UPDATE: Allen and Mercer counties

We have fantastic news!

Our efforts to expand knowledge of and participation in The Ohio Benefit Bank have paid off in an unexpected but delightful way.

In Allen and Mercer counties, existing OBB sites have created a solid working partnership with the local Job and Family Service departments. This means faster processing of OBB applications and quicker access to services for our OBB clients.

Gayle Loyola, regional coordinator with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, explained the benefit to all partiers now that this working relationship has been established.

"When we have a relationship with Job and Family Services, it's better for the client all the way around," Loyola said.

Mercer County OBB administrators have invited representatives from the county Job and Family Service Department to attend the free, six-hour computer training that all OBB counselors must complete. The JFS is sending at least one person to participate in the face-to-face training.

"The problem has been resolved," Loyola said. "We are moving forward."

Butler Co. OBB Event

The newest part of our Capacity Building events for The Ohio Benefit Bank in partnership with the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio AmeriCorps*VISTA Alesha Rademan organized her first event Friday.

The OBB/HealthPath event was done in conjunction with Shared Harvest Foodbanks in Butler County.
Alesha had an intimate gathering and secured at least one new OBB site from her afternoon meeting.

Nicely done, Alesha! We're delighted that you're on the team and cannot wait to see how all your OBB/HealthPath events turn out!

Below are some photos from the event.





OASHF Regional Coordinator Meredith Hill addresses the small group at AmeriCorps*VISTA Alesha Rademan's OBB/HealthPath event Friday, Sept. 24 in Butler County. Photo Credit: Alesha Rademan.



Shared Harvest Foodbanks of Butler County receives a check for $2,500 at the OBB/HealthPath event on Friday, Sept. 24 in Butler County. Photo Credit: Alesha Rademan.



In light of our success of the slideshow of the WKLM Radio interview with Greer Connor, North Coast Regional Coordinator with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, I've decided to expand on the idea of a series of photos together to highlight an idea about the Capacity Building events that OASHF and the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio are collaborating on. Please do take 30 seconds to see the video below. I'm delighted with the range of photographs that AmeriCorps*VISTAs Sara Mraz, Rich Field and Jessica Burchard were able to provide for this. Each photograph shows a representative -- usually an organization's executive director -- standing beside Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, as she or an OASHF representative presents the organization with a $2,500 mini grant to maintain and expand its current OBB program.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Listen to Greer Connor's Radio Interview

Our friend, Michele Simmons, at WKLM Radio in Millerburg graciously agreed to send the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks a copy of the interview she conducted with Greer Connor on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at The Love Center.

This event was the Capacity Building event for The Ohio Benefit Bank in Holmes County. It drew a crowd of about 15 people, including State Rep. Dave Hall, R-97th district, Ann Gastier from the Holmes County Education Foundation and John Lorson, a representative of Wayne College's Holmes County Higher Education Center.

We are very pleased to make accessible the interview. Please take a listen below:

Again, thank you to Michele and the folks at WKLM for attending  our informational event in Millersburg and for being so generous with their coverage of us and the OBB cause.

Rich and Jessica Prepare for OBB/HealthPath Events

As everyone knows, events don't just happen. Someone has to take time to coordinate them.

It starts with selecting a time, date and location before moving on to sending out invitations and then setting up for the actual event.

The following photos depict just a fraction of all the legwork that AmeriCorps*VISTAs Rich Field, Sara Mraz, Alesha Rademan and Jessica Burchard have done for this project.

[Left to Right] AmeriCorps*VISTA Rich Field and OASHF Regional Coordinator Meredith Hill set up the project for the PowerPoint Project at The Ohio Benefit Bank event in Darke County on ______. Submitted by Rich Field.

Rich, ever the gentleman and marketing superstar, went beyond just preparing for the event. He also made a point of greeting guests when they entered the banquet room as well as after they took their seats.





AmeriCorps*VISTA Rich Field explains the importance of everyone filling out the half-slip of information known as the Guest Information Slip to keep track of interest in OBB expansion. Submitted by Rich Field.

Meanwhile, AmeriCorps*VISTA Jessica Burchard spent countless hours preparing invitations and "thank you" letters to people across southeast Ohio from her desk at the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks' main office in Columbus.



AmeriCorps*VISTA Jessica Burchard sent out hundreds of invitations for her 13th and final OBB/HealthPath event. It was in Millersburg, the seat of Holmes County, on Sept. 8. She mailed one-page invitations to the entire Chamber of Commerce list supplied by the partnering agency, The Love Center. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard.

The size of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce list made sending out the invitations a two-day job. When totaled, Jessica sent out more than 400 invitations to businesses, schools, individuals and media outlets.

Besides sending out documents for the events, Jessica also organized photos and documentation coming from other VISTAs.

This photo taken of AmeriCorps*VISTA Jessica Burchard's desk shows several photos that AmeriCorps*VISTA Rich Field mailed to her to be put on the blog and used for future reports on the OBB events. As you can see, they offer quite the display of Rich's event planning and marketing skills. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard.





AmeriCorps*VISTA Sara Mraz Reflects on Hardin County's OBB Event

VISTA Spots OBB Partnerships at Expansion Events

By Jessica J. Burchard


AmeriCorps*VISTA Sara Mraz has seen partnerships for The Ohio Benefit Bank begin right before her eyes.


Mraz, who coordinates OBB events in the West Ohio Food Bank region, finds herself closely observing the interactions among different agencies and the tentative agreements they reach.

