Several Delaware County nonprofits are calling on Powell and Olentangy-area residents to pitch in this month, with opportunities ranging from packing food for veterans to collecting pull tabs for families of hospitalized children.

The M.A.S.H. (Military And Service Heroes) Pantry and Resource Center tops the list, according to the Delaware Gazette. The nonprofit at 540 Sunbury Road in Delaware needs volunteers to pack and distribute food, tend its Veterans Honor Garden and Greenhouses, and connect with the veterans it serves. The pantry is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Executive director Amber Hudson has led the organization since it moved into its current 4,800-square-foot facility in May, more than doubling its previous space. At the ribbon-cutting in May, she described the pantry's reach: "We're making a difference in lives, one veteran, one military family, one survivor at a time."

The need is specific.

M.A.S.H. Pantry, which has served Ohio veterans since 2012 across six locations, is accepting donations of peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned spaghetti and ravioli, cereal, pasta sauce, pancake mix, and personal care items including shampoo, razors, toothpaste and soap. All items must be within their use-by date. Residents can sign up to volunteer at www.mashpantry.org or call 614-522-1555.

The OSU Alumni Club of Delaware County, meanwhile, is collecting aluminum pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of Columbus, which houses families of children being treated at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The club runs an annual friendly competition with the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor leading up to the Ohio State-Michigan football game. Individuals, businesses, schools or organizations interested in participating can reach the club through the OSU Alumni Club of Delaware County.

SourcePoint, the Delaware County agency serving residents 55 and older at 800 Cheshire Road, hosts a Grandparents as Parents support group on the fourth Friday of each month from 11 a.m. to noon. The casual group connects grandparents raising grandchildren with shared experiences and community resources.

Upcoming community events

  • Sunday, Aug. 16: Radnor Heritage Society Museum Kids Club, 2-4 p.m., 4425 State Route 203, Radnor. Buckeye Valley Local Schools Superintendent Ric Stranges reads "Enlightening the World: The Iconic Statue of Liberty." Free, ages 3-12 with adult. RSVP: [email protected].
  • Saturday, Aug. 15: Delaware County Historical Society paranormal tour of the Historic Jail and Sheriff's Residence (built 1878), in partnership with Tri-C Ghost Hunters. Two-hour lights-out investigation; bring your own flashlight. Tickets at delawareohiohistory.org.
  • Monday, Aug. 17: Powell Liberty Historical Society Powell Walking Tour, 7 p.m., led by Sherry Carmichael at the Martin-Perry Homestead, 103 E. Olentangy St., Powell.
  • Fourth Tuesday of each month: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1095 Meet and Greet, 5-8 p.m. at Wendy's locations on U.S. Highway 23 N. and Columbus Pike in Delaware. Open to all veterans and non-veterans.