September 2026 Newsletter

Helping central Ohioans plan ahead and know their rights

It has been such a busy and wonderful month! From our very first ice cream fundraiser to new partnerships and exciting programming ahead — there is a lot to celebrate and even more to look forward to. Thank you for being part of this community.

FUNDRAISER RECAP

FIRST EVER ICE CREAM SOCIAL — AUGUST 13, 2026

Scoop, there it was — FCACO at Jeni’s!

$183.84 raised for FCACO

On Thursday, August 13, supporters gathered at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams on North High Street for our very first Ice Cream Social Fundraiser — and we are still smiling about it.

Our signature flavor Berried Alive was a crowd favorite, and the spin-the-wheel activity gave attendees a fun and eye-opening look at how pre-planning can save families thousands of dollars in end-of-life costs.

Thanks to Jeni’s generous commitment to donate 25% of all sales during our event window, FCACO raised $183.84 — a wonderful start for what we hope becomes an annual tradition.

Thank you to everyone who came out, brought a friend, spun the wheel, and supported our mission. And a heartfelt thank you to the incredible staff at Jeni’s Short North for making it all possible.

DID YOU KNOW?

AUGUST IS NATIONAL MAKE-A-WILL MONTH

Create your will for FREE — right now

Most of us know we should have a will. August is the perfect time to finally get it done —because this month is National Make-A-Will Month!

FreeWill is a free, trusted, attorney-approved online tool that walks you through the process step by step — no lawyer required, no cost, no excuse. It takes less time than you think and makes an enormous difference for the people you love.

Getting your affairs in order is one of the most loving things you can do for your family. Don’t wait.

UPCOMING EVENTS

OCT 6 - Advance Directives & Living Wills - FREE

5:30 PM · First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd.

Attorney Paul Bryson of Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio presents. Leave with your documents completed — or take them home to finish at your own pace. First in a series. Open to the public. Bring a friend! Questions: info@funeralsohio.org or 614-263-4632.

OCT 13 - FCACO Presentation at Wesley Glen

2:00–3:00 PM · Wesley Glen Retirement Community, 8th Floor · 5155 N. High St.

Learn all about FCACO and end-of-life planning. All are welcome! Contact Becky Bowers: beckybowers@funeralsohio.org

OCT 22 - Fall Book Club NEW

6:00 PM · Location TBD

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. A warm novel about a death doula navigating love, loss, and what it means to truly live. Discussion led by Nikki Smith. RSVP: nikkismith@funeralsohio.org

EVERY MONTH - Death Cafe

1st Sun 1:30–3:00 PM · Co Hatch of Worthington, 752 High St #2, Worthington

Organized by FCACO board member Nikki Smith. Cake, tea, and open conversation about death. No agenda, no grief counseling — just real talk.

For more information or questions, please reach out to Nikki at nikki@nikkithedeathdoula.com

STAY INFORMED

Would you like to receive updates from the national Funeral Consumers Alliance?

Ask a board member a question! NEW COLUMN

We are launching a new Q&A column in our newsletter. Have a question about end-of-life planning, consumer rights, or what FCACO does? Send it to info@funeralsohio.org and we will do our best to answer it in the next issue.

WE NEED YOU!

Help Keep Us on Track: Volunteer for Our Annual Financial Review!

As a small, community-driven nonprofit, we keep our operations transparent and efficient. Per our bylaws, we conduct an annual review of our financial books — and this review can be completed by a qualified nonprofessional volunteer from our community.

We are looking for a detail-oriented member to help us review our financial records for the past year.

● What you will do: Cross-check our receipts, bank statements, and expense logs.

● Qualifications: No CPA or formal accounting license required — just basic comfort with numbers, spreadsheets, and organizational records.

● Time commitment: This typically takes just a few hours of total volunteer time.

● Requirements: You must be a current member and cannot be a current board member or related to the Treasurer.

If you love spreadsheets or just want to use your math skills to give back, we would love to have you! Contact Rita Haider at RitaSHaider@funeralsohio.org or 614-263-4632.

Phone donation needed URGENT

Our FCACO phone is desperately overdue for retirement — it is a Samsung Galaxy J3 that is 8 to 10 years old. For a phone, that is REALLY old. If you are upgrading and your old phone still works, please consider donating it to us. We just need something that can receive calls and texts — no data required.

Do you enjoy public speaking?

We could use your help spreading the word about FCACO in the community — and it is much easier than you might think.

› The PowerPoint is already made and the script is ready

› You always go out as a team — you are never alone

› We will train you fully before your first presentation

› We are fun to work with (we promise!)

› Come watch a presentation first and see if it feels right

Interested? Email info@funeralsohio.org or call 614-263-4632.

STAY CONNECTED

We really need your updated contact information — especially your year of birth, best email address, and phone number. This helps us serve you better.

Phone: 614-263-4632 · Email: info@funeralsohio.org · Online: funeralsohio.org/contact