Ohio Benefit Bank Mobile Express

Lake County JFS Lays Out the Red Carpet

2012-02-02T17:46:00.000-05:00

Russell and I were warmly greeted by the Lake County Job and Family Services in Painesville, Ohio. We gathered there with local VISTAs Leah Brown, Jessie Barth and Aaron Bartlett to do taxes.

The employees set us up in a spacious meeting room complete with wireless connection and coffee. Overall, they were very attentive and made sure that communication was clear among front desk staff.

They also gave us thumb drives to put each client's tax forms on. This, in addition to paper copies of returns, makes it very easy for clients to access their personal tax information in the future.

We will return to this location again in February....love the red carpet treatment!

Tax Season Cometh

2012-01-20T09:27:00.004-05:00

February is my favorite month. I celebrate my birthday in February. The Super Bowl is on the first Sunday of the month. I love the cold, the snow, the brighter mornings, and the early nights.

And February means tax season!

Benefits are great, obviously. But,taxes! You know what makes an event better? Telling someone they can expect a $7,000 check in the mail. People love that. Good vibes. And tax season is upon us! E-file opened this week. Tax clinics are on the horizon.

And speaking of tax clinics, on the right hand side of this blog, you'll notice a new feature. It's a very basic calendar that lets you know where we'll be. Events are confirmed, but dates may be added or times, places, etc. may change. It's a good barometer of how busy we're going to be. And we are going to be mighty busy!

If you're planning a tax or benefits clinic, you may want to take a look at the calendar and see if we're available. Or, if you want to take a look at the calendar just to see how many miles we're about to put on the Mobile, that works too.

Hope to see you on the road!

Bethlehem on Broad Brings Christmas Spirit Close to Home

2011-12-21T17:45:00.000-05:00

‎The Mobile Express had the pleasure of joining Broad Street United Methodist Church for their Bethlehem on Broad event.

1150 families received food boxes to help them with meal needs over the Christmas break.
5000 cookies were enjoyed by
2500 guest
More than 500 photos with Santa were taken.

And your very own Mobile Express team completed 20 applications on site and provided many other referrals.
It took a bundle of people to make the event possible. Russell and I were two of many who spent the day at the church hoping to make folks' Christmases a bit brighter.

Need for Emergency HEAP Heating Up

2011-12-08T14:30:00.001-05:00

One of the resounding themes as we travel around Ohio this season is the very real need for energy assistance. Whether in Mansfield or Gallipolis, Van Wert or Columbus, people are expressing angst about either getting their utilities turned back on and/or trying to avoid disconnection. It is amazing how many people are without heat in their homes in the middle of December.

As people approach the Mobile Express inquiring about how to problem-solve, we counsel them to go to their local Community Action Agency. At the Community Action Agency, they can get financial assistance as well as advocacy help to get their utilities turned back on.

Trying to stay warm

Mobile Enrollment Specialists with The Ohio Benefit Bank software can help with the non-emergency HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) application which gives an energy refund to income eligible residents. During these tight times, with limited resources, every little bit helps.

WRITE THIS DOWN AND MEMORIZE

2011-11-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

THERE ARE NO LIMITATIONS ON VOTING FOR EX-FELONS IN THE STATE OF OHIO!!!

Are you in jail? No? Then register. I had two clients at the previously mentioned coat giveaway telling me they weren't allowed to vote because of previous felonies. I don't know where this is coming from, but it is the worst kind of disenfranchising malarkey. The fact that I found these people a week after a major election was like an extra heaping of compost on a garbage sandwich.

Once you leave prison, you can vote in Ohio. End of story. Please take advantage of that, not every state is as progressive as Ohio on this subject.

Blood From a Stone

2011-11-29T12:26:00.002-05:00

With the unemployment rate holding unacceptably steady, I'm seeing less of the "new poor." What I mean is that there are less people who are recently unemployed and don't know about the benefits available to them. Instead, we're getting more and more people who seem to feel they are settling into a permanently bleak future. Many of them know what's out there. They've already applied for HEAP this winter or their SNAP application has already been sent to the county.

Last night I found an exception. At a coat giveaway in a Columbus church, I ran into a family so behind the eight ball that the adults had just sold pints of blood to pay for their daughter's birthday presents. Basically, a horror story.

Sure they knew about food assistance, but they didn't know about HEAP or PIPP Plus or how to apply for Medicaid.*

(*The "common application" is called that because it's for both SNAP and Medicaid and Ohio Works First Cash Assistance. But if a client says they're only applying for one of those benefits, sometime they are not screened for the other two.)

So I did what I could to fix it. I helped them fill out the SNAP/Medicaid application. Having been on SNAP, they were familiar with the questions I was asking. I asked them to call their caseworker since only one household member was on their SNAP case. For PIPP Plus, if that goes through, their electric bill will go down from over $100 per month to $10. That's 90 more dollars monthly in pocket. Heck, these guys were eligible for OWF Cash Assistance too. We are talking about over $500 in monthly benefits.

Selling blood to give your child a sense of normalcy should never have to happen. Nor should a six-year-old go without health insurance. I was so happy that this family, with a sugared up six-year-old in tow, was willing to spend 45 minutes with us going through all of these applications. They left happy and I felt as satisfied as I ever have working with low income clientele. I wish this were a perfect world where the need wasn't so great, but we all know this isn't that world.

It should be noted that Erin and I helped other clients in less extreme circumstances apply for benefits. A few SNAP applications, lots of HEAP this time of year. And some voter registrations. But more on voter registrations tomorrow...

Pondering Homelessness, Charity and the Vicissitudes of Life

2011-11-14T11:42:00.010-05:00

Russell and I attended Tent City in Toledo, Ohio where over 300 homeless, or at-risk of homelessness folks gathered to get clothing, food, haircuts, help with obtaining IDs, medical treatment, dental care and of course, benefit enrollment from The Ohio Benefit Bank Mobile Express team.

And while it was a wonderful event, I could not help but think about all the other weekends in the year where the homeless would need to find a place to sleep.

The Mobile Express is an outdoor job; we travel places and open our door no matter what weather challenges come our way. This day was no exception. It was in the 40's temperature-wise. I was wearing my long johns and fortunately in-between clients I cradled a portable heater in my lap. It can be hard to type when fingers are chilly, so this worked out great.

However, despite a cheery attitude and relatively warm fingers, I could tell a cold was coming on. After a couple of hours at the event, I felt that "cold to the bone" feeling. It was then I developed my strategy to take care of myself once I got home which included taking some medicine, turning up the heat in my home, taking a warm bath and cuddling under my covers in my bed for the night.

As Russell and I greeted people, I realized that our visitors were not unlike myself in so many ways but without these basic advantages- access to medicine, a warm shower, or a dry place to lay their head.

Where do you go or what do you do if you are homeless and the night is 30 degrees and you feel miserable? How do you get rid of that "cold to the bone" feeling? Adding complications like a lack of food or medical attention it does not bode well.

It felt good to see people getting blankets and clothing at the event. Hot cocoa and coffee were available as well. And the camaraderie between the volunteers and the participants was palpable. People who visited us were very grateful for the services we provided.

I am glad the Mobile Express is invited to participate in events that attempt to make a difference. Tent City is put on by 1Matters. You can check out their website here.

Free clothing was offered at Tent City

A monument to veterans at the Tent City site.

Local Farmer's Markets during the Harvest

2011-11-01T15:24:00.000-04:00

The Mobile Express visited Lorain County for a Farmer's Market Distribution at St. Matthew's African Methodist Church. Farmer's Markets are usually held by local churches that handle the process of getting fresh produce into the hands of needy families. At this market, food was brought from the Second Harvest Foodbank of North Central Ohio to the church. All 12 foodbanks in Ohio provide produce during the harvest with the help of local churches/organizations.

The OBB Mobile Express joins farmer's markets to greet those attending to see if they may be eligible for benefits. Many times people experiencing job losses, illnesses etc. who may be new to benefit systems may hear about and attend a farmer's market. As people go through transitions, they are seeking support for food and other needs.

The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks works with area farmers, negotiating a good price for produce to be distributed at these markets.

One family brought a wagon to take their veggies and fruits home.

This is a truly great way to "Eat Local".

Vets Visit Mobile Express in Youngstown

2011-10-18T16:18:00.000-04:00

The Mobile Express Team traveled to Youngstown as requested by Mike Iberis, Director of the Second Harvest Foodbank of the Mahoning Valley to serve those visiting the Veteran's clinic there. Social workers encouraged clients to stop by the mobile unit to see if they may be eligible for programs. The team, with the help of local VISTAs, enrolled 25 people in 41 benefit applications.

Mike Z. meets with Russell to apply for benefits

One of the many benefits offered on this day was Medicare Premium Assistance. Folks who pay $96-$115 per month for premiums out of their Social Security checks can get them paid if they are income eligible. That is a significant savings and can impact the budget greatly.

Another little known fact is that you can obtain the Golden Buckeye discount card if you are over the age of 18 and disabled. Many of the veterans we saw had disabilities either from active service or otherwise. 5% discounts on oil changes, hair cuts, thrift store purchases etc. may not seem like much, but every little bit counts.

Jim C. met with Erin to sign up for several benefits.
Jim was unaware that he could register to vote
after having a felony conviction.

Many of the veterans had multiple needs-medical, financial, emotional etc. It was clear that the people we had the pleasure of meeting were experiencing hard times.

It always feels good when The Ohio Benefit Bank is a part of the solution--no matter how large or small. Whether someone gets $200 in food stamps or someone registers to vote.

Old Fashioned Festival

2011-09-28T13:42:00.001-04:00

Garbage cans reflecting the 10 commandments

Awesome beans and cornbread

Mobile Express next to the Ohio Democratic Party trailer

OBB Mobile Express visited Bentonville Harvest Festival near the Kentucky border. This festival was complete with beauty pageants, parade, home made corn bread and local artisans selling their wares.

One of the neatest things about traveling with the Mobile Express is meeting interesting people; people living in small towns, big cities, people drawn to health fairs, food distributions, community events as well as, benefit specific clinics.

Russell and I have the good life experiencing the "heart of it all" in every nook and cranny of Ohio.

Fresh Veggies in Malta

2011-09-14T10:56:00.002-04:00

View from the van in beautiful Malta, Ohio. Pictured here is
an old timey river boat.

Here is Elizabeth Grieser. She is the SE community organizer with OASHF.
She, with Russell and I talked to people in cars as they were lined up
for the food distribution.
Over 300 people waited for fresh produce and came from near and far.
It was fun to walk and talk, hand out brochures and find out about the local history.

One of the volunteers suggested that we flyer the bags that were being given out.
There is no way folks left without knowing about the
Ohio Benefit Bank and all we have to offer.

We talked so much and so fast that it is a wonder that we had voices left. The event was aided by the local National Guard and OSU Extension was present as well with tips of how to can veggies. Overall, it was a very pleasant event.

Couple Organizes Distribution for Huron County Residents

2011-08-29T12:59:00.006-04:00

Pictured here are Dennis and Rose Jaeckin with Joseph Hrinda. Dennis and Rose with the Plymouth Shiloh Food Pantry, distribute food at different locations throughout the county --helping to feed the hungry. Joseph Hrinda is the Agency Relations Coordinator of the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio which supplies food to pantries throughout this and several other counties.

The Mobile Express team talked to over 200 people who were waiting for farm fresh veggies. All the people fell under 200% of the federal poverty guideline. Some people waited an hour in line to receive an armload of produce to share with their families. Ten OBB applications were completed for various benefits including food assistance, medicare premium assistance and voter registration.

While talking with folks in line, I met one of the bakers for Pepperidge Farm cookies. She bakes one of my favorites --Milanos, and every time I bite into one of those delectable cookies, I will remember those who we help along the way. Noted: If there is ever a Milano distribution in Ohio, the OBB Mobile Express will be first on the scene!

Financial Push Ups

2011-08-16T09:38:00.006-04:00

Went to the Smart Money Choices conference hosted by state treasurer, Josh Mandel, in Columbus to learn about resources and brush up on my own skills for financial freedom. I learned a lot about Social Security benefits, credit and debt, and state sponsored programs that support Ohioans with specific goals. It was a day well spent.

I was pleasantly surprised to find our very own Gayle Loyola on stage at the opening panel. She was one of 3 presentors who were answering questions. Gayle represented us well--made people aware of resources through the Benefit Bank and then some.

The goal of the conference in Josh Mandel's words:

“The Smart Money Choices conference series brings together qualified financial professionals and experts to provide free advice to Ohioans who want to take better control of their finances,” said Treasurer Mandel. “It’s important that Ohioans are equipped with tools to manage their finances and plan for a successful future. Smart Money Choices conferences provide valuable resources and encourage discussion on strategies to help residents put their money to work toward reaching their goals.”

There will be one more conference offered this summer in Youngstown on August 26. If you are interested, you can sign up here.

While looking poking around the internet I found a great resource through OSU Extension that uses 8 Easy Exercises for Financial Fitness. Check it out.

A couple of tidbits I learned through the conference:

Social Security was never intended to be the sole income for retirees. Save money now.

Get your debt owed down to 32% or less to increase your credit score.

Now I need to set my sights on my goals and live large without spending a lot of money--wish me luck!

Eye had a Great Time in Cleveland

2011-08-02T15:22:00.007-04:00

OBBME visited Cleveland for a Medworks event focusing on eye care services to under or not insured patients. Over 1000 individuals gathered, 300 of those needed to be turned away due to resource limits (they did this at 9:30 am). The demand was amazing. The mobile express team spoke to hundreds of people.

Medworks continues to serve Ohioans with the least resources and are experts at rallying support from the medical field to accomplish these goals and we are glad to join forces with them to make a difference.

Here is the van at Quicken Loans Arena. Much of our time was spent in line however, talking to the 700 people waiting to be seen by an optometrist.

