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Building dignity. Breaking barriers. Creating opportunity.

Since 2018, Make-A-Day has walked alongside thousands of Central Ohio neighbors experiencing homelessness and poverty. Through outreach and care, one-on-one stability support, and initiatives that remove systemic barriers, we meet people where they are, with meals, essentials, and trust, and help them take steps toward housing, employment, and long-term opportunity.

Our work is about removing roadblocks. Every person we meet has goals, skills, and potential. Our role is to help clear the barriers, like missing IDs, criminal records, or lack of housing, that keep them from moving forward.

Thousands served. Hundreds housed. Countless second chances created.

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The Daymaker Journal
Scaling Second Chances: Lessons from the Hilltop Move the Box Pilot
Scaling Second Chances: Lessons from the Hilltop Move the Box Pilot

A mom homeschooling her kids at the library saw the sign that said “expungement applications” and whispered, “I need that.” Hours later, she became the first guest to walk out with her expungement process complete.

That moment was the heart of something much bigger. Over the past year, Make-A-Day had been in conversation with Deena Strategies about how to address one of the most stubborn barriers to housing and employment stability: the weight of an old criminal record. At the same time, the Hilltop Library invited us in for a community event. The timing was right. After our first event with Hilltop, sharing meals and connecting with neighbors, we knew this was the place to launch a new model for justice.

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Neighbors Saving Neighbors: Lessons from Save A Life Day
Neighbors Saving Neighbors: Lessons from Save A Life Day

On September 25, neighbors across Franklin County gathered for Save A Life Day, a countywide effort to shift the overdose narrative from tragedy to prevention. From the packed room at Linden Fresh Market to the quiet reflection of the memorial table, the day was more than an event. It was a living demonstration of community care in action.

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A New Neighborhood, A Shared Commitment
A New Neighborhood, A Shared Commitment

At Make-A-Day, we believe that dignity is universal, but support must be specific. Recently, our outreach team partnered with community leaders, public health workers, and mutual aid providers to bring a street outreach event to a neighborhood outside of our usual routes. It was a chance to listen, to learn, and to serve in ways that honored the strengths already present.

We approached this event not as experts or fixers, but as neighbors. We knew we were stepping into a space with its own history, culture, and networks of support. Our goal was not to replace what was working, but to build relationships and extend our care where it was most needed.

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Upcoming Events
Basecamp Island Party
Oct 20
Basecamp Island Party
Street Outreach at CML Northern Lights
Oct 21
Street Outreach at CML Northern Lights
Street Outreach at Crossroads World Outreach Ministries
Oct 28
Street Outreach at Crossroads World Outreach Ministries
Street Outreach with CML Marion Franklin Branch
Nov 11
Street Outreach with CML Marion Franklin Branch
Season of Warmth Pop-Up Care Village
Dec 8
Season of Warmth Pop-Up Care Village

This December, Make-A-Day invites you to join us for Season of Warmth, a special winter event created to help our neighbors stay safe, warm, and connected during the cold months.

At this pop-up, you can:

  • Enjoy a free, hot meal and a cozy hot cocoa bar.

  • Pick up warm clothing and winter gear.

  • Connect with housing, health, and wellness resources.

  • Meet caring Make-A-Day team members and community partners who are here to listen and support you.

Everyone is welcome. Whether you need a warm coat, a hot meal, or help making a plan for what comes next, we’re here to walk alongside you this winter.

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