Honoring a Community That Already Exists
Community: a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
At Make-A-Day, we’ve learned something that guides every outreach we do:
We’re not building community.
We’re joining one that already exists.
Too often, people experiencing homelessness are seen as disconnected, chaotic, or in need of saving. But if you’ve ever stood beside us at a pop-up event or joined one of our outreach opportunities, you know that isn’t the full story.
You’ll see neighbors sharing meals and jackets.
You’ll see people ensuring everyone has Narcan and chargers.
You’ll see someone checking on a friend’s blood sugar or walking another guest over to meet our team because they know we’ll treat them with care.
What you’re witnessing is a community already rooted in mutual support. A system of care and survival that keeps going, even when systems fail, and even when help is slow to come.
Our guests are not statistics.
They are parents working full-time jobs while sleeping in their cars.
They are teens who aged out of foster care without a safety net.
They are veterans carrying trauma, and individuals pushed to the margins by eviction, inflation, or violence.
They are artists, caregivers, and neighbors.
In Columbus, nearly 2,400 people are currently experiencing homelessness, a number that has grown by over 20% in the past two years. That number is even higher among Black, LGBTQ+, and disabled individuals. But numbers alone don’t tell the story of who our community really is.
Columbus is a vibrant, diverse city full of educators, creatives, caregivers, and organizers. But it is also a city where housing is increasingly unaffordable and systemic inequities continue to push people out of stable living situations. Still, people care for one another. Still, community finds a way to thrive.
That’s why Make-A-Day does things differently.
We don’t parachute in with clipboards or requirements. We return again and again, with warm meals, haircuts, hygiene kits, housing navigation, and most importantly, consistency and care. Our pop-ups aren’t about handouts. They are about connection.
Through our MAD Solutions, we walk alongside guests with small caseloads and trauma-informed support. We meet people where they are (literally and emotionally) and help them move toward stability at their own pace. There are no conditions to receiving support. There’s no need to prove you’re worthy of help. Dignity isn’t something to be earned. It’s something we all deserve.
At Make-A-Day, we’re here to honor the community they’ve already built - and to make sure it’s supported, resourced, and respected.
Want to support that work?
🍽️ Volunteer at a pop-up
📦 Donate weather gear or hygiene supplies
🧡 Join our Changemakers Circle as a monthly donor
📣 Advocate for care-centered, housing-focused solutions in your networks
This is what real community looks like.
It already exists.
We’re just lucky to be part of it.