Pictured above is Erin with Ralph P. Ralph was seen at the last Medworks event and successfully applied for Medicaid with us. He has beginning stages of Alzheimer’s and is now attending a support group for his condition using his Medicaid benefits to do so. He came back to get an eye exam this time.

Question:

Who has two thumbs, has been on the floor of Quicken Loans Arena and has never won an NBA championship?

Alternate answer: LeBron James

Agape is on the Road in More Locations!

2011-07-26T11:50:00.008-04:00

Food is stored on specially designed shelves--making it possible to travel to

8 locations within Shelby county. The mobile pantry feeds folks

in very remote areas that may not otherwise have food to eat.

Russell and Jeff McAtee (head honcho of the mobile food pantry)

take a break in front of the pantry.

Here is Russell with his very own sticker book from High School Musical 3. As you can tell, this find made his day. This and other miscellaneous items are available for the taking as well.

Advertise "FREE"

2011-07-05T12:27:00.007-04:00

Signage at the clinic. People stopped by just to see what was available.

They were rewarded for stopping with a give away prize.

Rhonda Holbrook and Missy Jimison

from Adams Brown Counties Economic Opportunities Inc.

joined Russell during recent benefit clinic.

Russell and I went to West Union, the county seat of Adams for a benefit clinic. Rhonda and Missy pictured above worked hard to advertise the clinic in advance and schedule appointments. We were able to complete 10 applications and assisted a few folks with getting Safelink phones. Low income residents can apply for a free cell phone with up to 250 free talk/text minutes.

Aptly Named Franklin Furnace

2011-06-28T10:45:00.005-04:00

Spent the day in Franklin Furnace on a very hot June day. Worked in tandem with Lutheran Social Services as they distributed food to hungry Scioto County folks. People came from near and far to stand in line for 2 hours to get food assistance. We were able to complete many applications and provide referrals for other service needs.

Below are a few photos:

Applying for benefits

Van nestled beside the church

Roving hills of Scioto County

Busy Busy Busy (Part 2)

2011-06-21T11:17:00.004-04:00

After a successful trip to Franklin Furnace, it was time to get ready for our next event. The good news: It was in Columbus. After driving to Kentucky and back, Columbus sounded nice. The bad news: The event was 12 hours long. It ended at 7pm. Which means it started at...

...

&*#*(&^@)(*@_

Despite the early morning, Erin and I were looking forward to this event. Dr. Brian Kvitko, DDS was hosting a massive free dental clinic. Free cleanings, free, extractions, free fillings. And when I say massive, I mean MASSIVE. Over three hundred people were there waiting for dental help.

So Erin and I (this time with a cameo from National Service Member Extraordinaire, Emily Forsee) worked the crowd to see how many people wanted to apply for benefits.

We were honestly shocked by the response. Erin and I finished 21 applications. That made this trip -in terms of raw numbers - one of our five most successful ever. A plurality of the applications were for food assistance, but we ran the gamut from Medicaid to Medicare Premium Assistance to the ever-in-demand Golden Buckeye cards.

Twenty-one applications over 12 hours. And a majority of them were before noon when people were waiting hours just to get a cavity filled. I applaud Dr. Kvitko for helping fill a need and I am glad we were there to make sure people's dinner tables were taken care of as well as their teeth.

But even though this event was on a Friday, our work for the week was far from done. A Saturday trip to Cleveland loomed over the horizon.

Part 3 coming soon.

Busy Busy Busy (Part 1)

2011-06-20T09:11:00.005-04:00

When we're setting up a schedule for the OBB Mobile, we're only looking for good events. If something looks like a good fit and the date is open on the calendar, we're off. Every now and then this leaves in a position for a lot of travel in a short period of time. Last week was one of those times.

It started Thursday at a Lutheran Social Services food distribution in Franklin Furnace. Franklin Furnace is so far south that we took the OBB Mobile out of Ohio for the very first time. We drove through Kentucky* to get to this small little hamlet in Scioto County.

We had been to this food distribution before. It's one of the rare events where our satellite dish isn't just a luxury, it is a necessity. There's no cell phone service down there and no cell phone service means no wireless cards. It's satellite Internet or bust.

Once we set up our dish, the demand for help was unrelenting. Erin and I noticed a pattern when we met dozens of disabled Ohioans who didn't have Golden Buckeye cards. Unfortunately, hardly anyone had their disability acceptance letters on them, but we let everyone know that if they took that letter to a local library or senior center, they could be receiving discounts.

We had more traditional success with a woman named Tashanda Boggs. Mrs. Boggs was working part-time, her husband was on unemployment, and her brother just moved in with them after having trouble finding work. With two people earning income in the home, Tashanda didn't think she would be eligible for food assistance. In fact, she was eligible for about $160 a month in food. She appeared ecstatic.

Over the course of four hours, Erin and I (with a cameo from our manager, Zach Reat) completed seven applications. That's a good day. But we spoke to scores of people. That's an awesome day. We look forward to returning.

Part 2 coming soon!

*In Kentucky we were driving on the Country Music Highway. That reminded me of Loretta Lynn, Kentucky's greatest daughter. Unfortunately, our portion of highway was named after Billy Ray "Father of Miley" Cyrus. Ugh.

Can't Win 'Em All

2011-06-07T13:18:00.005-04:00

I spent the weekend in Henry County with our precious OBB Mobile for a couple of benefit clinics. We had our usual successes *brushes dirt off of shoulder* and we spoke to quite a few people in a sparsely populated part of the state.

But today I want to focus on a failure of mine. A senior citizen living off of less than $600 in Social Security who wouldn't let me help her sign up for SNAP Benefits. Part of my gig is to try reallllly hard to convince potentially eligible Ohioans to apply for these programs and when I can't achieve that with someone it really chafes me.

But this client was especially sad. Her reasons for not applying for food stamps: 1. The deficit (ugh) and 2. Her local pantry has lots of tuna fish and that's what makes her happy.

i hate canned tuna

I am going to ignore #1 because that's the sort of thing that will drive me insane, but #2 was especially heartbreaking. I tried explaining to her that with an EBT card she can buy loads of tuna fish. Heck, she can buy the fancy tuna fish that comes in a bag. She mentioned depending on eggs because they stretch meals out and keep her full. With an EBT card, she wouldn't have to do that anymore. And of course the money that goes into grocery stores can help people in her hometown achieve employment.

No dice.

My colleagues saw my efforts go up in smoke and gave me the "at least you planted a seed" condolences. But I don't want a seed! I want her on benefits.

Next time I am in Napoleon, OH, I am going to be on the lookout for her. This isn't over yet, not by a longshot.

Busting SNAP Myths

2011-05-27T09:51:00.006-04:00

Erin and I tagged along with the Mt. Carmel Hospital Mobile Team and made a trip to the West Side of Columbus to help people get their health checked out and, of course, apply for benefits. A caseworker at Mt. Carmel introduced me to Andrea Stewart. Andrea was on Social Security and was getting ready to receive health insurance for the first time. But even with SSI money, she was forced to live in a tent.

Ugh.

To Ms. Stewart's credit, she was one of the happiest clients I had ever encountered. Her living circumstances were depressing and unacceptable, but she had a smile plastered across her face at all times.

So: Homeless. Only a few hundred dollars in Social Security. Obviously eligible for SNAP Benefits. Obviously!

The Benefit Bank estimated that she should be receiving $17 a month in SNAP Benefits. That's one dollar above the minimum. And she lives in a tent.

Just something to keep in mind if someone talks about food stamps being easy money.

Andrea was also looking at having over one hundred dollars a month taken out of her Social Security to cover her Medicare premiums. Well that would not stand. We filled out a Medicare Premium Assistance application to help maintain her modest income.

Working with Andrea Stewart to get a little bit of help in food and a lot of help in health care was an absolute pleasure. I mean look at that smile:

i am taller than her

The rest of the event went incredibly well. Thirteen applications and a renewed feeling of partnership with the West Side's premier hospital. Good times all around.

Thinking on our Feet

2011-05-23T11:39:00.003-04:00

Erin and I drove to Cuyahoga County on a Friday for a food distribution. We get there early. Always a good idea to get to a food distribution early. People wait in line for hours. Early is the time to talk to them.

So we show up and a VISTA, the wonderfully helpful Bridget, from the Cleveland Foodbank is there to assist.

One problem: We are the only three people in the parking lot. The date got mixed up.

So we go into overdrive. I'm calling the Cleveland Foodbank and our North Coast Regional Coordinator. Erin and Bridget are calling Benefit Bank sites and food pantries nearby.

Erin and Bridget hit paydirt. There was a food distribution in Cleveland proper being held from 12-4. We showed up in the Mobile Express with no warning whatsoever and had our fingers crossed that they wouldn't mind.

They didn't mind at all. They were pleasantly surprised. They let us park in their lot.

And with no warning, no advertising, no notice, we came through with a successful event.

Out of the 60 people we spoke to, most were already on SNAP. But that still left a whole lot voter registrations, Golden Buckeye cards, senior employment, and Medicare Premium Assistance applications. Within only an hour our day went from potential disaster to definite success.

That felt awesome. High fives all around.

Project Connect UPDATE

2011-05-12T10:49:00.000-04:00

The last post I wrote was dripping with enthusiasm. I wrote that before seeing any clients. It was just pure unleaded optimism. All the pieces were in place, but how busy would we get?

Very, very, very busy.

Erin and I were joined by the Northeast Ohio Regional Coordinator Tonya Bailey. In about five hours we completed 11 SNAP applications.

"Oh, SNAP!" indeed!

Throw in a few voter registrations, mix a few prescription assistance applications, and then a dash of Healthy Start Medicaid and you end up with a recipe to an incredibly successful event.

That's over 20 applications in six hours.

You're welcome, Akron grocers!

This Post is Coming From Inside the Event!

2011-05-10T09:50:00.004-04:00

Get it? Like the phone call from inside the house in When a Stranger Calls?

Carol Kane gets it.

Anyways, yes, I am writing this from an event. We're at another Project Homeless Connect event in Akron and oh my goodness gracious is this amazing. We're sharing a room with the Social Security Administration and that is fantastic. We get a lot of questions about Social Security and having them in the same room really puts us ahead of the game.

More bonuses! Across the hall? Summit County Metropolitan Housing! When we aren't getting questions about the SSA, we are almost certainly getting questions about rent assistance and public housing. And instead of leaving clients with phone numbers, we can just point across the hall.

This is awesome!

Also here: The BMV to help with IDs. The Office of Vital Statistics to help with birth certificates. And, of course, our good friends at Job and Family Services to help with pending cases and unemployment.

I love events that click like this. There are hundreds of volunteers and almost every appropriate county agency is here looking to help. It is a privilege to be part of something so great.

Vials of Life

2011-04-29T11:11:00.004-04:00

Erin and I recently made a trip to Highland District Hospital in Hillsboro. Not only was this a new county for us, but the hospital was a brand new Benefit Bank site. We were happy to welcome the hospital into the OBB fold!

They were having a huge health fair offering discounted fees for blood work and other tests. Basically a health sale. And with almost a thousand people showing up, we needed to be there to spread the word about the OBB. That's a lot of word spreading.

But I ended up spending a lot of time talking about something other than the Ohio Benefit Bank. We were next to a Red Cross table and they were handing out vials of life. These vials are a good idea! Basically, you write down all of your allergies, medications, and health risks on a piece of paper, roll it into a vial, and put the vial in the fridge (presumably next to the baking soda). Then put a Vial of Life sticker on the fridge and paramedics won't give you medicine that will, uh, kill you.

that's a big cross to bear

So, great idea, right? But when I say "they were handing out" vials of life, please don't take me literally. No one was at the table. There were just hundreds of tubes on a table without explanation. So when someone in the know explained the program to me, I took to explaining it to the hospital's patients.

So now can I legitimately refer to myself as a volunteer for the Red Cross? Because that's a good way to introduce myself to people.

And, the Survey Says.......!

2011-04-11T14:10:00.005-04:00

Navigating online systems can be like a maze at times. OASHF has been asked to survey individuals who are trying to navigate ODJFS' request pin/status change system in order to give feedback to the folks at ODJFS.

We are in search of people who:

1. Receive benefits AND,

2. Want to have easier access to ODJFS through their online reporting change system AND,

3. Have a change to report--things like: address change, income change, household size change etc.

If you know of someone in this situation or have an event where people on public benefits gather, your mobile express team would like to attend. We are also able to assist people who want to sign up and begin the process.

This online resource has great potential. It helps eliminate the need for clients to go down to the county to make these changes in person. ODJFS is interested in hearing how people experience the system and genuinely wants to make it an easy process.

We Need Second Seats to Take Pictures of the Sky

2011-04-04T14:25:00.005-04:00

Back in the day, Erin had her passenger take a picture of sunbeams shooting through the clouds in Wilmington, OH.

Well yesterday I took the Mobile Express to Ravenna, OH without Erin and I'd be darned if I wasn't going to make our second seat take a picture of the sky on our trip home to Columbus.

I often get asked by people what it's like driving the Mobile Express. Is it scary? How does it handle in bad weather? I even had a client ask me if it's ever tipped over. (A: No. Not yet.)

The weather on the drive home was one of the few times it was no fun driving the Mobile. I promise you I have enough good sense to pull over if necessary, but driving the van in heavy winds is the only time I ever wish I was in a sleek little sports car. But at least we had that rainbow waiting for us when we drove through the storm.

Alright, Erin. Your turn for pictures of natural phenomena from the passenger seat. Maybe you'll get lucky and get a shot of a tornado!

Van Outreach Helps Local Agency

2011-03-17T12:01:00.009-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day Germantown!

The Community Action Mission Program invited the van team to historic Germantown, Ohio and we set up shop at the local library. While getting our gear together for the tax clinic--computers, printers etc. we chatted about our last visit to this fine town for the Germantown Pretzel Festival.

Pam Mornneault, CAMP board secretary indicated that our visit with the van last year really got the word out about thier organization. They have since expanded food pantry , emergency (financial) and Ohio Benefit Bank services. CAMP is a volunteer run organization that represents several churches in order to meet the ever increasing needs of those who have fallen on hard times or are facing a crisis.

