WOBB

2011-04-23T08:22:00.001-07:00

Beginning Saturday, April 23, 2011, the Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank will be closing its doors.

In our 3 years of operation, we have assisted over 400 clients and submitted over 900 applications. During the past 3 tax years we have brought back $300,000 back to our community in the form of tax refunds.

We have enjoyed being your neighbor. To find a Benefit Bank near you, please visit www.ohiobenefits.org or call 1-800-648-1176.

Winter Weather Policy

2011-02-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

When making appointments, please be aware of our weather policy:

We will be CLOSED if the following occurs:
Clinton County is on a Level 2 or 3 and/or Wilmington City Schools are also closed.

Please visit http://clintonsheriff.com/ to view the weather status. You can also find us on facebook and follow our feed to find out more! If we are closed, someone will call you to reschedule your appointment. Thanks for your understanding!

Online Appointment Request Form

2011-01-29T08:26:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in making an appointment, please click HERE to fill out our Online Appointment Request Form.

You will be contacted ASAP by our office to set up an official appointment!

Federal Income Tax Checklists for 2010 Taxes and Summary Limitations

2011-01-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

If you have any tax questions, please call our office at 937-366-1279.

Click HERE for the Federal Income Tax Checklist

To make sure you're eligible for our free services, click HERE to find the Summary Limitations.

Call soon to schedule your free tax appointment.

You will never be charge to use the Ohio Benefit Bank services.

Tax Season 2011

2011-01-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

Please be aware that the WOBB is once again doing FREE taxes at our office here in Wilmington.

Our Tax Season Hours are:

Tuesday 9-12 and 5-8

Wednesday 10-3

Thursday 9-12 and 5-8

Friday 10-3

Saturday 10-3

We will be taking appointments ONLY due to staffing and time constraints, so please make an appointment by calling 937-366-1279 during business hours, or leave a detailed message with your name, phone number, and reason for calling. Please make sure you specify taxes or benefits in your message.

If you are a returning client, please bring your envelope with last years information. If you are a new client, please bring a copy of last years taxes. If you need any more information about taxes, please call our office.

WOBB- Change in Hours of Operation

2010-11-18T07:03:00.000-08:00

The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank is changing hours.

Beginning November 18th we will only be open on Thursdays from 9-12.

We will be closed for the Holidays on November 25th, December 23rd, and December 30th.

Also, beginning in January, please call to make your appointment for Taxes.

Thank You!

New Hours

2010-07-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

Beginning on Tuesday July 20th the Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am-12:00pm.

You can still reach us on our answering machine at 937-366-1279.

Please keep in mind that we will only be returning your calls on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We hope to add more hours as we are able. You can navigate to our Community Resource Guide on this page if you are in need of immediate assistance. Thanks for your understanding.

2010 Summer Cooling Program @ CCCA

2010-06-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

Clinton County Community Action's 2010 Summer Cooling Program

July 1,2010-August 31,2010

If you are having trouble managing your electric bill due to high cooling costs contact the Clinton County Community Action at 937-382-1234 or visit their office at 789 N. Nelson Ave. in Wilmington Ohio.

A total household income must be at or below the following income guidelines.

Persons 12 Month Income 3 Month Income

1 21,660 5,415

2 29,140 7,285

3 36,320 9,155

4 44,100 11,025

5 51,580 12,895

6 59,060 14,765

** Households who have an illness that would benefit from assistance (must be verified by a Physician)

Households who have a member who is 60 or older (no physician verification needed) may be eligible to receive 1 payment on the electric bill (no disconnect notice required).

Sorry, no Air Conditioners will be available for give-away.

Older Americans Month!

2010-05-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

If you're over 50 and currently looking for work, you should join the Senior Employment Center/Mature Services for a free seminar on:

Finding a Job in a Depressed Economy

The Speaker will be Dana Glasgo, who is a Cincinnati Career Coach

The Seminar will take place on Monday, May 24th, 2010

from 9:00-12:00

At the

Highland County Training and Employment Center

1575 North High Street

Rooms 27B and 30B

Hillsboro, Ohio

45177

2010-05-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Clinton County Leadership Institute for selecting our Community Computer Courses as one of it's projects this year! We look forward to a great partnership! To learn more about CCLI, visit their homepage HERE or find them on Facebook HERE!

