Last Updated 11.24.2025

Food

Clothing

• Bloom A Free Store: Provides free baby clothes, shoes, diapers, and wipes for families with children ages 0-3 in Columbus, Ohio. Families must register before their first shopping appointment and may shop twice per month. Expecting moms may start shopping after 20 weeks of pregnancy. They also host shopping events. Visit the website for additional contact information and store hours.

  • Bloom at Vista Community Church: 7343 Worthington-Galena Road, Columbus, Ohio 43085

  • Bloom at Faith Community Church: 2578 Sullivant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43204

• Dress for Success Columbus

  • Provides women with clothes and tools for workplace success. They offer free clothes and styling services for interviews and employment, including business suits, skirts, medical scrubs, and accessories. Clients are eligible for one interview and one employment styling session per year. Other programs include 1:1 success coaching, mentoring, professional women’s group, and access to computers, printing, and other resources at their Career Center.

  • 1204 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43201

  • (614) 291-5420 

• Dwell Community Clothing Outreach Provides free adult and children’s clothing, shoes, hygiene items, and essential household goods. Visitors may shop once per month for 20 clothing items. Shoppers must the website to schedule a 25-minute shopping appointment in advance. No ID or income-verification requirements. Children are not allowed in the store.

  • 1950 North Fourth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43201

  • (614) 823-6500 

• Laundry Love: National program that partners with laundromats and community organizations to wash clothes and bedding for low-income families and individuals. Visit the website and use the map to find a participating laundromat near you. 

• The Purple Door Free Store: 

  • Faith-based organization providing free, new and gently used clothing (including coats, socks, and shoes). The store is open one evening per week, and adults may shop once every other month. There are no zip code limits. No appointment is necessary, but photo ID is required. No children are allowed in the store. The church also offers a year-round adopt-a-family program and free community meal once per month. Volunteers are welcome.

    • 2650 Columbus Street, Grove City, Ohio 43123

    • Free Store (Text only): (614) 313-4666

• Westland High School - District Clothing Closet: Free, gently used items for families within the district. The closet will be closed temporarily in December for renovations. 

  • Walk-ins welcome Mondays 9-10:30 AM or Tuesday 5:30-7 PM or scheduled via your School Social Worker

  • For more information or to schedule please contact Joy: 614-638-4977 OR Kyra: 614-285-5793

General Housing

• CMHA's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Waitlist and Applications page

• CAP4Kids.Com: "Housing" Search- This website has many housing resources for you to explore!

• Emergency Shelters & Drop In Centers CAP4Kids.Com

2025 Street Card : See attachment below

Utilities

• CAP4Kids.com  : "Utilities" Search

• IMPACT Community Action: Provides income-based case management services, emergency assistance services, financial services, computer literacy and workforce development programs. Most of the programs are for Franklin County residents living at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. 

  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): offers a once yearly benefit for a customer’s utility bill (gas, electric, propane) or bulk fuel bill. Customers must be at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty and meet program criteria. 

  • Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP): Fixes monthly utility payments for natural gas or electric to 5-10% of your gross household income. Paying on-time and in-full each month reduces your outstanding balance. If you make 24 on-time and in-full payments, your outstanding balance with your utility company will be eliminated. 

• Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP): Provides home inspection and home weatherization services (such as furnace repair, insulation, appliance checks) to help reduce energy costs. Households must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Priority is given to Ohioans over 60 years old, with disabilities, with children in the home, or with high energy usage/burden. Services are provided through local agencies in each county, contact these organizations to apply. 

  • Franklin County HWAP Providers include MORPC.

  • Full List of Franklin County HWAP Providers: ohhn.org/docs/countydir/franklin_ohhn.pdf

  • All Ohio HWAP Providers: ohhn.org/county-resources-list

Mental Health

• The Kids Mental Health Foundation : Focused on providing resources for adults to support kids mental health and help break stigmas surrounding mental health challenges. Their website has tons of resources for parents and teachers on how to discuss mental health topics with kids, helping kids management emotions, and information on mental health disorders in kids.

  • 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205

  • (855) 902-5437 

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Franklin County: Provides support, advocacy and education to improve quality of life for people with mental illness. Use their website to find support groups, educational opportunities, and resource lists on many mental health topics. The NAMI Franklin County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program is a police-based pre-arrest jail diversion program. Franklin County residents may call 9-1-1 and request a CIT officer who has received specialized training in mental health and substance abuse issues.