They are a good example of the many wonderful organizations out there that give the gift of their time and resources to make the world a better place. Russ and I are lucky to get to rub elbows with folks like this.

On another note Germantown is also home to Cornhole.com. Yes you too can get your very own cornhole set. They do sport a fancy van like ours but I must admit I am still partial to our Mobile Express.

The Benefit Bank is Always Free. Unless...

2011-03-15T15:26:00.003-04:00

The fifth section of The Benefit Bank terms and conditions is unambiguous. It is always free of charge. My colleagues and I feel very strongly that tax credits and work supports are something that our clients are legally entitled to. Charging them to claim what's theirs is a perversion of decency.

But come tax season some people really want to give us money.

While we're always appreciative of people offering tips, we don't accept them. The Mobile Team is a pillar of integrity. Yet some people even go as far to drop money on the floor and look the other way. That trick doesn't work on us. We are wily. But there are some clients who won't take "no" for an answer. One client put 15 bucks behind our wiper blades! We didn't notice until we were halfway home.

So what to do with 15 dollars of ill-gotten money? The best idea is to spend it on canned food and create a small emergency stash of food in our main office for clients in need. Another idea is to gamble it on the NCAA tournament and then donate the winnings to to the state to help with the budget crunch. Any other ideas?

VAN Wert

2011-03-11T09:43:00.003-05:00

I make that VAN Wert joke literally every time I am in Western Ohio with the Mobile Express. No exceptions.

I mention Van Wert because we had another successful clinic there and the Northwest Regional Coordinator, Gayle Loyola, was nice enough to take a picture of four of the counselors (myself included).

Me, Erin, Lima VISTA Mary, Toledo VISTA Kylee

Uh, guys? What I am going to do about my hair? This is unacceptable. I look like Win Butler.

So it's still tax season and we remain busy, busy, busy. Last year, it was considered a great event if Erin and I had four clients each. This year, that's just par for the course. Even in underpopulated areas like Monroe County, our hands are full.

We're noticing that we're getting more and more sophisticated tax documents. The aforementioned Ms. Loyola told me that back in the day, tax forms didn't get much more complicated than multiple W-2s. Now we're seeing more and more interest, pensions, dividends, and other miscellaneous forms of income. We're reaching a wider swath of Ohio taxpayers and I couldn't be prouder.

Hypothesis: Since we're getting more and more people who aren't getting huge refunds, we are going to see more and more people who need to get their taxes done in late-March and April. We'll be ready.

When There are No Big Returns

2011-03-03T15:22:00.002-05:00

Erin and I spent the day in Vinton County yesterday. The least populous county in the state is, like so many other counties in the state, dealing with high unemployment and poverty levels. Hopefully, Erin and I could help people complete their taxes for free and inject some capital into the state.

Except I did the opposite.

Erin and I had three clients each. I had two break even. Zero owed, zero back. My other client owed a little under $200. I went to one of the hardest hit counties in the state and took their money away from them.

Way to earn that salary, Russ.

Now, of course helping people complete their tax forms for free has an added benefit not included in the refund statistics, but, still. Yuck. Not as fun as helping a mom get a $10,000 return, ya know?

So. Many. Taxes.

2011-02-25T17:05:00.003-05:00

I'm writing this from a hotel room in Van Wert, Ohio. This follows overnight trips in Montpelier and Oberlin. I am collecting an impressive array of tea and conditioner.

Since it's been so long since we've last talked, I thought I'd turn this into a grab bag of van fun.

1. So far my favorite travel story happened in the aforementioned Montpelier in Williams County. The county borders both Indiana and Michigan so it's quite the haul. I stayed there once last year. The hotel is haunted. It's basically The Overlook. Dimly lit, lots of corners, patterned carpet, and a weird empty conference area in the middle. I've been telling everyone about how much it's like The Overlook. I was weirdly excited about it. So when we check in, guess what room I get? HINT. If I ran into a set of twins I would have gone into shock.

2. Erin and I are proud to report that every single event we've been to has been successful. No duds here. I mean, if there were duds I probably wouldn't write about them, but you can take my word on this. Every event has been a hit.

3. I'll admit I'm personally disappointed that I haven't had any gigantic tax returns this tax season. The best part of taxes is telling someone in your best game show host voice that they're getting a return of $8,000. I can't pretend I'm Bob Barker if the return is less than a thousand bucks.

4. Erin and I also want to thank Emily Forsee. Ms. Forsee is an Americorps volunteer who works out of our home base in Columbus. Emily has organized over a dozen clinics across Columbus to help people file their taxes. That on it's own deserves kudos. But an added benefit for the Mobile Team is that going to these events keeps us in Columbus. I can't imagine how roadworn and weary we'd be if it weren't for the occasional clinic in our home county. Staying in Columbus every now and again keeps fresh for these trips to Van Wert.

So that tackles the past two weeks or so. The calendar is still chock full all the way into late-March. Anyone have any good vacation destinations for April 16th?

Chris Says Don't Sit on your Taxes!

2011-02-18T16:12:00.003-05:00

Meet Chris. He volunteers with the Lorain County EITC Coalition--greeting people and shepherding them to get their taxes done through the Ohio Benefit Bank. Below he tells the story of how he has procrastinated and is encouraging others to come and get their taxes done. Check it out:

Tax Clinics Launched

2011-02-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

Christina, Abry and Erin

London Tax Clinic

Printed with Permission

The Mobile Express Team joined up with Ministry for Community to provide tax help at St. Patrick’s School. It was one of the first tax clinics we have participated in and was quite successful. There were 5 Benefit Bank counselors on hand who helped many low income residents get their taxes done—most getting a nice refund.

We provided much needed technology, counselor services and supported newer counselors as they learned to navigate the software.

Here is a shout out to Twyla McNamara for her efforts to staff the clinic and attract clients to the clinic. Not only did she schedule appointments but she also made arrangements for sloppy joes to be served to all volunteers. Thanks Twyla!

Defiance Resource Fair

2011-02-03T13:27:00.004-05:00

I have mixed emotions regarding Defiance. On one hand, the name of the town is Defiance. That's pretty metal. On the other hand, why does it have to be so far away? Three hours! Too far!

Of course, when a VISTA that we've worked with in the past is organizing a resource fair, it's worth the drive. So we filled the Mobile with as much diesel as possible and made the trip.

Kylee Collins was the VISTA in question. She organized a resource fair that utilized the OBB Mobile Team, Northwestern Ohio Community Action, and a host of other local resources to help people struggling to get by. Because it was late January, tax appointments started trickling in as well.

Kylee made it a true family effort by inviting her mom, Lisa, to help out. Lisa provided hot dogs and baked beans for the event and it was very much appreciated. (I ate three hotdogs.)

The dynamic duo

I also found out that Kylee had been an OBB counselor since her salad days in high school. I didn't know that minors could be counselors. So, come on, Ohioan high schoolers. Stop it with the texting and the Em Tee Vee, go to your local OBBservations blog, and get yourself to a training!

Homeless Count in the WCH

2011-01-26T11:21:00.002-05:00

Erin and I traveled down South to Washington Court House, the seat of Fayette County. The Community Action office invited us to attend a "point in time" homeless count. Volunteers canvassed the city and county to get an official count of the homeless population there. Some of those homeless men and women came down to the community offices to provide information about their specific situation. And we were there to make sure they were being taken care of in terms of food assistance.

In Franklin and other larger counties, the homeless remain a severely underserved population. There are all sorts of reasons for this, but a less obvious one is that most counties require their clients to have an address to qualify for food assistance. No address means no place to send the Ohio Direction Card means no benefits.

The first thing I did was ask the folks at Community Action if clients could use their address for homeless clients. They said it wasn't necessary.

"Jobs and Family Services just uses their own address. Doesn't every county do that?"

No. Every county does not do that. Your county is clearly awesome.

So here we have a county where most of the long term homeless population is able to eat because of food assistance. Not great for Erin and I performing applications that very day, but that is a good problem to have. Every homeless person that walked into that office already had food assistance.

I hope every county follows Fayette's example. I understand that might not be possible in larger counties. I understand that it means taking a lot of extra steps. But it's worth it.

Paper Plate Project

2011-01-20T13:34:00.001-05:00

More and more Russ and I are seeing this situation-- working folks that are affected by the economy and left scrambling:

You can access a news video here talking about the project. Or, go directly to the project website here.

Tax Season is Upon Us!

2011-01-19T10:24:00.006-05:00

You remember tax season, don't you? The joy of seeing Ohioans get thousands upon thousands of dollars in federal and state refunds juxtaposed with the many hotels and fatty meals that come with spending so many hours on the road. It's a nomad's life for the Mobile Tax Counselor. The avalanche of tax clinics appears above the horizon...and I kind of can't wait.

But before all that we decided to go to some food distributions in Northeast Ohio. Specifically, in Akron and Medina. Despite being in such close geographic proximity, Akron and Medina are two very different places. But one binding similarity is that both towns have loads of people who qualify as food insecure. So when Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank invited us out, we were more than happy to attend.

Enough onions to make Bill Raftery proud

We ran into problems, some good, some bad. A lot of the good problems were encountered in Medina. The distribution was held at a county building that also serves as home to the Medina County Jobs and Family Services Center. There was clearly a very good relationship between the county office and the people in line to pick up food. We talked to dozens of people and got dozens of "we've got that" when asking about SNAP Benefits, HEAP, and even Medicare Premium Assistance. People were aware of the benefits they were eligible for and had gone out and got 'em.

The problems in Akron were a little trickier. Unfortunately, they're the kind of problems you'll run into in any urban area and there aren't any real fixes. The real problem is waiting. Long waits for appointments with Community Action to get E-HEAP. Long waits to apply for public housing. Long waits for a caseworker to call you back. That stuff is a lot harder to solve. Hopefully we were able to provide some help by referring people to other organizations like The Salvation Army for immediate utility assistance.

Coats, clothes and gloves were on hand for those who needed them.

After all was said and done we did help some clients get in touch with their local OBB sites and, of course, we helped some clients sign up for benefits right then and there. Now taxes await.

Medicaid Bonus

2010-12-27T09:59:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone. I'm writing this from scenic Yarmouthport, MA. We're dealing with a blizzard, so I'm homebound reading the news.

And The New York Times has some good news!

The Obama administration plans to announce Monday that it will make $206 million in bonus Medicaid payments to 15 states — with more than a fourth of the total going to Alabama — for signing up children who are eligible for public health insurance but had previously failed to enroll.

Ok, Alabama. Well played. How did Ohio do?

Other states receiving bonus payments this year are Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Washington and Wisconsin.

Yes! Score!

As you know, finding people who are eligible for benefits but haven't enrolled is pretty much what we do. It's why the OBB Mobile Express exists. And obviously we can't take all of the credit for this bonus...but I'm taking just a little.

And Mobile or no Mobile, the Ohio Benefit Bank has worked tirelessly to expand into each and every county and Jobs and Family Services has worked tirelessly to assist the clients that we send their way. It's nice to see the work of so many people in our van, in our office, and in our state pay off.

For me, this article has been an awesome Christmas present. Happy Holidays!

Telethon: Part Deux!

2010-12-02T16:04:00.004-05:00

So last March we took the Mobile to WKYC in Cleveland for a telethon. It was great. We even wrote about it. PROOF!

Well in Hollywood, if something is a success, a sequel is sure to be in the works. And since Cleveland is clearly the Hollywood of the Midwest, it made sense for us to go back and handle another 800 phone calls.

This telethon was organized by The Cleveland Foodbank's Mary O'Shea. She is awesome. She recruited over a dozen volunteers to take calls and recruited us to bring a boatload of computers and power cords to the studios to make sure people could get instant Quick Checks. Since Erin and I were staying in Cleveland overnight, Mary even helped us find a food pantry to visit the night before the big event. So not only did Erin and I spend ten hours on the phones (with breaks, natch), we also finished four applications in Lake County.

Erin and I are always surprised to find so many people in dire situations that had no idea that they were eligible for supports like food assistance and utility help. Despite seeing it almost every day, I can not fathom how these families scrape by on so little. And I know there are many more out there who weren't lucky enough to stumble upon us on Channel 3. But hundreds of people in one fell swoop is a pretty nice start.

OBB Mobile Express Participates in Utility Fairs

2010-11-17T13:22:00.001-05:00

Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative, Inc. invited us to join them as they shared information about how to conserve energy, decrease electric bills and increase efficiency.

Vicki Bilek's smiling face greeted customers as she registered them and handed out light bulbs.

Here is one of the displays at the fair showing many types of compact flourescent lamps. According to Wikipedia: "compared to general service incandescent lamps giving the same amount of visible light, CFLs use less power and have a longer rated life". This translates to savings for the consumer. Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative applied for and received a grant to purchase these lightbulbs to distribute to consumers.

The OBB Mobile Express was on hand to assist these customers with their HEAP application. Since the HEAP application is at a higher eligibility rate (200% of FPL), many people can look forward to a credit on their heating bill this season.

Applications can be filled out with a benefit bank counselor, online using our self serve software or by downloading the application from the Ohio Department of Development website. No matter the method, the application needs to be printed off, verifications attached and then mailed to the ODD. Completed applications take two (2) months to process and clients should see a credit on their bill within that time. HEAP status can be checked by going to this website. It will let you know the application has been received and where it is in the process.

Farmers Market Accepts EBT Card

2010-11-10T12:05:00.006-05:00

Joined the Farmer's Market at Public Square in downtown Cleveland. It was a beautiful blustery day. You can see Tower City and Progressive Field in the photograph above.
The OBB Mobile Express had top billing on the sidewalk in Public Square. We were parked right behind a wonderful smelling Asian food truck--yum!
We welcomed guests of the market as well as passerbys.

The van and the Farmer's Market were situated across the street from the

Old Stone Church. This church is the oldest building on Public Square and

the 2nd oldest church in Cleveland-- quite a site to see.