Free Community Computer Classes to Continue

2010-04-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank is now offering a variety of Summer Computer Courses due to the overwhelming popularity of the Spring Session. The Summer Courses are;

· 101 Basic Computers 1- Perfect for Beginners and those who are unfamiliar with a computer and it’s workings.

· 102 Basic Computers 2- Teaching the basics of saving files, deleting, and moving files as well as formatting.

· 103 Basic Computers 3- A basic look at Microsoft Work and Excel

· 104 PowerPoint (NEW!)- An overview of Microsoft PowerPoint.

· 201 Internet Basics 1- Search engine basics, formulating a search, and internet safety.

· 202 Internet Basics 2- Email basics, attaching and opening files.

· 301 Social Media Facebook

· 302 Social Media LinkedIn

· 303 Social Media Twitter

All Summer Courses will take place from 1:30-3:30 (Social Media classes will be from 1:30-2:30), and we can take up to 5 participants for each class. If you have your own laptop, we encourage you to bring it with you.

101 Computer Basics 1: 6/1/2010 Tuesday, 6/3/10 Thursday, 6/22/10 Tuesday, 6/24/2010 Thursday

102 Computer Basics 2: 6/2/2010 Wednesday, 6/17/10 Thursday, 6/23/10 Wednesday, 6/28/10 Monday.

103 Computer Basics 3: 6/18/2010 Friday, 6/25/10 Friday, 6/30/2010 Wednesday, 7/6/10 Tuesday

104 PowerPoint Basics: 6/21/10 Monday, 7/5/10 Monday, 7/12/10 Monday

201 Internet Basics 1: 6/29/10 Tuesday, 7/8/10 Thursday

202 Internet Basics 2: 7/1/10 Thursday, 7/7/10 Wednesday, 7/9/10 Friday

301 Social Media- Facebook: 7/13/10 Tuesday

302 Social Media-LinkedIn: 7/14/10 Wednesday

303 Social Media-Twitter: 7/15/10 Thursday

Because of efforts to keep these classes small, space will be limited, so please call Annen Stuckert at 937-366-1279 or 937-623-4713 to sign up. You can also contact her by e-mail at avstuckert207@wilmingtonobb.com. If you are a community member who is interested in becoming a volunteer instructor, contact Annen Stuckert for more details.

The FAFSA Fair!

2010-04-23T07:48:00.001-07:00

Don't forget about this Saturday's FAFSA Fair at the WOBB! We will have Counselors and Volunteers ready to assist you from 9-1 on any FAFSA information that you need. Stop in and have a look!

Spring 2010 Free Computer Course Schedule

2010-03-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

Please call to enroll or sign up to teach any of the courses listed below!

Spring 2010 April 5th-May 26th

101 Basic Computers 1         Monday, April 5th             1:30-3:30    Instructor   Annen Stuckert

101 Basic Computers 1       Monday, April 12th            1:30-3:30    Instructor TBA

101 Basic Computers 1        Wednesday, May 5th          2:30-4:30    Instructor Annen Stuckert

101 Basic Computers 1         Monday, May 17th             1:30-3:30    Instructor TBA

102 Basic Computers 2       Wednesday, April 7th          2:30-4:30   Instructor Annen Stuckert
102 Basic Computers 2         Monday, April 26th            1:30-3:30    Instructor TBA

102 Basic Computers 2         Friday, May 7th                  2:30-4:30    Instructor Jane Riley

102 Basic Computers 2         Wednesday, May 19th        2:30-4:30    Instructor TBA

103 Basic Computers 3          Friday, April 9th                1:30-3:30    Instructor Jane Riley

103 Basic Computers 3          Wednesday, April 21st      1:30-3:30    Instructor TBA

103 Basic Computers 3          Monday, May 10th           1:30-3:30    Instructor TBA
103 Basic Computers 3           Monday, May 24th          1:30-3:30    Instructor TBA