“By doing these events it really does put together the organizations in that community in one area,” Mraz said during a telephone interview. “It really is hard to get all the power players in one area to hear one message. Also, we are bringing awareness to the whole idea of people in need, whether it’s visually or telling stories of people in need.”

Guests at the Hardin County OBB Event get acquainted as they prepare for the presentation to begin. Many of them are county officials such as JFS, city council and executive directors of nonprofits. Submitted by Sara Mraz.

Recently, Mraz saw two groups join together in an effort to expand the OBB.

Representatives from the Forest-Jackson Library and the Forest United Methodist Church began discussing partnering at the Hardin County OBB Luncheon event on July 21 in Ada to create a new site for The Ohio Benefit Bank.

Mraz recalls how enthusiastically the librarian expressed her interest in using The Ohio Benefit Bank computer software to assist people in need that would come to the library for help. Many times, she would send them to the United Methodist Church as a place to start. By partnering together, they could potentially help more people in their local community.

Neither the church nor the library has registered at this time for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks’ free hour-long Pre-Training Orientation program. The computerized program, which can be done from any computer with Internet access, is the prerequisite for the free six-hour training for individuals to become certified OBB counselors.

As Mraz continues to plan and attend OBB awareness events, she keeps her goal in focus:

“To me, having this tool and making people aware is crucial. Each county is different and depending on the knowledge and awareness that each organization has of their community’s resources can really help to connect people in need to ways that they can survive. The OBB is just one way that we can start to help our fellow Ohioans,” she said.

Surpassed 1,200 Views!

Thanks for taking time to stop by The Ohio Benefit Bank/HealthPath project blog!

Please feel free to leave feedback. I would very much like to know what you think of our efforts to expand knowledge about the OBB throughout 36 counties across Ohio with the generous support of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio.

Again, I sincerely thank you for your time and attention!!

Politicians and Public Servants Attend The Ohio Benefit Bank Expansion Events!

Although politicians and public servants at all level of government are very busy people, some made time in their hectic schedules to attend the Capacity Building events for The Ohio Benefit Bank.

Please see the following photos for more information about who came to what event.

State Rep. Dave Hall looks at some of the Do You Know Someone Who. . . campaign materials after The Ohio Benefit Bank event Sept. 8 at The Love Center in Holmes County. He was legally prohibited from taking of the items from the table. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard



OASHF Regional Coordinator Greer Connor speaks with State Rep. Dave Hall, R-97th district, after the OBB presentation Sept. 8 at The Love Center in Holmes County. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Republican State Rep. Dave Hall of the 97th district is a longtime supporter of The Love Center and its community activities, including its food pantry of choice and babycare item distribution. Although he attended the event, Hall declined to take any materials with him because of legal issues.  





[Left to Right] Marty Chumny and Amanda Workman from the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority meet Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, at the OBB event June 15 in New Philadelphia.

At the end of The Ohio Benefit Bank presentation, Amanda Workman filled out the guest information slip and indicated that the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority was interested in becoming an OBB site. 




[Left to Right] Columbiana Chamber of Commerce President Larry Deidrick, The Way Station Director James Couchenower, Columbiana JFS Director Eileen Dray-Bardon listen to OASHF Regional Coordinator Jessica May discuss The Ohio Benefit Bank July 22 at The Way Station's Columbiana office. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard




Charles Barber, communications manager for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, speaks with Mayor Glenn Holmes of McDonald Village after the OBB event Aug. 5 at the Hippodrome Banquet Center in Warren. The two men were discussing the possibility of OBB councilors scheduling trainings for senior citizens in the mayor's community. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard



Trillium Family Solutions, Inc.: Profiles in Community

This posting marks the third to highlight the accomplishments of The Ohio Benefit Bank sites where Capacity Building events sponsored by the partnership between the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio took place.



Each of these wonderful organizations goes above and beyond to provide those in need with access to basic services such as food, clothing, sometimes shelter and always compassion and understanding.


As such, I just wanted to summarize all the diligent and much-needed work these groups do. Please read the bullet pointed summary below and add your two-cents!

On July 20, Trillium Family Solutions, Inc. hosted a Capacity Building event for The Ohio Benefit Bank at its Canton office.

The event was very well attended with nearly 30 guests from various governmental and nonprofit agencies.

Greer Connor, North Coast Regional Coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, addresses the group of nearly 30 people at Trillium Family Solutions, Inc. in Canton on July 20. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard


Besides its participation in the OBB/HealthPath project, Trillium has been active with The Ohio Benefit Bank for years and earned OBB Site of the Year for 2010 at the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks’ annual conference on Sept. 1.

Job well done, Trillium! Keep up the great work!!!

• Organization: Trillium Family Solutions, Inc. has three locations. The offices are at the following locations: Main office at 624 Market Ave N., Canton, OH 44702; Massillon office at 934 Amherst Rd. Ne., Massillon, OH 44646; Alliance office at 1410 W. State St. Suite M., Alliance, OH 44601


• Services: Existing OBB site with full-time staff and volunteers certified as counselors; low-income family financial assistance through the Ways to Work program; range of low-cost family and individual counseling; five types of eldercare services ; psychiatric and pharmacological management services; deaf community services; and HIV / AIDS case management and prevention


• Clients Helped: In 2009, Trillium processed 508 applications for 305 households - Ohio Food Stamps & Medical Assistance for annual allotments of $186,720 with Tax credits & rebates totaling $236,021. So far in 2010, Trillium has completed 590 Applications for 348 households with the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program annual allotments have reached $212,964, and Tax credits & rebates are at $318,894.

