West Ohio Community Act ion Par tnership

West Ohio CAP was very thankful to have received funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund that were utilized to serve Ohioans with the essential resources of rental, mortgage, and utility assistance. The Coronavirus Relief Fund provided necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency. Funds were allocated to the 47 Community Action Agencies that serve all 88 Ohio counties. Each Community Action Agency received a portion of the $55.2 million. For clients to be eligible, their household’s annual income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The clients must also have experienced a hardship due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. West Ohio CAP worked diligently during this time to assist eligible households in Allen, Auglaize and Mercer County who had been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

With all the challenges the COVID-19 Pandemic presented to countless individuals in our country, state, and local communities,

we are grateful to have been able to assist households in the communities we serve with rental, mortgage and utility assistance. We understand the importance of keeping families housed in their homes while overcoming obstacles none of us ever expected. Rental assistance was provided to 323 eligible households that pay rent and had received an eviction or late notice from their landlord or are homeless or experiencing imminent homelessness and moving to a new residence. Eligible clients were assisted with rental arrears and fees back to April 1, 2020 when applicable. Rental assistance for eligible clients with an eviction or late notice may have also been provided to cover their rent until the program ended on December 30, 2020. A total of 1,216 months of rent were paid in the duration of this program to assist with those who experienced a hardship due to the pandemic. 14 of those households included deposits, and 3 of those households included eviction

fees. Mortgage assistance was provided for 23 eligible households that were unable to pay their mortgage with verification of past due payment were eligible for payments to be made to the lender. Similar to rental assistance, West Ohio CAP was able to assist eligible households for past due amounts back to April 1, 2020, when applicable, and their current mortgage payments until the program ended on December 30, 2020. More than 80 months of mortgage payments were paid in the duration of this program to assist homeowners affected by the pandemic. Utility Assistance was provided to 111 eligible households that were disconnected, were in threat of disconnection or were behind on their utility bills. Utility assistance was for water and/or sewer bill payments.

HELPING

THOSE

IN

NEED

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Treats/Books 2

Family Engagement 2

We Are Hiring 3

Head Start Enrollment 3

Seal Christmas 6

Housing Schedule 7

Winter Crisis Program 7

JANUARY 2021

Jacqueline Fox, CEO

Rental Assistance Mortgage Assistance Utility Assistance

323 Households

15 Households

111 Households

Page 2

F A M I LY E N G A G E M E N T

W I N T E R T R E A T

B O O K S

Join the woodland animals as they get ready to play snowy games in this peek-through counting book. Little ones will love to watch as the number of snowflakes

decreases from 10 to 1 with each turn of the page.

Ingredients

- Graham Crackers (12 full sheets, approximately 2 cups

crushed)

- 3/4 cup Cream Cheese, softened (6 oz)

- Snowflake shaped sprinkles

Directions

1. Crush graham crackers into fine crumbs. I suggest using a food processor because you want the crumbs to be very

small, almost like sand.

2. In a large bowl, mix your graham cracker crumbs, cream cheese, and sprinkles. I didn't measure the sprinkles, I just

added in a handful. You can put in as few or as many as you like, just be sure to save some for the end.

3. Mix until thoroughly combined into a dough consistency. You will probably need to use your hands! This is fun for kids

to help with too.

4. Roll dough into approximately 1 inch round balls. Press down to flatten into a cookie shape. Decorate with your re-

maining sprinkles, pressing them gently into each cookie.

5. Place your cookies into the refrigerator to set (or the freezer for about 45 minutes.) They will not be hard, but will

have an almost cookie dough consistency. Store them in refrigerator.

Ten Sparkly Snowflakes

Materials Needed:

2 cups flour

2 cups tsp. salt

2 cups water

Blender

Red and green food coloring

Black or blue poster board, cut into smallish pieces

Squeeze bottles & Microwave

Page 3

C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

JANUARY B I RTHDAY S

W E A R E H I R I N G

2—Mary Collins

3—Shareena Ingram

4—Cherie Fairburn

7—Theresa Wynn

7—ShiAnn Drennen-Petersen

12—Patty Rodabaugh

18—Stephanie Staley

21—Kelli Wooddell

23—Lisa Dickman

23—Carmen Gibson

25—Raj’zon Calhoun

26—Christine Shepherd

28—Whitney Hittle

18th—Agency Closed

27th—Board Meeting

Head Start

Enrollment

Reach us

Monday-Friday,

8:00 am -5:00 pm via any of the following:

ONLINE:

www.wocap.org & scroll down our home

page to find the application

PHONE:

Nadean Runneals at 419-604-6221

EMAIL:

Nadean Runneals

nrunneals@wocap.org

Application forms can be sent to your home if you prefer

Directions:

Add flour, salt, and water to blender and blend until super smooth

Pour the white puffy paint directly from the blender into squeeze bottles, reserving some of the plain puffy paint to color

Now dye the remaining puffy paint. Keep half of it in the blender and pour half temporarily into a cup or bowl. Add red food coloring to the puffy paint in the blender, blend, then pour into squeeze bottles. Do a quick rinse of the blender, add the rest of the puffy paint mixture and the green food coloring. Blend then pour into squeeze bottles

Squeeze the puffy paint out onto the black poster board as desired to make winter scenes, abstract designs, or words

Cook on high for 30 seconds in the microwave and watch it puff up! The artworks with a lot of puffy paint may need to double that time

A C T I V I T Y

Co Teacher and Teacher for Head Start

Education Coordinator for Head Start

Family Life Specialist for Early Head Start Partnership

Intake Specialist For Allen County

Community Case Management Specialist for Allen County

Housing Specialist for Allen County

Excellent Attendance

Our goal is to prepare your child for their next stepping stone of education whether it is Head Start or Kindergarten. Regular Attendance is an important part of your child’s educational, social, and emotional

development. When children are absent from school they are missing out on a lot of educational and social opportunities. We would like to thank those parents who assure their child is attending school every day. In the

month of November we had 122 children with Perfect Attendance. Way to Go Parents!

Central A

Zanoah M.

Harmoni M.

Jazariyo S.

Central B

Michael B-M.

Denver C.

JaZariia L.

Niyla L.

Serena S.

Elias W.

Central E

Jaylon H-B. Jr.

Home Based (GG)

Alonzo W.

Lima Sr. I

Kayven C.

Elias C.

Elijah C.

Gabriel O.

Lima Sr. II

Kamryn C.

Keillen C.

Kamryn S.

Unity

A’Miya A.

Ki’Liyah A.

Nova G.

Randy H.

Elijah N.

Little Rascal B

Bronx B.

Shawnee-Infants

Elias A.

Aurora R.

Shawnee-Terrific 2’s

Liam C.

Shawnee-Traditional

Toddlers

Adaleii K.

Aubriella L.

Trinity

Autumn J.

Bryson W.

Allen East I

Alayla L.

Remington R.

Layla T.

Corbin T.

Isabella T.

Armani W.

Allen East II

Martell B.

Central C

Silas A.

Alydia C.

Parker C.

Jaelle H.

Triniti I.

Kian M.

Malachi S-L.

Jeremiah W.

Jru Y.

Central D

Parker C.

Ryder C.

Cameron D.

Jada H.

Bayley H.

Harmoni K.

Devon L.

Central H

Kaylee D.

Gwendolyn D.

Elijah K.

Howard A

Arionna F.

Marcel M.

Maceo T.

Howard B.

Elijah B.

Amirah G.

Javon H.

Tristyn I.

Michael L. III

Kingston M.

T’Kyrien S.

Market St. II AM

Mehki A.

Mariah C.

Adrian D.

Delilah S.

Avery T.

Market St. II PM

Averyanna D.

Caleb E.

Holly H.

Ivyonna K.

Riley M.

Tali M-S.

Jazman P.

Landen T.

O’Neal A

Marque’S P.

Javeon T.

Johnisha W.

O’Neal B

Aydn A.

Alajha A-W.

Ke’Vaeh P-W.

De’Mariyon R.

Nathanael T.

Eric T. Jr.

Kinsley W.

Philippian I

Zy’Lynn M.

Philippian II

Ma’Riyah C.

Chasity F.

Zadie H.

Journey J.

St. Matthews

Mia B.

Zayden C.

Andrew G.

Jameson K.

Rolland R.

Lincoln V.

Montana W.