  • 1225 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215

  • (614) 501-6264

  • Information and Referral HelpLine: (800) 950-6264

  • NAMI Ohio: namiohio.org

  • namifranklincounty.org 

• Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS): MRSS is a statewide service for young people under age 21 experiencing significant behavioral or emotional distress. Call and say you are requesting Mobile Response and Stabilization Services. You will be asked a series of questions and will receive a call when the Nationwide Children’s MRSS team is on the way. A licensed mental health clinician will respond to your location within 60 minutes of a request for help. Follow-up care is available for up to six weeks after this visit. Services are available in Franklin County between 8AM-8PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of those hours, call the Franklin County Youth Psychiatric Crisis Line. If you are in immediate danger and want support from the police, call 911.

  • Statewide MRSS Line: (888) 418-6777

  • Franklin County Youth Psychiatric Crisis Line: (614) 722-1800 

• Triple P: Positive Parenting Program: Free, specialized parenting classes for parents and caregivers. Topics include parenting concerns such as bedtime routines, managing challenging behavior, teenagers, and more. Triple P gives simple and practical strategies parents and caregivers can use to suit their own values, beliefs and needs. Triple P in Ohio is available in Franklin, Crawford, Fayette, Richland, Delaware, Morrow, Fairfield, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Union, and Pickaway counties. Parents can visit the website to find a Triple P program outside of Ohio, or sign up for Triple P online. Some classes are also available in Spanish.

  • (614) 355-8099 or (833) 594-5437

  • Contact Information by Ohio County: cap4kids.org/columbus/files/2024/08/SFY24-General-Flyer.pdf

  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital: nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/behavioral-health/for-families/triple-p

Therapists & Mental Health Agencies Resources Below: The resources listed on this website for finding mental health therapists and psychiatrists are provided for informational purposes only. We do not endorse, recommend, or favor any particular therapist, organization, or service. Users are encouraged to evaluate each resource independently and choose the options that best meet their individual needs. 

Holidays

HOPE – Free Toy Giveaway

• 11878 Gay Street, Adelphi, Ohio: (Building beside Adelphi Community Church)

• Friday, Dec 19 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• Saturday, Dec 20 | 10:00 AM – Time TBD

• Everyone welcome

Firefighters 4 Kids – Toy Drive Registration

• (On-site help with registration)

• Far East Neighborhood Pride Center
  Dec 11 & 18 | 5:30–7:30 PM

• Barnett Community Center
  Dec 10 & 17 | 5:30–7:30 PM

• Eastpointe Christian Church
  Dec 9–16 | 12:00–2:00 PM

• Best option for families with multiple children, including teens

3BKIDS Annual Toy Giveaway

• Northern Lights Library: 4093 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43224

• Thursday, Dec 19, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

• Toys

• Face painting

• Snacks & children’s reading activities

• Best for younger children

Christmas for the Homeless

• Van Buren Shelter: 595 Van Buren Dr, Columbus, OH 43223

• Dec 25, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

• Meals

• Hygiene items

• Gift cards for teens

Immigrant, Refugee, English Language Learning Families

• Cap4Kids: "Immigration" Search, includes resources on the National Immigration Law Center Resources and Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS)

• Document Below: Shares a variety of resources for Hispanic/ Latinx, Somali, Arabic, and Ukrainian Families

Other

• Motherful's Full Resource Guide  : Motherful supports, empowers, and nurtures single mothers and their families in Columbus, Ohio, by providing resources, community, and education. (Many of the resources listed in their guide can be accessed even if you are not a single mother.

• Columbus Public Library

• Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio:  Provides free civil legal assistance and guidance to low income residents and senior citizens of Columbus and Central Ohio. Legal Aid attorneys may be able to help you with the following types of cases or legal problems: consumer law, immigration, family law, housing, public benefits, reentry, seniors, tax law, veterans, and education. Their website also has a page of Resources with easy-to-read information on these topics.

• City of Columbus Emergency Resources Below: Various resources listed in document below. Last updated 2/2025

For additional resources, please visit our District website at www.swcsd.us and click on the Parent Resources tab and/or

contact the school and request to speak with the School Social Worker/ A Support Team Member.