It Started with Grandpa’s Words

Celebrating 7 Years of Make-A-Day

In 2018, three cousins gathered around a shared idea, inspired by their grandfather’s words:
"Teams should lift up their weakest members, and communities thrive when the people living in them are thriving."

From that belief, Make-A-Day was born. The first event, a grassroots pop-up at the corner of 5th and High Street in Columbus, offered haircuts, hot food, and an open invitation to connect.

Grandpa Ralph (left) on a weekly bread delivery to the community

What began as an act of service has grown into a movement grounded in consistency, care, and dignity.

Today, Make-A-Day provides trauma-informed outreach, mobile case management, and holistic support to individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout Central Ohio. We still show up with haircuts and meals, but we also offer so much more: advocacy, housing navigation, employment connections, and spaces where people feel seen and valued.

In 2024 alone, our team completed served over 11,000 meals. These aren’t just services, they are moments of recognition. They create space for conversation, trust, and the kinds of relationships that lead to lasting change.

Our work is possible because of a growing community of Changemakers, the monthly and sustaining donors, volunteers, and partners who believe in our mission and invest in the people we serve.

This seven-year milestone is not just a moment of celebration. It’s a recommitment.

We will keep showing up.
We will keep building with heart.
And we will keep living into the belief that everyone deserves to feel human, every day.

If you’re looking for a way to support your neighbors and strengthen your community, we invite you to become a part of what comes next.

🌟 Join our Changemaker Circle or learn more: makeaday.fun/give

Thank you for walking alongside us. Here’s to the next seven years, and beyond.