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 includes using new and updating existing technology in the center, implementing new curriculum, and continued focus on professional development for the staff; (3) Created a partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital to provide services to a student and family in need of in-classroom developmental support; (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, Kindergarten Readiness night, and student art show; and (6) against licensed capacity of 104 children per day, had average daily attendance of 43 children (lower enrollment due to change in staffing infrastructure).

The VCC K-12 Program, which includes after-school, in-school and summer programming for school-age children works with four partner schools (Northland High School, Linden-McKinley STEM Academy, Northgate Intermediate and Avalon Elementary). The In-School Program served 92 students. The enrollment for the After-School program remained low due to the post pandemic impacts (increased transportation challenges prevented schools from dropping off students at VCC). The programs served the community as follows: (1) Increased service for daytime, in-school program by 30%. (2) Maintained partnerships with Future Ready and use of Learning Circles and DESSA tools for academic and social/emotional improvement; (3) The Vineyard Summer Program offered quality low cost or free summer services to 40 youth for 8 weeks (down about 30% compared to previous year, but aligned with ratio guidelines for staffing); (4)Re-introduced off-site field trips during the Summer Program, visiting 8 different locations throughout the summer; (5) Overall, VCC K-12 served over 130 (unique) youth during after-school, in-school, and summer programs, an increase of 30% compared to the previous year. This program was assisted by 23 intermittent volunteers.

The Social Outreach Programs achieved the following: (1) Community Resource Coordinator continued Crisis Response Team and began transition to general crisis assistance program. CRT fielded 496 requests (increase of 6 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 400 consults, 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 launching a Mobile Food Pantry - hosting monthly Fresh Produce Distributions in partnership with Mid-Ohio Food Collective. During the months of April through August 2023, 1847 individuals were served at 4 locations over 5 months; (4) launched a 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.

The Free Health Clinics achieved the following: (1) Continued a partnership with Lower Lights Christian Health Clinic (FQHC) to utilize facility at Vineyard Community Center; (2) Discontinued dental clinics, renovating exam rooms, increasing to 5 exam rooms instead of 3; (3) The total patients served was 226 (decrease due to closure from May through December amidst loss of longterm leader and hiring of new coordinator); (4) Organized over 38 volunteers with total of 426 consolidated volunteer hours provided, and the conservative overall value of services rendered exceeds $45,751.

The Sports & Exercise Programs, now called Vineyard Community Center Classes, Events, and Leagues, continued weekly programming through classes and events in 22-23. More than 360 participants (increased 45%) engaged in gymnastics, volleyball, martial arts, staff basketball and staff pickleball. In addition to the Sports and Exercise Programs, 20,908 visits (increased 30%) from community members to VCC spaces for all programs and activities programs were counted for the program year. VCC classes, events, and leagues were led by 15 volunteers (1,755 times volunteered) who served more than 3,200 hours.