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.