It’s Just Hot Dogs, Right???

It’s just hot dogs, right?  Well, maybe it’s a bit more than that…

Even though last fiscal year was our most successful fundraising year ever, and even though we have a brand new director- Father Joe Ciccone, C.S.P.- our development team knew that we could not take a break if our ministry to the Buckeye Catholics was going to continue to grow.  We would need to work hard and continue to find innovative ways to raise support.  So, when we first started planning a concession ministry for hungry fans headed to Buckeye home games, we knew that if we were going to do this, we would need to do it well.  Thanks to that attitude, and lots of help from many dedicated and experienced volunteers, the Mustard Seed Café has made it to the halfway point of the football season- (four home games down, four more to go)-with many successes to be proud of.  We have engaged over 50 volunteers over the four games, many of whom were first-time volunteers at the Newman Center.  We have served over 2,500 people who have all now had a part in funding our ministry and helping to feed the homeless.  We have raised awareness of the need to help the homeless and hungry in Columbus, OH.  We have been covered in many media outlets including the Diocesan newspaper and Columbus Business First, a weekly paper reporting on news in the local business community.  We have also raised over $9,000 through product sales and another $4,500 in individual and corporate sponsorships. Since all money raised through sales is directed to our homeless feeding programs, bringing in $9,000 means that our volunteers can afford to serve 7,500 hot and hearty meals to the homeless in Franklin County. So when people ask me if it’s just about hot dogs, I am quick to point out that it is about so much more!

Check us out at http://www.facebook.com/mustardseedcafe