201 Basic Internet 1              Wednesday, April 14th       2:30-4:30    Instructor Annen Stuckert

201 Basic Internet 1               Saturday, April 17th           1:30-3:30   Instructor TBA
201 Basic Internet 1              Wednesday, April 28th        1:30-3:30   Instructor TBA

202 Basic Internet 2               Friday, April 30th                2:30-4:30   Instructor Jane Riley

202 Basic Internet 2              Wednesday, May 12th          1:30-3:30 Instructor TBA

301 Social Media- Facebook   Friday, May 21st            1:30-2:30    Instructor Annen Stuckert

302 Social Media- LinkedIn     Wednesday May 26th     1:30-2:30   Instructor TBA

303 Social Media- Twitter        TBA

Call 937-366-1279 to Enroll and 937-623-4713 or avstuckert207@wilmingtonobb.com to sign up to teach!

Coming Soon @ The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank!!!!

2010-03-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

Spring Community Computer Courses!

Beginning in April, the WOBB will be hosting FREE Computer Classes for Clinton County Residents!

All ages are welcome to sign up and attend, and if you are interested in instructing a course, contact Annen Stuckert at 937-623-4713 or by e-mail at avstuckert207@wilmingtonobb.com.

Spring Course List

101 Basic Computers 1

102 Basic Computers 2

103 Basic Computers 3

Basic Computers are great for people who have never used a computer or who are uncomfortable using one. We provide a hands instruction, demonstration, and will answer any and all questions that you may have about the computer from Start Up to Shut Down. (Perfect for Seniors!)

201 Basic Internet 1

202 Basic Internet 2

Basic Internet is great for those who have never logged onto the internet, or who are fearful of using the internet. We will instruct on how to get connected, how to use search engines, and how to send and receive e-mails and attachments. We will also be instructing on internet safety, avoiding viruses, and internet scams. These courses are great for Seniors wanting to to connect with friends and family via the internet as well as inexperienced users of all ages.

301 Social Media- Facebook

302 Social Media- LinkedIn

303 Social Media- Twitter

The Social Media courses are great for anyone wanting to learn how to get more out of their online experience by connecting to friends, family, and business professionals. Let us help you understand and have a great social media experience.

We have not yet set definite times and dates for the classes but we hope to post them on Monday the 29th! If you know someone who would benefit from Free Computer Courses, let them know about this great local opportunity!

New to the WOBB Site!

2010-03-16T06:26:00.001-07:00

Check out our Clinton County Resource Guide! You can always find it on the top, and side link bars! We have lots of services that you or someone you know may be looking for! If you have any to add, or corrections to make, e-mail Annen at avstuckert207@wilmingtonobb.com .

Everything you need to know about the FAFSA!

2010-03-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

Let the Benefit Bank help you sort out your FAFSA this year! You bring your information, we help get your Federal Aid! Call 937-366-1279 for an Appointment!

What is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a form that is filled out yearly by current and applying college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for federal student financial aid (Check the section on Types of Federal Grants, Loans, and Programs for a list and description). The Department of Education begins accepting applications beginning January 1st of each year. You will need to fill out a renewal FAFSA each year to update your tax and savings information.

Why is the FAFSA important?

The FAFSA is important for many reasons, and the first being that if you do not fill one out, you will miss out on not only Loans, but Grants as well (Grants do not need to be paid back). Also, the loans that are offered with the FAFSA are given at a lower interest rate, this meaning when it comes time to repay the loan, you will owe less interest. When filling out a FAFSA you can also make yourself eligible to receive non-federal aid.

Who is eligible for aid?

Nearly every student is eligible for some form of financial aid. Students that may not be eligible for need-based aid (Grants and Work-Study Programs) may still be eligible for unsubsidized Loans, regardless of income or circumstances. By meeting the following criteria, you too may be eligible for aid;

• You are a U.S. Citizen, A U.S. National, or an Eligible Non-Citizen

• You have a Social Security Number

• You have a diploma or a GED.

