COVINGTON COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY  - November 2011
The food pantry appreciates your generosity and continued support. Through many donations to Covington Outreach Association (COA) (from area churches, Covington schools, area organizations, local businesses, residents, and friends of Covington) this year we have provided more than 1,600 bags of groceries, frozen items and milk vouchers to Covington families with emergency food needs.
 
We are constantly working to keep food on our shelves each week to allow us to continue this important ministry. Below is a partial list of some fast moving items that would be appreciated to help stock our shelves. Cereal, crackers, noodles, peanut butter, jelly, pancake mix and syrup, Chef Boy-ar-Dee canned pastas, sugar, canned tuna, small canned ham, chicken broth, canned chicken, boxed potatoes, pork and beans, chili soup and others, mixed vegetables, Home Bakes (with meat), hamburger and tuna helper, mustard, chicken broth cubes, canned fruit, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, paper towels and toothpaste etc.  If you are unable to or would rather not shop, monetary donations would also be appreciated. Non-perishables can be dropped off at the church office 8:00 a.m. to Noon weekdays. Please send monetary donations to Covington Outreach Association, 101 N. Wall Street, P.O. Box 125, Covington, OH 45318. The COA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

COA DONOR/VOLUNTEER RECEPTION - June 2011
To show our appreciation to the volunteers and donors who have supported the ministries of Covington Outreach Association (COA) we will be hosting an Ice Cream (Culver's Custard) Reception June 2nd at 6:30 p.m. to thank you for your generosity.  Our musical entertainment for the evening will be "Steel Expressions" who play the relaxing sounds of "island" music including calypso, island, soca, pop and classical. The are all-acoustic and use no amplifiers - just the beautiful sound of Steel Drums!  We will be under the shade trees across from Covington Church of the Brethren. Please bring your lawn chair or blanket and join us!  RVSP would be appreciated to help us plan the amount of Culver's Custard needed.  Phone: 473-2415 or e-mail. If you would like to help offset the cost of the evening donations can be sent to: Covington Outreach Association, P.O. Box 125, Covington, Ohio 45318.

COA SUNDAY NEWS - May 2011
The Covington Outreach Association (COA) was organized in 2005 to serve as a vital resource for emergency food and financial assistance for Covington residents in need. In September, 2006, we received approval from the Internal Revenue Service to operate as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3). This designation allows us to compete for grant funds and allows our donors to fully deduct their contributions to our organization.

We are truly blessed that a village of our size can offer such care and compassion for our neighbors. At our food pantry, located in the basement of the Church of the Brethren, a family can make their own selection of their favorite non-perishable and frozen foods along with a local store voucher for a gallon of milk. COA also helps our neighbors faced with utility shut-off notices and rent eviction notices so that families don’t have to choose between paying a bill and putting food on the table for their children.

In 2010, COA contributions in food and cash donations totaled over $115,000 and volunteers logged over 3,000 hours. 90% of all donations go back to the community to support low income families of Covington. These blessings helped provide food and emergency financial assistance for 1,729 people in over 175 families (an increase of 50% over 2009). Our Back2School Program provided backpacks and supplies to 105 children to ensure a fresh start for the new school year along with school fees when needed. Senior Citizens of Covington had an opportunity to participate in Bingo or Euchre events several times during the warmer months of the year. Thanksgiving meals were offered to 60 families working in conjunction with Christian Life Center of Piqua and their main campus in Vandalia. At Christmas time, our churches organized a gift program including food boxes for families to spread the spirit of Christmas to 155 children in 62 families. 250 Christmas cards made by Covington school children were sent to Covington Senior Citizens, 19 Covington Senior Citizens received gifts and 79 Covington Care Center Residents were remembered at the holidays last year.

Our fund raising goal for 2010 was $85,000. COA is a safety net that can keep friends and family from falling through the cracks. All funds raised remain local, and we operate under the leadership of Executive Director Cindy Miller with very low administrative costs. Thank you for your time and consideration. According to the USDA, food prices in the U.S. increased 2.5% to 3.5% in 2010 with more increases predicted for 2011. The COA sees an average of 60 families a month for assistance.

From the bottom of our hearts, and on behalf of all our community members in need, we thank you for helping us help others.