ICO Newsletter - 11/27/24
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We Made Some Happy Thanksgivings!
In last week’s newsletter, we made a special appeal for Thanksgiving dinner supply donations for five Columbus Violence Reduction program participant families. This was organized by Ann Shroyer and Shela Blanchard. We had just a 24-hour window to fill a tub on the porch at 437 Piedmont. Lordy, did we fill it, and then some!
We ended up with at least three big tubs’ worth of donations, plus $400 in cash. The families got their dinners and with the surplus of turkey money, we were able to donate $250 to the mothers of Casey Goodson, Jr, Donovan Lewis, and Ta’Kiya Young - who honor their children’s memories by providing for the community. They gifted Thanksgiving dinner supplies to at least 87 families last Sunday, and – thanks to Tamala Payne’s (Casey’s mom) amazing thriftiness and coupon savvy – she turned our donation into 25 turkeys for those families. Many thanks for all the donations on such a tight turnaround! AMAZING!
Our donations paid for some of the turkeys above!
An incredible kick off to our season of giving!
Indivisible Central Ohio members are generous all year round, but especially so at this time of year. We contribute to our community in many ways: we register voters, support progressive candidates, and work to make our democracy better. PLUS, during the holiday season, we volunteer our time and support organizations that align with our values.
This year once again, we're helping out at the St. Stephen’s holiday food distribution event (coming up 12/22/24), and we’re supporting the MidOhio Food Collective, the Abortion Fund of Ohio, and the Kaleidoscope Youth Center. All of these organizations provide vital services to Ohioans in need year-round. We'd like to track our impact, so please use the following links when you donate:
SIGN UP! St Stephen's Christmas Cares, Unions Share Distribution Weekend
Sign up to join other ICO volunteers on Sunday, December 22, 2-4:30pm as we work with St. Stephen’s Community House and the Central Ohio Labor Council to distribute food baskets to Central Ohio families. More info and sign up HERE.
Coming Soon: Donations to CRIS to support an Indivisible Partner Family
A small group of Indivisibles are in the process of learning about becoming a welcome team for a refugee family, through Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS). Part of the partnership is raising funds and collecting supplies. Once we get started we'll be counting on the generosity of the group as a whole! Please be on the lookout for our requests.
Use your $$ to support Minority Owned Businesses
This holiday season, we can use the power of the purse to support our values. Experience Columbus published this list of minority owned businesses. You know what to do!
ICO Behind the Scenes: Meet Sydney Funk
Have you ever wondered how Indivisible magically has a good-looking newsletter each week? The answer is, Sydney Funk! Sydney designs and formats the newsletter every week (often late at night or early in the morning), and maintains our Mailchimp account. She also manages our website, and advises on many other things technological. It’s a huge relief to know each week she will be there to take the newsletter from half- to fully-baked! Many, many sincere thanks!
From Sydney: "I am honored to provide support each week to the important work we do in a manner that suits both my creativity and my introverted personality! When I am not working on the newsletter, I enjoy knitting, listening to music, and being in nature."
Here’s What One Person Can Do (From Jackie Bird)
Ever say to yourself, “I’m just one person, what can I do?” Well, here’s what one person did in 2024. In the spring, an ICO volunteer opened her home on Wednesday evenings for those in the Clintonville area (and soon beyond) to write Letters and Postcards to Voters. Initially starting with a half dozen people, the group grew to 19 “regulars”, plus the cat. Supplies were ferried each week to/from ICO’s Porch of Democracy and together the group wrote hundreds of letters and untold numbers of postcards.
The camaraderie was great and the group decided to continue into 2025 as future initiatives reveal themselves.
So—have an idea on how to help and participate? Run with it. ICO will offer support to the extent it can.
Those participating included: Virginia Terry, Jackie Bird, Lori Jones, Diana Hazlett, Pat Rhoads, Kim Schultz, Karen Torvik, Paula Woodson, Suzanne Vickers, Maureen Thompson, Jeanne Weinberg, Rosemary Tolliver, Laurel Doerflen, Kathy Shaver, Robin Shaver, Jennifer Hughes, Tess Wigginton, Carolee Luberto, and Janet Schwarz.
Note: Those who wrote letters to voters this year might be interested in this Blog Post from Vote Forward.
Need a little good news this week?
The following bills stand a good chance of passing. Please call and tell legislators to say YES to the following bills – and YES it is fine to leave a voicemail!
SB 198 – Provide Inmates with State ID Cards, Education Documentation
This bill would allow for the provision of state identification cards and documentation to inmates upon their release relating to work experience, education, and trade skills.
What can you do now?
Contact these members of the House State and Local Government Committee:
Scott Wiggam, chair – 614-466-1474; rep77@ohiohouse.gov
Bill Dean, vice chair – 614-466-1470; rep71@ohiohouse.gov
Sean Brennan, ranking member – 614-466-3485; rep14@ohiohouse.gov
HB 333 – Prohibit Law Enforcement Quotas for Arrests and Citations
Read more HERE.
What can you do now?
Tell these members of the House Homeland Security Committee you support this bill:
Haraz Ghanbari, chair – 614-466-8104; rep75@ohiohouse.gov
Phil Plummer, vice chair – 614-644-8051; rep39@ohiohouse.gov
Cecil Thomas, ranking member – 614-466-1645; rep25@ohiohouse.gov
HB 152 – Enact Madeline’s Law Regarding Hearing Aid Coverage
What can you do now?
Contact these members of the Senate Insurance Committee:
Bob Hackett, chair – 614-466-3780; hackett@ohiosenate.gov
George Lang, vice chair – 614-466-8072; lang@ohiosenate.gov
Hearcel Craig, ranking member – 614-466-5131; craig@ohiosenate.gov
Are you on Instagram?
Indivisible Central Ohio is on Instagram, but we’re not very active there. We’re looking for someone to take over our account and post a bit more often! We’ll get you set up with the permissions you need, etcetera. Reply to this email if you’re game, and thank you!
Upcoming Events (Calendar view)
Tuesday, 12/3/2024: Tell Westerville City Council, Stop Trump! 7pm, Westerville City Hall, 21 S State St, Westerville. Local government, local resistance! Join us at the Westerville City Council to lobby members of council to pass a policy that will help to protect vulnerable members of our community from abuses by the Trump administration. Read more and RSVP at this link.
Sunday, 12/22/2024: St Stephen's Christmas Cares, Unions Share Distribution, 2-4:30pm, 1500 E 17th Ave, Columbus. Sign up to join other Indivisible Central Ohio volunteers as we work with St. Stephen’s Community House and the Central Ohio Labor Council to distribute food baskets to families. More info and sign HERE.
Mia for the OHCentral Team
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