Dignity
Every neighbor we serve is a guest, not a case. We greet people by name, listen first, and never ask families to prove their hardship.
From a backyard firepit in 2021 to a registered 501(c) public charity serving thousands of neighbors, this is who we are and why we keep showing up.
The Firepit Charity Club exists to make sure no member of our community feels alone or invisible. We believe the simplest acts — a warm meal, a paid utility bill, a hand on your shoulder — are the foundation of a community that thrives together.
Founded by a small group of Zanesville residents in 2021, we've grown into a fully volunteer-led organization that distributes meals, funds emergency relief, mentors students, and hosts gatherings that remind everyone they belong.
Every decision we make — from the smallest grant to the biggest program — is checked against these four values.
Every neighbor we serve is a guest, not a case. We greet people by name, listen first, and never ask families to prove their hardship.
We are built by neighbors for neighbors. 100% of our work happens within Muskingum County, with local volunteers and local partners.
We publish our annual report, our 990-N filings, and our board minutes. Donors and recipients deserve to know exactly where every dollar lands.
We choose hope, repeatedly. Hope shows up Saturday mornings to cook. Hope answers the phone on a hard night. Hope keeps the fire burning.
Five years, hundreds of volunteers, thousands of stories. Here are a few moments along the way.
A small group of Zanesville neighbors begins meeting weekly around a backyard firepit on Licking Lane to share meals and check in on each other. The Firepit Charity Club is officially registered with the IRS (EIN 35-2568246).
We host our first community Saturday dinner — 28 guests, three pots of chili. By year's end we're feeding 60+ neighbors weekly.
After a brutal winter, our community raises $42,000 to keep heat on for 84 families. The Warm Home Fund becomes a year-round program.
We award our first six scholarships to Muskingum County graduates pursuing trades, college, and community service careers.
We cross a cumulative $240,000 in direct community assistance and surpass 2,400 families served — all with zero paid staff.
We're expanding our Gathering Nights, launching our youth mentorship program, and breaking ground on a permanent community kitchen.
A small, dedicated team of volunteers steward the organization — with help from hundreds more across the community.
A lifelong Zanesville resident, Stuart founded The Firepit in 2021 with a simple promise: nobody's firepit should be lit alone. He still cooks every other Saturday.
A retired social worker, Marlene shapes our Warm Home Fund and Neighbor-to-Neighbor grants. Her favorite tool is the kitchen ladle.
Andre keeps our books transparent and our volunteer roster humming. He believes spreadsheets are a love language.
Whether you give an hour, a dollar, or a casserole — you make the fire bigger.