• If you are Male, you have registered with U.S. Selective Service (see section).

• You have completed a FAFSA, promising to use any federal aid for education purposes

• You do not owe refunds on any federal student grants

• You have not defaulted on any student loans.

• You have not been found guilty of the sale or possession of illegal drugs while federal aid was being received.

What goes into a FAFSA?

The FAFSA consists of questions regarding your finances, as well as those of your parents (if you are still considered a dependant). You will find all of this information on their 2009 Tax form, as well as on their W-2 or earnings statements. If you had a job and filed your taxes for 2009, we will also need to enter those numbers. Once your financial information has been entered, your EFC, or Expected Family Contribution is determined. This number helps to determine if you are eligible for Need-Based Aid. The FAFSA requires your parents’ information because there is an expectation that your parents will contribute to your education, whether this is true or not.

How does my college get my FAFSA?

Before you can submit a FAFSA, you will be prompted to enter a Federal School Code (These are all found online, and in the FAFSA booklet.). Even if you have not yet been accepted at a college you have applied for, you can still search and enter that Federal School Code. This will ensure that if and when you are accepted, they will already have access to your ISIR, or Individual Student Information Report, and be able to download and review it upon your enrollment. You will also be able to view your finished SAR, or Student Aid Report, which will be forwarded to you. You and your parents will need to look over the material carefully and check for errors. At this time you will need to accept or decline certain items that are listed on your SAR. Remember, just because you are offered 4 loans, you may not need all of them! Pick and choose the ones with the lowest interest, and make sure you accept the grants (that you will not need to repay).

Types of Federal Grants, Loans and Programs.

1) Federal Pell Grants- Provide need-based grants to low-income students. Grant amounts are dependent on;

a) The students EFC (Expected Family Contribution)

b) The cost of attendance

c) Enrollment status (full or part time)

d) And whether you attend for a full academic year or less.

Federal Pell Grants are direct grants awarded through participating institutions to students with financial need. These institution either credit the Federal Pell Grant funds to the student’s school account, pay the student directly (by check), or combine these methods. Students must be paid at least once per term.

2) Federal Perkins Loans- Provide low-interest loans to help needy students finance the costs of college. Borrowers who undertake certain public, military, or teaching service as employment after college are eligible to have all or part of their loans canceled.

3) Stafford Loan- Loans that are guaranteed by the full faith of the US Government, and are offered at a lower interest rate. No payments are expected on the loan while the student is enrolled as a full or half time student. The Stafford Loan is offered in two forms;

a) Subsidized- Are offered to students based on their financial need and the interest is paid by the federal government while the student is in school, during the grace period, and during authorized deferment.

b) Unsubsidized- Are offered to all other students and they are responsible for all of the interest that accrues while the student is enrolled in school. The interest may be deferred throughout enrollment.

4) PLUS Loan- offered to parents of students enrolled at least half time. These types of loans become due for repayment immediately. Also, when taken by a parent, it becomes their commitment, rather than the students. You can use these types of loans to cover the entire cost of education, including living expenses. The eligibility for these loans is based on the parents not having an adverse credit history.

5) Federal Work Study Program- (FWS) is a federally funded program that assists students with the costs of college. This program helps student earn financial funding through a part-time work program. This program is based on financial need and students must to be accepted into the program to qualify. The FWS program helps ensure that college students who are truly in need of the money get the jobs. When filling out your FAFSA, make sure that you indicate an interest in the Work Study Programs.

What is Selective Service and who needs to register?

Selective Service is a means by which the United States maintains information on those potentially subject to military conscription (draft). All males between the ages of 18-25 are required by law to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. You need to make sure you are registered because it is also required for various federal programs and benefits, including student loans, job training, federal employment and naturalization. Females are not required to register.

The ABC’s of FAFSA.

FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid

SAR- Student Aid Report

GED- General Educational Development (equivalent to a HS Diploma)

FWS- Federal Work Study

ISIR- Institutional Student Information Record

EFC- Expected Family Contribution

**Compiled By Annen Stuckert at the Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank

Time to think about your FUTURE... and the FAFSA!