The Farmer's Market is offering EBT card holders (food stamps) the opportunity to spend their dollars to purchase fresh veggies, spices, coffee, tea and many other items. Card holders were also given a free $5 token for using their card. Good deal!

Mustard Factory

2010-11-03T14:15:00.000-04:00

Danielle Gray and I got the grand tour of the Woeber Mustard Factory! We were invited to come and talk with employees to help them know if they were eligible for benefits. In addition we informed them that they may use the OBB to complete their taxes.

The tour was fascinating. Below are some pictures that gives an idea of the experience:

Here are vats of mustard--Woeber is known for specialty mustards and mayonnaise. The original recipes were from 1905. The company has been family owned through 3 generations.

Woeber packages many condiments in many different containers. Each container requires a different machine which is tailored to certain specifications for filling, labeling and sealing. This one is designed for packaging vinegar.

There is a room dedicated to mixing of mustard. As we walked in this room our eyes began to water. The spices and mustard seeds were so strong that we needed to leave quickly.

Here we are meeting with Rick Woeber, Vince Chase (United Way volunteer and past food bank president) and our very own Danielle--all donning our hairnets. It was fascinating to learn about the equipment needed to process and package mustard.

Mountains of horseradish. There was a whole room dedicated to the grinding of this root.

After we visited the mustard factory we went to Dole Foods for an employee health fair. All in all, it was a fun and interesting day.

So Anything Noteworthy Happen Last Night?

2010-11-03T12:55:00.003-04:00

Oh! Right! The election.

I imagine many of you are busy celebrating or mourning unless you're VISTAs in which case the Hatch Act requires you to FEEL NOTHING.

So since you're celebrating or mourning or being a civil servant, let's keep this low impact. It's been brought to my attention that we haven't linked to the excellent regional blog network that's been created by the Ohio Benefit Bank.

So! Without further ado:

The Ohio Benefit Bank's Central site: http://obbservationsco.blogspot.com/

The Ohio Benefit Bank's North Coast site: http://obbservationsnc.blogspot.com/

The Ohio Benefit Bank's Northeast site: http://obbservationsneo.blogspot.com/

The Ohio Benefit Bank's Northwest site: http://obbservationsnwo.blogspot.com/

The Ohio Benefit Bank's Southeast site: http://obbservationsseo.blogspot.com/

The Ohio Benefit Bank's Southwest site: http://obbservationsswo.blogspot.com/

And if you want to see everything that these sites have to offer, please check out this rad Prezi presentation.

On The Road Again

2010-10-25T10:19:00.007-04:00

They say there's no rest for the wicked. That may or may not be true. But I know there hasn't been a lot of rest for the OBB Mobile team. We've been on the road for the past two weeks. It's at the point where our colleagues in the Columbus office are genuinely surprised to see us.

All this time on the road really drives home what a diverse state Ohio is. One day we're at a food distribution in suburban Akron, the next we're at a food distribution a stone's throw from Kentucky. We spent eight hours in Holmes County, the county with the largest Amish population in the world. Two days later we were in Downtown Cleveland under the shadow of skyscrapers.

(During our Cleveland trip I made my first trip to the West Side Market. It was awesome. A nice perk of the Mobile Express is having a fridge to keep two strip steaks overnight.)

I'm seeing double! Four strip steaks!

One exciting development is working with more foreclosure prevention resources to recreate our enormous successe s in Dayton. Save the Dream's website has been hosting the Restoring Stability application where homeowners under threat of foreclosure can submit their information to a housing counselor. The state has been pushing this hard and we've been with them to make sure these people in need know about all of the benefits that are out there for them.

See! We've been busy! And we'll be back on the road tomorrow. I'm sure our colleagues are disappointed.

Record Setting Week

2010-10-04T09:14:00.003-04:00

Erin and I just came off a week in which we completed over 50 applications for Ohioans. And these weren't a bunch of quickies like voter registration and Golden Buckeye cards*. We're talking HEAP, food assistance, Medicare premium assistance, and Medicaid. Big, long applications.

Wednesday brought us to Safe Surrender in Cleveland. Safe Surrender is an event held in cities throughout the country where people with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies can appear and have their outstanding warrants taken care of. It lifts a weight off of their shoulders and it makes the authorities happy since it saves them time. These Ohioans are people who are unlikely to go to Jobs and Family Services to apply for benefits because of those warrants. Once those warrants were taken care of, Erin and I wanted to be there to help them out immediately.

We were told to expect 60-200 people. We got over 800. Enough to fill a church auditorium. With an unexpectedly large crowd, it was harder to get people to come into our Mobile. People were waiting hours to get these warrants taken care of and people seemed pretty pooped. Of course, with 800 people, it's inevitable that a few people would want to stop and see what we were all about. We finished about 15 applications that day.

Now, Safe Surrender was only supposed to get busier. It was actually a four day event and we could only make it to Day 1. We were previously booked for a two day foreclosure prevention event in Dayton. You may remember that we've observed some people in pretty dire need over in Montgomery County. No income, no job, no food stamps. That's not the way it ought to be and I've been primed to go back and see if there was more of the same.

There was.

Over the next two days, we saw dozens and dozens of people who were eligible for benefits. The client that stuck in my mind was an elderly woman living with her disabled son on less than $750 a month in Social Security. That is unacceptable. We found at least 25 other people in similar situations.

Erin and I, with assists from Central Ohio Regional Coordinator Zach Reat and VISTA Sarah Olinger, completed 38 applications over those two days. That is a lot. Over 50 over three days, and, wow. I told the organizers of the event that with that many applications, the county will take notice.

We can't reasonably expect to complete 50 applications a week in perpetuity, but it's good to know that if there's a need, that we can step up and finish a staggering amount of applications in a short time. We met the challenge. It's a good feeling.

*I don't mean to downplay Golden Buckeye cards or voter registration. It's just that those applications take only a few minutes. And they don't require a lot of thinking. "Are you 60 years old? Great!" "Are you registered to vote at your new address? Great!"

Dollar Day Sale in Dayton

2010-09-15T11:25:00.007-04:00

On Labor Day weekend, Erin and I made it to Dayton for a rummage sale sponsored by the St. Deliverance Church of God in Christ. See! Here we are!

Proof!

If you can't tell, that picture was taken from the wrong side of the tracks.

wocka, wocka, wocka

So, ok, I know that you aren't seeing a lot of people in that first picture. You might be thinking, "Boy, must have been a pretty slow event." And, you, Straw Man Reader, would be totally wrong. This event was one of the busiest we've ever been a part of.

Attendance wasn't high, but every single person that came out to buy clothes stopped by the van. All of them. Our contact, the wonderful Laura Myrick, went as far as to call people in the community that needed help and urged them to pay us a visit. And they came out.

Unfortunately, there appear to be some serious holes in the safety net in Dayton. We had a handful of clients with no income who still hadn't signed up for food assistance. They didn't really know how or were resigned to siphoning off of their savings accounts.

Erin and I wouldn't have any of that. We helped the good residents of Dayton fill out 25 different applications. Twenty-five! Between the two of us! You're welcome, Dayton grocers (food assistance), Dayton politicians (voter registration), and Dayton employers (senior employment program)!

And Erin was especially good to the local economy. It was unexpectedly brisk and Erin was wearing summer clothes. Since we were at a rummage sale, she upgraded to jeans.

stimulus!

Huron Food Distribution

2010-09-13T13:11:00.002-04:00

Met this little one at the produce distribution in Huron, Ohio where 150 people gathered to receive fresh veggies and fruit to supplement their food budgets. After talking with folks in line, the biggest a-ha moment was sharing the Medicare Extra Help information. Seniors paying a premium for health benefits may be eligible to have it paid for if they are under a certain income and have few liquid assets in the bank. Several people who attended the distribution were either eligible or knew someone who was eligible. We were able to suggest other resources to those who needed housing, clothing as well as utility assistance.

It is always nice to see families receiving fresh, wholesome food grown locally. This was one of six distributions during this harvest.

Thousands line up for food giveaway in downtown Youngstown

2010-08-25T11:05:00.000-04:00

Loads of folks line up as early at 7:00 am,

with boxes and bags in hand to receive food

which they believe, will help their dollar stretch.

Here are my two cents about Y-Town:

The Mobile Express was present at one of the largest food distributions we have ever been to. Russ and I were impressed by event organization and the generosity of New Life Church and Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning Valley. Below is a link to the story on the news in Youngstown:

Thousands line up for food giveaway in downtown Youngstown - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

Within the video you can see our gracious host and friend Mike Iberis who is executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning Valley. He invited us to participate in this event as well as join him on the local morning show at NBC. We have not found footage of that but word is that many of the Youngstownians were up that early and actually thought we have a good message--I guess there was not too much sleep in my eyes at 5:30 am!

Here you can see the sea of green volunteers.

So many hands made light work and they seemed happy to be of service.

Volunteers prepared and handed out food, painted faces, dished ice cream cones, performed for those in line and shepherded folks throughout the process.

Snapped this picture late in the day after 6000 people came through the line to receive over 200,000 lbs of food. Pictured here: Second Harvest Food Bankers Angie Hakeem, Mark Litzinger and our very own Russell Allen.

On a side note, Mike Iberis took us out to eat at a lovely restaurant called Alberini's--one of the best meals I have had. Just a snippet of what we experienced: warm pepperoni bread fresh from the oven, succulent pork chop atop a mound of mashed potatoes, penne pasta with broccoli, a tour of the wine cellar, traditional Italian cookies and a goodbye hug from Mrs. Alberini! I fully intend to visit this establishment again--thanks Mike!

Massive Food Distribution in Youngstown

2010-08-24T11:54:00.003-04:00

We'll probably have more on this in the near future, but WFMJ, Youngstown's NBC affiliate, did a piece on a food distribution that served approximately 2,400 families. Naturally, the OBB Mobile was there, and we have the video to prove it.

You can get the best look at us between 1:23 and 1:28.

We performed over a hundred quick checks in only five hours and spoke to hundreds and hundreds of people in need. We were proud to be there.

A special thank you to Mahoning Valley Second Harvest Executive Director Mike Iberis. He's featured in that video as well and he showed us the ropes during our two night stay in Youngstown. He took us to a favored Italian restaurant and it was a true "wow" experience.

Old Fashioned Prison Garb

2010-08-18T15:04:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago, Erin and I went to Fremont, Sandusky's county seat for a reentry fair. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but people released from Ohio's prisons are an incredibly underserved population in terms of benefits. Finding a job in Ohio is hard enough without having a felony on your record. These people need support and often don't ask for it.

So, the reentry fair! There were dozens of agencies and organizations there to help people being released from prison foster a productive life on the outside. And we were there to make sure people knew about The Benefit Bank and got food assistance and other benefits as soon as possible.

The locals jails actually drove some currently incarcerated people to the event to get a head start on the entire reentry process. Now, Erin and I aren't allowed to electronically submit applications until these guys are out of the clink. That's a no-no. But we can fill out the applications and hand over a physical copy that will be ready to go out the door whenever the client is ready to go out the door. It's one less step. And we were happy to help these clients leave with six pieces of paper that would likely transform into $200 in SNAP Benefits every month.

I would like to make one aside. The prisoners at the event were all wearing the same uniform. That makes sense. Now imagine that uniform. What did you think of? I always associate prisoners with bright orange. But that wasn't the case in Fremont. See for yourself:

robble, robble

I did not picture that. This amazed me. People still have the black and white horizontal striped uniforms? I have literally never seen these before outside the world of cartoons. When I see these clothes, I picture someone tying a lady to railroad tracks or stealing a big sack with a dollar sign on it.

I think I prefer the orange. It looks good. Yellow works too.

the one-armed man was probably eligible for Medicaid

OBB Express is Fairtastic!

2010-08-09T11:15:00.008-04:00

The Ohio Department of Insurance invited us to join them at the Ohio State Fair. Making people aware of what insurance options may be available and anticipating changes through health care reform, we shared what we know with the general public as they visited with the 1st lady, listened to a beautiful barbershop quartet and spinned the wheel of knowledge. Fun day, lots of people and only a drizzle of rain (our awning came in handy).

Our day in pictures:

Festive venue

Lori Stewart from the Department of Insurance, mans the wheel

Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland, Ohio Department of Aging Director Barbara E. Riley

and Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson visit OBB on Senior Day

Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland and our very own Russell Allen chat about how the Ohio Benefit Bank works.

We were treated to an all lady barbershop quartet:

A fun spectacle at the fair--one among many! Tree Guy:

Put-In-Bay Here We Come!

2010-08-02T09:59:00.004-04:00

We had the opportunity to travel across the water to the South Bass Island by ferry. We attended a resource fair for locals where they could find information about many resources including hospice, home health care, 211, child care services, as well as Benefit Bank services.

The editor of the local newspaper came by to snap pictures and tell the story of how the Benefit Bank and other organizations could help those on the island. While there, she shared that in her own experience, she did not know where to turn when her father, who has Alzheimer's, needed home health care. She expressed relief and comfort knowing there are resources available. Her story is not uncommon, we often don't think about things until we find ourselves in need.

Russell and I often talk with folks who have had jobs all of their lives and find themselves laid off or with unemployment running out. They express that they don't have a clue what benefits are available to them. Conducting Quick Checks and shepherding these folks through the enrollment process is an important support during confusing times.

The trip to Put-In-Bay was beautiful. Our van was nestled among other vehicles on the deck and we were able to sit up on the observation deck as we traveled across the lake to the island.

As we participated in the resource fair we found ourselves asking questions about food stamps and learned that none of the stores on the island accept them. Folks travel to the mainland to do their shopping. The ferry costs $6.50 one way and takes about a half hour travel time. This seems doable until you consider that in the winter, when the water is frozen, ferry service is not available. The only way to travel is by plane for $50 one way.

Given this, our Benefit Bank counsellors visited the local grocer and opened dialog about becoming a food stamp vendor. You never know what is possible.

