CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO (January 12, 2025)—In March 2025, the Pickaway County Community Action Organization (PICCA) will mark its 60th anniversary of providing essential services to those in need. As the organization reflects on a productive 2024, Executive Director Becky Hammond shared her pride in the impact PICCA has made in the community.
“Our primary mission is to provide a hand up to those in need, and I believe we are doing that every day,” said Hammond. “PICCA offers a variety of programs that support our community’s most economically challenged individuals, including educational services, affordable housing, utility assistance, and much more.”
Among the key programs offered by PICCA are Head Start, affordable housing options, energy efficiency improvements, job training, and transportation assistance. PICCA also supports vulnerable populations, including homeless veterans, through emergency services and provides community-building activities such as its Toys For Tots program.
PICCA was founded in 1965 after President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Economic Opportunity Act created the framework for community action agencies nationwide. The organization is funded through a mix of federal programs, such as the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), state funds, and local donations. The bi-partisan support for CSBG grants is a testament to their positive impact on local communities.
Key Accomplishments in 2024:
Mobile Hygiene Unit: With the help of an $85,000 city grant and donations, PICCA launched “Soap-n-Hope,” a 32-foot mobile hygiene unit serving the homeless and community members in times of crisis. The unit includes shower stalls and washer/dryer facilities and began operations in October.
Tiny Home Community for Veterans: PICCA is exploring the creation of a tiny home community for homeless veterans. This initiative gained significant momentum when Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of City and Regional Planning adopted the project as a capstone research project. The class developed a comprehensive plan to move the project forward.
Toys For Tots Program: PICCA’s annual Toys For Tots program, partly funded by the Chili Cookoff event, served a record 603 families and 1,585 children in the 2024 holiday season, marking an increase of more than 200 children served compared to 2023.
Housing Success: PICCA provided permanent housing to a homeless veteran who had been living in a truck for two years. The individual now resides in a two-bedroom apartment at Ohio Heights, one of PICCA’s affordable-housing properties.
Shuttle Service for Workers: PICCA re-established a free shuttle service to help workers at warehouses and distribution centers near Rickenbacker International Airport, funded by federal grants from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Strategic Plan: PICCA completed its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, setting agency goals and objectives for the next five years.
Head Start Achievements: PICCA’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs reached full enrollment for the first time since 2020. The program also expanded services, including music therapy, mental health counseling, and mobile dental exams for children.
Weatherization and Community Support: PICCA surpassed its weatherization project goals for 2024 and assisted the Pickaway County Senior Center with grants aimed at improving handicap accessibility for the community.
As PICCA celebrates its accomplishments, Executive Director Becky Hammond announced that she will retire on January 31, 2025, after 21 years of service with the agency, including the last five as executive director. Deputy Director and CFO Denise Pontius will serve as interim executive director during the search for a permanent replacement.
Hammond expressed confidence in the organization’s future, saying, “The agency is doing well and in good hands. I expect PICCA to continue providing essential services to the community for another 60 years or longer.”