** Side Note: Since Trillium began participating in the OBB program in 2007, its certified OBB councilors have completed 1,222 and gave back total supports into households totaling $1,084,241.


• Community Partnerships: Trillium has seven Family Involvement Coordinators located in East Canton, Louisville, Massillon, Alliance and Sandy Valley schools. The family involvement staff are trained Ohio Benefit Bank Counselors. The FIC are in a school based environment to provide social services, advocacy and linkage that supports the students and student families overcome barriers to learning. We work closely with local colleges to recruit volunteers for the Ohio Benefit Bank services; We attend many community services on a monthly basis promoting financial security and services: Salvation Army, Turn around community, Domestic Violence, Indian River Correctional Facility and the YWCA to name a few.”


• HealthPath Grant Usage: This grant will be used to support mileage; marketing and Broadband technology that will maintain and sustain the existing OBB program Trillium has in place at all its locations.

Robin Seemann, economic development program director of Trillium Family Solutions, Inc., and Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, pose holding a novelty check representing the $2,500 grant that Trillium received July 20 to expand its OBB program.

Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

 
• Staff: According to Trillium’s Web site, www.trilliumfs.org, the organization has 130 staff members. Thirty-nine members of Trillium staff are trained Ohio Benefit bank Counselors. All Intake staff is being trained to screen clients through the Quick Check Program.

Source: Robin L Seemann, Economic Development Program Director for Trillium Family Solutions, Inc









Our Friends in the Media: Article in Delphos Herald

AmeriCorps*VISTA Sara Mraz coordinated a great media campaign for her Capacity Building event for The Ohio Benefit Bank in Delphos on Tuesday, Sept. 14. She had representatives from the local newspaper, The Delphos Herald, as well as the local TV station attend.

Below is a copy of the newspaper article that appeared in the Wednesday, Sept. 15 edition of The Delphos Herald.

Congratulations, Sara! You're doing an excellent job of getting the word out about the OBB and all the benefits it offers.

AmeriCorps*VISTA Sara Mraz stands behind a laptop directing The Ohio Benefit Bank PowerPoint presentation at a Capacity Building event this summer. Sara plays an active role at all her events, including greeting guests and moving along the presentation. Submitted by Sara Mraz.

Now, here's the article:

Assistance Program Promoted in Delphos

Written by Mike Ford


Wednesday, September 15, 2010 1:39 PM


mford@delphosherald.com

The Interfaith Thrift Shop is the one place in town where those in need can apply for government assistance through one application. The Ohio Benefits Bank streamlines the process of seeking food stamps, energy assistance, prescription assistance and more.

Gayle Loyola of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks delivered a talk Tuesday at the Eagles. She indicated the OBB is a public and private partnership involving the governor’s office, Second Harvest and several faith- and community-based groups. She also said $1.7 billion in federal tax credits and work-support program funds go unclaimed each year in Ohio because allocation depends on residential requests.

The luncheon was attended by church members, the mayor and city council president, as well as the Thrift Shop Social Services Coordinator Becky Strayer. She has been trained as an Ohio Benefits Bank counselor and said the program enables the thrift shop to point people in the right direction when limited resources prohibit solving immediate problems with cold hard cash.

“We want to be in a position to help people when we don’t have resources ourselves. I don’t want to have to look at someone and say ‘sorry, I don’t know; I can’t help you’,” she said. “I want people to have a backup plan; I want to point them to someone who can help them. So, we became an Ohio Benefits Bank site and will be able to help more people. When someone comes to us for help with rent, utilities or food and they are unemployed, we can go to the OBB Web site and run a quick check to see what programs they may qualify for.”

She says there is a wide array of things people don’t know help is available for.

“We can help people sign their school-age children up for free lunches through the benefits bank. We have free tax-filing service for those who qualify; we can help people with prescriptions to a point and then we can help them find help through other avenues. Also, there is an employment program called Experience Works. If you’re 55 and older and meet the financial requirements, you can get work. For example, say the Thrift Shop needed a worker. We could apply though Experience Works and they would send us someone, then they pay them. So, everyone wins because we get an employee and that person finds a job. This is just one of the programs offered through the benefits bank.”

Strayer said clients often come to her needing help with something like rent or their electricity. Paying the bill for them may not be possible but that doesn’t mean the thrift shop can’t help.

“The first thing we look at is ‘are you employed? Have you applied for unemployment? Have you applied for food stamps?’ Sometimes, you can free up money for rent and utilities by getting food stamps. A lot of people may qualify but don’t know it,” she said.

Holmes County OBB Event: Regional Coordinator Greer Connor's First Radio Interview

With every Capacity Building event for The Ohio Benefit Bank, someone has a new experience.
The Holmes County OBB/HealPath event Wednesday proved to be the case for Greer Connor. Connor, North Coast Regional Coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, had never done a radio interview.

That changed when WKLM Radio Reporter Michele Simmons spoke with her after The Ohio Benefit Bank presentation at The Love Center in Millersburg. Simmons asked Connor about the importance of the OBB and how accessible it is for your average person.

