Programs

  • 3-Generation Family ESL Program

    3-GENERATION FAMILY ESL PROGRAM THE FESTA 3-GENERATION FAMILY ESL PROGRAM TAKES PLACE EVERY MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FROM OCTOBER-APRIL AND WELCOMES IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES OF ALL AGES SEEKING TO LEARN ENGLISH. PARENTS CAN BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO FESTA FRIENDS CLUB, WHICH PROVIDES PROGRAMMING, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND DINNER FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-8, OR TO OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS WHICH PROVIDE INFANT CARE AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR TODDLERS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN OUR TEEN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHERE THEY ASSIST FESTA STAFF IN LEADING ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING DINNER, AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT. THIS YEAR, OUR 3-GENERATION FAMILY ESL PROGRAM SERVED FAMILIES FROM 55 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND SERVED CHILDREN FROM 3 MONTHS OF AGE TO THEIR GRANDPARENTS, AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN WE WELCOMED FAMILIES FROM 39 DIFFERENT ZIP CODES ACROSS CENTRAL OHIO, AS WELL AS A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM FOR STUDENTS WITHOUT LOCAL TRANSPORTATION, OR IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, TO JOIN OUR PROGRAM AND THE WELCOMING COMMUNITY THAT EXISTS AT FESTA. DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, WE WELCOMED 562 IN-PERSON ADULT STUDENTS, 124 ONLINE ADULT STUDENTS AND 530 CHILDREN FOR A RECORD NUMBER OF 1,216 PEOPLE (AN 67% INCREASE) SERVED BY THIS PROGRAM. HALF OF OUR MISSION IS TO MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS AND IN THIS PROGRAM, WE RECRUITED, TRAINED AND MOBILIZED 620 VOLUNTEERS (CHILD AND ADULTS) WHO SERVED 7,795 HOURS. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSE REPORTED ABOVE, THERE WAS 140,148 IN DONATED RENT AND 60,763 IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WHICH WERE REPORTED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS CONTRIBUTIONS IN PROGRAM EXPENSE. FOR THE FORM 990, HOWEVER, THE IRS REQUIRES THAT CONTRIBUTED SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES BE EXCLUDED FROM BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENSE.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $403.6K

  • Free Summer Lunch Camp

    FREE SUMMER LUNCH CAMP NOW IN ITS 18TH YEAR, THE FESTA'S FREE SUMMER LUNCH CAMP WELCOMES CHILDREN FACING POVERTY FROM CULTURALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO JOIN US DAILY FOR FRIENDSHIP, RECREATION, READING SUPPORT, SPECIAL ACTIVITIES, AND A NUTRITIOUS, FREE LUNCH. CHILDREN WHO ATTEND WILL PARTICIPATE IN AGE- APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING AND EAT A NUTRITIOUS MEAL DAILY THE SUMMER LUNCH CAMP HELPS CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH AT SCHOOL WHILE SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION BY SERVING FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH WHILE FACILITATING CAMP ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING. THIS PROGRAM COMBATS SUBURBAN POVERTY BY PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH A SAFE SPACE TO GROW, LEARN, AND BE PART OF A SUPPORTIVE AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY. DURING SUMMER 2024, WE WELCOMED 706 CHILDREN (A 5.7% INCREASE) AND SERVED A TOTAL OF 7603 MEALS WITH 352 VOLUNTEERS SERVING 4,037 HOURS. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSE REPORTED ABOVE, THERE WAS 84,418 IN DONATED RENT AND 1,752 IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WHICH WERE REPORTED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS CONTRIBUTIONS IN PROGRAM EXPENSE. FOR THE FORM 990, HOWEVER, THE IRS REQUIRES THAT CONTRIBUTED SERVICES AND USE OF FACILITIES BE EXCLUDED FROM BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENSE.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $301.2K

  • Connecting Families to Community Resources

    CONNECTING FAMILIES IN NEED TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES WHEN FAMILIES WHO ATTEND OUR PROGRAMS HAVE A VITAL NEED FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER OR EMERGENCY BILL PAYMENT WE VET THE NEED AND MAKE THE CONNECTION TO LOCAL CHURCHES, SUBURBAN NEIGHBORS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS OR OUR BENEVOLENT FUND WITH THE GOAL OF STABILIZING FAMILIES. WE SERVE AS A VITAL LINK CONNECTING FAMILIES WITH NEEDS TO A HOST OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. DURING FY24 (SEPTEMBER 2023 THROUGH AUGUST 2024), OUR STAFF WORKED ON AND SUCCESSFULLY CLOSED 94 CONNECTING TO RESOURCES CASES. FESTA AND CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE AN AFFORDABLE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES WITH A LIMITED INCOME. THE GOOD TIDINGS CHRISTMAS STORE ALLOWS FAMILIES TO PURCHASE A VARIETY OF ITEMS AT VERY AFFORDABLE PRICES IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER. THIS IS A DIGNITY STORE AND OFFERS FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY A RESPECT FILLED "HAND-UP" VERSUS A "HANDOUT." ALL SALES GENERATED GO TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TOYS, ENABLING MORE FAMILIES TO SHOP. OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WITH LIMITED INCOME A WAY TO CHRISTMAS SHOP FOR THE CHILDREN IN THEIR LIVES AT A VERY LOW COST, IN A RESPECTFUL WAY. DURING THE 2023 HOLIDAY SEASON, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE 275 FAMILIES. 849 CHILDREN RECEIVED GIFTS THANKS TO THE GOOD TIDINGS CHRISTMAS STORE WITH 102 VOLUNTEERS SERVING 634 HOURS. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSE REPORTED ABOVE, THERE WAS 1,663 IN DONATED RENT, WHICH WAS REPORTED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS CONTRIBUTIONS IN PROGRAM EXPENSE.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $39.2K