Talkin' Body believes that community involvement and giving back is essential to our mission. Below are a few of the charities that we have supported recently.
Talkin' Body in conjunction with Salsamante Dance Academy and Huntington Bank, held a School Supplies Drive for D's Dreams 4 Kids. In the classroom, having the correct supplies can make all the difference in the world to a child! Studies show that children having school supplies of their own can improve grades, creativity, attitudes towards learning, behavior, peer relationships and self-image. Education is the first step to overcoming poverty. A single pack of pencils and paper could be the gateway to a bright promising year.
Talkin' Body in conjunction with Salsamante Dance Academy and Huntington Bank, held a Toiletry Drive for the Guadalupe Center Food Pantry. The food pantry was in dire need of items such as Bar Soap, Deodorant, Shampoo, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Toilet Paper and Feminine Products. These are things that families need but people often overlook when donating to a food bank. We collected 4 grocery carts full of toiletries and stocked the shelves at the pantry. We are most grateful to everyone that donated!
Talkin' Body in conjunction with Salsamante Dance Academy held a toy drive for Franklin County Children's Services Holiday Wish program November and December 2023. Franklin County Children's Services provides gifts for more than 6,500 youth served by the agency. The Talkin' Body and Salsamante dance community provided a carload of toys to help put the magic back in the holidays for children who recently came into the system. We hope this provided comfort and joy to the children in need! Isn't that what the spirit of the holidays is meant to be?
Talkin' Body in conjunction with Huntington Bank and RnR Bar & Grill held a food drive for the Our Lady of Guadalupe Food Pantry in May 2023. Our Lady of Guadalupe Center works to reduce poverty by addressing its root causes within the immigrant Hispanic community concentrated on the west side of Columbus—a population that is growing and experiences disproportionate poverty. The center provides services including a food pantry, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, nutrition classes, preventative health screenings, legal and immigration consultations and referrals, and comprehensive case management. In 2019, the center provided 110,388 meals to help families build a better life. The culmination of the effort was a celebration party on May 21st at RnR Bar & Grill in Hilliard, OH. Clara Brown, Guadalupe Center Program Manager, said “We know our Hispanic families will appreciate everything you gifted us. Muchas gracias!!”.
Did you know that 1 in 3 families in the U.S. struggle to afford diapers for their children? The average baby needs 6-10 diapers per day, but for many low-income families, this basic necessity can be out of reach. Since its inception, Bottoms Up, a non-profit organization that provides clean diapers to single mothers, has delivered more than 3 million diapers to over 70 food pantries and childcare facilities in 16 counties in Ohio.
Talkin’ Body and RnR Bar & Grill held a diaper drive for Bottoms Up. We collected 2,284 diapers and 712 diaper wipes ensuring that disadvantaged families have access to the diapers they need to keep their children clean, dry, and healthy.
Franklin County Children's Services provides gifts for more than 6,500 youth served by the agency. The Talkin' Body team members joined together with the Salsamante Dance Academy to provide a huge cart of toys to help put the magic back in the holidays. We hope this provided comfort and joy to the children who recently came into the system!
In cooperation with Rude Dog Bar and Grill, Talkin' Body is collecting pet supplies for the Citizens for Humane Action (CHA) animal shelter! If you would like to contribute, drop donations off at Rude Dog before July 1, 2022. We are there every Friday night teaching a free salsa, bachata and merengue lesson. Join us for that too!
CHA Animal Shelter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal shelter in northeast Columbus, Ohio. CHA is funded solely from adoption fees, donations from the public, and our own fundraising efforts. Their mission is to serve the people and animals of Central Ohio by providing safe, temporary shelter and care for abandoned or otherwise homeless cats and dogs, and to reduce pet overpopulation by means of spay and neuter, education, and community outreach. We have been fulfilling our mission since 1975.
In cooperation with Next Level Fitness & Training, Talkin' Body collected 196 pounds of food for the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM)! We are overjoyed that we put a dent in hunger for Westerville residents.
Incorporated in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, WARM addresses the basic human needs of unemployed and underemployed residents of the Westerville Ohio School District. WARM is a USDA-approved food provider serving a target population of families that live at or below 230% of the federal poverty threshold established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Franklin County Children's Services provides gifts for more than 6,500 youth served by the agency. Talkin' Body team members provided a huge cart of toys to help put the magic back in the holidays for children who recently came into the system. We hope this provided comfort and joy to the children in need.
Celebrating One is a non-profit organization that encourages those who feel alone and need help to keep moving forward to good emotional, mental and financial health that will enrich their lives giving validation, understanding, hope, love, and joy. For their 5th Anniversary, Talkin' Body donated a Date Night basket including dinner, dance lessons and wine.
During the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, Talkin' Body wanted to do something to help. Nursing home residents were cut-off from their families. Columbus Colony for Elderly Care is a not-for-profit licensed skilled nursing community in Westerville that specializes in short-term rehabilitation, outpatient therapy and long-term care with a special focus on individuals who are deaf, deaf and blind or hard of hearing. Talkin' Body made hand-crafted greeting cards every quarter for all 120 residents of the facility. The personalized cards were inteded to let the residents know someone was thinking about them and bring a smile to their faces.