 

WKLM Radio reporter Michele Simmons holds out a digital tape recorder to get information from Greer Connor, North Coast Regional Coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks. Simmson interviewed Connor about The Ohio Benefit Bank. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

(Left to Right) Greer Connor, North Coast Regional Coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, stands next to a table of OBB materials being interviewed by WKLM Radio reporter Michele Simmons Wednesday at the OBB/HealthPath event in Holmes County. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard.

Simmons is scheduled to e-mail the aired version of her interview with Connor to us for posting at a later date.

Please keep on the look out for the interview. And also, remember to congratulate Greer for her fantastic work in expanding information about The Ohio Benefit Bank through the media.

Alliance Community Outreach Program (ACOP): Profiles in Community

This posting marks the second of many to highlight the accomplishments of The Ohio Benefit Bank sites where Capacity Building events sponsored by the partnership between the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio took place.



Each of these wonderful organizations goes above and beyond to provide those in need with access to basic services such as food, clothing, sometimes shelter and always compassion and understanding.
As such, I just wanted to summarize all the diligent and much-needed work these groups do. Please read the bullet pointed summary below and add your two-cents!

The Alliance Community Outreach Program in Warren, Ohio had its OBB/HealthPath event at the Hippodrome Banquet Center on August 5.

Nearly 15 guests attended the event, including representatives from the Trumbull County Job and Family Services, the United Way and a local mayor.

Representatives from ACOP and the Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services talk about The Ohio Benefit Bank after the presentation Aug. 5 at the Hippodrome Banquet Center in Warren. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard.

A table of guests sit at a table in the Hippodrome Banquet Center on Aug. 5 in Warren. Those pictured include Charlene Allen, executive director of ACOP, a representative from the local United Way and two staffers from the Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard.

• Organization: Alliance Community Outreach Program (ACOP) is located at 2051 Niles Road Southeast, Warren, OH 44484.

• Services: ACOP is an existing OBB site with full-time staffers and volunteers certified as counselors that assist individuals and families with a range of needs. For example, ACOP offers programs targeting youth such as tutoring and after-school programs, adult programs such as computer classes and health workshops, family benefits such as limited food and clothing distributions and senior citizen programs such as age-specific health programs.

• Clients Helped: In 2009, ACOP completed 52 OBB applications. That number is expected to triple in 2010.

• Community Partnerships: ACOP collaborates with 15 organizations in addition to OBB. Among them are Employing and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP), Warren City Schools, Trumbull County NAACP, Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, and the Trumbull County Health Department.

• HealthPath Grant Usage: The $2,500 grant from HealthPath will go toward expanding ACOP’s community outreach of the OBB through allowing more traveling, more mailings and more professional development opportunities.

• Staffing: ACOP has one full-time staffer, nearly 30 volunteers and several part-time workers from Senior Employment Services.

Source: Charlene Allen, Executive Director of ACOP.

Way to Go, Rich!

AmeriCorps*VISTA Rich Field has helped register four organizations in Shelby County as new sites for The Ohio Benefit Bank.

AmeriCorps*VISTA and Regional Coordinator Meredith Hill set up the laptop and projector at The Ohio Benefit Bank event in Darke County on July 27 at the Masonic Lodge in Greenville. Submitted by Rich Field.

His efforts have earned him high praise from Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks.

"Congratulations, Rich! Your leadership, commitment and dedication is to be commended," she wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. "Keep up the great work."

Field, who is retired from a job in marketing and promotions, has utilized his experiences in marketing to make the OBB accessible and appealing to a range of people countywide.

"The fact that I've had a number of years working with major accounts has helped me a lot. Being able to hit the highlights and major areas has helped me a lot," he said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "The fact that we not only have tax benefits but personal benefits for people to important."

AmeriCorps*VISTA Rich Field addresses the attendees at July 27 OBB event at the Masonic Lodge in Greenville in Darke County. Submitted by Rich Field.

Field also works with OASHF Regional Coordinator Gayle Loyola, Community Trainer Mary Dardio and Communications Manager Charles Barber.

A more detailed write-up of Rich's accomplishments in Shelby County is forthcoming.

Again, join Lisa and me in applauding Rich and his team's efforts in successfully expanding The Ohio Benefit Bank in Shelby County.

1,000 Hits and Counting!

Just an update folks, The Ohio Benefit Bank/HealthPath blog tracker is at 1,000!

So, thank you to everyone who has stopped by and read the postings or accidentally stumbled upon the site.

Whatever your reason for spending a few minutes here, I extend a sincere THANK YOU!!!

Thought this beautiful photo with its colorful flower and butterfly showcases the point of this blog and the HealthPath VISTAs job: "Help Grow The Ohio Benefit Bank." Submitted by AmeriCorps*VISTA Sara Mraz.

OBB Events with Style!

AmeriCorps*VISTAs Sara Mraz and Rich Field have gone above and beyond in making the Capacity Building events for The Ohio Benefit Bank/HealthPath more welcoming in putting out centerpieces and decorating the "Help Grow the Ohio Benefit Bank" mugs at each place setting.

Both have taken initiative to contact local decorators about the centerpieces and cup accessories and have budgeted appropriately.

Let's give Sara and Rich some praise for all the time and effort they've put into the attention to detail at their OBB community gatherings.

Job well done, fellow VISTAs!

AmeriCorps*VISTA Rich Field makes his guests feel welcome immediately by showcasing a banner across the bottom of his check-in table and placing an eye-catching centerpiece behind the sign-in sheet. He also offers name tags and extra copies of the "Do You Know Someone Who. . ." campaign posters. Submitted by Rich Field.

