Loveland Takes Action: Neighbors Helping Neighbors in a Time of Need

By. Kelly Rafferty

On Sunday, February 1, 38 community members — including children ages 3 to 16 — gathered at the Grail to assemble cold weather care packages for unhoused neighbors and Know Your Rights kits for immigrant families in Springfield, Ohio. Together, they assembled over 150 care packages and 175 Know Your Rights kits, which were delivered ahead of the impending ICE raids on the Haitian community there.

This was the latest effort of Loveland Takes Action (LTA), a progressive activism group dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable people in society. Today, that means immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community, our children, and their neighbors with fewer resources than themselves.

They meet monthly at Grailville to discuss legislation at the local, state, and federal levels that affects the issues that matter most to their members. In addition to legislative updates, their meetings center around guest speakers. In January, they hosted Imam Ayman Soliman to share his story through the U.S. immigration system, including his detainment at the Butler County Detention Center.

The Grail, Grailville- Loveland, Ohio

Their next General Meeting is Wednesday, February 11, where they will be welcoming State Representative Karen Brownlee. Their meetings are open to all; the cost of admission is a pack of diapers (sizes 3 and up) or wipes, if it is within your means. These diapers are brought to the LIFE Food Pantry.

America’s greatest empath was taught by his mother to "look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” It was in that spirit of Mr. Rogers that Loveland Takes Action was founded in December of 2024.

The world is currently a polarizing place to exist. The news is turbulent and upsetting. The times we live in are unprecedented. It’s often difficult to find light in the headlines. Loveland, in its very name, is a town built on the principles you don’t see in the evening news. LTA is a group of helpers looking to always help those that have less access to resources.

To learn more about LTA and their upcoming events, visit their Trouble Nation portal page or Facebook Group.