Extreme Makeover: Mobile Express Edition

The Mobile Express is back on the road after some much needed R&R. In other words, the van got a makeover, and looks better than ever thanks to Trent Lundberg at Guru Graphix. 

Trent did a fantastic job of redesigning and updating the Mobile Express, and we couldn’t be happier with the results! For more examples of Trent’s work, or for any graphics needs of your own, check out his website. Thanks so much, Trent!

  

People say you learn something new every day

But some days you learn more than others. This is especially true when you get a chance to work with someone who has as much experience as my boss, Zach Reat, the outreach programs manager for The Ohio Benefit Bank. Just the other day, I traveled with Zach to a Life Skills Back to School event, and learned about a fantastic resource for a traveling benefits counselor like me, which is also extremely useful to benefits counselors helping clients that might be in from out of town or who have family members in different counties.
 
As a mobile enrollment specialist who travels to different counties on a daily basis, I frequently need to refer clients to community resources, even when I am not familiar with resources available locally. The first thing that comes to mind during instances such as these (other than referring the client to a local OBB site that might have more knowledge regarding local resources) is to refer someone to their local community resource directory through the Ohio 2-1-1 network, which provides referrals for local food and clothing distributions, free legal aid, or any other local assistance that is designed to help clients meet their particular needs.
 
However, not all of these community resource directories can be reached by dialing 2-1-1! Luckily, there’s a map for that. Zach referred me to a fantastic web page, which I now keep bookmarked on my computer, that shows whether the Ohio 2-1-1 network is active in a particular area, and lists the local call center contact information for each county. 

Check it out: http://www.referweb.net/ohio/ 

A "Golden" Opportunity

I have been told on more than one occasion that I have developed quite the obsession with Golden Buckeye Card applications. In fact, what’s not to love? 

The Golden Buckeye card offers 5% discounts at a number of restaurants, $0.29 drinks at McDonalds, and (most importantly) allows one to get discounts on his or her prescriptions through the Ohio’s Best RX program that is included with a Golden Buckeye card. However, the benefits of using a Golden Buckeye card are only part of the reason that it comes up so frequently in my conversations with clients. The truth of the matter is that I talk to so many people about whether or not they might be potentially eligible for a Golden Buckeye card because most clients are unaware that the age requirement is waived for adults with a permanent disability. It’s an awesome thing for a counselor to be able to tell a client that all we need in order to apply for his or her Golden Buckeye card is to see a Medicare card or a letter from Social Security stating that the client is permanently disabled. 

The icing on the cake is that by applying with a counselor from The Ohio Benefit Bank, a client is able to walk away from the experience with a temporary Golden Buckeye card that he or she can use until their official card arrives in the mail. This is a fantastic way to introduce someone to the OBB, and to transition into checking if a client might be potentially eligible for any of the other benefits offered by the State of Ohio. So if that’s not worth obsessing just a little bit over, what is?

-- Tyler

Crowd Control

This past Thursday, Erin and I were able to attend a fantastic food distribution in Lorain. It turned out to be an extremely well-attended event, hosting more than four hundred people from across the county. The volunteers did a great job, and kept people moving quickly through the lines. However, that meant that Erin and I had to step up our pace in order to attempt to talk to as many families as we could about The Ohio Benefit Bank. Even for us, it would have been a tall order to try to get to everyone, but fortunately the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio was able to provide us with some backup in the form of VISTA Nancy Smith.

Having Nancy along was a great experience. She has a lot of passion for the work that we do, and she was extremely effective at reaching out to groups of clients. It really reminded me of how important the work of national service members is to the work of The Ohio Benefit Bank network. In this case having an extra teammate working on outreach greatly augmented our efficiency, as we were able to maintain a consistent flow of applications throughout the duration of the event, something that never could have occurred had Erin and I both been focused on working on both outreach and the actual application process.

Thanks Nancy!

P.S.
If you are interested in learning more about AmeriCorps, visit our website.  If you would like to increase the capacity of your agency by hosting an AmeriCorps member contact Maureen Ringlein at mringlein@ohiofoodbanks.org, or Kelsey Raines at kelsey@ohiofoodbanks.org.

A Mobile Reunion in Pomeroy

Every quarter, the Mobile Express meets up with the Lutheran Social Services Mobile Pantry in various locations. This week we went to Pomeroy, Ohio to do a benefit clinic in the parking lot of Alligator Jacks, a local flea market. Churches in the area provide volunteers and supplies to make this distribution possible.  