A big thank you to Gayle Loyola for inviting us--fun times, meaningful work and good food. (I am all about the food ;-)

Tonya Bailey, Benefit Bank extraordinaire, and

newly appointed OBB Regional Coordinator

is sporting the vacation look on the deck.

Nothing but blue here......

Soul of Buckeye Parade

2010-07-22T13:17:00.008-04:00

The OBB Mobile Express had the pleasure of parading down Buckeye Road on Cleveland's east side among community agencies, dance troupes, marching bands and other spectacles.

The area has a development corporation charged with rejuvenating the neighborhood and we were invited by them to join in the fun at their Soul of Buckeye parade.

Here is the jazz man that greeted us:

One of the spectacles--Monster Truck!!
Complete with loud funky music that makes you move to the groove. One can not help but sway to the sweet sounds.

A look at the monster truck before the parade:

Below is a video of one of the dance troupes--colorful and coordinated:

Russell manned the van, with celebratory waves while I and two awesome VISTA's worked the crowd. We talked to many people and now the Ohio Benefit Bank is well represented on refrigerators all over east Cleveland.

Many came to the van after the parade and learned about benefit eligibility; it was a sunny day, good food all around, jammin' music, local talent and lots of friendly people. Good stuff!

Gallipolis

2010-07-14T10:10:00.007-04:00

Hey, the Mobile Express was on top of a big hill in Gallipolis.

tree line = proof

Once again we were with the Lutheran Social Services Mobile Food Pantry and we were slammed. It's obviously unnerving to see that many people in dire need, but if they're out there, it's great that they're seeing us.

I had an elderly client who was living on a fixed income of under $500 a month. She wasn't on food stamps. She didn't know about utility assistance or the summer cooling program. She was paying $96 a month in Medicare premiums that she didn't need to pay for. I mean, if you're forced to look on the bright side, she had her Golden Buckeye card and was registered to vote. But beyond that, she was horribly under served in terms of benefits. So it was nice to talk to her.

It's rare that we see someone like that. We get a lot of people who were recently laid off or have some benefits but don't know about one or two programs from an unfamiliar office. Seeing someone who was eligible for almost everything but had almost nothing was eye opening. It's not just about getting people to apply, it's still about getting people to know. (And knowledge is power!)

And we'll be back on the road with Lutheran Social Services after the State Fair. As always, we look forward to it.

Visit Mid Ohio Food Bank

2010-07-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we visited Mid-Ohio Food Bank to learn more about their operation and see their new facility. Below are a few pictures from our trip. But before we take a look, I wanted to share a study that was conducted recently that puts into perspective the amazing need that this food bank and the 11 others in Ohio are addressing.

Landmark Study Reveals Large Increase in People Seeking Emergency Food

Grove City, OH – February 2, 2010 – A landmark study released by Mid-Ohio Foodbank and Feeding America – the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization – reports that more than 248,000 individuals – including 86,975 children and 17,395 seniors – receive emergency food each year through Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

These findings represent a 28 percent increase from the results reported in Hunger in America 2006. In Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s 20 county service territory, in any given week, more than 40,000 people receive emergency food assistance from a food pantry, soup kitchen, or other agency served by the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

If you are interested, see this Columbus Dispatch article that shows that the demand for food pantries is climbing. They are seeing new faces and many pantries are showing that in some cases their numbers have doubled since 2006.

We at the Ohio Benefit Bank have noticed that with pantries as well as benefit applications , there have been many more people asking for assistance who have held jobs all their lives. When asked, "Do you know someone who..........(has lost a job or pay, needs medical insurance etc.)" there is a resounding yes. Many people take literature for a loved one, a neighbor or a coworker. All this points to the great need for supports like food assistance and we are glad that Mid-Ohio is there, as well as the other food banks, to help organize an effort for those who are in need.

Mountains of potatoes--both sweet and regular, getting ready to be distributed.

New Community Garden with cistern system for watering.

Packing Area

Poverty in the USA

2010-07-09T15:37:00.003-04:00

Below is a graphic representation of how a person's budget in poverty adds up.
Take a look:

This video does not capture everything, but it does ask a pertinent question--if you were in this situation, what would you give up?

Tornado Victims Find Help at Open Door

2010-07-08T09:32:00.008-04:00

The Ohio Benefit Bank hosted an Expo for those who work in Fulton County within the social services realm. Expos are a chance for social workers, medical professionals, church personnel and others to learn about becoming Benefit Bank sites. Gayle Loyola, regional coordinator for the area had a variety of folks attend and was eager to share information about the OBB Express as well.

Sixty-Eight (68) families in Fulton County were effected by the tornado that swept through on Saturday, June 5, 2010. Many had homes that were completely destroyed, while others had extensive damage. Seven people in Wood County died in this whirlwind.

Open Door of Delta is providing support to victims by helping them set up temporary households and giving gifts of clothing, food, furniture and small appliances. These items have been donated by caring neighbors from all over Ohio--with a true "neighbors helping neighbors" spirit.

Executive Director, Cherie Mercer greeted the OBB Mobile Express explaining that many of the victims did not have insurance and find themselves in need of supports that they never imagined needing.

She reported in The Delta newspaper:

"I feel supportive services will be needed for months to come, and The Open Door is committed to providing anything at our disposal for the families. We want the families to know they are not forgotten." Cherie Mercer

Cherie was a gracious host and was excited to have the Ohio Benefit Bank present. She shared that her organization has been self sufficient through sales of the thrift store and has hopes that The Open Door will provide work supports and supportive housing in the future as well as continuing to provide material assistance.

Here is a picture of a wedding dress that was found in a tree

and returned to the owner through the Open Door.

This meal was purchased at the TA Truck Stop during our travels to Delta, Ohio. The potato was gargantuan! The picture here does not do it justice. To Russell's credit he did his best to consume the monster. I have honestly not ever seen a potato so large. Speaking of potatoes, stay tuned for my next post devoted to Mid Ohio Food Bank and their potato bounty.

Over the Hills and Far Away

2010-06-22T09:07:00.007-04:00

The OBB Mobile Express found its way deep into the hills of Southeast Ohio as Erin and I traveled to Burr Oak State Park. Our goal, talk to agencies and organizations in a part of Ohio that remains underserved by the Benefit Bank.

But that wasn't the story of this trip. The story of the trip was, well, the trip. After going Southeast on Route 33, our GPS spat us out on a slew of county and state highways. Which is fine. They were main drags. Speed limit was 55 and all. No problem, right?

Well, there was a problem. Although the signs were clear as day:

If you go 55 on these roads....You. Will. DIE.

I want to make clear how little I am exaggerating. I am exaggerating zero. That's how little exaggeration. Whether it's the sharp turns on mountains with no guard rails or the blind corners or the teeny tiny lanes, these roads shouldn't be driven much faster than neutral.

At one point - on a 55mph highway mind you! - we were going 25mph into a turn and I had to slam on the brakes. If I stayed thirty miles under the speed limit, DEATH. We went 5mph and that may have been pushing it.

Erin wants me to point out that the drive was ridiculously beautiful and I concede that. We love the mountains. All very nice and lovely. (The tallest mountain Erin summited: Mount Marcy. Mine: Old Rag. If you look at the elevations, you'll see that Erin is way more hardcore about mountains.)

But if you, reader, ever find yourself on OH-78, OH-216, or Hocking County Road 25, please ignore the posted speed limits. Unless you can do this:

Juneteenth!

2010-06-21T09:23:00.003-04:00

I am a firm believer that Juneteenth, the celebration of the announcement of The Emancipation Proclamation, should be a real holiday. And when I mean "real," I mean government offices should be closed and we shouldn't have to go to work. Presidents' Day? Columbus Day? What did Columbus do that hadn't already been done by a bunch of Vikings? Heck, some people* even think the Basques beat Columbus to the New World.

The problem is that the very nature of Juneteenth means you can't just stick it on the third Monday of the month. The "teenth" is right in the name. Celebrating it on the 21st would be madness. (This is what happens when a clever portmanteau gets out of hand.**) And with July 4th right around the corner***, weekday holidays are at a premium.

Still, Juneteenth is the best. When you think of some of the ridiculous things we celebrate, praising the end of slavery maybe should get more attention. It's kind of a big deal!

And it was big deal to the Marion chapter of the NAACP. They invited us out to a community event filled with local singers and rappers, grilled meats, and celebrating the freedom that they didn't have only 145 years ago. A common theme was that as far as the African-American community had come, there was still plenty left to fight for. People spoke about the need for prison reform, the need to help the mentally ill, the need for health care. Erin and I felt right at home.

And an event with door prizes wouldn't be complete without Erin winning some goodies. She left with a fancy shmancy water bottle and an Ohio State t-shirt. I left full of ribs and brats. It was a lot of fun and a great reminder to appreciate our freedom and liberty.

*That is one of the best books I have ever read. Highly recommended. Not just to people from a spit of land named after fish like I am. Recommended to all. A great read.

**I think the trick here is to change the name to Emancipation Day. Freedom Day is too vague. It needs to remain slavery specific. Write your legislators! Make the holiday happen!

***YAY!

Prison!

2010-06-17T10:15:00.002-04:00

So every month we go to North Central Correctional, a medium security facility in Marion. I've found that some of our most successful trips are reentry events. "Successful" meaning that there are a ton of people eligible for benefits who aren't getting them. Then we sign them up.

This is not really a good kind of successful. I'm glad we can fill the gap when someone isn't receiving something they may be entitled to. That's kind of our reason for being. But wouldn't it be better if these people had benefits as soon as they got out of lockup? Sure, we wouldn't get credit, but these people would have food security and that's more important.

So we meet with inmates getting out in the next 60 days and let them know that they could be eligible as soon as they get out. They can go to Jobs and Family Services, they can go to an OBB site. It's all good. Just get food security.

Erin and I used to be in the yard, now we're in the block. Prison slang! I prefer the block since it gives you an idea of what an inmate's life is really like. Doesn't look fun. A good reminder for me to not misappropriate van funding.

But my personal highlight came when we were leaving. An inmate walking to the common area asked what we were doing there.

"Oh, you know, we're just talking to people who are getting out soon and letting them know about food assistance, other benefits, stuff like that."

The priceless response:

"Oh! The Ohio Benefit Bank! On High and Gay, right? You did my taxes last year. You guys are great!"

Thanks! I think we're great too!

I hope he signs up for benefits with us when he gets out.

Agape

2010-06-14T15:53:00.007-04:00

That's ah-GAH-pay. But why deal with pronunciations when we can just call them "awesome."

Agape Distribution is a food pantry in Sidney, the county seat of Shelby County. They have a mobile food pantry that goes out to the smaller communities in the county and where there's a mobile food pantry there's a chance that we are with them to help spread the word about the Ohio Benefit Bank.

So off we went on a rainy Saturday morning to the small towns of Botkins and Anna. And we had a surprise guest! Our boss, Nora Nees, was in town and she came buy to help us talk to Agape's clients.

Twenty-two families went through the mobile pantry and we spoke to every last one of 'em.

What really separated Agape from the pack in my mind were their volunteers. I have never had an easier time talking to a group of people. They truly cared about what they were doing and their dedication was obvious and praiseworthy. With volunteers like that, Agape is in some great hands.

Little Chicago

2010-05-24T13:43:00.004-04:00

Last week a VISTA, Danielle, traveled with me to Steubenville, Ohio. My grandfather would be happy to know that Steubenville was the birthplace of noted Rat Packer and pizza pie simile popularizer, Dean Martin.

this guy knows what i'm talking about

Danielle does a lot of work with the Senior Community Service Employment Program, one of the many applications found on the Ohio Benefit Bank software. She has a good ear for any event designed to help senior Ohioans, and she didn't disappoint here. Steubenville was hosting a farmers' market coupon distribution to seniors who were at 185% of the federal poverty level. In other words, these couldn't avoid our overtures. Unless they were residing in an assisted living facility where they didn't pay for heating, we had them for at least utility assistance.

Another thing we checked up on was the Golden Buckeye card. This card provides discounts on fast food and prescriptions and stuff like that and it's supposed to be automatically sent to you when you turn 60. Well, at least sent to the address you have on file at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. In other words, a lot of people don't get them.

The good news: these applications are easy as pie. It takes longer to set up a user name and password than it does to fill out the actual application. If you have a license that says you're over 60, give us five minutes and BOOM! the card is in the mail.

So while Danielle and I were estimating food stamp eligibility, we also were sending a dozen Buckeye cards into Jefferson County. Sure the discounts aren't always much, but they're something. And since some of these clients were eligible for other benefits (that take decidedly longer than five minutes), they now have a user name and password ready to go.

So, yeah, it was a great event.

Project Homeless Connect in Akron

2010-05-18T09:24:00.004-04:00

The Third Annual Project Homeless Connect took place on May 11 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Chapel, a huge church, in Akron. This event, is a community wide effort to bring service providers together in one location for one day and highlighted the many types of assistance available to those experiencing homelessness delivering real time aid to those in need.

Services provided included dental care, legal assistance, mammogram screenings, HIV/AIDS testing, prostate cancer testing, job placement services, housing placement applications, clothing, meals, hair cuts, and of course our very own benefit eligibility determination services among others.

The concept for Project Homeless Connect came from a model that originated in San Francisco under Mayor Gavin Newsom in October 2004. Since its inception more than 170 cities in the United States have hosted PHC. Cities of every size from coast to coast have engaged in PHC events. Akron represents the 170th community to host PHC and the first in the state of Ohio (as reported by the Suburbanite newspaper).

We were pleased to be present and helping those with the most need gain access to benefits. We were among friends including Cornerstone Church which was inspired to become a benefit bank site after the OBB Express visited last year.

On a side note, it was hard to see so many people who had major health issues without any health/dental insurance. The biggest realization was meeting those who had rotting teeth. They were able to get them extracted at this event but it made me wonder how difficult it will be for them to obtain employment without teeth. It is already a very competitive market and I think appearance really effects people's ability to get jobs.

