Dublin AM Rotary Club works year-round to gather support for significant causes in our community; one of the more important over the last year has been giving to and promoting the capital campaign for a larger and more accessible location for the Dublin Food Pantry.  The reasons for the move from the current pantry location in historic Dublin are myriad, including an increase from 1,800sf to 7,750sq feet to support the more than 32,000 people served annually by the pantry, an increase of more than 200% since 2019.  Dublin Food Pantry and Dublin AM Rotary member Dinky was our meeting speaker and tour guide for the new site, anticipated to open in the coming weeks.  
 
Denise Youngsteadt-Parrish, who goes by Dinky, has 30+ years’ experience helping people in need. She has spent her professional career working in not for profits serving individuals and families experiencing the crisis of interpersonal violence, poverty and sexual assault. She brings varied leadership experiences from the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, Lifeline of Ohio, Columbus Humane and Columbus Parks and Recreation.  
 
Dinky completed her undergraduate degree in Cultural Anthropology from the Ohio State University.  While attending OSU she received the highly competitive Critical Difference for Women Scholarship.  She earned her Masters of Science in Professional Advancement and Community Leadership from Duquesne University in 2010. She has recently taken a break from completing her Educational Doctorate Degree from Walden University in Adult Education and Learning focusing on the impact of trauma on adult learning.  Denise received the Dublin Chamber of Commerce President’s Award in 2021. Recently nominated and received the Living Faith Award. 
 
Sensei Parrish is a black belt first degree in Wae Kune Do Karate.  She is the mother of two children, and has four grandchildren and one great nephew. Additionally, Dinky had the life changing experiences of growing up in East Africa; Sudan, Algeria and Ethiopia, her father worked for USAID.  She is also the proud recipient of the NAACP Freedom Fund Award, has an honorable mention in a book and film and has been published ECRP. Vol 3 No 2 Multicultural Education.
 
More photos are available on our Flickr site.
 
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