Dublin, Ohio – Dublin, Ohio – The Dublin Food Pantry is pleased to welcome Julie Erwin-Rinaldi as its Executive Director, effective mid-August 2024. Julie will help guide the Dublin Food Pantry in its mission of ensuring #EveryoneEatsHere, along with Jim Wilson, Director of Operations, the Board of Directors, and the many volunteers and community partners who so graciously give of their time and resources.
“We are excited to welcome Julie Erwin-Rinaldi as the new Executive Director of the Dublin Food Pantry, which is a vital resource for our community,” says Dublin City Manager Megan O’Callaghan. “The City of Dublin is proud to partner with such an impactful organization, and there is no one better suited for this role than Julie. Her extensive experience and passion for community service are second to none and make her an exceptional choice to advance the Food Pantry’s mission.”
Before beginning her work with the Dublin Food Pantry, Erwin-Rinaldi worked in non-profit and public sector behavioral health/mental health care for 38 years. Most recently, she served as the CEO of Syntero, Inc., formerly known as the Dublin Counseling Center. She announced her retirement from the non-profit, effective July 31, 2024.
“It has been an honor to serve the Dublin Community with our team at Syntero for the last 15 years. Serving with the Dublin Food Pantry is a perfect transition from that tremendously important work,” notes Erwin-Rinaldi. “There is a clear correlation between food insecurity and mental health and well-being; if you can’t feed yourself or your family your mental health will suffer. I love the hashtag #EveryoneEatsHere and am committed to making that goal a reality.”
For over 46 years, the Dublin Food Pantry has provided food and essential items to individuals and families within our community who are experiencing food insecurity. The Pantry serves residents throughout the City of Dublin and Dublin City Schools District who are spread across eight zip codes and three counties.
The Board of Directors of the Dublin Food Pantry offered Erwin-Rinaldi the opportunity to continue her vital community impact, and she says, she “jumped at the chance.”
“I am so psyched to have the opportunity to continue to work in the community that I love to provide resources to individuals and families in need, to improve the quality of their lives.” She goes on to say, “I have lived, worked, and volunteered in this community for 27 years and it is overwhelmingly evident how much the city leaders and Pantry volunteers and supporters care deeply about the well-being of our residents.”
Erwin-Rinaldi has been an active member of the Dublin A.M. Rotary since 2009, serving as president and Literacy Committee chairperson. She and her husband, David, have enjoyed volunteering together for the Miracle League of Central Ohio, Meals on Wheels, Salvation Army, and other local non-profits through their years in Dublin.
“I am thrilled to continue to work with the community to develop creative, caring ways to support those who need a helping hand. I hope to maximize the long-standing community partnerships that I have made in my previous work to continue to find ways to create hope and healing.”
While not everyone realizes the extent of hunger in the Dublin community, hunger continues to grow. More than 4,700 households live on less than $35,000 annually in our community and nearly 16% of Dublin students are considered economically disadvantaged.
To meet the growing needs of its neighbors, the Dublin Food Pantry launched a $3 million comprehensive capital campaign in 2022 to purchase and renovate a larger, more accessible facility from which to serve the community. Thanks to the generosity of the Dublin community, the Pantry began serving clients at its new home at 6608 Dublin Center Drive on October 11, 2023.
The new space is certainly being put to good use. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, the Food Pantry has had a nearly 30% increase in the number of households served, with a 22% increase in overall Pantry visits during the first quarter of 2024. That equates to 171,447 equivalent meals distributed in just the first three months of the year.
As the Dublin Food Pantry enters this new phase, the continued support of the community is vital to ensuring the most vulnerable receive the food and essential items necessary. As the demands on the Pantry continue to increase, additional financial and human resources are required to meet those needs.
If you have not visited the new Pantry, we invite you to do so. To learn more about the Pantry and how you can get involved, visit us online or email Julie at Director@DublinFoodPantry.org.
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