“This year’s dinner provides 10,516 meals! And your six-year total meals is 55,498. Incredible!” Carol M. Zimmerman, Director of Annual Giving, Mid-Ohio Foodbank
Final results are in for the November 9, 2017 6th Annual FSM Benefit Dinner. 244 lbs of food were collected and $2,599.09 was raised for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. 140 diners enjoyed the noodley goodness prepared by 27 volunteers from local humanist, atheist, and skeptic groups. This fun-filled event featured craft beer, a bake sale, raffle and silent auction of items donated by 30 area businesses and local artists/donors. Musician Alan Reed entertained diners and Camp Quest provided activities for children. Columbus CoR groups have collected a total of 1,774 lbs of food and $14,145.46 for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank from 2012 – 2017:
| Year | Food (lbs) | Amount raised ($) | Notes |
| 2012 | 360 | 1,884.04 | |
| 2013 | 76 | 2,089.52 | |
| 2014 | 475 | 2,643.21 | (includes COUNT Bowling Night) |
| 2015 | 391 | 2,385.01 | |
| 2016 | 208 | 2,084.59 | |
| 2017 | 264 | 3,059.09 | (includes 3 Brewery Fundraisers, Atheist Reunion & Revival) |
The event was held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus and Melissa Lawson served as master of ceremonies. The 27 volunteers who produced the event are members of the following groups:
- Omnipresent Atheists (OA) [13 volunteers*]
- Central Ohio Gay Atheists (COGA) [8]
- UU Atheists, Skeptic, Humanists (ASH) [7]
- Central Ohio United Non-Theists (COUNT) [5]
- Humanist Community of Central Ohio (HCCO) [1]
*Note that some volunteers are members of multiple groups.
Central Ohio United Non-Theists (COUNT) handled project management (Avery Winston), finances (Dan Hronek) and post event activity (David Nohle) with financial support from the Humanist Community of Central Ohio and other donors. Alexandria Kalika managed the bake sale, Michael Krichten the kitchen, Jenn Conley the raffle sales, and Phil Radliff and Amanda Barker the silent auction.
Businesses and individuals that donated items for the raffle, silent auction and bake sale include:
- Alexandria Kalika
- Avery Winston
- Bleu & Fig
- BLunch
- Brian Waters
- Brothers Drake Meadery
- Crimson Cup Coffee
- Dave Nohle
- Derrick Strobl
- Dough Mama
- Evolved Body Art
- Four String Brewing Company
- Haus of Sloth Bear
- Hot Chicken Takeover
- Land Grant Brewing Company
- Lineage Brewing
- Lion”s Den
- Lisa Schalip
- Mikey”s Late Night Slice
- Over The Counter of Worthington
- Phil Radliff
- Rendezvous Hair Salon
- Scylla Fine Jewelry
- Seventh Son Brewing Company
- Sideswipe Brewing
- The Actual Brewing Company
- The Seasoned Farmhouse
- Trapped Columbus
- Watershed Distillery
- Weiland”s Market
Next year’s event is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, November 8, 2018.