Close-up photo of one of Sara Mraz's famous "butterfly cups" from her first OBB/HealthPath event June 23 in Hancock County. The burnt orange "Help GrowThe Ohio Benefit Bank" cup has a lavendar flower tied above the handle with a gold and black monarch butterfly stationed securely in its middle. Acrros the middle of the cup rim Mraz placed a copy of  a business card for OASHF Communication Manager Charles Barber. Submitted by Sara Mraz.

Say Check, Please!

In this post, I want to showcase just a few photos of leaders from our nonprofit parters in The Ohio Benefit Bank expansion events posing with the $2,500 novelty checks from Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio. 

The check presentation comes at the conclusion of the 90-minute OBB/HealthPath event when Wukusick addresses the group and discusses the role her foundation wants to play in improving elements of health in it.

The nonprofits receive the real $2,500 check from either the AmeriCorps*VISTA with whom they worked or another representative of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) once the meeting has concluded. The funding is considered a small grant to assist the organizations in maintaining and/or expanding their involvement with The Ohio Benefit Bank .

I, and staff of OASHF and HealthPath are thrilled with the success rate of these events and all the good they are doing.

Please take a look at the pictures and feel free to put in your two cents.

(Left to Right) HARCATUS Executive Director Michele Lucas stands next to Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, with a $2,500 novelty check at the first of three HARCATUS OBB events on June 15 at the organization's main office in New Philadelphia. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Wukusick and Lucas worked together previously when the HealthPath leader had a position with Catholic Charities. The two had a friendly runion at the start of The Ohio Benefit Bank event.

(Left to Right) Erica Salisbury, case manager with HARCATUS, and  Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, stand holding an oversized version of the $2,500 check that the organization received on June 17 at the OBB/HealthPath event in Carrollton. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Salisbury acted as a substitute for HARCATUS Executive Director Michele Lucas, who was unable to attend The Ohio Benefit Bank events in Carroll and Harrison counties because of a time conflict. She is familiar with the OBB and its services because of her training as an OBB counselor.

(Left to Right) Robin Seemann, economic program development director of Trillium Family Solutions, Inc., holds the $2,500 novelty check Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, presented to her at the July 20 event in the conference room of Trillium in Canton. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Wukusick applauded the efforts of Seemann and other Trillium employees for their long-term involvement with The Ohio Benefit Bank. Trillium Family Solutions, Inc. has served as an OBB site for several years, and processes hundreds of electronic OBB applications annually.

(Left to Right) Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, stands next to Kelly Weyand, site manager for The Way Station,  holding the $2,500 novelty check during the OBB event on July 22 at The Way Station's main office in Columbiana. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Weyand manages a staff of five full-and-part-time staff at The Way Station's two locations -- Columbiana and East Liverpool. In 2009, the organization assisted more than 21,000 people, including having OBB counselors offer tax assistance and help clients fill out applications for food assistance and other programs.

(Left to Right) Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, stands next to Lisa Ward, community support program administrator for Jefferson Behavioral Health System in Steubenville  on July 14 at an expansion event for The Ohio Benefit Bank at the health system's satellite office Beacon House in Steubenville . Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Ward and the other staffers with Jefferson County Behavioral Health Systems work with the often overlooked population of mentally unstable and developmentally delayed individuals who may be eligible for assistance programs, but are unable to go through the application process on their own. Beacon House and the health system's other offices have OBB Certified Counselors who can quickly walk clients through the OBB system and see that they get the benefits for which they are eligible.

People Like Our Posters

Sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader. So, without further adieu, here is a pat on the back to the hard-working folks behind the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks' "Do You Know Someone Who. . . " campaign that began in May.

When distributed at Capacity Building events for The Ohio Benefit Bank/HealthPath partnership, the posters are assembled into packets that include 10 of each size. The range of sizes allows organizations to either inset the information into pamphlets, put it on bulletin boards or post in in areas like laundry facilities and grocery stores. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

To date, the direct service office of The Ohio Benefit Bank in Columbus has received requests for 1,150 copies of the 8.5 X 11 size "Do You Know Someone Who. . . " campaign poster, which is the medium of the three posters.  The office also processed 50 requests for the 4.25 X 5.5 size (the smallest), and six for the 11 X 17 posters (the largest).

One copy of the 11 X 17 "Do You Know Someone Who. . . " campaign poster sits as a demonstration of the openness of the program. It highlights the needs of jobs, medication and food, but also mentions that The Ohio Benefit Bank can help with a variety of services. At the bottom of the poste, a black hoizontal strip showcases the toll-free 1-800-648-1176 number that people can call for assistance as well as the OBB Web site at http://www.obb.ohio.gov/. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

The biggest order for the "Do You Know Someone Who. . . " poster came from the Hartsgrove Township in Ashtabula County with 600 8.5 X 11 posters requested on July 6. Most of the other orders for posters were about 100 of the medium size with a few of the large.

Meet Our New Team Member!

Aspiring business owner Alesha Rademan has joined the AmeriCorps*VISTAs working on the Capacity Building events for The Ohio Benefit Bank/HealthPath Foundation of Ohio partnership.

Alesha, whose year-long VISTA service began just a few weeks ago as community trainer for southeast Ohio, but is far ahead of the game and will do wonderful with the events in the southwest region.

