Article written by Dave Horning, Editor
Published in The Circleville Herald
May 20, 2025
(MUHLENBERG TOWNSHIP) - “Our program started in 2016 when we found there were a lot of children that were hungry at school,” said Kathy Fausnaugh, President of Westfall C.A.R.E.S. “They didn't have the right clothes to wear when the weather changed, and were in need of nonfood items also. We started getting really worried.”
On Wednesday afternoon, 56 chairs were set up in the cafeteria at Westfall Elementary, and a large empty box, formerly used to ship bananas, was placed on each seat. Volunteers pulled individual items, such as a jar of grape jelly, from a case of that product, and placed it in each of the empty banana boxes. After several hours, all 56 boxes contained a nice assortment of healthy snack items. Nonfood items, such as toothbrushes and toiletries were also included.
The large boxes are used when school is out, to cover more than just a weekend. During the school year, the students being helped carry home a grocery bag full of items to cover that weekend.
It began with a small group of children in need, who were receiving assistance from many different teachers in the Westfall Local School System. As these Good Samaritans started talking with each other, they realized that if they could centralize the effort, they could provide for more students and meet the demand.
“We found that the community was very supportive. We invited and brought in all the local churches, past teachers, the superintendent, principals … everyone was very much on board,” said Fausnaugh. “It just took off.”
In March 2017, they incorporated as a 510(c)(3) non-profit charity, and it continued to grow from there. During the pandemic, Westfall C.A.R.E.S. went from helping 50 families to 127 because so many people had lost their jobs, or they couldn't find food at the grocery stores. The schools were all closed, so Westfall C.A.R.E.S. used the school’s food vendors, who gladly helped since they had no schools purchasing their goods.
“It was a perfect match for us,” said Fausnaugh. “We got a really good discount on what they couldn't sell because no schools were open. And that's how we survived!”
With the pandemic ending, the families being helped has fallen back to approximately 50. Westfall C.A.R.E.S. is not affiliated with Pickaway County’s Blessings in a Backpack (BinB), although the two organizations provide similar services to different school districts. Westfall C.A.R.E.S. is run independently and does not receive food or funds from BinB.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can send a check to Westfall C.A.R.E.S. at 20461 London Road, Circleville OH 43113.