Van Outreach Helps Local Agency

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.

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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.

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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.

Pretzel Festival in Germantown

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.