2010-03-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

We are currently filing 2010 FAFSAs (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) here at the WOBB. There is no income limit for filing, so make an appointment and see how much Financial Aid you can get to send your High School Senior or Yourself to College this Fall! Don't wait, let's send Clinton County to College this Fall!

Call 937-366-1279 to make your 2010 FAFSA appoinment. Make sure you visit the FAFSA PIN site to get your PIN number before your filing appointment! You'll also want to find your 2008 and 2009 Tax Returns to make sure that you get the maximum amount of Student Aid! We hope to help you soon!

(We ask that during Tax Season that you make an appointment. Those having appointments will be helped before those without appointments. You may still walk in, but you do so at your own risk. You may wait, but there is no guarantee that you will be helped that day.)

Self Serve Taxes- Brought to you by The Benefit Bank!

2010-02-26T07:36:00.000-08:00

Did You Know.....That you can file your taxes from home using The Benefit Bank?!? No appointments, no counselor, just you and your taxes!! All you have to do is visit the Self-Serve Tax Site HERE! If you run into problems, you can call the OBB Help Desk, or even our offices at 937-366-1279! You can also file your FAFSA at the same time!! Happy Tax Season!

2010 Tax Clinics at the Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank

2010-02-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Free Tax Services at the Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank!

The first of two Community Tax Clinics will be held at the Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank beginning on Saturday, February 13th, from 9:00am-2:00pm. The second Community Tax Clinic will be held on Saturday, February 27th from 11:00am-4:00pm. If you are interested in making an appointment to have your taxes filed, please call our offices at 937-366-1279 or e-mail Annen Stuckert at avstuckert207@wilmingtonobb.com . You can also make an appointment for another date and time by calling our offices for availability.

If you're interested in volunteering for this event, contact Annen Stuckert. You don't have to be a trained counselor to help out! We hope to see you there!

The 2010 FAFSA Season Is Here.. Are You Ready?

2010-01-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank can help you with your 2010 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)! Simply gather the materials below and call our office at 937-366-1279 to set up an appointment!

Step One-

If you do not already have a PIN (Personal Identification Number) number, you must obtain one by going to http://www.pin.ed.gov/ and applying for one. After you apply, your PIN will be mailed to you. If you have trouble getting internet access, you can visit our office during business hours and one of our staff will help you apply.

Step Two-

Check your Checklist! Below is a checklist of things that you will need to bring with you to your appointment, if you do not have the documents, it will prevent you from filling out your FAFSA.

• Your Social Security Number

• Your parents' Social Security Number (If you are providing parent information)

• Your driver's license number (If you have one)

• Your Alien Registration Number (If you are not a US Citizen)

• Federal Tax information or tax returns including IRS W-2 information, for yourself and spouse, if you are married, and for your parent if you are providing parent information.

(If you have not yet filed an income tax return, complete and submit the FAFSA using estimated tax information)

(Use income records for the year prior to the academic year for which you are applying: for instance, if you are filling out the 2009-10 FAFSA, you will need 2008 tax information.)

• Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans noneducation benefits, for yourself, and for your parents if you are providing parent information.

• Information on savings, investments, and business and farm assets for yourself, and for your parents if you are providing parent information.

Step Three- Call 937-366-1279 to make an appointment!

**Not sure whether you will need to put your parents' information on the FAFSA? Check out "Am I Dependent or Independent?" at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/pubs or call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

Tax Season Is Upon Us!

2010-01-13T07:13:00.000-08:00

Let the WOBB help YOU out this year by filing your taxes for FREE!

This service is for familes and individuals making under 57,000 (AGI) in 2009. Scroll down to see what types of forms that we are able to support!

