About Us

  • Who we are: At Worthington Connects, we support families in need within our community, with a primary focus on holiday assistance. During the holiday season, we offer programs like family sponsorships and provide household essentials to ensure every family experiences joy and relief. However, our commitment goes beyond the holidays. Throughout the year, we offer help as needs arise, including providing gift cards, covering field trip or lunch fees, and supporting families in any way the schools identify.


  • Our Journey: Worthington Connects began in 2018 with a small group of Worthington families adopting a single family at our children’s elementary school. Volunteers purchased specific items, and we came together for a festive wrapping party, sharing food, drinks and a sense of community.

By 2022, we expanded to multiple schools, obtained our 501(c)3 classification and in 2023 we sponsored over 100 families. That same year we extended our efforts to provide year-round support, assisting families with field trip fees and more as the needs arise. What started as a small holiday tradition has grown into a community-wide effort, fostering connection and kindness through Worthington all year long.

  • Why We Do It: We believe that building a strong, connected community means being there for one another, no matter the time of year. While the holidays are a key focus, we recognize that challenges can happen anytime. Whether it’s helping a child attend a field trip or assisting with everyday needs, we aim to provide meaningful support when it’s needed most, fostering hope and connection year-round.


Board and Volunteers: Worthington Connects is a growing grassroots nonprofit led by a small but passionate team. We’ve recently established our first official board and will share more about our members as the board continues to take shape. As a startup organization, we intentionally operate with minimal overhead, allowing donations to go directly toward fulfilling our mission and covering only essential expenses — such as technology, event costs, and other critical operational needs.

President - Julie Morris

Born and raised in Iowa, Julie relocated to Columbus, OH in 2013 and now lives in the Worthington School District with her three children: Jude, a sophomore at Thomas Worthington High School; Brody, an 8th grader at Worthingway Middle School; and Carly, a 4th grader at Worthington Park Elementary. With 20 years of experience in IT within the Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance industry, she currently works in a role supporting various systems through analysis and strategic problem-solving.

When not busy with her kids, Julie enjoys running and recently completed her sixth half marathon. Passionate about bringing people together and helping those in need, she dedicates her time to building connections within the community. As an original founder of Worthington Connects, she is excited to continue growing the organization and fostering a stronger, more united community.

Vice President - Addi McElroy

Addi grew up in Dublin, OH, and is married to her high school sweetheart, also a Dublin native. Together, they have two boys. Cameron, a 2023 graduate of Thomas Worthington High School, is currently enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program while studying Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. Jaxon is in 8th grade at Worthingway Middle School.

Addi has been a valued employee within the Worthington School District, working at Kilbourne Middle School for the past three years. Before that, she worked full-time in Neurology at Nationwide Children's Hospital, where she continues to serve contingently.

Having been involved with this organization from early on, Addi is deeply committed to helping those in need and is excited to see the community’s continued growth. It brings her great joy to witness neighbors coming together to support one another.