Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Tag: Giving back

  • Cassie the Food Guru Stops by Hometown Cafe!

    Cassie the Food Guru Stops by Hometown Cafe!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Bike Trail over the past couple of years has welcomed many new local businesses, some offering quality beverages, some offering a unique dine-in experience, and some offering fresh homemade cuisine. One business in particular that sits right off the bike trail tucked right next to Narrow Path Brewing Company has managed to combine quality beverages, a unique dine-in experience, and fresh homemade food all under one roof. Introducing Hometown Cafe, a little slice of paradise in the heart of Historic Downtown Loveland!

    Hometown Cafe made its debut into the Loveland community after Owner Jimmy Hooper bought the business, formerly known as “Fresh Press,” from his brother-in-law. Hooper already had an extensive culinary background as well as a catering business called “Loveland Catering” so he felt that having a brick and mortar would mesh well with his passion for creating aesthetically pleasing healthy food. Hooper, who grew up in Symmes Township, knew after having kids that he wanted to raise his family with his wife in the same city he fell in love with so he thought what better way to serve the community he loves than having fresh nutritious food readily available every day!

    Hometown Cafe offers a simple yet delicious selection of food, beverages, and goods from local vendors across the city. From Deeper Roots coffee, lattes, and hot chocolate, to real fruit, and veggie smoothies, and fresh-pressed juice, to made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, and wraps, Hometown Cafe has it all! Did I mention Hometown also has a bakery filled with muffins, croissants, bagels, and danishes, to name a few and a “local market” where small local businesses can sell their homemade delicacies such as honey, granola, jam, and energy bites?

    I have been a part of the Loveland community and Loveland Magazine now for nearly 5 years so I have had the honor of seeing new businesses establish themselves, local events thrive, and the community coming together to give back. This is one of the biggest reasons, other than I LOVE food and food culture, as to why I wanted Hometown Cafe to be my next Cassie the Food Guru adventure! Hometown Cafe has not only impacted the community by providing quality nutritious food and beverages, but by also giving back time and time again. Whether they are getting involved in Loveland’s events or introducing local artists, vendors, and food trucks to the community, Hometown Cafe loves helping the community!

    So without further ado, I bring to you, a Loveland Magazine TV interview production, Cassie the Food Guru Stops by Hometown Cafe!

    Hometown Cafe Fun Facts:

    • Located at 111 Railroad Ave, Loveland, Ohio, 45140
    • Open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day
      • Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. during the week and on the weekends breakfast is served until 3 p.m.
    • Lunch is always in the cooler. The cooler includes homemade soups, salads, wraps, and “kids boxes.”
    • Cold-Pressed Juice is made “in-house with a hydraulic press that exerts 10 tons of pressure on the fresh produce to extract the juice. Since the juice is exposed to minimal heat and air, it retains more vitamins, minerals, and enzymes from the whole fruit/vegetable than traditional centrifugal juicing methods.”
    • Local artists’ artwork is on display for sale inside the cafe.
    • You may book Hometown Cafe for your next event!
      • Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evenings is $250.
      • Monday through Thursday evenings is $200.
        • Rental is available from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
        • Seats up to 25 on the 1st floor and 32 on the patio.
      • The upstairs meeting room is $25 per hour.
        • Available for rent 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
        • The rental fee is waived if you spend the same amount in the cafe during your event!
    • Catering is available through Jimmy’s “Loveland Catering.”
      • $500 on the weekends.
      • $400 on the weekdays.
      • If you spend twice the event rental fee in catering and the rental fee is waived!
    • You can rent Hometown Cafe’s kitchen for $35 per hour or if you take advantage of the kitchen membership it is $20 per hour.
    • Hometown Cafe offers merchandise through “My State Threads Apparel.”
      • If you would like to set a page up for your business Hometown will give you a unique URL and $10 from every piece of merchandise sold will go towards your business.
    • Items we recommend you try when you stop by Hometown Cafe:
      • The Cozy Bowl
      • The One With No Meat
      • The Toast
      • The B.E.A.S.T
      • Frogman Smoothie
      • Tropical Majik Smoothie
      • Kale Force Cold-Pressed Juice
      • Charcoal Lemonade Cold-Pressed Juice
      • The Ginger Shot
      • A specialty latte or hot chocolate
      • Sweet Potato Chips
      • Energy Bites
      • An Everything Bagel
      • Any of the local market items made by local small businesses!