Reporting Forms that the WOBB supports are as follows;

W-2: Wage and Tax Statements
1099:MISC
1099-R: Pensions, Annuities, IRAs, and Insurance Contracts
SSA-1099: Social Security Benefits
RRB-1099/RRB-1099-R: Failroad Retirement Board Statements
CSA 1099/CSF 1099R: Statement for U.S. Civil Service Retirement Benefits
5498: IRA Contribution Information
1099-INT/1099-OID: Interest Income
1099-DIV: Divedends
1098-E: Student Loan Interest Statement
1098-T: Tuition Statement
1099-G: Government Payments (Unemployment or State/Local Tax Refunds)
W-2G: Certain Gambling Winnings
1099-C: Cancellation of Debt
1098: Mortgage Interest Statement

Forms and Schedules that the Benefit Bank Supports;

Form 1040: U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Form 1040-V: Payment Voucher
Form 2106: Employee Business Expenses
Form 2441: Child and Dependant Care Expenses
Form 4684: Casualty and Theft Loss
Form 4972: Tax on Lump-Sum Distributions
Form 5329: Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans and Tax-Favored Accounts
Form 8396: Mortgage Interest Credit
Form 8453-OL: U.S. Individual Income Tax Declaraton for an IRS e-file Online Return
Form 8606: Nondeductible IRAs
Form 8812: Additional Child Tax Credit
Form 8862: Information to Claim Earned Income Credit After Disallowance
Form 8863: Education Credits
Form 8880: Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions
Form 8888: Direct Deposit of Refund
Form 8901: Information on Qualifying Children Who are Not Dependents
Form 8917: Tuition and Fees Deduction
Form 8919: Uncollected Social Security and Medicare Tax on Wages
Form SS-8: Determination of Worker Status
Schedule A: Itemized Deductions
Schedule B: Interest and Ordinary Dividends
Schedule C-EZ: Net Profit From Business
Schedule EIC: Earned Income Credit
Schedule R: Credit for the Elderly or Disabled
Schedule SE: Self-Employment Tax

The Benefit Bank does NOT support the following;

You are a business owner or a statutory employee that must file a Schedule C
You and your spouse are dual-status or non-resident aliens
You have to make any of the following payments: Penalty for underpayment of estimated tax/ Alternative minimum tax/ Household employment taxes
You have codes R, P, T, or W in box 12 of your W-2

Call our offices today at 937-366-1279 to schedule an appointment or to find out more. While your here, you can file your 2010-2011 FAFSA!

Tax and Benefit Training Dates

2010-01-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

If you're interested in helping out at the WOBB, we have upcoming trainings for both Taxes and Benefits. After you're trained you can start assisting clients at our office!

January-
20th- Benefits (with Annen Stuckert)
25th- Benefits (with Alex Ives)
28th- Taxes (with Annen Stuckert)

February-
4th- Taxes (with Alex Ives)
10th- Taxes (with Annen Stuckert)
16th- Benefits (with Alex Ives)
25th- Taxes (with Annen Stuckert)

If you're interested contact our office at 937-366-1279 or you can e-mail me at avstuckert207@wilmingtonobb.com!

New Report: More Than 49 Million Americans At Risk Of Hunger

2009-11-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

November 16, 2009

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA) reported today that 49 million Americans, including nearly 17 million children, are food insecure. The 2009 report on Household Food Insecurity in the United States paints an alarming picture of the pervasiveness of hunger in our nation.

This is an increase of 36 percent over the numbers released one year by the USDA, which found that 36.2 million American were at risk of hunger.“It is tragic that so many people in this nation of plenty don’t have access to adequate amounts of nutritious food,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “Although these new numbers are staggering, it should be noted that these numbers reflect the state of the nation one year ago, in 2008. Since then, the economy has significantly weakened, and there are likely many more people struggling with hunger than this report states.

The new data reinforces recent findings from a research study conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization, reflecting a dramatic increase in requests for emergency food assistance from food banks across the country.

Conducted in September, the Feeding America study shows that its network food banks experienced an average increase in need of nearly 30 percent this year. While the numbers vary geographically, some food banks are reporting increases of more than 50 percent in requests for emergency food assistance over a year prior.

“National socio-economic indicators, including the escalating unemployment rate and the number of working-poor, lead us to believe that the number of people facing hunger will continue to rise significantly over the coming year,” added Escarra. “Research on previous economic recessions indicates that people who fall into the grips of poverty in a time of recession do not recover financially. Many of those people are likely to be in need of our services now or in the future.