AmeriCorps*VISTA Alesha Rademan (right side, green shirt) stands next to Jessica May, southeast regional coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, (lavendar shirt and glasses) talking with a guest at the Belmont County OBB event Aug. 9 at Undo's Restaurant in St. Clairsville. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

The counties that Alesha will be planning events for include Adams, Scioto and Warren, among others. She will be vistiting the OBB event host sites in some of her assigned counties on Thursday with Barber.

Barber and the other HealthPath VISTAs are thrilled to have someone with Alesha's business savvy and enthusiasm for The Ohio Benefit Bank join our team.

We wish her nothing but the best as she begins meeting her event partners and planning the community meettings.

Good luck, Alesha!

The Ohio Benefit Bank sites: Profiles in Community

This posting marks the first of many to highlight the accomplishments of The Ohio Benefit Bank sites where Capacity Building events sponsored by the partnership between the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio took place.
 Each of these wonderful organizations goes above and beyond to provide those in need with access to basic services such as food, clothing, sometimes shelter and always compassion and understanding.


As such, I just wanted to summarize all the diligent and much-needed work these groups do. Please read the bullet pointed summary below and add your two-cents!

The Way Station in Columbiana County participated in an OBB expansion luncheon event on July 22 in the conference room of its main facility in Columbiana.

Jessica May, southeast regional coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, addresses a small group of community members, including Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services Director Eileen Dray-Bardon and Lawrence Deidrick, president of the local Chamber of Commerce. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

• Organization: The Way Station with two locations in Columbiana County – 614 St. Clair Ave. in East Liverpool and 769 Springfield Road in Columbiana.

• Services: Existing OBB site with full-time staff and volunteers certified as counselors; monthly food distribution that serves about 100 families each time; clothing/hygiene/baby items; emergency shelter; job readiness training; tutoring; adult education/GED classes; Hispanic ministry with free English as a Second Language classes that include a free meal; Bible study groups those looking for a relationship with Jesus Christ.

An unidentified woman looks at the gently used clothing The Way Station has hung out for people to buy at reduced prices. The clothing ministry, which offers casual and dress clothing for men, women, children and infants takes up about one-third of the nonprofit's main office building. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

• Clients Helped: The Way Station’s two locations served more than 21,000 people in the 2009 calendar year, which includes a mix of people in generational poverty as well as those who recently became under-or-unemployed. The number of clients is expected to grow in 2010 with the continued downturn in the economy.

• Community Partnerships: The Way Station receives most of its food, clothing and other donations from area churches, civic groups and individuals. In particular, an East Liverpool police officer created a sports-themed food drive and last year brought in 800 pounds of nonperishable food items for the organization.

A group of volunteers sort and categorize clothing donations that have recently arrived at The Way Station's building in 769 Springfield Road, Columbiana. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

• HealthPath Grant Usage: The Way Station will likely use the $2,500 grant from the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio to pay for staffing and staff training. Nothing specific has been determined.

Theresa Wukusick, executive director of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, presents Kelly Weyand, site manager for The Way Station with a $2,500 novelty check at the end of the OBB expansion event on July 22 to represent the real check. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

• Staff: 5 part-and-full-time people work at both locations of The Way Station. Most of people at the sites are volunteers from RSVP, AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps*VISTA, ministries, community volunteers and other programs.

• Source: Kelly Weyand, site director for The Way Station's two locations.

Our Friends in the Media

We at the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks offices and our partner agencies completely understand all of the countless hours of diligent work that go into maintaining and expanding The Ohio Benefit Bank.

But it's nice when the press notices as well.

Please review the following media links. You will be very impressed by what you read.

Program connects citizens to assistance

By Kelly Mori, Staff Writer 5:57 PM Wednesday, August 11, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Every year, Ohio citizens miss out on about $1.7 billion in federal assistance because they either didn’t know they were eligible for help or they didn’t know how to access it. The Ohio Benefit Bank wants to put an end to that by spreading the word about its free benefits assistance program.


The agency hosted a luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 11, to spread awareness about the free internet program that allows individuals to find out their eligibility for state and federal programs such as food, health care and home energy assistance as well as tax credits, Medicare Part D and Medicare premium assistance. Clark County has two Benefit Bank sites: Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio, 701 E. Columbia St., and St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 34 W. Pleasant St.

Last year Catholic Charities connected residents to nearly $500,000 in tax credits alone, Executive Director Keith Williamson told the 50 attendees at the event held at the Heritage Center of Clark County.

Since 2006, the OBB has connected Ohio residents to nearly $350 million dollars in benefits, said Charles Barber of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks. Those dollars not only help the individuals but are put back into the local economy.

With the help of a HealthPath Foundation of Ohio grant, the OBB is launching an awareness campaign which will include billboards and television ads. On Wednesday, HealthPath awarded Catholic Charities $2,500 to expand its local Benefit Bank outreach program.

For more information about the program or how to become a OBB site, visit www.obb.ohio.gov. or call 800-648-1176.

Web site address: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-news/program-connects-citizens-to-assistance-856096.html

**Note: This publicity comes from a Capacity Building event for The Ohio Benefit Bank put together by AmeriCorps*VISTA Rich Field in Springfield on Aug. 11. We applaud his outstanding efforts at getting a record-breaking attendance of 44 people as well as local press coverage. Excellent work, Rich!

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Family Financial Fair to offer services, education

August 15, 2010

More than 20 financial and social service providers are coming together for the first Family Financial Fair Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kent State University. It will be on the second floor of White Hall, 150 Terrace Dr. in Kent.

