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.
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
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