Health & Wellness

Events, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle

President’s Message: Reasons for Optimism

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Lately, I have been finding it difficult to maintain a good attitude about life. As if the news of current events isn’t bad enough, with the campaign season in full swing (yes, I know it’s only September), now I am forced to witness the smear campaign ads being run over and over and over. I’d stop watching the news, but I’ve always felt it is my duty as a responsible citizen to keep up with what is going on. And I won’t settle only for sources suggested by social media (which know me better than I am comfortable with) that just tell me what they know I want to hear. I wasn’t born with a naturally optimistic outlook. Yet, I realize it is important to my physical & mental health and spiritual wellbeing to stay positive. Recently, I’ve been to two events that have helped: the Columbus Arborfest and the Combined Charitable Campaign’s Kickoff Information Fair.

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Health & Wellness, Social Justice, Sustainable Heros

Spotlight on Make-A-Day

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Make-A-Day’s mission is to empower the impoverished through inclusive community events, acts of kindness, outreach, advocacy, & educational awareness. It is a mobile front door to stability, walking alongside neighbors experiencing homelessness & economic instability. MAD’s role is to help clear the obstacles–missing IDs, criminal records, gaps in benefits, broken connections–that stand between people and the life they are seeking. Since its inception, MAD has provided over 60,000 meals and 12,000 essentials (like clothing & hygiene supplies), connected hundreds of guests to housing & jobs, and engaged over 500 volunteers

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Business, Economy & Finance, Health & Wellness

The Crisis in American Healthcare – Part 2

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The Single Payer Action Network Ohio (SPAN Ohio) originated in the early 2000s to educate the public and advocate for single-payer legislation in Ohio. It evolved into SPAN Ohio, a 501(c)4 organization, becoming the central organizing body for single-payer advocacy in the state. It later adopted Healthcare for All Ohioans, organized as a 501(c)3 organization, as its primary public-facing name to better reflect its mission. Healthcare for All Ohioans (SPAN Ohio) is a statewide coalition of organizations & individuals seeking fundamental health care reform in our state & country. Its mission is to educate & advocate for a fundamental change in our healthcare system so that everyone has affordable access to healthcare through a publicly funded, privately delivered system.

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Health & Wellness

The Crisis in American Healthcare – Part 1

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Healthcare in the US is delivered through a combination of private providers and public programs. The US is the only high‑income country without universal healthcare, and coverage varies widely by income, employment, age, and state. The US healthcare system is one of the most expensive & complex globally, with significant strengths in innovation but persistent challenges in equity, affordability, and outcomes. It features world‑leading medical research & innovation, including rapid development of new drugs and technologies, and high-quality tertiary care and a strong specialist workforce. But coverage is incomplete, as about 10% of adults are uninsured. Health outcomes are poor relative to other wealthy nations, including higher infant mortality and lower life expectancy. And there are large disparities by race, income, and geography. The system has a high financial burden even for insured individuals, due to deductibles & copays.

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Food, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle

Considering a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet?

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The Whole-Food, Plant-Based diet is a lifestyle focused on eating foods derived entirely from plants in their natural or minimally processed states. It excludes animal products and heavily refined foods.
People follow the diet for heart health, disease management, weight control, and just to feel better, save money, and help the planet. It is often praised for lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and for helping to manage & reverse Type 2 diabetes. Because it leads to a higher fiber intake, which promotes satiety, it often results in sustainable weight loss.

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Food, Health & Wellness, Social Justice

President’s Message: A Sad Good-Bye to Local Matters

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I received a message in my inbox on Friday letting me know that, after 18 years of operation, June 6th will be the final day of programming for Local Matters. The organization’s recent financial problems have been reported on the Simply Living Blog and in the Community News. I have been hoping the organization would be able to weather the storm and survive. But that is not the case. The central Ohio community has lost an important resource.

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Environment, Events, Health & Wellness

Dr. Ira Helfand to Speak in Columbus

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Ira Helfand, MD, recipient of two Nobel Peace Prizes, will be speaking in Columbus on Saturday, July 11th at 2 pm, at the First Unitarian Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. Dr. Helfand will outline the work of Back from the Brink. This organization brings communities together to prevent the growing threat that nuclear weapons pose to our health and environment, transmuting fear & anxiety into meaningful action.

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Food, Health & Wellness

Tour of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank

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Members of Simply Living were pleased to be included in a tour of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank held for the central Ohio community on February 28. The Mid-Ohio Foodbank is a part of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) which, in addition to the Foodbank, consists of more than 600 partners (about half of which are Food Pantries) serving more than half a million people each year across 20 counties in central and eastern Ohio.

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Community Ad, Food, Guest Blog Post, Health & Wellness

Ending Hunger One Meal at a Time: The Mid-Ohio Food Collective

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One of our community organizations that fight against hunger is the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC). Its mission is to end hunger one nourishing meal at a time while co‑creating communities where everyone thrives. Its vision is hunger-free communities and a future where no one worries about their next meal and where every neighborhood is healthy and strong. People can get involved with MOFC by volunteering their time (volunteers are critically needed this time of year) and by donating money and food to support its efforts. Mr. Grimsley concludes by remarking, “Our mission is powered by people who choose to speak up, share their time, and contribute their resources to help end hunger.”

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Business, Economy & Finance, Health & Wellness, Uncategorized

Rooted in Community: How Winchester Farm Exchange is Redefining Local Food Access in Central Ohio

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In a time when people are craving deeper connection—to their food, their community, and the land—Simply Living Business Member Winchester Farm Exchange has emerged as a powerful response. What started as a farmstand during the pandemic has blossomed into a thriving indoor marketplace in downtown Canal Winchester, showcasing the very […]

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Education, Environment, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Living Simply, Sustainable Living

The 2025 Eco Challenge is here—Join Our Team Today!

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Ready to make a difference this Earth Month? Join the Simply Living Eco challenge Team! Every April, we participate in the Earth Month Eco Challenge, a fun, interactive platform hosted by Ecochallenge.org that empowers individuals and teams to take meaningful daily actions for a healthier planet. Whether it’s conserving water, […]

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