United Way of Portage County
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GIVE, ADVOCATE, VOLUNTEER.
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ENEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL UNITED WAY
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2nd Quarter Newsletter - June 2020
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COVID-19 Emergency
Response Fund
With donations from GE Healthcare, Meijer and many individuals in the community, United Way of Portage County created a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for non-profit organizations and local school districts in Portage County. The grant helps to make sure that these organizations have the supplies required to support the overwhelming need in our community.
UWPC and our Partners will be best able to assist vulnerable populations, such as seniors, children, unemployed and those with little income. The fund will be used for a multitude of efforts to help with recovery, including:
- Food distribution to students and their families affected by school closures and other vulnerable populations that are isolated or lack access
- Providing personal protective equipment to healthcare professionals and first responders
- Availability of shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness who do not have the resources to stay safe
- Food pantries around Portage County
- Offering information through United Way 211. Please call if you need help.
The DuBois Family Foundation, through its Great Ohio Health Hunt, has generously pledged a matching donation up to $10,000 for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
We are now able to aid more individuals and families in the community.
In times like this, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are. Thank you to everyone who has donated thus far. Without you, none of this assistance would be possible!
Please consider a donation to the fund, visit www.uwportage.org/donate.
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News from the CEO, Bill Childers:
The COVID-19 Global Pandemic has affected many in Portage County and your United Way has been on the front-line providing food throughout the county, masks and PPE to Healthcare Heros and funds to operate the United Way 2-1-1 information phone service. We are very grateful to Meijer stores (Brimfield) and GE Healthcare (Aurora) for providing $23,000 to energize our new COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. These funds and the donations of others have enabled United Way to provide grants to our network of food pantries to respond to the additional demand for food by many who have lost jobs during the Pandemic.
The Vegetable Garden
We all should plant a Vegetable Garden now to combat the Pandemic. The Garden can help us grow some food while providing a great diversion from the stress of living through the Pandemic. For first time gardeners, this can be daunting, but the benefits are many. I have grown tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and herbs in large pots, so you don’t need lots of ground or land.
What you do need is some good dirt, pots, about 8 hours of direct sunlight, water/rain and some starter plants that you can get at the many local nurseries. You will also need to commit about one hour per week to water, weed and care for the Garden. Please see the
link
to the Portage OSU Extension Office that has extensive details about the Garden.
Be sure to notice the roses and rhododendron that are blooming now!
The recovery from this Pandemic may not be as fast as we all would like, but we all can reach out and help our neighbors.
BIG THANKS to Julia Colecchi, Director of Development and Marketing, for editing, writing and producing the 2nd Quarter Newsletter! Julia started her new job with United Way during the Pandemic on March 30!
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Give.
You can direct your contribution to one of the action areas- Education, Income and Health - or choose all three. As always, we will also process a restricted contribution to qualified 501(c)3 organizations.
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Advocate.
You can make change happen with your voice. United Way needs people who are passionate about education, income and health to make some noise.
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Volunteer.
United Way and Volunteer Centers work with volunteers and local nonprofits to develop the best opportunities for youth, busy working adults and seniors.
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GE Healthcare and Meijer for their generous donations to our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Their donations will help organizations in the community sustain daily operations and provide services to the
many Portage County residents who have been affect by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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Partner Events
6/15/2020 - Girls on the Run on Northeast Ohio is hosting the "Find Your Happy Place Virtual Challenge" in lieu of the Spring 5k. Regardless of how you choose to exercise, anyone interested can donate $10 to participate. Proceeds from the challenge will support the Be Her Hero Fund, providing scholarships for future Girls on the Run participants.
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Providing Funding through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program &
The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
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The United Way of Portage County Emergency Food and Shelter Program has received a grant of $79,306 from the EFSP National Board Program, a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. Funds will be made available for housing, utility, and food assistance programs.
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In addition to the annual EFSP grant, the UWPC Emergency Food and Shelter Program has received a grant award of $113,067 from CARES Act passed by Congress on March 27th, 2020. This over $2 trillion economic relief package delivers on the commitment to protecting the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. The total of the two grants is $192,373.
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The Portage County Emergency Food and Shelter Board is composed of local representatives of the national organizations listed above, as well as Portage County government, local housing authority, emergency management agency, and non-profit organizations serving low-income households. The local board is accountable to the national board for the use and awarding of the funds.
The local EFSP Board awarded:
- Community Action Council - $27,169 for utilities
- Family & Community Services (HESS) - $76,148 for housing
- Change Hunger - $80,256 for food
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Starting January 1st, United Way of Portage County transitioned our 211 service to be provided by United Way of Summit County. Their staff team looks forward to assisting Portage County residents with the help they need in accessing resources and information for health and human service needs. We are also excited to announce an additional way to contact 211Portage by texting your zip code to 898-211. These services can also be obtained by dialing 2-1-1 from any phone or online at
211oh.org
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Ohio Governor's Imagination Library (OGIL)
During this time of social distancing United Way of Portage County Ohio is happy to provide a program to get books in the hands of our youngest in Portage County from birth to 5 years of age. The OGIL program in Portage County is a collaboration of United Way of Portage County Ohio, Reed Memorial Library, Kent Free Library and the Portage County Library District. This program championed by Ohio's First Lady, Fran DeWine, is designed to improve the literacy rates of the youngest Ohioans. At this point so far we have 640 children registered. If your child is under the age of 5, you can register through this link:
https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/
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Resource Development
Meet the Director of Development and Marketing
Julia Colecchi joined the UWPC staff amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic on March 30th.
