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.