The main idea that I am exploring for my final project is organizing a canned food drive for Our Daily Bread, which is a ministry of hospitality located in OTR that is dedicated to serving neighborhood residents and individuals who frequently visit the area. They assist these people by providing warm meals, social services, and places for guests to socialize in a safe, respectful environment. When I was investigating service organizations in OTR, I came upon this organization and read their suggestion that individuals and groups organize a canned goods drive to benefit their visitors.
I feel like people need to be reminded, especially during the holidays when they are busy buying presents and organizing social events for family and friends, to think outside of their own small communities and assist others who live in the Greater Cincinnati area. In order to educate people about Our Daily Bread and their mission and to get the word out about the canned food drive, I plan to use my contacts to get in touch with local business people and get permission to set up bins in their companies to collect canned goods from their employees. I would also develop educational posters to be displayed which would discuss Our Daily Bread, the work they do, and the strides being made in OTR, and ask for food donations. I would pick up the donations after approximately a week. I have already contacted the president of my father’s company, and he has agreed to allow me to put bins and posters in their cafeteria. In the same time frame, I also plan to go door-to-door in my Amberley Village neighborhood to collect canned goods for the organization. I will develop, print, and pass out a pamphlet to educate my neighbors about Our Daily Bread and the progress being made in OTR. After collecting and picking up all donations, I will drive to Our Daily Bread and drop them off. I also hope to talk with the staff there to learn more about what they do.
Through organizing and distributing information to my community, I will be learning how to engage people outside of OTR to think about and engage themselves in OTR. Through Exploring Community Engagement, I have learned that Over the Rhine is making great strides in rebuilding and renewing its community. By raising awareness and educating the people I know about the needs of the community and the progress being made, I can do my small part in uniting the broader community to engage themselves in helping the OTR community and its residents.