Julia, a Youngstown State University graduate and Rootstown native who has moved back from Girard, comes with five years of experience in development work in the Mahoning Valley and she is pleased to be coming home to Portage County. “This is the community I grew up in and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back."
2019-2020 Campaign
The UWPC 2019-2020 is coming to a close and we will be able to make a bigger impact as we continue to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community! We are on track to raise over $800,000 by June 30th and want to thank everyone for the continued support! To learn more about starting a campaign or other ways to donate, visit uwportage.org/give.
Special Events
We are hopeful that the UWPC Golf Classic may be held in late September.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, all other events have been postponed until further notice. We will keep everyone updated on our website, through emails, and social media.
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Community Funded Programs
All of our funded partners at remain open are following all COVID-19 restriction and guidelines. Check with each individual program to learn what services are being offer during this time.
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King Kennedy Community Center
King Kennedy Community Center provides a variety of experiences and opportunities designed to enrich the lives of our community members. Their mission is to better the Portage County community by working with area residents to improve overall living conditions.
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During the pandemic, staff have been able to help individuals sign up for unemployment and help students with their online school work. They are currently looking for volunteers to help disassemble and take down playground equipment so that construction for a new gym can begin.
The Summer Food Service Program is available to all children without charge. Meals can be picked up at KKCC at 6660 Garfield Rd., Ravenna, OH 44266 or Skeels Matthews Community Center at 4378 Skeels St., Ravenna, OH 44266. Breakfast is served from 9:30-10:30am. Lunch is served from 12:30-1:30pm. For more information visit
https://fcsserves.org/program/king-kennedy-counity-center/
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Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
RSVP aims to engage men and women age 55 and better in meaningful volunteer service that strengthens the well being of both self and community. RSVP is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over. They use the skills and talents learned over the years, and develop new ones while serving in variety of volunteer activities within the community. Volunteering provides benefits such as improved physical and mental health and greater life satisfaction.
In Portage County, there are over 25 sites for volunteers to spend their time and the opportunities vary. If you would like to volunteer, please contact RSVP Coordinator, Crystal Shanley, at 330-877-2495.
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Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio
Junior Achievement's (JA) purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. JA's programs - in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy - ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life.
With schools closing this spring, JA has pivoted quickly to adapt program resources to be able to be delivered remotely to the K-12 students they serve. JA USA has also created High School Student Self-Guided Learning Activities that cover topics such as interviewing, transferable skills, responding to failure and understanding job postings. These can be accesse
d
here.
JA of North Central Ohio is currently recruiting volunteers to help create 10-15 minute videos about their jobs and careers. These videos will be added to a resource library that parents and educators can access at anytime at
https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-usa/teacher-resources
. They are also looking for individuals and groups of volunteers to assist with the program material recycling project. Volunteers will help sort, county, and assist the JA staff in putting together complete program kits. Please call 330-433-0063 if interested in volunteering.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Portage County
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, one-to-one mentoring relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters gives children skills that increase their chances of graduating from high school, achieving academic success, setting high goals and stay our of trouble once the school day has ended. New volunteers are still being screened virtually and matches are still staying in touch with each other through phone calls, video chats, etc. If you are interested in a becoming a mentor in the program, go to
https://www.bbbs.org/get-involved/
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Children's Advantage of Portage County
Children's Advantage of Portage County provides child-centered, family-focused and community-based services. It is important to have someone to talk to during this difficult time and Children's Advantage is here is listen! They are accepting new clients via phone or video chat. Support is flexible, convenient and easy to access. If your family needs support today, please call 330-296-5552.
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Child Sexual Abuse Intervention Team/Children's Advocacy
Center of Portage County
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Portage County provides a coordinated response to allegations of child sexual abuse. So that they are not further traumatized during the investigation, children receive specialized interview and medical services in a safe and child-friendly setting. Please don't hesitate to report suspected abuse to 330-296-2273.
The 22nd Annual Bowl Against Abuse Awareness Fundraiser has been postponed until October or November. The new date will be announced on their website -
http://childadvocacyportage.org/
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Volunteers will be needed to help out at the event. Also consider forming a bowling team to help raise donations for the event.
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Kidney Foundation of Ohio
The Kidney Foundation of Ohio is dedicated to providing a broad-based program of direct assistance to those with kidney disease and promoting and providing educational programming for the general public, renal professionals, and patients and their families. The goal is that all people with renal disease or transplant recipients will be accepted in the community and have a measurably improved quality of life and function as a result of the services provided.
There are currently volunteer opportunities available to join the Special Events Committees. A donation of $50 provides a kidney patient with mileage reimbursement to get to their live-saving dialysis treatments. To donate or volunteer, visit www.
http://kfohio.org/
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Girls on the Run, Northeast Ohio
Girls on the Run is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.
Girls on the Run is currently recruiting volunteer coaches for the fall 2020 season. Information can be found at www.gotrnortheastohio.org/coach. They are also looking for volunteers to join their social media/e-mail sharing team to promote the organizations. Interested volunteers should contact [email protected].
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United Way of Portage County | 330-297-1424 | www.uwportage.org
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