Family & Community Services Inc. and the Strategies for Attaining Financial Empowerment have partnered with Chase Bank, Seven Seventeen Credit Union, U.S. Bank, and Record Publishing to bring this educational event to residents of Portage County and the surrounding area. Other contributing sponsors include Kent State University, United Way and PARTA.

In addition to the financial and social service providers' exhibits, there will be 12 educational breakout sessions and free on-site services for attendees. The breakout sessions will include topics like banking basics, credit management, retirement planning, financing a college education and tax savings programs.

The Ohio Benefit Bank will offer benefit screening for programs such as food assistance, medical and prescription assistance, child care assistance, home energy assistance and more.

Kent State will have staff from the financial aid office available to offer assistance to college- bound individuals and families filling out the FAFSA. Those who need help with FAFSA should bring the following: parent/student 2009 Federal Tax Return, W-2 forms, Social Security numbers, untaxed income information, child support, bank account balances, investment net worth, business records, and farm records.

The fair is free and open to the public. There is also free parking and free PARTA on Inter-Urban routes 31-34 during the event.

For more information, call Krissy Schoenfelder at 330-297-7027 ext. 351.

Web site address: http://www.fallsnewspress.com/news/article/4876903

**Note: The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks is always grateful when newspapers and other media outlets preview our community events. Thanks to The Falls News Press for making space for this brief preview.

FREE Computerized Pre-Training Orientation Schedule

**This is the current schedule for the free computer-based Pre-Training Orientation given by the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks:

* 10-11 a.m., August 19
* 2-3 p.m.., August 30
* 10-11 a.m., September 8
* 2-3 p.m., September 14
* 2-3 p.m., September 20
* 10-11 a.m., Sepember 30

For more information, please contact the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks office at 614-221-4336.

Congrats, Richard Field!

On behalf of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) and the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, we offer congratulations to AmeriCorps*VISTA Richard Field for his successful event Wednesday, August 11 in Clark County.

Field and host nonprofit Catholic Charities had a record OBB/HealthPath event turnout of 44 attendees at the luncheon at Heritage Place in Springfield. Those in attendance included two county commissioners, representatives from the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services, Clark County United Way and an assortment of not-for-profit agencies.

Charles Barber, communications manager for OASHF, counted the luncheon among the best in terms of both attendance and interaction with the audience.  Once he returned to the downtown Columbus office, Barber expressed pleasant surprise at how many questions were asked about The Ohio Benefit Bank software, trainings and benefits to counselors and residents.

The high number of influential people at the event comes at a time of immense need in Clark County. According to an Aug. 3 Springfield News-Sun article, commercial trucking company Navistar International, Inc. is scheduled to cut up to 370 positions in early October.  The possible fall reductions in force come on the heels of Navistar eliminating 40 United Auto Workers positons on Aug. 2 because of a steady decline in the number of trucks coming through.

Field's personal dedication to direct face-to-face marketing of The Ohio Benefit Bank also played a large part in the luncheon's record-breaking attendance. With his solid background in marketing and business management, Field knows the importance of scheduling meetings with individuals and groups throughout the county to discuss the need for more OBB sites, certified counselors and the need to spread the word via posters and other materials.

Photos and more details about Field's well-attended luncheon are coming soon!

Belmont County OBB Event-- Monday, Aug. 9, 2010

This is the first-hand account of AmeriCorps*VISTA Jessica Burchard from her experiences of coordinating and attending The Ohio Benefit Bank luncheon on Monday, August 9 at Undo's Restaurant in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

I anticipated having a small gathering of mostly experienced OBB counselors at our Undo's for the OBB/HealthPath meeting. The guest list of Help Me Grow,  senior corps and St. John Food Pantry, among others did not disappoint.

The banquet room we secured for the event had 15 chairs shaped in a "U" in the middle of mid-sized room. All the chairs were full -- with one added at the very last minute-- for the meeting . 

As illustrated by this photograph, every seat at the table in the Undo's Restauarnat banquet room was full of people either learning about or advocating for The Ohio Benefit Bank. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard.

While our group filled the room, Jessica May, southeast regional coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks,  made the OBB/HealthPath presentation feel intimate by foregoing usage of a screen for a PowerPoint presentation. May, instead, summarized the PowerPoint and spoke directly to the interest and capabilities of those in attendance at the luncheon.

May repeatedly stressed how easily any eager individual could quickly become certified OBB counselors by completing an hour-long Pre-Training Orientation via a computer, register for a six-hour training session (time does include a lunch and several breaks), which are each totally free-of-charge. The face-to-face trainings are scheduled in each of Ohio's 88 counties, including the 36 HealthPath serves.

Although May's travel schedule prevents her from offering all the six-hour trainings herself, she does have Alesha Rademan, community trainer  for southeast Ohio, to assist her.

Jessica May, southeast regional coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, and Alesha Rademan, community trainer for all of southeast Ohio with the OASHF, speak with OBB/HealthPath luncheon event attendee at Monday, Aug. 9's event at Undo's in St. Clairsville. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Two of the agencies represented at the OBB/HealthPath event also mentioned getting referrals from commercials -- one in a newspaper and one from TV-- about the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbank's ongoing "Do You Know Someone Who. . . " campaign.

The campaign centers on the idea that everyone knows a family member, neighbor, classmate, or friend who may have fallen on hard times and may be eligible for some type of public  benefits such as food assistance, Medicaid, or utility payment assistance. Anyone may use a free-of-charge 1-800 number to contact a hotline to be put in touch with a certified OBB counselor to see if an individual or family may be eligible for assistance.