Seal Christmas With Love 2020 “Seal Christmas With Love” is a partnership between WOCAP, private community businesses and service

organizations. WOCAP’s goal is to ensure all children have gifts during the holidays and that the families

receive a warm, nutritious meal. The celebration was held on December 18 2020. For the health and

safety of all involved, the celebration was conducted as a drive-thru event for the families to receive their

This year, from the generosity of the community, our agency was able to provide presents for 201 children

for the holidays. A total of 72 families went home with gifts & household essentials. The home essential

bags donated by Procter & Gamble contained items such as: toilet paper, laundry soap, scent booster,

fabric softener sheets, tide pens, dish soap, feminine products, and magic erasers . Families also received

a bag from Procter & Gamble. Our agency is grateful to have been able to distribute the amount of gifts we

did this past Christmas. It is always a special experience putting smiles on all of the families’ faces during

the Holiday Season. The committee began meeting in October to begin the planning for this awesome

event. The committee members made multiple shopping trips and worked hard to organize everything for

the families and children. We also had staff volunteers join us for the day. The staff were very excited to

give of their services and the parents were very appreciative. Our agency would like to extend a thank you

to our sponsors for making this event possible: ABATE, Dominion, Honda, Husky Refinery, Procter &

Gamble and our private donors

HOUSING DEPARTMENT SCHEDULE

CALL WOCAP AT 419-227-2586 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WOCAP.ORG TO SIGN UP

Please call Housing Specialist for More Information

Allen & Mercer Counties

Contact: 419-227-2586 Ext. 236

Fair

Housing

February 23, 24, & 25

10 am—12 pm

Location: Webinar

Contact: 419-227-2586 Ext. 122

Financial

Management Homeownership

February 9, 11, 16, & 18

10 am—1 pm

Location: Webinar

Contact: 419-227-2586 Ext. 112

Winter Crisis Program

November 1, 2020—March 31, 2021

The Winter Crisis Program can provide assistance for those who have had their gas or electric shut com-pletely off or have a disconnect notice and bulk customers who have 25% or less in their fuel tank. The pro-gram can also help with coal and wood. Households that have been diagnosed with COVID-19 are eligible

this year if they meet the income guidelines.

Families must reside in Allen, Auglaize or Mercer Counties and earn a household income at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Income for a family of four could be $45, 850 annually

Eligible Applicants

Required Documentation Types of Benefits

Households that are disconnected or

have a pending disconnection

notice

Income for primary applicant and all household members 18 years of age or older

Social Security Numbers for primary applicant and all household members

Most recent electric and gas bills; with disconnection notice

Proof of citizenship for all household members

Electric/Natural Gas Utility Assistance:

Up to $175 for regulated utility customers

Up to $750 for unregulated utility customers

Buk Fuel/Propane/Fuel Oil/Kerosene Assistance:

Up to $900

Coal or Wood Assistance:

Up to $550

Heating Unit Repair:

Up to $500 for heating unit repair assistance

Households that have 25% (or less) of bulk

fuel supply remaining, need to establish new service, need to pay to

transfer service or households that were

diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020

Income for primary applicant and all household members 18 years of age or older

Social Security Numbers for primary applicant and all household members

Most recent utility bills

Proof of citizenship for all household members

Appointments can be scheduled by calling

419-516-0063 or online at capappointments.com

Customers of a regulated utility are eligible for one (1) appointment hold on their existing account to delay the disconnect until their

appointment

New accounts are not eligible for appointment hold

Call WOCAP at

419-227-2586

West Ohio Community Action Partnership BOARD OF TRUSTEES – 2021

Representatives must be One Third Private Business, One Third Public Entity, and One Third Low-Income

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Dick Accountius (Public)

RTA

Esther Baldridge (Low-Income)

United Way

Mayor David Berger (Public)

City of Lima

Natalie Bice (Private) (Treasurer)

J. M. Green & Associates

Erica Preston (Public)

Auglaize Co Commissioner

Appointee

Pam Fitzgerald (Low-Income)

Allen Co Council on Aging

Shane Coleman (Public)

Lima Allen Co Regional Planning

Susan Hord (Private)

Rhodes State College

Angie King (Public)

Mercer Co Commissioner

Appointee

Jennifer Korte (Low-Income)

Auglaize Co. Educational Service

Center

Ann Miles (Public)

Lima City Schools

Elizabeth Muether (Private)

Mercer Co District Library

Norene Parish (Private)

Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral

Home

Shannon Tyler (Private)

Premier Bank

Warner Roach (Private)

City of Lima

Josh Unterbrink (Private)

(Vice President)

Activate Allen County

Kamra Whitaker (Low-Income)

PC Representative for Head Start

Charlene Williams (Low-Income)

New Life Church International

Tiffany Wright (Low-Income)

(President)

Allen Metropolitan Housing

Authority

Sharon Green (Low-Income)

Mercer County Council on Aging

Jerome O’Neal (Public)

Allen County Commissioner

Appointee