Well, at least this is one step in the right direction.

The Busiest Weekend of My Entire Life

2010-05-05T10:16:00.003-04:00

Last July, Erin and I took the van to Cleveland for the first annual Medworks event. One thousand people without health insurance were seen by doctors and physicians and were able to get diagnosed and treated. A few had put off going to the doctor for so long that they were taken straight to the emergency room. It was a firsthand close-up experience with the horrible experiences of the uninsured.

The event was in July because of a swine flu related postponement. So by last weekend it was already time for Medworks: The Sequel.

But first Erin and I made our first trip to lovely Ashtabula County. We were hoping to take in the covered bridges and the wineries, but instead we went to a food distribution hosted by the Manna Food Pantry in Jefferson. We served a handful of clients there and then holed up in a local restaurant to take care of some office work from afar.

We got back into Cleveland at around 4pm, so I had some time to kill. Erin was with her family (she is a proud Clevelander) and I had the entire city at my feet. After a quick run at the hotel gym, I decided to take in my favorite activity in the world: going to a baseball game. The Cleveland Indians (yes, racist, I know) were in town to play American League Most Valuable Player Joe Mauer's Minnesota Twins.

Let me make this very clear: Baseball is the greatest game in the world and I am always super-excited to see a game in person. Even when, like here, my hometown team isn't playing. The crack of the bat, the smell of the grass, the poetry of the game. There's a reason fancy pants writers wax on about baseball.

Because of the Indians' on-field incompetence, amazing seats were cheap and easy to come by. I was right behind home plate and had my breath taken away by Justin Morneau's first inning home run. That's exactly why baseball is so great. You never know when you'll gasp in shock or admiration.

By 10:30 it was time to walk back to my hotel on Cleveland State's campus. I was approached by a scalper. Was I going to the show at Peabody's a block from my hotel? I didn't think so, but he handed me a free ticket anyways. I guess even scalpers need to pack it in eventually. Not one to turn down a free ticket (waste not, want not!), I walked into the middle of an extremely loud and extremely hairy band playing thrash metal. OK then. I hung around for 30 minutes and left when the band's set ended.

Finally, Medworks! Like last year's event, Medworks again had around 1,000 patients who went to receive some form of health care or check-up. Unlike last year's event, every single one of these patients wasn't led to our table to talk about benefits. Instead, social workers met with every patient and many led them to us if we could be of service. We spoke to around 150 people, but a staggering amount of them (Erin and I independently guessed around 75%) were eligible for a federal or state benefit. By eliminating the number of people that we were seeing that already had benefits, we were able to provide a more complete service while not leaning so heavily on volunteers.

After nine hours at Medworks on Saturday, my weekend got even crazier. A friend of mine from Columbus had secured two Cleveland Cavaliers tickets. As in, two playoff tickets. Playoff basketball. And unlike the baseball game, my hometown team was involved. My Boston Celtics were playing in Cleveland. I'd get to see them in person on an enemy's court.

Of course, when you're rooting for the away team in a packed crowd of more than 20,000, there are certain precautions that should be taken. I did not take any of them.

This happened:

guess what color the Celtics wear

After meeting up with my friend (a Cavs fan who probably immediately regretted offering me a ticket), we walked to downtown Cleveland. Every single place we went, we were followed by boos and hisses.

So, the game. I have never been to a playoff game in any sport and the intensity was incredible. My team lost, but it was well worth it to be a part of something like that. (And, post script, the Celtics won Game 2 in Cleveland and now have home court advantage, so, HA!).

But the night wasn't done! My friend is looking into Cleveland State for a Masters so we walked around campus and found a karaoke bar filled with theater kids. It was the strangest mix of people I had ever seen in one place. I joked that maybe all of the patrons were actually ghosts or lost souls, and that was before the woman in her wedding gown walked in. Alas, I never got the chance to sing. I put my name and song in, (Avril Lavigne's Complicated) but I had to get ready for Medworks in the morning. Once it got to midnight, I needed to get my rest.

So, after checking out the next morning, there was still another nine hours of Medworks and a two hour drive to look forward to. I really think we performed over 100 Quick Checks over the weekend and (atypically for most two day weekend events), Sunday was even busier than Saturday.

After leaving for Ashtabula County on Thursday at 2pm, I got back to my apartment on Sunday at 8:45pm. One concert, one baseball game, one basketball game, one gym visit, karaoke, a food pantry, and two days worth of one of the best events for low income Ohioans that the state has to offer. Action packed.

And I was so glad to get Monday off. I slept in.

Sidney, VAN Wert, and County Courthouses

2010-04-29T11:29:00.008-04:00

(You see what I did there?)

The Mobile Express made an overnight trip to Western Ohio and both events were quite successful.

On Tuesday, I took the Van out to Sidney, the seat of Shelby County. We had been to Sidney before to work with ex-offenders and we were to do the same this time around. Our first trip was much more personal as we spoke to people after they left meetings with their parole officer. This trip was a horse of a different color as that same parole officer, the wonderful Rick Harmon, created more of an event atmosphere the second time around.

And man did that change yield some positive results on our end. We were busy. In three hours we had completed over a dozen applications and spoke to 20 people in need. It was fantastic.

The next day was spent in Van Wert, the seat of - you guessed it! - Van Wert County. The entire county is unrepresented by the Ohio Benefit Bank-- Zero sites. The closest ones are 20 miles up the road in Paulding. Our Northwest Ohio Regional Coordinator, Gayle Loyola, was hosting a presentation about the Benefit Bank to local non-profits and she wanted us there to show them the awesomeness of the Mobile Express. We were happy to oblige.

One thing that struck me about Van Wert and Sidney and Bellefontaine (which we drove through) are the absolutely ridiculous county courthouses. I'm sorry, Ohio, but these things are tacky.

First we have Bellefontaine's:

And let's follow up with the courthouse in Sidney:

That building looks like a crazed dollhouse.

Finally, Van Wert:

This is probably the worst offender since Van Wert is a fairly tiny place. Why does it need to try so hard?

Now, let's contrast these with the courthouse in my home county, Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

Ah. Home sweet home!

That humble old-timey courthouse covers a population 1.85 times the population of those three Ohio counties combined.

Obviously the Ohio courthouses happened and getting rid of them isn't plausible or necessary and they would be really neat if there wasn't one just as gaudy one county over. I just wonder what the heck Ohioans were thinking when they built these things. It seems very nouveau-riche; like Ohio was so happy to be a statewhere no expense was spared. And that is how you end up with McMansions of the courthouse architecture community.

Food Pantry Distribution in Gallipolis

2010-04-21T21:23:00.004-04:00

Erin and I were in Gallipolis yesterday, just across the river from the Mothman. Lutheran Social Services still has their mobile food pantry up and running and we wanted to kick it old school and tag along.

It was a tough trip. A lot of people in Southeast Ohio are really struggling. And there is nothing more depressing than a food pantry distribution. People waiting in a parking lot in the sun and then shuffling along for the opportunity to get canned beets and grape juice concentrate.

Now, I don't want that to be interpreted as a criticism of what Lutheran Social Services is doing. They are, to put it eloquently, the bomb. There isn't really a better way to do what they're doing. And what they're doing is making such a difference in these smaller communities. They deserve all the kudos I have to offer.

Still, it's a depressing scene. While talking to people while they were waiting in line, I thought of a reprehensible editorial cartoon I had recently seen:

Ugh. Seeing it again is filling me with impotent rage.

Ignoring the fact that the last panel is totally nonsensical since the mortgage interest write-off costs twice as much money as the Earned Income Tax Credit that allows people to not pay any income tax, and ignoring the fact that the no income tax argument is ridiculous since the lower tax brackets pay a much higher percentage of income in payroll and sales taxes, and ignoring the fact that the second panel doesn't make sense either since anyone getting a bailout had to pay that money back and those people were making millions of dollars and therefore were (presumably) paying a ton of income tax and...

No. This is too much to ignore. This is the worst kind of stupidity.

If you see anyone complaining about people not paying income tax or people not paying their fair share, please suggest to them that they spend a day hanging out a food pantry distribution. Let them talk to those people. Those people not paying any income tax because they're on disability or on Social Security but it isn't enough to pay the bills. Or the people who are unemployed in a terrible job market that just doesn't have room for them. Or the people working part-time and/or at minimum wage trying to raise children on his/her own.

I know that I'm probably preaching to the choir here. But please remember not to let these kind of ignorant comments go without a fight. Make sure people know the stakes in this fight against poverty.

And, to end on a happier note, Gallipolis truly was lovely. Erin and I just love the hills.

The Final Push

2010-04-12T09:51:00.002-04:00

Your taxes are due this Thursday. If you think you're getting a refund, what are you waiting for? If you think you're going to owe, then at least you don't have to pay extra when you use the 100% free Ohio Benefit Bank software. There's no need to pay money just to find out you have to pay more money.

Over here at the Direct Service Office in Columbus, we're making our last big push for tax season. We're extending our hours and working the night shift to make sure Ohioans get their taxes done. I imagine the majority of people reading this site are OBB counselors, so consider this a call to arms. If you know or meet someone who hasn't done their taxes, get 'em done.

Erin was on TV

2010-03-30T16:54:00.002-04:00

Last Wednesday, The Cleveland Foodbank hosted an Ohio Benefit Bank telethon on Channel 3 (WKYC) in Cleveland. Erin and I took the van (which also made it on TV) and took calls on live TV.

Erin was smart enough to sit up front. Whenever they interviewed someone on live TV, there was Erin chit-chatting away about food assistance, HEAP, free tax services, what have you. Me? I was in the back row. Either off screen or behind a reporter's head. I was wearing a tie and everything! And for what!? Just to be off screen!

Thankfully, we didn't need ties to take over 865 calls. BOO-YAH.

Over 450 calls poured into the Ohio Benefit Bank Direct Service Office in the next week as a direct result of this telethon.

I'm writing this from Parma at a follow-up event. I've already completed three applications and it looks like all the volunteers + me + Erin are up to about a dozen. And we'll be in town tomorrow for more of the same. Huzzah!

Urbana

2010-03-22T09:20:00.002-04:00

Last Friday, Erin and I made the trip to Urbana. No, not the trendy DC restaurant. The county seat of Champaign. If you click on that first link, you'll see that Urbana's center features a rotary. Any town that has a rotary is alright by me.

Urbana is a little strange in that it's only 47 miles from Columbus, but it feels like, culturally, it's in a whole 'nother time zone. Urbana is technically north of our fair capital city, but it felt a whole lot of Southern. Southern accents and hospitality were the order of the day.

We were there to attend Project Connect, an outreach event where Urbana residents can find different programs and benefits that are available to them. An event that like is tailor made for the Benefit Bank so it wasn't much of a surprise to find two other Benefit Bank sites attending the event (although they don't have the, ahem, benefit of the Mobile Express).

The event was a rousing success. We spoke to about a dozen people, and all of them appeared to be eligible for something. Food assistance, voter registration, taxes. The whole nine yards. And with two Benefit Bank sites in the building, it was incredibly easy to make sure these people got taken care of.

Except...well, except the people of Urbana were very hesitant to apply for benefits. It was the old "someone else needs it more than me" card. We hate that card. I sympathize with people who want to see others get help before themselves, but there are no limitations to food assistance.

It had been a good long time since we ran into someone eligible for benefits who didn't want to apply for them. We had at least three in Urbana. At the very least, those people know where to go if they do decide to apply for assistance. We very much hope they do exactly that.

2010-03-17T16:35:00.002-04:00

Russ and I went to Franklin County Family Empowerment Day and Community Resource Fair. It was held in the beautiful King Arts Complex and sponsored by Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency and the Columbus Urban League.

The event was intended to address child support issues for all parents and care takers including driver's license reinstatement, work programs, process for mediation for visitation, paternity testing among others.

Nothing like receiving word that your license has been revoked due to not paying child support. The sad truth is that often times, this consequence can create barriers to work and exacerbate the problem.

There was a plethora of information. People who attended seemed to get their issues resolved or at least were armed with information to deal with their issues.

We along with many other organizations were there to offer support to those who find themselves in this circumstance.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T10:27:00.004-04:00

I hate to sound like a broken record, but we're still in the heart of tax season. That means more tax clinics. Cleveland, Portsmouth, Bowling Green...we're getting around.

It feels like we're at the beginning of the end though. We're still busy, but we're not getting the tax refund bonanzas that we were seeing in January and February. I'm sure things will get crazy just before the April 15th filing deadline, but right now we're not getting anything we can't handle. Things are just humming along.

Boy, this is a boring post. Let's spice it up with Erin and myself wishing you a happy (and safe) holiday. We Mobile Enrollment Specialists are both Irish and we are both wearing green. We like our corned beef boiled, our bread all soda-y, and our isles Emerald. We both think this is one of the best days in the whole year.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Still Plugging Away

2010-03-05T09:29:00.002-05:00

I've only been a part of Second Harvest Foodbanks for a year, so this observation isn't from first hand experience. But the overwhelming second hand experience leads me to believe that this is true: This has been the busiest tax season in the history of the Direct Service Office. The phones are off their hooks and the numbers of people served are through the roof.

No exceptions for me and Erin (though I got a few days respite to attend my brother's wedding on Cape Cod). The van is still plugging away with a newly repaired satellite connection and a brand new windshield wiper. We're getting closer and closer to 20,000 miles and we're a shade away from 500 generator hours. We've hit all four corners of the state and will be heading straight north (Fremont) and straight south (Portsmouth) over the next two weekends.

We're five weeks from the end of the rainbow. Time to start the sprint towards the finish line.

More Taxes and More Successes

2010-02-23T10:15:00.003-05:00

The weather hasn't exactly been cooperative, but there's been enough of a thaw to allow the van to make more long distant trips in Ohio to help people complete their taxes. There have been many successes.

Last Thursday in Cleveland I performed a triple whammy for a client: 2009 taxes, 2008 back taxes, and a food stamp application. This client had been unemployed and desperate for money. Now she was getting four refunds (two federal, two state), and the opportunity to receive another $200 a month in food for the foreseeable future.

