Rising Stars: Meet Katie O’Donoghue Ly of Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Township

Katie O’Donoghue Ly

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside some amazing teams and benefit from incredibly impactful mentors.  I also believe my diverse work experience has allowed me to be professionally nimble and adapt to changing circumstances, which helps when things don’t go smoothly.  Change in organizational leadership can be challenging, and I think it was tough for the staff who had worked alongside the founding mother to have someone step into the role of Executive Director. I give a lot of credit to my Board of Directors who, by their support and engagement, made the transition to my current role at the Community Support Center as smooth as possible.Now, we are laser-focused on our mission and long-term goals of growth and sustainability.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I serve a grassroots organization whose mission is 1) to meet the immediate and fundamental needs of our neighbors experiencing financial hardship or generational poverty and 2) to help elevate their circumstances through education and workforce development.

As a nonprofit executive director and certified DEI professional, I understand the critical importance of establishing a healthy and vibrant culture of respect, inclusion, equity, and belonging not only among our staff, but to those whom we serve. Words matter and they can be incredibly impactful. Our team decided it was important to refer to our community members as “neighbors”, rather than “clients” because the first term confers a relational connection while the latter expresses a transactional relationship. We care deeply for them and value them as human beings, whether serving them for the first or fiftieth time. They are our neighbors.

So what do we actually do to fulfill our mission?  First, we begin by meeting our neighbors where they are. Often, it is addressing their most immediate needs, so we offer a food pantry, emergency clothing, and household necessities. When you don’t have enough food in the house to feed your family, it’s hard to think about going back to school or enrolling in classes.  That’s why it’s important that we meet their most fundamental needs first. We also appreciate that neighbors come to us when they are feeling most vulnerable, so we do our best to assure that they have come to a safe place where their dignity is preserved as much as possible.  One way we do that is through our “choice pantry,” which allows neighbors to order their groceries online and choose from a list of available items.  This spares them any feelings of embarrassment from standing in a food line. Then, they drive by and we load their groceries into their vehicles, which makes things much easier for single mothers of young children.

While ensuring their immediate needs are being met, we work with our neighbors to provide resources and opportunities to further develop their education and job-skill readiness, all of which is provided free of charge. For example, we offer a 28-hour basic computer course and upon completion, graduates of the program are rewarded with a free laptop. Additionally, we provide financial wellness seminars to encourage healthy practices and unlock new ways of managing finances. Through community collaboration and strategic partnership, we help with resume-building, job interview skills, professional work attire, and job and career fairs.

This range – from meeting immediate needs to supporting long-term goals – allows us to fulfill our mission and bridge the gap for our neighbors in need.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I have had the great opportunity to meet and interact with a former local, Katie S. Martin, author of the book, “Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger.” Beyond calling attention to the value of choice pantries is her underlying message of honoring dignity and respect for serving those needing food assistance. Her multi-faceted approach has transformed my own thinking and approach.

Another book I read recently and highly endorse is “Poverty, By America,” by Matthew Desmond. It shines a light on the systems that contribute to the ever-growing great divide between the wealthy and the poor.

I also regularly follow various publications by Feeding America, which keeps me abreast of government programs and other issues relevant to our work.