WRITE THIS DOWN AND MEMORIZE

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

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

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

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".