On February 13 in Maumee (a Toledo suburb), one of our VISTAs, Danielle Gray, and I took in four clients each and together brought almost $15,000 into that community. Fifteen thousand dollars! And that was only between the two of us. There were other counselors taking in clients and all of us helped Maumee citizens recoup $32,000 in taxes. Talk about stimulating the economy!

Just yesterday I was in Caldwell, the county seat of Noble County. I don't get to make a lot of trips to Southeast Ohio, which is a shame. It's nice seeing the hills every now and then. It's also nice having a client who owed money to the IRS from a previous tax return (not filled out with Benefit Bank assistance, obviously) get a $7,000 return for her 2008 and 2009 taxes. This client was so discouraged by the tax process because of a prior mistake. Now she's excited about getting money in the bank, paying off her IRS debt, and helping her teenage daughter get a car. That was the only client I personally helped in Caldwell, but the impact was extraordinary.

These are just three of the success stories I've witnessed and it doesn't even take into account the events that Erin has gone on without me. It's clear that the Ohio Benefit Bank is fulfilling a need in every community in Ohio. And that need has made the van a huge success this month. We are on a roll.

Northwest Ohio

2010-02-09T15:39:00.003-05:00

Like, way Northwest Ohio. The television commercials were advertising Detroit furniture companies. The radio stations were all centered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Thankfully, Ohio is Ohio is Ohio and as long as you have that Oh-Aitch in your address, we can do your taxes. Enrollment Specialist Jerry Lee and I made the trip to Paulding and Williams Counties and helped over two dozen families complete their taxes completely free of charge.

And, as usual, we couldn't have done it without the help of the VISTAs from the area who took appointments, made scheduling arrangements, and even brought us pizza before our four hour drive back to Columbus. (Thankfully, the ride home did include a stop on my hometown drag: The Grand Army of the Republic Highway...Exit 8, represent!).

In other good news, the van is back in a big way. Mobile Enrollment Specialist and co-author of this site) Erin Sprouse traveled to Mount Gilead with our Central Regional Coordinator, Zach Reat. It took some digging to get it out of the snow, but the event was another success.

As I write this now, the weather is looking awfully intimidating, so the Mobile Express may need to stay in park for a few more days, but with another trip to Northwest Ohio on our docket, we anticipate another successful event this weekend.

Waiting on Those 1099s

2010-01-28T15:35:00.003-05:00

So, tax season. Hurray! I really like doing applications where it looks like a client could be getting a $5000 check in the mail in two weeks. I think it combines my desire to help people with my desire to someday be a game show host.

Alas, Ohio has a severe unemployment problem. And unemployment compensation is taxable. The state doesn't have to provide those 1099 record of unemployment compensation until February 1, so a lot of people are just... waiting. I've had to turn away a few clients who had all of their relevant information except for their 1099s. I hate doing that, but everyone's hands are tied. The Mobile Express has been stuck in park since many of my scheduled events in economically depressed areas have been canceled. The people there just don't have their documents yet.

But we persevere. Our Direct Service Office is the busiest I've ever seen it and people are getting their refunds at a feverish pace. But I still stare at February 1 on my calendar waiting for the chance to help every person who comes into our office or into our van. I can't wait.

The Van Done Got Frozen

2010-01-15T09:38:00.002-05:00

As you know from religiously reading this blog, the Mobile Express has been in park since December 22. Second Harvest employees has Christmas and New Years off and our trip on January 7th got canceled due to inclement weather. So, I was ready to be back on the road on January 13 for a trip to North Central Correctional in Marion. This wasn't our first trip to these facilities, so we knew the rules. No money, no cell phones, and, alas, no weapons or drugs.

We were especially excited for this trip because we were going to have a special guest. Melissa Lindsay, an attorney with the Ohio Poverty Law Center was going to watch us talk about the Benefit Bank and tell soon to be released inmates that her organization could help with any problems obtaining the benefits they were entitled to.

So I had everything ready to go. Everything except the van. The Mobile Express, with its weeks of inactivity, turned into a vancicle. According to the dash, the van's battery froze out sometime on January 10.

Ugh.

Thankfully the van has something called a "battery booster" and after half an hour of blasting the defrost and wiping ice off of our wiper blades, we were ready to go. We spoke to over 50 inmates and hopefully helped one of the neediest demographics in Ohio.

So, yeah. The van is back.

Ready to Get Back on the Road

2010-01-07T13:34:00.002-05:00

After a wonderful break for the December and January holidays, Erin and I were ready to get back on the road. Our batteries were recharged. The interstates had our name all over them. Time to head down south to a food distribution event in Sciotoville where we could really do some good.

Alas, the snows came.

This is our first event canceled because of the weather and I certainly appreciate it. Watching the snow accumulate outside our windows here makes me grateful that our safety taken into consideration by the people who organized the event in Sciotoville. I'm also pleased that we won't be required to drive through any Level II snow storms. I just wish the winter weather would wait for the days when we're supposed to be in the office instead of on the road.

New York Times Article on Food Assistance

2010-01-05T13:19:00.001-05:00

I wrote a little post on a recent New York Times article on food assistance on our sister site. The article is a must read.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-01T20:54:00.003-05:00

I'm writing this from the spit of land known as Cape Cod on New Year's Day. Just finished watching one Ohio team win the Rose Bowl and the other good Ohio football team just won the coin flip in the Sugar Bowl.

I just wanted to take a second during this vacation to point out that 2009 was a wonderful year. And I'm not saying this to suck up to my superiors! It's been an absolute pleasure working on the Mobile Express. Erin and I - along with other Benefit Bank counselors willing to sacrifice the occasional Saturday or late night - have signed over a hundred people up for things like food stamps and utility assistance. We've done eligibility checks for over one thousand Ohioans.

And it may be cliche, but it would be remiss of me to point out that 2010 will be even better. This will be the first tax season where the Mobile Express will be in full force. We'll be going to parts of Ohio where we've never been before. From the covered bridges of Ashtabula County to the Dum-Dum Capital of the World in Williams County. The mileage is going to be intense.

So keep checking in. Our next big trip is in the middle of January and things kick into high gear not long after that. See you around the state!

Oh, Hey

2009-12-16T15:25:00.003-05:00

Want to follow what's going with the Ohio Benefit Bank? Client stories? Links to articles about how great the program is? Get to know other people who are into the Benefit Bank?

Then become friends with The Ohio Benefit Bank on Facebook!

And tell your friends!

Hello From Montgomery County

2009-12-08T12:38:00.003-05:00

Dayton Urban Ministries has invited us to their fine city to help people looking for foreclosure help apply for different benefits. I'm writing this on my lunch break and already the event has been a smashing success. We've already helped clients apply for an array of benefits including food assistance, cash assistance, and even senior employment.

A lot of the credit needs to go to Dayton Urban Ministries. We're working with two of their Americorps State members - Iris Gordon and Robin McElrath - who are also trained Benefit Bank counselors. They've been extremely welcoming and helpful.

We were also paid a visit by Jessica Janowiak from Solutions for Progress. "Solutions for Progress?" you ask. Yes, Solutions for Progress. They're the developers of the Ohio Benefit Bank software. This makes them a big deal. Ms. Janowiak was watching us use the software and looking to make it more user friendly. It's a testament to Jessica's company that I've been on the Mobile Express since April and there have been several changes in that time to make the Benefit Bank system faster, smoother, and easier for clients to obtain the benefits they're eligible for. To have one of their employees over my shoulder knowing that it could help people across the country was truly an honor.

Chili Giveaway Leads to Dozens of Enrollments

2009-11-23T14:50:00.004-05:00

For the past week, our Mobile Express has been out of commission. A generator malfunction was putting our equipment at risk, so we needed to get some maintenance done. The work on the generator wasn't invasive, it just took some time. Erin and I needed to find other ways to keep ourselves busy.

Our office really stepped up with ways to fill the time.

Emily Forsee, an Americorps member, organized a huge outreach event at our Direct Service Office in downtown Columbus. Last Wednesday, the DSO hosted a huge chili giveaway. Emily worked to get ingredients and bread donated to our office. She got all the important permits. She made the coffee and printed out the advertisements which were put up around the city. People came from all over the city to get some free chili (which was delicious).

The free food attracted a lot of people having trouble making ends meet. Many of these people were homeless. Unfortunately, the homeless have trouble getting food stamps since Job and Family Services requires a mailing address to send the Food Assistance Benefit Transfer Card as well as other correspondence.

Well, for the first time in our office's history, clients without mailing addresses will be able to use our office as their primary address. This will allow food stamps to go to those who had previously been unable to obtain them.

These efforts led to 58 new applications for Food Assistance and other programs. Fifty-eight! I was honored to be a part of those 58 applications. I hate to speak for Erin, but I'm going to assume that she's proud too.*

What a great event. Here's hoping that we have another day like this in the near future.

*Pride has since been confirmed

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-11-06T11:56:00.002-05:00

The last few weeks have been about as busy as we've ever been here on the Mobile Express. Highlights in the past few weeks have included the Great Pumpkin Show in Circleville and the start of the Home Energy Assistance Program right here in Columbus.

See that first link? Click it. Scroll down a few paragraphs and check out the picture of the 2009 prize winning pumpkins. The biggest was 1600 pounds. Have you ever seen a 1600 pumpkin before? Have you even considered a 1600 pound pumpkin before? I had two different people (Enrollment Specialist Jerry Lee and VISTA/Senior Employment Specialist Danielle Gray) with me over the course of the event, and I tried out the same joke: "Whoever planted those gigantic pumpkins must have been out of their gourd." Neither Jerry or Danielle laughed, but their contributions were appreciated regardless.

After speaking to hundreds of people in Circleville, the Mobile Express spent a week in The Breathing Association's parking lot to help people who were applying for emergency utility assistance. Those funds became available on November 1, so the Association expected quite the turnout.

While in that parking lot, we spoke to dozens of people and helped a few people apply for food stamps. I even did one person's back taxes, leading to an expected $1500 refund. It's always surprising to see how many hungry people are eligible for food assistance but still haven't applied. No matter how many times we run into these situations, it still shocks me. I'm proud that we are and will continue to work to close that gap.

If You're Getting Out of Jail, Apply For Food Stamps!

2009-10-16T13:58:00.002-04:00

I've been to three events recently that have targeted released and soon-to-be released felons who are eligible for benefits. Erin and I spent an entire day in Circleville where parole officers walked their wards over to the Mobile Express to have their eligibility checked. Jerry and I did the same in Sidney. And Erin and I, with a VISTA volunteer (thanks, Zach!) made another trip to Marion to help prisoners who were to be released to the general public in the next thirty days.

The trip to Marion clearly illustrated that many convicted criminals don't have jobs lined up for when they are released. And the trips to Sidney and Circleville hammered that point home. Unemployment remains a huge problem here in the Buckeye State. Being convicted of a felony greatly exacerbates that. Work is hard to find, and unemployment can lead to recidivism.

So why don't any of the ex-offenders we see have food stamps!?

There may be no greater population in need of public assistance and yet this is the population most likely to be eligible for something they're not taking advantage of. It's a problem. Hopefully, our trips to prisons will give these soon-to-be released inmates a jump start on receiving the benefits that can help provide for a second chance.

Pretzel Festival in Germantown

2009-09-29T14:02:00.004-04:00

It goes without saying that if there's a festival revolving around a savory treat, the Mobile Express will find a way to be there. And there's so much you can do with a pretzel! Pizza pretzels, chocolate pretzels, pretzels with mustard. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination!

Alas, Germantown's Pretzel Festival was mysteriously devoid of pretzels. Lots of pretzel t-shirts, not so many of the salty starches we all know and love. So my second seat - Enrollment Wiz Stephanie Blessing - and I had to make due with deep fried Oreos. Oh, the sacrifices of the road.

All kidding aside, the organization that invited us to the festival was fantastic. The Community Action Mission Partnership (CAMP) consists of a series of churches in Germantown, Farmersville, and New Lebanon that offer services to those in need. Our contact with CAMP, Reverend Karel Hanhart, was enthusiastic to help us get the word out about CAMP being the only Benefit Bank site in the area. He did such a great job that we ran out of literature!

The moral of the story: pretzels don't make or break an event. The people do. And we couldn't have expected any better.

The Mobile Express Makes Its First Trip to Prison

2009-09-22T11:00:00.000-04:00

Did you know that taking a van into a prison yard requires lots of precautions? It's true! We weren't allowed to carry cell phones. Or money. Or any sharp objects. And you need to protect the van steering wheel with The Club. And we can't have our keys, those go to the prison guard in charge of supervising us.

Of course, when you're with sixty prisoners who are scheduled to be released in the next thirty days, all of the precautions are worth it.

A big thank you to Marion Correctional Institution for reaching out to us so we can help dozens of their soon to be released inmates integrate into general society. By starting the process of applying for food stamps, these inmates are one step ahead of the game!

The incarcerated are another demographic that can greatly benefit from using the Benefit Bank. Many prisons also double as Benefit Bank sites and we're always happy to help prisoners and their family members get the help that they need. This may have been the first event in a prison, but we suspect there will be many more valuable events within prison walls in the near future.

Big Idea for a Smaller Community

2009-09-21T10:43:00.003-04:00

Erin and I were lucky enough to be invited to a community picnic in Darbyville. Darbyville is a small village in Pickaway County, about 45 minutes outside of the capital city. With a population of under 300, it may just be the smallest village we've ever visited.

The picnic provided great music, great sloppy joes (Sloppy Joes?), and more cornhole than I could shake a stick at. It turns out that Erin is better than me. I'd argue that she has an inherent advantage being from Ohio and all, but results are results. She is the better cornholer.

The picnic was held at the Darbyville Community Technology Center. This technology center is a great idea. With library hours being cut across Ohio and with unemployment continuing to be severe in the state, it's more important than ever to make sure people have access to the Internet so they can look for work, fine tune their resumes, and even apply for unemployment benefits. I'm glad that Darbyville has been able to provide such a valuable service. And I hope to see more of these technology centers in our trips across the state.