OASHF Southeastern Regional Coordinator Jessica May presents "Do You Know Someone Who. . . " campaign materials to the group of attendees at the Capacity Building event on Monday, Aug. 9 at Undo's Restaurant in St. Clairsville. The campaign is completely free-of-charge to individuals, families and OBB sites. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Once May ended her presentation with the group, she offered to distribute her OASHF business card with her e-mail address as well as her cell phone and office numbers. She encouraged anyone with questions, concerns or an interest in learning more about The Ohio Benefit Bank to contact her.

Both May and R___ lingered in the banquet room after the event to discuss the OBB with meet with Gary Obloy of the partnering agency, Belmont County Community Action Commission, Inc., and others who wished to talk.

Jessica May, southeast regional coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, discusses OBB trainings and programs with those in attendance at the OBB expansion event Aug. 9 at Undo's Restaurant in St. Clairsville. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

As people made their way to the parking lot, I offered them takeaway materials -- specially designed orange glass mugs reading "Grow The Ohio Benefit Bank," black and grey laptop computer bags and "Do You Know Someone Who. . " campaign posters in three different sizes.  The laptop bags have the HealthPath logo across a grey stripe across the middle; and are distributed to relay how easily it is to take the OBB out into communities or to clients' homes via a laptop in a secured bag.

The bags and large mugs were among the most popular items with the guests. Many attendees took a bag and mug for each of their volunteers as a means of spreading the word about the OBB and offering a small token of appreciation for the tireless and diligent efforts of volunteer OBB counselors across Belmont County.

Two of the Belmont County OBB event attendees collect takeaway items from the Aug. 9 luncheon at Undo's Restaurant in St. Clairsville. The organge mugs had hard candy and tootsie rolls in them with stacks of black, grey and white laptop bags beside them. The items were offered to all in attendance free-of-charge as a "thank you" for attending and a way to spread the word about OBB and HealthPath countywide. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Upcoming OBB/HealthPath Events for August 2010

Here are the scheduled Capacity Building events for The Ohio Benefit Bank in conjunction with support from the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio.

*Monday, August 9: Belmont County
*Tuesday, August 10: Preeble County
*Wednesday, August 11: Clark County
*Monday, August 30: Auglaize County

Two out of Three Ain't Bad. . . As the Saying Goes

The following is a summary of the Capacity Building events for The Ohio Benefit Bank in Noble and Monroe counties. It is told from the perspective of AmeriCorps*VISTA Jessica J. Burchard.

Monroe and Noble counties in Ohio have the reputation of being quaint, beautiful and terribly hurt by the downturn in the economy. Both counties have higher than average unemployment, Monroe has 13.6 percent (ninth highest in the state) and Noble 14.4 percent (fifth highest in the state), according to the Ohio Unemployment Rates by County June 2010 released July 16 by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

For June 2010 unemployment statistics on all 88 Ohio counties, visit http://lmi.state.oh.us/laus/Ranking.pdf.

When I had the opportunity to visit the counties on July 28 and July 29 for the Capacity Building events for The Ohio Benefit Bank, which were made possible through OASHF's partnerships with the Geurnsey, Monore, Noble Tri-County Community Action Commission, Inc. (GMN Tri-County CAC, Inc.) and the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, I saw for myself exactly how badly the lack of jobs and other resources pained the small and close-knit communities.

That experience is why I was so grateful for the strong turnout we received for our pair of OBB informational events. Both brought out prominent members of the community who asked many insightful questions about The Ohio Benefit Bank.

Jessica May, southeast regional coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, presents information about The Ohio Benefit Bank to attendees of the Monroe County event on July 29 at Swiss Hills Vocational School in Woodsfield. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

 Jessica May, southeast regional coordinator for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, explained how easily volunteers with basic computer knowledge could be trained for free to become certified counselors for The Ohio Benefit Bank. She also explained that the OBB is versatile enough that governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations and individuals of all backgrounds are able to utilize to help as many people as they feel comfortable with.

Jessica May, southeast regional coordinator for OASHF, ends her presentation by talking about the ongoing "Do You Know Someone Who. . ." campaign. She is holding a large poster with an 1-800 number that people in need can call to be referred to an OBB counselor who may offer to help them check to see if they may be eligible for a range of public assistance programs such as food assistance, Medicaid and HEAP. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

Once May completed her 30-minute presentation to the group, HealthPath Executive Director Theresa Wukusick, addressed the area's need for more dental care for youths under 18 as well as for more resources for women, children and elderly people who might be trapped in physically and/or psychologically abusive relationships. Both dental care and domestic violence prevention area areas of public safety that the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio have actively supported since being created 10 years ago.

Wukusick concluded her speech by presenting Gary Ricer, executive director of GMN Tri-County CAC, Inc., with a $2,500 check to be used to expand the organization's existing OBB services.   

HealthPath Executive Director Theresa Wukusick presents Gary Ricer, executive director of GMN Tri-County CAC, Inc. with a novelty check for $2,500 at the Monroe County OBB event on July 29, 2010 at the Swiss Hills Vocational School in Woodsfield, Ohio. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard.

Ricer and his team were pleased to receive two checks -- one for Noble and one for Monroe respectively -- and said the goal was to continue to offer a range of public services for those in Geurnsey, Monroe and Noble counties.