A vital community resource in Columbus has a new home with help from AEP. On June 23, 2025, Our Lady of Guadalupe Center (OLGC) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new facility located on the city’s west side at 3631 Soldano Blvd. Bishop Earl Fernandes from the Catholic Diocese of Columbus blessed the new site and welcomed guests, including AEP employees, who were invited to tour the new building.
OLGC is a food pantry and social services agency dedicated to serving the Latino community. The center, founded by Catholic Social Services in 2019, moved to its new location after outgrowing its previous one.
The center offers individuals and families resources and programs, including English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, healthy family support, entrepreneurial and legal aid workshops and much more. AEP has been a proud sponsor of OLGC since 2015, contributing $550,000 to date. Employees have also volunteered countless hours to help in many ways.
“We’ve had customer service representatives come in to help explain electric bills and provide tips to reduce energy usage and save on their bills,” said Katie Grayem, AEP vice president of human resources and OLGC board member. “Services like this align with the mission of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center to help families overcome obstacles and allow them to move forward on their journey to economic stability.”
The center currently serves 6,000 individuals each year. OLGC Director Ramona Reyes hopes they can serve 8,500 people by 2027.
“I value my partnership with OLGC because our volunteer efforts truly make a difference in the lives of families in need. I’m continually moved by the compassion shown to those we serve,” said Renee Shumate, AEP Ohio external affairs manager. “OLGC embodies the true spirit of philanthropy — giving our time, talents, resources and care to uplift others. Volunteering in the food pantry has also given me the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful individuals, making the experience even more rewarding.”