\m/

2009-09-15T14:03:00.004-04:00

Oh boy, we are falling behind on this Mobile Express blog. Sorry!

I want to go back in time two weeks to August 29. Erin and I were in Warren, the county seat of Trumbull County in the northeastern corner of Ohio. Warren was hosting a back to school event and we were there to spread the word about free school lunches protecting parents from paying for any school fees. We were happy to get the word out and, as usual, the event was a success.

But I want to focus on a different aspect of Warren. A part of Warren that has nothing to do with poverty or public benefits. I want to focus on Warren's David Grohl Alley.

pictured: Russell (left) and sign

If you're not in the know, Dave Grohl is the former drummer for Nirvana, the current singer and guitarist for the Foo Fighters (who I don't like, but, whatever. Dave Grohl!). Grohl has also moonlighted as a drummer for the Queens of the Stone Age on of my all-time favorite albums. He also playes for Tenacious D, and has his own heavy metal project called Probot.

pictured: Probot, Erin's hand making the sign of the devil

I can't believe a city paid to have that painted on the street. Fantastic.

Grohl is now drumming for Them Crooked Vultures, a supergroup that includes John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. If you are playing with a member of Led Zeppelin, you have it made. Them Crooked Vultures is playing Columbus on October 6. I will be there.

When Erin and I created this blog, one of the things I wanted to write about was experiencing different parts of Ohio for the first time. I've only been in the state for a little over a year so I wanted to write about my first impressions of the different parts of the state. So imagine my surprise when I went to a mid-sized town three hours from Columbus and found a shrine to one of my favorite drummers. That's pretty neat.

So, thank you, Warren! I'll remember you always.

An Overnight Trip to Lorain

2009-09-09T10:40:00.004-04:00

Two weeks ago, I made a trip up to Lorain with my boss, Nora. That's a lot of pressure. Not that I'm usually a menace on the roads, but I figured it was wise to be extra-extra-extra careful when your driving your supervisor up I-71.

Thankfully, I made it to Northeastern OH with nary a speeding ticket or at-fault accident. I did make the mistake of taking a toll road without any cash. So, a big shout out to the state employee who let me go without paying the $1 toll. We got into Lorain just in time for Nora to have her first meal at Red Lobster. (She gave a thumbs up to cheddar biscuits. Thumbs down to fried clams.)

Nora was there with our Executive Director, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, to check out the food banks in Lorain. I was there to offer benefit assistance to a food drive at the Prince De Paz Church. That meant I was flying solo for at least the beginning of the event. It got a little intimidating. At one point I had a line of a dozen people looking to see if they were eligible for assistance. Thankfully, all of the people in line were patient and friendly. People had the time to ask me specific questions and not feel pressured by the people waiting in the wind and drizzle.

A few hours in, Nora arrived with a bagel and diet soda. A true breakfast of champions. With Nora there, the lines moved that much faster and we were able to speak to almost 40 potential clients.

All of this wouldn't have been possible without the tireless effort of Lorain VISTA, Samantha Flores. Her work made the food drive a success. Her efforts helped people put food on the table and made it easier for them to apply for food stamps and other benefits. Bravo.

Important News About School Fees

2009-08-31T13:07:00.004-04:00

We'll have some details on our Mobile Express trips to Lorain and Warren in a moment, but I first wanted to point out an important change in benefit policy.

One of the many applications within the Benefit Bank software is for the School Lunch Program. If you're below 185% of the federal poverty line, your children may be eligible to have the price of their school lunches reduced. At 130% of the federal poverty level - the same line in the sand that determines food assistance eligibility - those lunches become free.

So, if you're on food assistance, you're eligible for free school lunches.

And now (again, brand new!), if you're receiving free school lunches, you are no longer responsible for any student fees. To pull the money quote directly from the law books:

"No board of education of a school district shall charge a fee to a pupil who is eligible for a free lunch for any materials needed to participate fully in a course of instruction."

Since this is brand new, there's a chance that not every school district is aware of these changes. If you know of anyone on food assistance who is having trouble paying for their children's textbooks or calculators, please call us immediately at 1-800-648-1176.

Our First 13 Hour Day

2009-08-18T15:09:00.004-04:00

It should go without saying that the Mobile Express schedule is almost always booked solid. Our Google Calendar is a veritable sea of crimson blocks telling us where we need to be. Sometimes we go as far as to book two events in one day.

Or, sometimes, three.

You see, we have our Google Calendar set up so that we need to scroll down to get past 5pm. And sometimes I forget to scroll down to make sure that I'm not booking three events in one day.

Which brings us to last Thursday. The early hours were spent at Marion Franklin High School with the Wellness on Wheels Mobile Unit. We're always appreciative of the work they do (and for letting us use the lavatory on their giant truck). They've been steering moms-to-be to us for weeks now and we are truly grateful for their support.

After a quick stop at Chipotle, Erin and I then made the trip to Goodwill Columbus. We parked in front of their building for three hours and helped Goodwill employees and clients find out what programs they were eligible for.

From there, we made our second trip to The King Arts Complex for their Heritage Concert series. After spending the past nine hours doing quick checks and enrollments, simply helping with outreach was a nice change of pace.

Even with the more relaxing atmosphere, by the end of the night, Erin and I were pooped. We had spend thirteen hours in the Mobile Express and it was time for some much needed rest. After all, we had to be on the road to Cincinnati at 8am the next morning.

LEAP Program in Akron

2009-08-11T13:48:00.004-04:00

Backpacks, toiletry products, food baskets, and underwear --oh my!

During the LEAP event at Cornerstone Church in Akron there was much support and festivity. Over 1500 people came to receive material assistance, medical assistance, hair cuts, food and agency referrals. Hot dogs, inflatable slides and a Teddy Bear picnic (book reading and cupcakes) were some of the entertainment options. Fun, fun, fun.

Russell and I offered Quick Checks and made many referrals to agencies for specific needs. It was clear that folks are feeling the pinch of the economy and are looking for options to address these needs. Many of the referrals were to organizations that had a booth right in the room.

Sean Cole invited us to the event after seeing us at the Akron Project Homeless Connect event earlier this year. We thank him for being a gracious host.

Mobile Express Press Release

2009-08-11T12:35:00.002-04:00

A big thanks to Lauren McMillin for helping us spread the word!

For Immediate Release: Friday, August 07, 2009
Contact: Lauren McMillin, Legislative Aide (614) 466-1790

Ohio Benefit Bank Mobile Van to Visit Rep. Dyer Town Hall Meeting
Constituents Can Apply for State Services on the Spot

COLUMBUS – State Representative Stephen Dyer (D-Green) today announced the Ohio Benefit Bank Mobile Van will be on hand for a Town Hall Meeting at the Tallmadge Public Library on August 17.

“I am pleased to add this service to my upcoming Town Hall Meeting in Tallmadge,” said Rep. Dyer. “The Benefit Bank can help residents sign up for services and get assistance from the state through a number of programs. This is the first time this unique mobile unit has come to a town hall meeting anywhere in Ohio.” The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) is a public-private partnership that helps connect low and moderate-income Ohioans with free tax preparation and access to potential public benefits and work supports.

Trained Benefit Bank counselors will be on hand to assist constituents. Residents can check potential eligibility for work support benefits such health care coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies and food stamps in a confidential setting. Counselors also help prepare and file federal and Ohio income tax returns at no cost to eligible Ohioans.

Rep. Dyer’s Town Hall Meeting will run from 6 to 8:15 p.m. at the Tallmadge Public Library, 90 Community Rd. Tallmadge, Ohio 44278 on August 17, 2009. The van will be in the parking lot during that time to offer residents a private place to meet with a Benefit Bank counselor.

Since beginning operations, the Benefit Bank has helped more than 70,000 Ohioans access more than $120 million in tax credits and other work supports. However, more than $1.6 billion in tax credits and other supports go unclaimed by eligible Ohioans who do not apply.

Successes

2009-07-31T12:44:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to take a second to note how well things have been going for the Mobile Express. I buried the lede a bit in my previous post, but the Medworks event in Cleveland was truly extraordinary. With over 100 eligibility estimates done over one weekend, there's potential for lots of benefits to go to Cleveland's low income residents. And we were just icing on the cake when you consider that hundreds of people were able to see a doctor for the first time in who knows how long.

And now word is coming out of Tiffin that since our event on July 21, Benefit Bank sites in the area have increased by 150%. Now, should anyone need help in the future, their needs will more easily be met.

Obviously there are events that don't pan out the way we'd like. And there are other events where we talk to people but we can't be sure if it will lead to more Benefit Bank sites or more enrollments. But seeing tangible results like this... it feels good.

Busy Busy Busy

2009-07-30T14:28:00.002-04:00

I know we haven't checked in for over a week. Thankfully, we're chock full of excuses. The big excuse? We've been on the road all week.

The last time we updated, it was regarding the very successful event in Tiffin, OH. Since then, we've been to the Carroll County Fair where I tried my first fried-cheese-on-a-stick. I wasn't a fan. I was imagining a gigantic mozzarella stick but this was just fried cornbread with a tasteless gooey center. I much prefer the fried Twinkies.

The next day the Mobile Express made its way to an event in Lousiville, OH. Since we were stationed next to a Mobile Blood Bank, I took the opportunity to donate two units of type-A-positive red blood cells. This was my first time donating the two units. It involved a centrifuge that separated the red blood from the plasma. To make sure the donor doesn't pass out, they actually feed the plasma (along with some saline) back into you. That was super-weird, but definitely worth it. Now I can't give blood for another four months instead of two. I saved myself a finger prick!

The events in Carrollton and Louisville were relatively slow, but that all changed the following weekend. We found ourselves in Cleveland at a health care event for the uninsured. The event, sponsored by Medworks, was truly amazing. To help illustrate the power of this event, I refer you to this piece by Cleveland Plain-Dealer columnist Connie Schultz. We knew this was something special when we were working there, but that column really drives it home. It very likely saved lives.

The idea behind this event was that people could make appointments in advance (approximately 1,000 patients were booked) and then see a doctor at no cost. Prescriptions were filled out. Eyeglasses were distributed. Some learned of threatening health conditions and some were even sent to the emergency room on the spot.

After getting their health needs taken care of, these patients were then brought to us. Many were eligible for benefits, including prescription assistance that could help ease the cost of refilling their newly obtained pills. We saw hundreds of people and most were eligible for something.

So, yes, it was a very busy couple of days. Thankfully, we get a bit of respite during the Ohio State Fair. The Mobile Express is parked in the Marketplace at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio Benefit Bank counselors will be present. Stop by and say "hi!"

Famous in Tiffin :-)

2009-07-22T13:51:00.005-04:00

The mobile went to Tiffin on Tuesday July 22. The local paper captured the event here --front page in fact. We are becoming famous in small circles!

Twenty families/individuals enrolled in programs, while many others completed Quick Checks to see if they were eligible for benefits. We found that most people were or would be eligible soon for benefits.

Gayle Loyola was the regional coordinator on site. She did an excellent job of organizing the event and it went off without a hitch. The pizza and salad were lovely surprises.

Folks in Tiffin are pleasant and patient. In some cases, even with 6 counselors in action, people needed to wait to be seen. All in all, it was a great event.

Jazz and Ribs? Sign Us Up!

2009-07-22T10:45:00.003-04:00

The King Arts Complex and Smooth Jazz 103.5 are sponsoring a Heritage Concert Series featuring local jazz bands. BBQ was readily available.

Also readily available: the Mobile Express. Although, I must say, it can be very difficult to help clients in a musical setting. It turns out concerts are quite loud.

Erin and I persisted and were able to speak to dozens of people who were interested in what the Ohio Benefit Bank had to offer. The turnout at the concert was fantastic and we're always glad to talk to people in happier settings. Being surrounded by music and community definitely leads to good moods. That goes for clients and for counselors.

Project L.O.V.E.

2009-07-16T13:45:00.004-04:00

Formed in 1993, Project L.O.V.E. (Love Our Kids...Vaccinate Early) has been working towards immunizing Columbus's children.

From their website:

When Project L.O.V.E. began, local immunization rates were estimated to be at 40 percent and have since improved to 86.4 percent. Franklin County was recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March 2006 for having the highest urban immunization rate in the country.

That's pretty impressive.

Erin and I were honored to take the Mobile Express to a Project L.O.V.E. event in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood of Columbus. We figured our target audience would be young mothers and lower income families. And we saw plenty of that demographic. But because the event was centrally located in a public square, we got a little bit of everyone.

I helped one person fill out an application for a Golden Buckeye card. Unfortunately, I've been seeing this a lot. There appear to be lots of Ohioans who are over 60 or are disabled who don't have this valuable discount card (which also includes a prescription discount plan).

If anyone you know is over 60 or disabled and isn't getting $0.39 sodas at McDonald's, please apply for your Golden Buckeye card immediately! There are no income requirements. Just age and/or disability. The list of businesses who offer Golden Buckeye discounts is truly massive and we want to make sure people are taking advantage of it.

Harrison County Fair

2009-07-08T15:05:00.003-04:00

Yesterday the Mobile Express made the long and winding trip to Cadiz, OH, hometown of the legendary Clark Gable, for the Harrison County Fair.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of luck getting any bites at the fair. To add insult to injury, the fair didn't have an ATM. Erin and I were foiled from buying the fried pickles and corn dogs we craved.

However, as a city boy, I admit I was pretty excited to see my first swine, my first Holstein Cow, and, on the road, my first turkey vulture and first groundhog.

One of the things I really enjoy about working with the Mobile Express is that I get to travel in a state that really does offer a lot of things. There are mountains and plains. Big cities with skyscrapers and small towns with only one stop light. International Houses of Pancakes and Waffle Houses.

So even though we didn't get anyone signed up, I at least got to experience a new part of Ohio.