Our Story

Hunger will return, hair will grow, clothes will fade, but acts of love and encouragement create everlasting growth.

Make-A-Day (MAD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting central Ohio’s chronically homeless, economically disadvantaged, and socially marginalized populations. Founded in 2018, MAD was born from a simple yet profound experience shared by cousins Kyle and Alex, who spent a day with two individuals experiencing homelessness, sharing a meal, shopping for clothes, and connecting on a personal level. This moment sparked the vision for Make-A-Day: to bring dignity, community, and service to those in need, while also offering pathways toward greater stability and opportunity. MAD held its first pop-up event on 5th and High St., offering free meals, haircuts, and services, with cousin Rebekah joining to provide haircuts and add a personal touch. Inspired by the legacy of Ralph Emrich, their grandfather, who devoted his life to serving the marginalized through food distribution, prison ministry, and refugee support, Make-A-Day continues to honor his legacy with values rooted in empathy, service, and community.

Since its inception, MAD has grown significantly, with its flagship program, Mobile Outreach, providing weekly street outreach services. Our program includes bloc-party-style “pop-up” events and housing resource clinics designed to assist the unhoused and impoverished. Through these initiatives, we provide not only immediate relief but also create access to long-term resources and opportunities that help individuals move toward stability and economic self-sufficiency. By combining intentional mobility with a relationship-centered approach, Mobile Outreach creates equitable opportunities for marginalized individuals to reconnect with their community and access critical resources that can help them rebuild their lives.

Today, Make-A-Day continues to honor Ralph’s legacy by creating spaces of connection, joy, and support for individuals facing hardship, striving to make a difference in the lives of those often overlooked by society. At MAD, we don’t just aim to meet immediate needs; we’re dedicated to empowering individuals by providing the tools, knowledge, and resources that help them regain their dignity and build toward a better future.

Our mission is to empower the impoverished through inclusive community events, acts of kindness, outreach, advocacy, and educational awareness. Guided by our core values of being human-centered, reliable, action-oriented, creative, relationship-focused, and committed to empowerment, we work to foster a supportive and uplifting environment for all, helping individuals break the cycle of poverty and homelessness while offering opportunities for personal growth and long-term success.