Check out the BCCO 2025 Annual Report. Some highlights:

• Over 100 youth enrolled in BRIDGE
• 15 students served in summer camp
• 12 students served in afterschool program
• Youth served in Licking County program at YMCA
• Growth to 80 plots at the New American Community Garden
• Opening of Farm Stand
• Over 300 served with emergency rental assistance and housing problem solving
• Second annual Unity in Light event raised over $30,000
• BCCO participated in Diwali Festival
• BCCO participated in Seven-Day Peace Prayer
• BCCO supported New American Youth Mental Health conference

BCCO is proud to receive the 2026 Community Waste Reduction Grant from Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio – SWACO! We’ll use this funding to empower New Americans and our garden communities through better waste reduction and composting. Thank you SWACO for believing in our mission! More info at SWACO Announces More Than $275,000 In Community Grants To Reduce Waste • SWACO, OH

Thank you so much to those who were able to join us for our Unity in Light celebration on November 6. And to those who were with us in spirit. We had a wonderful evening celebrating 10 years of service to the community and honoring those who have been and still are part of our work. Not to mention, we enjoyed good food and dance performances.

It’s not too late to support us. Our donate button is still active below as is our Zelle code. If everyone donated $10 for each of our 10 years to make $100, that would go a really long way toward making our services sustainable.

Click here to view more photos and see our sponsors!

We are pleased to release our 2024 Annual Report as we celebrate 10 years of service to the community. This report dives into the history of BCCO and highlights a decade of accomplishments. A few key highlights:

• A look back at our old home on Tamarack – how a leasing center became a community hub
• Updates from our programs – serving the youth and growing gardens.
• A 10-year financial snapshot – from the first grant to a nearly million dollar operation

Click here to download the report

We are excited to welcome Manisha Adhikari to the BCCO team as our new Outreach Coordinator for BRIDGE. She came to Ohio from Harrisburg four years ago. She got her degree in information systems from OSU and before college she had joined the Army Reserves which she was part of for six years. She has previously worked for ETSS as Pathways to Success Coach. Manisha has already thrown herself fully into the work at BCCO, tabling events and spending days at the GBHO gathering recruiting young people for our BRIDGE program.

In her free time, she is very social, hanging out with family and friends. She likes to hike and walk. She has 3 siblings, one living with her, and two who are married but live 10 minutes away. She has a lot of extended family here as well, some of whom she is still meeting!

Let’s give a warm welcome to Manisha!

The New American Farm Stand will open on August 8, adding a new option to the Columbus farmer’s market scene. Visitors will be presented with a wide range of fresh produce grown in BCCO gardens. The stand is hosted by the North YMCA at 1640 Sandalwood Place from 10-12 and will be open every other Friday. Please visit and support local refugee farmers!

Our first year of running an afterschool program ended with the end of the school year. We started the year with a handful of Bhutanese youth but toward the end of the year, through partnership with Jewish Family Services, we added new refugee youth from different African countries, who eventually made up over 50% of program participants. The program provided 662 service hours over the year. Tutoring was the focus most days, but activities also included arts and STEM. Many thanks to the City of Columbus for providing the support the operate the program!

Our Middle School Afterschool Program began in September, with funding from the City of Columbus. Students are spending time doing homework while honing math and English skills. They also take some time to play games and do sports.

Currently we have 10 students enrolled and are looking to add more. Please share and send referrals. Contact Bhakta Giri with questions or to enroll: [email protected] or 614-649-3089.