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SELF's E-news Briefs
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As Butler County's community action agency, SELF exists to enhance the quality of life for county residents by impacting the causes of poverty and empowering individuals to achieve, sustain and advocate self-sufficiency.
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April 2010
| Volume 1, Issue 10
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Thousands Helped with Heat and Taxes
Members of the City of Hamilton Utilities Department raised money for HEAP at Gina's Italian Food & Spirits. | SELF's Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (E-HEAP), running from November 1- March 31, broke the agency's 14-year record by assisting 3,939 households from losing heat this winter!
"We've seen a lot of new clients, people who are newly unemployed and have never been to a social service agency before. While it is unfortunate that so many are struggling financially, I'm glad we can help ease some of that burden," said Athena Maly, HEAP coordinator.
______________________________________________________ SELF's Earned Income Tax Credit Super Site is winding down with the passing of April 15. The EITC Super Site has helped more than 475 households prepare their income taxes for free and connect to other services through the Ohio Benefit Bank. SELF is a member of the Butler County EITC Coalition which includes the Legal
Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, Butler County Department of
Job & Family Services and the Butler County United Way.
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Are YOU Handy?
Hamilton's 2010 G roup Workcamps/Home Repair project is coming to the Second and Fourth Wards in just three months! Thanks to local partners and donors, $26,000 has been raised for building materials and campers from around the country will be coming to Hamilton July 4- 10.
To increase the number of homes this home repair initiative can reach, we need your help! Put your check books away- this is a chance to really get your hands dirty! We are looking for organizations, groups and churches who are interested in:
- Impacting low-income, elderly and/or disabled homeowners' lives by making repairs on their home July 1- 31 (projects may include painting, porch repair and yard beautification)
- Help clean up yard overgrowth and ensure all sides of the home are accessible before the GWC Campers arrive June 26- July 3
- Adopt-a-Site to provide GWC campers (usually 6 people per site) with cool beverages, ice cream treats or other snacks during work days (July 5- 9)
- One or two people are needed to help SELF's Housing Coordinator secure 20-25 ladders for GWC week, varying in size from step ladders to 32-foot extension ladders
If you are interested in learning more about ways to get involved, contact David Hastings at (513) 820-5024.
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Reach for the Stars- Success!
SELF's 2010 Janet Clemmons Community Service Award nominnes (from left to right): Candice Keller, Bill Fugate, Darlene Deck, Executive Director Jeffrey Diver, Aileen Geigle, Jodie Schrenker, Mayor of Hamilton Pat Moeller, Cathy Howell and Mayor or Fairfield Ron D'Epifanio.
Not pictured is Barbara Condo.
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"A Night of a Thousand Stars," SELF's
14th Annual Reach for the Stars Awards Dinner & Auction was a huge
success this year! SELF is appreciative of the great community awareness through front-page coverage in the Hamilton Journal News and other mentions in the Cox Ohio Publishing network. Nearly 160 attendees helped SELF raise more than
$17,700 for its mission of promoting self-sufficiency among low-income
Butler County residents. The SELF staff and Board is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support in way of donations, sponsorships and attendance to this year's gala.
SELF would like to recognize its
outstanding sponsors again for making this evening possible:
Galaxy Sponsor
Duke Energy*
Nova Sponsors
Cincinnati Bell
Liz Claiborne Inc.
St.
Gregory Group Marketing
Pulsar
Sponsors
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Community
Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area
First Financial Bank
Home
Care by Black Stone
Quasar
Sponsors
Baker Concrete
Capital Advisory Services, Mr. Russ
Finney
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey & Angela Diver
The Dunaway
siblings
Fairfield Rotary Club
Great American Financial Resources,
Inc.
Kiwanis Club of Fairfield
Lyons & Lyons
Mr. &
Mrs. Rob and Judy Scherrer Peak
State Farm Insurance, Mr. Barney
Riesbeck
US Bank
Mr. & Mrs. Bill and Diana Weigel
*Duke
Energy has sponsored this annual event for five years at the Galaxy
Level! SELF is thankful to have dedicated supporters such as Duke
Energy.
Also, SELF would like to give a special thanks to Al Druso & Rob
Blust of First Financial Bank for providing the agency with a credit card machine for the second year in a row, allowing for easy registration upgrades the day of the event and quick check out.
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Butler County School Supply Coalition Gearing Up for 2011 School Year
Did you know that one third of all Butler County students (20,139 to be exact) enrolled in the public school system access the free and reduced meal programs due to family need?
SELF is part of the Butler County School Supply Coalition, a group of service agencies dedicated to helping some of these low-income students start the school year off right. The Coalition aims to provide school supply kits to 17,296 school-aged children (5-18 years old) who are receiving free or reduced lunch throughout county and might otherwise go without basic schools supplies.
A $5 donation can provide a pre-packaged, age-appropriate school supply kit for a child in need. 100% of each dollar raised goes directly to the purchase of these kits, which are shipped to all ten public school distrcits in the county and distributed by classroom teachers.
If you would like to contribute the success of a child's school year, consider supporting the Butler County School Supply Coalition.
Checks can be made payable to Kits for Kids:
Kits for Kids Campaign
PO Box 421545
Middletown, OH 45042-1545
Online donations are also being accepted on the Shared Harvest website. Click "Donate Now" on the left of the screen and designate "Kits for Kids."
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| Upcoming Events |
Group Workcamps Hamilton Home Repair Initiative
When: July 4- 10, 2010
Where: Second and Fourth Wards of Hamilton
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| Contact Information |
Phone: (513) 868-9300 Phone for Middletown only: (888) 432-7022 Fax: (513) 785-3692
Website: www.selfhelps.org
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