Pictured here is Tyler with Mark McPherson, who manages the LSS Mobile Food Pantry and the LSS Lancaster Food Pantry. Mark is a man with a big heart. He enthusiastically announced our arrival and does his best to  make residents aware of benefits available to them through The Ohio Benefit Bank.

Below: canned food and produce are the main items given at the mobile food distribution. Sausage was a special treat at this particular event.

Two new counties to check off the list

I mentioned recently that The Ohio Benefit Bank Mobile Express was trying to hit every single county before the summer's end. In one week we ended up two counties closer to our goal.

Jackson County

On Tuesday we headed down to Jackson County for a senior fair. Susan Rogers of Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) invited us first to the event and then to her office to discuss strategy for using the Mobile in food distributions in Southeast Ohio in the near future. The event was attended by hundreds of seniors, and while we did our fair share of Golden Buckeye applications, we also found seniors eligible for SNAP and for Medicare Premium Assistance. We look forward to working with Susan in the future; after all, Columbus to Jackson is a beautiful drive.

Auglaize County

The next day we attended a food distribution in Wapakoneta (known to locals as Wapak), the seat of Auglaize County. We were invited to this distribution by the West Ohio Food Bank.* This is the first time that the Mobile team has worked directly with this foodbank* and it was a pleasure. They served over 100 people and went out of their way to make sure people spoke to us regarding benefits. One of the nice things about going to new counties is that the Mobile has a novelty to it that makes it more interesting for distribution sites, volunteers, and, of course, our clients. This makes it easier for us to talk to people and have a successful event like this one in Wapak. We look forward to working with West Ohio again in the future.

*I want to be very clear that both spellings are correct based on organizational preference and I did not make a typo. It is very important that you know I didn't make a typo!

Portsmouth with Potter's House

The Mobile Express team was invited to set up shop in downtown Portsmouth to conduct a tax clinic. The invitation was extended by Potter's House Ministries, which is one of the highest performing OBB tax sites in Ohio. They are serious about helping people complete their taxes for free.

We were joined by Linda Davis (pictured) and Ed Myers, two AmeriCorps members serving at Potter's House who have joined us for several events this season.

We actually crossed over this bridge and traveled into Kentucky to get to Portsmouth which is along the Ohio River. It's a beautiful part of the state.

Cross this bridge and you are in Kentucky!

Russell and I both got treats while in Portsmouth--myself with Shepherd's Pie from the local Irish pub and Russell with a memory of his childhood home, Cape Cod. He says that you can smell these potato chips for miles around when you visit the cape:

Russell says:

"So here I am: Cape Codder Ohioan. And Erin and I are on the Ohio-Kentucky border on Tax Day, April 17. We're parked in downtown Portsmouth, a stone's throw from The Bluegrass State, and about 844 miles from the Cape Cod Canal. Guess what was parked one block over?

I know this is a national brand, but after living on the Cape for 18 years, I have never seen a truck like this. Is it following me? Did my Mom pay someone to keep an eye on me? What is happening here?!

If you're wondering, the OBB Mobile Express is still the number one vehicle on six wheels. All the deep-fried potatoes in the world can't sway me."

Following the Great Miami River

During our drive to Auglaize County, Erin and I passed through the best named town in Ohio: Russells Point. Since Wikipedia doesn't say why the town is named this, I am going to take the liberty of assuming that it has something to do with me. Russells Point is also home to Indian Lake.We've seen a lot in our travels, but in criss-crossing the interior of the state, seeing corn fields is much more likely than seeing a marina.

(There's also a McDonald's right on the lake, where all of their advertising is focused on desserts and ice cream. Something about the ads is really effective in the lakeside setting; I've driven past this McDonald's with two different passengers and both asked that I stop for an ice cream cone.)

Indian Lake is also the beginning of the Great Miami River. We followed the river downstream to Piqua for a health fair sponsored by Wright State University and the Second Baptist Church. We were only a block from the riverbank.

At the health fair, we ran into a problem that appears to be common throughout Ohio: People who were on permanent disability who didn't have Golden Buckeye cards. That is just like leaving money on the table. If you are on disability, please take your award letter or your Medicare card to your nearest library, senior center, or The Ohio Benefit Bank site. This is a five minute application process! You get a temporary card right then and there!

So, fellow OBB counselors, if you come across someone under the age of 60 on disability, you have your orders.

