Plan for the Unexpected

Wes
May 23
2 min read

Updated: May 25

Be stubborn about your vision but flexible with your plan. - John Maxwell

HEART Food Pantry operated as a basic food pantry with limited hours. In 2018, I joined HEART's Board. As a pantry, families shopped monthly by appointment. There was a problem. The demand for food was so great, that no appointments were available for new families. HEART turned new families away with a bag of food and directions to another pantry.

In 2019, I facilitated HEART's strategic plan with leadership. The plan identified areas of strength and weaknesses and the team created goals to address major issues.

HEART’s strategic plan was shared with Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the regional food bank. Mid-Ohio saw potential in HEART and asked leadership to meet with them. We met for several months and discussed a new market concept. Mid-Ohio invited HEART to join them in implementing the new concept that addressed issues HEART struggled with. The Market offered:

A bright Market atmosphere (vs. pantry operating out of a warehouse environment)
Families could shop weekly (not monthly)
It eliminate appointments
Increase shopping hours provided more shopping options for working families
More fresh healthy food was available

HEART leadership said yes to the partnership with Mid-Ohio. The pantry transformed into Mid-Ohio Market at HEART. With Mid-Ohio Food Collective’s support, HEART moved into a facility that is triple the size of the pantry.

COVID-19 hit four months after the new Mid-Ohio Market at HEART opened. While other businesses and nonprofits were closing, HEART pivoted again as an essential business feeding families during the pandemic. HEART adjusted their operations to meet new restrictions.

Teams of masked volunteers sanitized, sorted food and loaded grocery carts inside HEART.
Reynoldsburg Police directed traffic congestion (sometimes vehicles backed up ¼ mile) on Main St. from families waiting to pull into HEART.
A team of masked volunteers delivered food carts curbside.
Another team loaded food into waiting cars.

HEART nourished families during rain or sunshine.

HEART Food Pantry provided an average of 16.8 meals per individual for one month.
Mid-Ohio Market at HEART provided an average of 16.7 meals per individual for one week.
Over 4000 new families shopped in 2020 vs 2019.

HEART endured two major changes in the span of 6 months. One major change solved an internal problem. One major change addressed an external adverse event. Mid-Ohio Market at HEART’s mission didn’t just survive the changes, it thrived, nourishing more families more often.

Today, HEART is building a new facility that will triple the space compared to its existing Market.

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents

which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.

~ Horace

Is your organization prepared to change when internal issues or external challenges arise?

To planning for the future,

Wes Legg

Coach & Facilitator