AARP Ohio Members: Ohio Foodbank Supporters

AARP Ohio partnered with OASHF through AARP's Create the Good Campaign to reach out to AARP Ohio members and ask for their help in the fight against hunger. Here are some of the remarks that members shared when they called our hotline to donate:

Phyllis said, "It is just the right thing to do. I want to help my neighbors."

Denise said she usually tries to help out with the food pantries in her neighborhood at least three times a year.

Anonymous sees the need in her area. They are fortunate and want to give what they can.

Ron volunteers twice a week at the food pantry. Volunteering not only makes him feel good but makes him appreciate how blessed he is even when he has to tighten his budget.

Ross volunteers at the local pantry and knows sometimes that they run out of food to give people. So he thought the next time he went to volunteer he would also bring some food to donate.

Patricia got the postcard in the mail and just wanted to help out.

Eugene just retired and realizes he is more fortunate than a lot of other people. He feels it is the right thing to do because he has a little extra money to buy some shelf-stable food.

Connie has always donated. There was a time when her husband was out of work and they did not have much money. They lived on a farm and were able to grow their own food, but a lot of other people do not have that blessing.


Kathleen had a friend who used to get everyone to donate food/diapers/clothes every week at their church, and whenever there was someone who needed something, she would get the items together and give them to the family in need. Her friend passed away two years ago, and she has been thinking for a long time about taking up her cause. When she opened the letter she thought this was the time to do it. She also thought of her parents who are older and live out of state; she would want someone to do something for them if they needed it.


We appreciated hearing from all of the wonderful AARP Ohio members who continually reach out to support their local Foodbanks.

Highlighting National Service

We asked a few of our National Service Members to tell us what their service has meant to them and to their communities. Brent Sigley, one of our HarvestCorps members, shared his story:

"My name is Brent Sigley and I’m an Ohio Benefit Bank Counselor at Trillium Family Solutions in Canton, OH. AmeriCorps and the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks afforded me the opportunity to gain invaluable experience that will further help me as an aspiring social worker.

I have served one full year in fighting poverty and this has been on of the best years of my life. Direct Service is by far my favorite part of being an AmeriCorps Member.

Being able to sympathize and empathize with my clients also helps me be a better advocate for their needs. Knowing that I make a difference everyday in the community gives me satisfaction in knowing that I’m not part of the problem, but I’m part of the solution in this fight against poverty. OASHF has made me realize that the sky is the limit for personal achievement and growth. Within one year I was recognized in the top 10 “Make a Difference Day Projects” out of 1,112 events and my site won The Ohio Benefit Bank's “Site of the Year” award. With hard work, dedication, determination and love, 30 of my colleagues and I have helped 35,000 low-income Ohioans with linking them with government assistance. I would encourage anyone who has a genuine desire to make a difference in this world to join AmeriCorps and the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, because it would be one of the best decisions you ever made!"

Slim Pickings for Recent College Grads

Today's Columbus Dispatch cover story featured our very own AmeriCorps*VISTA member, Alesha Rademan. We asked Alesha to tell us more about her story as a recent college graduate and her struggle to find work in the current job market:

"I graduated from Capital University in May of 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management & Leadership (Human Resources). I thought I was going to be able to just walk into the job market and find something related to my degree with almost no problem. Boy, was I wrong.

I was approached about becoming a VISTA right after graduation, but I repeatedly said no because I just knew I would find a job. I sent out anywhere between 30-50 applications, most in Ohio but some in other states such as Washington, Michigan, and Indiana. In the end the out-of-state companies did not even respond. Most of the positions in Ohio expected the applicants to have 5 years of prior experience or more. There were not very many entry levels positions and if there was they were not positions I could really see myself enjoying and lasting very long. I did have some responses from companies about a few positions I applied for and even made it to an interview, a second interview, and in two cases a job offer.

Unfortunately, the two job offers I did receive were for a call center and as a telemarketer for a student loan company. Neither position was something I could see myself lasting in for more than a couple months. The whole situation just made me uncomfortable. So it was back to the drawing board. I attended two or three job fairs in Columbus. I made a few connections but for the most part I felt they were a waste of my time because they were primarily meant to build skills, skills I already acquired at Capital. I remember standing in line for a job fair held at Vets Memorial for about an hour and a half to only spend an hour inside. Most of that hour unfortunately was spent waiting in line to talk to three companies.

The next thing I knew a year had gone by since I had graduated and I was still only working part time and still living at home. I was approached again about becoming a VISTA and the idea seemed a little more appealing. The final decision really did come down to I needed a better job, something more than part time. I participated in community service while in college and it was something that I wanted to continue doing after I graduated so becoming a VISTA made sense. The pay rate was a little intimidating but it was such a good opportunity for connections and a resume booster I couldn’t really come up with a reason to say no. I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into when I began my year of service in June, but now I am completely happy with my decision and can’t wait to see what the rest of my year of service will bring."

Alesha is currently serving as a Community Trainer with The Ohio Benefit Bank, helping people in similar situations in Southeast Ohio. Visit the OBBservations in Southeast Ohio blog to learn more about Alesha's work.

A Success Story to Smile About

"Regina came in to do a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) application in June. Through that process one of the OBB ODJFS case workers discovered she has been eligible for unemployment since March of this year, however we were unable to reach her for sometime due to the nature of her living situation and the fact that she does not have an address or phone. (At the end of last year she was laid off and then lost her apartment. She and her daughter have been homeless since the beginning of the  year, however somehow she managed to have her daughter graduate from high school.)
 
After we finally tracked her down (with the help of some of our other homeless clients, out on the street looking for her!) she was able to set up a mailing address through our office, and we worked with the unemployment office to straighten everything out.
 
She just stopped by to check her mail, and received over $4000 in back unemployment!
 
This is a HUGE success story folks! She is on her way to go look for an apartment. Keep doing what you’re doing everyone, it is important! We hear doom and gloom all the time: take a minute to smile about our impact in this family’s life!”

- Emily Forsee, OASHF HarvestCorps (AmeriCorps*State) Member

A Single Mother Gets Assistance Through the Ohio Benefit Bank

We'd like to pass along a story from Brent Sigley, one of our Americorps volunteers. We think it's a great example of using the Benefit Bank software to improve someone's life for the better.

I recently assisted a Family Involvement Coordinator (FIC) at Trillium Family Solutions [ed: a non-profit organization based in Stark County] in filling out a food stamp application for her first client. The FIC was close friends with the client and knew that she was in desperate need of assistance. The applicant was a single mother of two children, and she was only working a part-time job and receiving approximately $200 a month in child support. A week before her appointment, she had received an eviction notice. After she got done paying the utility bills and for food for her children, she didn’t have enough money to pay the rent.

After we filled out the application, it appeared she was eligible for cash assistance and over $500.00 worth of food assistance. When I had told her this wonderful news, she broke down and started to cry. She had been spending close to that in food for the month, and now she would be able to pay her rent on time.

I took this application personally because I was raised by a single mother and I remember when times were tough and we could barely get our bills paid. So this really touched home for me. It was like putting icing on the cake when the application was done, knowing that The Ohio Benefit Bank was that much of an aid.

Thanks, Brent!