    Be sure to stay informed on all the fun and delicious things Hometown Cafe has going on by visiting their website, Facebook, or Instagram!

    For more interviews and stories on local food culture, stay tuned to Cassie the Food Guru!

  • Local Teen Evan Osgood Awarded for his Dedication to Giving Back During the Pandemic!

    Local Teen Evan Osgood Awarded for his Dedication to Giving Back During the Pandemic!

    EVAN OSGOOD POSES WITH SOME OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MASKS THAT HIS NONPROFIT SOS FOR PPE HAS ASSEMBLED AND DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED. (Photo courtesy of Evan Osgood)

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Many people across the United States have had their own struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it be mentally, financially, or physically, each individual has been forced to find a way to deal with their obstacle in a positive way. Although some have found it tough to stay positive, Loveland teenager, Evan Osgood, decided to make it easier on those individuals by creating a non-profit in which they could not only get involved but also feel as though they were making a difference in the world!

    Over the past 9 months, Osgood has developed a network of over 4,000 volunteers across the United States who have both made and distributed over 125,000 items of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for those in need. This network of generosity has now been officially named SOS for PPE, a nonprofit organization that sends assembly kits to those wanting to give back by making face masks and shields at home using the assembly kits sent to them. After the individual makes the PPE it is then sent off and distributed to anyone in the country in need of PPE.

    EVAN OSGOOD CUTS FOAM THAT WILL BE USED TO BUILD PPE FOR THOSE VULNERABLE AND IN NEED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC./COURTESY EVAN OSGOOD (Photo courtesy of Evan Osgood)

    Why you may ask did a 16-year-old decide to create and organize a global non-profit during a pandemic? Osgood said that he could no longer bear seeing individuals in hospitals, senior facilities, schools, and out in the community on his very own TV screen struggling to secure proper PPE so he asked himself, “What can I do to help?”

    In March, Osgood began making masks out of his own home and sending them to healthcare workers and others in need of PPE. Although Osgood was able to make around 8-10 masks an hour he quickly came to the realization that he would need many more people to help him make masks if he wanted to effectively impact the shortage of PPE. That’s when a lightbulb went off for Osgood! He thought, “If I can make 8-10 masks in an hour imagine how many could get produced if I had more hands-on-deck!” Fast forward to now, Osgood is officially the president of his very own non-profit, SOS for PPE.

    Osgood not only oversees the fundraising for SOS for PPE he also manages the supply chain, works with SOS for PPE partners to distribute the PPE, and of course works to grow both his non-profit’s volunteer and partnership networks. Click below to read all about SOS for PPE and how Osgood started his non-profit!

    Loveland High School student Evan Osgood creates non-profit to get help and Personal Protective Equipment to those who need it most

    Due to all of the success with SOS for PPE Osgood was honored with the Daily Point of Light Award. This particular honor according to the Points of Light website, “Celebrates the power of individuals who lead and lend support to causes they care about. We recognize their individual stories and lift them up to inspire others so we may each, in our own way, answer the call to make a difference.” In order to qualify for the Daily Point of Light Award the following criteria must be met:

    • Residency: Award nominees must be legal U.S. residents.
    • Service: All volunteer activities must be unpaid and cannot include court-ordered community service. Nominees who receive a nominal stipend for their service or receive paid time off to volunteer are eligible.
    • Timeline: Volunteer service must last for six uninterrupted months and still be ongoing (except disaster relief work).
    • Impact: Work should demonstrate real impact from the activity. Examples include the number of people served, money raised, etc.
    • Community need: Activity must meet a community need or concern. The nominee must have sustainability plans for their activity (ex. working with community organizations to continue their work, empowering service recipients to continue their work, etc.).

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we want to take a moment to congratulate Evan Osgood on receiving this prestigious honor! Creating such a valuable non-profit during times like these and at such a young age is not only impressive but inspirational to those out there wanting to make a difference!

    We would like to ask our loyal Loveland Magazine readers to support this fantastic cause by visiting SOS for PPE today and donating some of your time or dollars to making PPE for those who are desperately in need!

    Want to read more about Evan Osgood? Click below to read about his time at one of the top Education Conferences!

    LMS Student Evan Osgood on center stage at premier education conference