OHgo's bigger building to better serve locals

Editor's note: OHgo — a leading organization in feeding underserved and lesser-fortunate locals throughout Erie County — is pursuing an expansion of its Sandusky-area headquarters, 2304 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky, and recently informed the community of its progress. PERKINS TWP. — Over the past several years, OHgo has experienced growth. What began as a small effort to help neighbors in need has evolved into a larger operation that now serves thousands of individuals each month. With this growth came a challenge: We outgrew our storage and workspace. As living expenses continue to rise and household budgets are stretched thinner than ever, the demand for food assistance has grown. Limited storage capacity would force us to make difficult decisions about what we can accept and how much inventory we can keep on hand. We wanted to make sure we could maintain a more consistent supply of nutritious items for families who depend on us as well as remain prepared for emergencies. For us, this project hasn't simply been a construction project: It's been an important investment in people. As we look to the future, our purpose remains unchanged: to meet people where they are and provide food, hope and connection in a way where no one in our community feels forgotten. Construction began during the first week in May and is expected to be completed by the end of July. The expansion will provide us with 2,300 square feet of additional building space and additional space for an asphalt parking lot. We thank our generous donors for believing in our mission: the Erie County Community Foundation, the Sidney Frohman Foundation, the Dorn Foundation, the Wightman Wieber Charitable Foundation, the 21st Century Foundation and all of the local businesses and individuals. Donations, however, are still welcome and would be appreciated. Consider sponsoring a shelf in our traveling food bus or becoming a monthly donor to keep our pantry shelves stocked with nutritious food. For every $1 donated, that provides four meals. Each year, with your help, we are able to distribute enough food to provide 1.5 million meals to local neighbors in need. People can: • Donate by visiting raise.pub/ohgo/donate • Sponsor-a-shelf by visiting raise.pub/ohgo/sponsor-a-shelf • Learn more by visiting ohgoreach.org