Celebrate Life and Health!

Below is a link to a slideshow of images from the Celebrate Life and Health Event in Dayton, a free community health fair in which the Mobile Express team participated. If you look closely, you can see a picture of our own Brent Sigley, regional coordinator extraordinaire, signing in at the event.

http://mediamoments1.photoshelter.com/gallery-slideshow/G0000BJX4fE4l4c8/?start=

Hardin County Achievement Unlocked

The Mobile Express has been on the road for about three years (over 66,000 miles if you're curious). In that time we've attended hundreds of events and completed thousands of applications. These are all good things.

But counting miles, clients, events, and applications is only part of the story. We also like to count space. We're an Ohio organization so we want to make sure all parts of Ohio are covered. In other words, we want to make sure we attend an event in every county. We're almost there.

We got a little closer on Wednesday, April 25.

For the first time, the Ohio Benefit Bank Mobile Express set up shop in Hardin County. Specifically, we were in their county seat, Kenton, at a soup kitchen at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The kitchen is open in the last week of every month (smart; that's when the SNAP Benefits start to run dry) and also offered a free consignment shop for its patrons.

Erin and I started off a little slowly. A sad truth about events and distributions is that they often involve a lot of waiting around. There is no way around it. We can take advantage of that by using the dead time to talk to people about benefits. It's a lot easier to convince someone to apply for Medicaid if they're just going to be standing around. This event had no lines. Which is awesome! That is obviously a net positive. But it does make telling people about our services a little bit more difficult.

Thankfully, Erin and I did a good enough job with our 20-second elevator speeches when people arrived at the front door. After their meal, the kitchen's patrons came back. Erin and I completed half a dozen applications, most of them for food assistance. And, in what is becoming a pet project of mine, I helped an ex-felon register to vote.

A huge thanks must to go to Dorothy Hogue, the person who runs the soup kitchen and who allowed us to take their best parking space with little notice in order to be closer to her clients. That sort of support is instrumental in helping us reach out to low and moderate income Ohioans, and we truly appreciated her hard work in getting the people ok Kenton a hot meal and a submitted application in one fell swoop.

Now, only a few more counties to go until we've hit all 88 in the state! Butler, Darke, Auglaize, Wyandot, Delaware, Belmont, and Hocking: We'll be seeing you soon.

Tax Season Comes to an End

 The Mobile Enrollment team attended 43 tax clinics this season, completed 510 applications and traveled a total of 8,882 miles.   We could not have done this without the help of our 2nd seats and wonderful host sites along the way. 

A big shout out to folks that acted as a 2nd seats!  Thank you.  Your time and energy is much appreciated.  Here is a list of our tax season travel partners who shared road miles with us:  Martin, Elizabeth, Brent, Jasmine, Dan, Daniel, Carol W., Jessica, Zach, Erin W., Mo, Sarah, Suzanna, and Megan. 

It has been great to get to know you all better!



Transitioning Back to Benefits

Starting in the middle of January, it's been nothing but taxes, taxes, taxes. Erin and I have helped hundreds of clients over the past three months and we have nothing but taxes on our brain. The Ohio Benefit Bank tax module has dozens of screens and I am confident that we memorized every single one.

Now, in mid-April, it's time to start transitioning into benefits. What better way than to team up with our pals at the Lutheran Social Services Mobile Pantry. We made the drive down to Pomeroy and started talking to people in line for the food distribution.

Erin and I did great. We completed 11 applications in about two hours and spoke to all 180 people that went through the distribution. But, man, I was rusty.

I can't speak for Erin here, but I felt just a shade slower than my usual self. I had to look up things (income eligiblity requirements, Legal Aid numbers), that I can usually access in mere seconds. Of course, it's not like food insecurity takes a break between January-April. I don't get to ease my way back into this.

But then I was surrounded by a Zen-like feeling of calm. I was thinking of January. When January hit, I was a little bit slower when it came to helping clients submit their taxes. I needed to look more things up. I didn't every page memorized. But soon, with repetition and practice, I was back to my old self.

With taxes in our rearview mirror, it's time to switch gears. Soon, I'll be at full speed. I can't wait.

Wellsville Hosts the Mobile Express

The Mobile Express team visited Wellsville, Ohio conducting a tax clinic outside the local library.  Cindy Slavens, pictured below, had much enthusiasm for the van and our services.  Her work passion has been to advocate for people with disabilities in addition to being an Ohio Benefit Bank counsellor. 

