Local residents know in their hearts that there’s only one Dublin. The community spirit, the neighborly camaraderie and the feeling of being from some place special all permeate life in Muirfield and beyond. For one area nonprofit, that concept of a unified state is more than a feeling—it’s right in their name. 

One Dublin is a social services organization that serves people within the city of Dublin or the boundaries of the Dublin City School District. The 501c3 nonprofit’s mission is as succinct as its name: helping one another in times of need. 

“It is a simple mission with a simple ethos—see a need, meet a need,” says Executive Director Brian Carr. Other than city or school district residency, there are no eligibility requirements. “There are enough difficulties and problems attached with financial stress and crisis, so we try to keep our process simple,” says Carr.

One Dublin’s core service is the Community Free Shop located at 7032 Hospital Drive. Here, local residents can shop for gently used clothing, personal care products and other household goods. No referral or appointment is needed if customers meet the aforementioned residency requirements. Shoppers can visit once every three months as needed.

Direct financial assistance is available in the form of payments for utilities, transportation needs or medical expenses. A referral from a third-party organization is required to qualify for financial support. When such assistance is approved, the organization sends funds directly to the service provider on behalf of the customer. 

One Dublin is also a resource for large household items. “We provide new beds and other used furniture through our Mattress Plus program,” says Carr. For any furniture needs One Dublin can’t meet, the organization provides a referral to the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio. This allows customers to shop at the Furniture Bank’s free furniture showroom.

In addition to its year-round programming, One Dublin provides seasonal services targeted to specific audiences and needs. The Back-to-School celebration provides free backpacks and school supplies for preschool, Head Start, and K-12 students in the Dublin City School District.

During the holiday season, residents and businesses are encouraged to Adopt-a-Family, which provides a wish list to be fulfilled. Families are identified and referred by school counselors. One Dublin operates a similar program for older adults. Adopt-a-Senior works with a local senior affordable housing community to bring holiday cheer to people experiencing hardship, loss or isolation. 

One Dublin relies on community support to support the community. “We have two primary needs,” says Carr. “The first is volunteers to help us process and organize the donations at our Free Shop.” Over 1,400 volunteers help support the organization’s programs each year. “One of the best things about volunteering for One Dublin is that you know you are directly supporting your neighbors,” says Carr.

Funding is also critical to the organization’s ability to thrive. “We are on pace to provide over $100,000 in financial assistance to Dublin residents,” says Carr. “We are always in need of donations so we can continue to support everyone who comes to us seeking help.”

One Dublin hosts a variety of events to raise funds and awareness. “This year we are hosting two separate fundraisers,” says Carr. “The first is a Merrill Lynch golf outing at Muirfield Golf Course on September 21.” Interested foursomes can register to play a round of golf, then enjoy dinner and a live auction. “We will also be hosting a 20th anniversary celebration in October at our Free Shop,” says Carr. “More details to come!”

Now in its 20th year of operation, One Dublin has become an essential part of the city’s rich and diverse community fabric. There is no better time—or place—to lend your support. “As a local nonprofit focused only on Dublin, you know that your help is going back into the community that you call home,” says Carr. One Dublin looks forward to 20 more years of making Dublin a great place for everyone to live.