How Elevate Northland Helped Our Helpers Build Something That Lasts

When Dr. Dorothy Jubity Hassan, PhD, CDE® was looking for a home for the Our Helpers Community Free Store, she needed more than four walls and a loading dock. She needed a location that immigrant and refugee families could actually reach, a space that wouldn’t drain resources meant for the community, and a partner that understood the weight of the work.

She found all three at Elevate Northland.

Our Helpers is a Columbus-based nonprofit on a mission to improve the lives of immigrant and refugee families in Central Ohio. In addition to its Community Free Store — established in May 2024 through a $550,000 in-kind donation from Walmart — Our Helpers is home to the Central Ohio Rapid Response Network, a cross-sector initiative that convenes partners, builds solidarity, and advances coordinated community organizing and education.

The Free Store is exactly what it sounds like: a place where families can access food, household goods, and essential supplies at no cost. For families navigating the weight of scarcity, many of whom have spent years with too little, that access matters deeply. As Dorothy describes it:

The Free Store works to decrease the triggers of scarcity trauma for families that have had to deal with so little for so long.

Elevate Northland was a natural fit. The location along a major bus line means families who rely on public transportation have access. The affordable warehouse space means Our Helpers can direct more resources toward people and less toward overhead. And the shared commitment to the Northland community means the partnership runs deeper than a lease agreement.

That depth was tested in mid-2025, when Our Helpers faced a serious funding crisis. Rather than stand by while a vital community resource struggled, Elevate Northland stepped in. The goal was clear: the Free Store and pantry would not close their doors. The Northland community would not lose something it had come to depend on.

It didn’t.

For Dorothy, that moment said everything about what Elevate Northland actually is. “Elevate Northland is not just a physical place where you find yourself in community,” she says. “The concept of community extends beyond those walls.”

Northland has long been shaped by the contributions of immigrant and refugee neighbors. Our Helpers exists to make sure that legacy is honored, and that the American Dream remains within reach for everyone who arrives here in pursuit of it. Elevate Northland is proud to be part of that work.

Need Space to Grow Your Mission?

Our Helpers is one of many nonprofits and small businesses that have found a home at Elevate Northland. We offer affordable warehouse and maker space starting at $1.20/sq ft, with dedicated bays with garage access available starting at $1.35/sq ft. Dock access and common area costs are included. Space is zoned for light manufacturing and dry goods storage.

Whether you need room for supplies, inventory, or program materials, we’d love to talk. Visit https://elevatenorthland.org/elevate-northland-warehouse-application/ to apply.

Elevate Northland is a nonprofit community hub in the heart of Northland, Columbus — connecting small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to the workspace, training, and resources they need to grow. Building Businesses. Strengthening Communities.