OBB Volunteer Patricia Murphy, Russell, Cindy Slavens, and Erin

At the clinic, Julianna and Robert came in to do their taxes with Russell.  This couple has been married for 61 years and are still going strong.  They were excited to have their return completed for free through the Ohio Benefit Bank.

Julianna and Robert Baur

And We're Off!

Rev. Vincent Harris, chaplain at Beulah Park race track in Grove City, invited the OBB Team to provide services for those who work at the racetrack. His work is sanctioned by the Race Track Chaplaincy of America--a group that helps coordinate the assignment of 61 chaplains at 82 tracks nationwide.  His work as a missionary through the American Baptist Association proves to be both interesting and challenging.  On any given day he may support a family of a fallen jockey rider or provide food to those who need it out of his trailer on site. 



He invites Mt. Carmel Health to provide mobile health services.
Pictured here are some volunteers from the local high school.

Groomers, exercise riders, and maintenance workers live on the property during the racing season in small apartments (10’x 10’concrete block rooms).The work is hard and the pay nominal--if any (many work in exchange for room and board).  It was clear to Russell and I that there is a great sense of community behind the track and a palpable love of horses. 

Beulah Park is open from October-April. Workers will migrate to other racetracks as Beulah’s season comes to a close. Rev. Harris was so happy to hear that the Mobile Express serves people statewide and informed us that we will be off to River Downs next!

 


OBB Mobile Express working beside the chaplain's trailer.

 

We completed 19 applications with 10 people while Rev. Harris served up hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill.



Man known as"Cowboy" with Erin.  Cowboy gave a behind the scenes tour --introducing the horses, their trainers while sharing a little about life behind the race track. 
Cowboy is an "old hand" to horse racing and owns many horses.






Horses get exercise on these merry go round type contraptions.

 

Bringing in the Money

Getting Close to their Goal

Ginger Conrad and Mike Toth from HARTACUS, Tri County Community Action Agency, proudly display their piggy bank drawing.  It is their goal to help Ohioans bring $500,000 back to Ohio through tax returns. 

HARTACUS, through their hard work, provides tax clinics in remote areas, such as the one pictured.  We were in Cadiz, Ohio at the local library.  As of February 2012, HARTACUS had completed over 275 returns this tax season, leading the way among Benefit Bank sites in the North East region of Ohio. 

The weather was so warm we needed to open a window---a sign that Spring is almost here.  Yay!

"Chilling" in Canton

I always get disappointed with mild winters. Granted mild winters mean less tax clinic cancellations, but the New England in me really enjoys a terrifying ice storm. Those have been hard to come by this year.

Despite the lack of Nor'easters, the weather can still get nippy. So nippy that doing one's taxes inside of a mobile office can be uncomfortable. So from December to April, Erin and I take refuge in offices belonging to the very nice people that invite us to help out with tax clinics. Much warmer that way.

All that inside time is great for the comfort of clients and counselors alike, but it also means we haven't taken advantage of our impressive technology in a while. A tax clinic in Canton, OH allowed us to rectify that.

We were invited to Canton by Trillium Family Solutions for a tax clinic hosted by CSE Federal Credit Union. The space was gorgeous, but we didn't have a wireless Internet connection.

Enter the Mobile!

Perhaps the fanciest feature on the Mobile Express is our satellite dish. With only a view of the Southern sky, we can set up shop and fill an entire room with the lifeblood we call Wi-Fi. By pulling our mobile office next to the building, our satellite allowed at least five different counselors to access the Internet. By the end of the day, everyone had completed a total of 68 applications. That's a pretty spectacular day and it was an honor to help contribute to its success.

And I am excited to report that Canton got an inch of snow during our stay. It may not be the snowpocalypse I was hoping for, but at least I feel like I've had at least a taste of winter.

Achievements

Erin and I have been working on the Mobile Express for a while, and we're both very excited to inform our readers that we have surpassed the 60,000 mile benchmark. That's about 200 trips from Cincinnati to Cleveland. In other words, we have been all over the state of Ohio.

On a personal note, I am happy to announce that I have completed my 1,000th application. Most of them have been for SNAP and taxes, but my grand includes student aid applications, voter registrations, and a few Title XXs sprinkled in for good measure. A huge majority of those applications were performed out on the road and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to travel (60,000 miles!) throughout the state helping people apply for the programs that they're eligible for. It's a good feeling.