event, attendees were also given the opportunity to tour the construction site of our new FACCES Kitchen and Theater. This upcoming addition to the organization’s facilities will provide a platform for promoting healthy eating habits, hosting cultural events, and offering educational resources to FACCES families.
The Friends of FACCES event served as a reminder of the power of community support and the impact it can have you work together to help others. We expressed our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who contributed on Giving Tuesday. We also emphasized that there are still opportunities to give and make a difference. Interested individuals can click the provided link Contribute (startingpointevents.org) or reach out to FACCES directly 1-800-464-0920 to find out how they can contribute.
Reflecting on this past year, we are thrilled at the remarkable achievements made possible with your support. Together we accomplished incredible things that made a lasting positive impact on our community. Here is a glimpse of some of our accomplishments.
2022-2023 fiscal year statistics:
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supports FACCES, whether it’s through your time, donations, food, resources, uplifting words, event participation, meeting attendance, or becoming a registered FACCES family member. Your ongoing support helps us to shape a meaningful impact on both our and your families’ futures.
This month our Faces of FACCES is celebrating several of our alumni. Issac, Karter and Maryln, currently high school students, started their FACCES journey as children at The Starting Point Learning Center as preschool students. They are now in our FACCES Life Ready program still learning and growing, gaining the knowledge and skills they need as they enter adulthood.
We believe being able to provide age-specific resources and services from infancy to adulthood is what makes FACCES so unique. A FACCES core value is Legacy and empowering potential in the next generation is Legacy in action!
For the November 2023 Faces of FACCES, we would like to give a shout out to our community partners Columbus Gives Back for their consistent support in volunteer efforts! With the support from Columbus gives back in 2023, FACCES has been able to successfully host 20 fresh market events as of October 2023. Columbus Gives back has always been centered in supporting the community, with a focus on connecting with motivated volunteers that are eager to serve!
“The Fresh Market is always fun, exciting, and impactful for the volunteers and the community!”
– Kara says about Columbus Give Back’s experience at Fresh Market
We are excited to continue our partnership with Columbus Gives Back moving forward. For those interested in joining a community of giving, Columbus Gives Back has many opportunities to give back. The support of Columbus Gives Back has helped to feed families near and far, driving the FACCES vision of food equity for all!
We would like to highlight Ms. Aseylean Brown for the October 2023 Faces of FACCES! Ms. Brown has been participating in the FACCES Urban Garden greenhouse all through the summer with her great grandson and her dog by her side!
“I was born and raised on a farm. We grew our food. I didn’t think I’d use those skills again until I got here.” Ms. Brown shares.
Starting from scratch, Ms. Brown has played a huge part in planting for the summer and harvesting the produce as well. The produce ranges from Cucumbers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Beans and more! The FACCES Urban Garden tilapia have grown too as we look to begin harvesting them soon.
She now has begun preparing for the Fall harvest, planting seeds both in the greenhouse and outside in the outdoor garden beds.
“You know you don’t have to buy all your food; you can grow it too.”
We appreciate and commend Ms. Brown for her contribution, and the joy she has for the community!
The September 2023 Faces of FACCES goes to our Fall Family Gathering vendors in partnership with The Center for Healthy Families! The organizations above have committed to helping support the community and families through the resources they provide. Some vendors have previously attended the Family Gatherings and have begun to build connections with those who attend. Other vendors are new to the Family Gathering and look forward to establishing those connections with families! Here’s what a couple of our vendors have to say:
Terence B. with AmeriHealth: “We consider the community our family, and we want families to be well taken care of.”
Debra D. with Mid-Ohio Food Collective: “We want people to be excited about healthy eating, we care about families, we want families to be whole. We are here for them.”
Jessica Kauffman, also known as “Jess”, is our August 2023 Faces of FACCES! Jess has been a 7th grade English & Language Arts Teacher at Dominion Middle School for the past 2 years. Earlier this year Jess was looking for volunteer opportunities with the goal of finding an organization that truly needed a lot of support.
“One thing I’ll always know is that I can count on FACCES Fresh Market to always give back. I always feel comfortable and like I’m welcomed. I’m really starting to meet and build connections in the community; I’m recognizing their faces and their recognizing mine!”
Jess understands that a lot of people don’t feel comfortable about receiving the groceries they need from Fresh Market, so she is passionate about making people smile and providing dignified support for those who attend. In the future Jess is looking forward to finding ways to be hands-on and support the children in the community as well!