“Feeding America’s 200 food banks continue to work on the front lines feeding more than 25 million people each year, through our country’s food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency feeding centers – more than 63,000 agencies in total,” said Escarra. “These establishments, many of which are grass root and faith based centers operated solely by volunteers, serve as an oasis for the more than 4 million people who seek relief weekly to help feed themselves and their families. Emergency food assistance is a critical link in the nation’s response chain to help people through times of crisis.”

Escarra observes, “Our network food banks are calling us every day, telling us that demand for emergency food is higher than it has ever been in our history. Feeding America will continue to work closely with our partners at USDA to ensure that the public and charitable sectors are keeping pace – as best we can – with the dramatically increasing needs for food assistance.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

Are you are someone you know at risk for hunger? Call the Benefit Bank, we'll help you apply for Benefits and get you in touch with other local organizations that can help! Call or e-mail us today!

October Counselor of the Month!

2009-11-11T06:17:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Barb Atley on becoming the Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank Counselor of the Month! Barb is great at making clients feel at ease and comfortable. Barb is dependable and motivated to help others. Thank you for all that you do!

Rachael Ray Comes to Wilmington

2009-10-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

NOTE: The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank is helping to register community members in need. Tell a friend or stop by our office on Saturday from 9-12 to register for this event (you can also register to help out!)!!

Courtsey of the Wilmington News Journal

Rachael Ray Show to host dinner in Wilmington

NEWS JOURNAL STAFF REPORT

Economically, times may be tough, but the Wilmington area community knows that there is a lot to be thankful about. And an Emmy-winning talk show host is helping bring the spirit of thanksgiving to the city in a big way.

“Worried about Thanksgiving dinner? The Rachael Ray Show’s got you covered,” a show spokesperson said Wednesday. We can’t fix the economy, but we can do our part — and what we know about is food. So if you’re worried about a Thanksgiving meal, you can relax — we’ve got a plan. We’re inviting residents of Wilmington who are facing economic hardship to have a Thanksgiving dinner on us. The dinner will be held in town on Nov. 8. It’s a chance to share what we have, and celebrate what we’re thankful for, as a community.”

A show spokesperson said that Ray will be in attendance at the event, which will be held at the Roberts Convention Centre.

To attend the dinner, area residents must register for the opportunity. Everyone who registers must be at least 18 years of age, and must show a government-issued photo ID proving residence in the 45177 zip code. You can register in two ways:

Online, at www.RachaelRayShow.com/Ohio by phone at 1-800-972-2579.

Registrants may bring up to five other guests with them to the dinner. You must register by midnight Nov. 1, 2009. Additional restrictions apply.

“We will make every effort to accommodate everyone who registers, but seating capacity is limited,” a show spokesperson said. “You will be notified by Nov. 4 with confirmation if you have gained admission to dinner. We expect to be able to feed everyone who registers … but if you do not receive a confirmation, it means that unfortunately we’ve reached seating capacity.”

For residents who are not in need this holiday season, there are other opportunities to participate.

“If you’re lucky enough to have a full pantry this holiday season, we invite you to join us in serving others in your community as we pull this dinner together,” a show spokesperson said, which could include activities such as cooking and decorating. “You can contact us at 1-800-2579 and offer to help. We encourage residents who are not in need to leave dinner seats open for neighbors hit hardest by the economy.

“Times are tough — and that’s when people depend on each other the most. So count on us for a Thanksgiving dinner, Nov. 8. The Rachael Ray show is looking forward to sharing the blessings of the season with Wilmington.”

Fresh From the Wilmington News Journal... More Reasons to Visit the WOBB to find out if you qualify for Benefits.

2009-10-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

10/22/09

Unemployment falls, yet area counties rank high in jobless numbers

Staff and AP Reports

The unemployment rates may be dropping, but Clinton County and surrounding counties are climbing the ranks in Ohio’s jobless numbers.
September numbers rank Clinton County with the seventh highest unemployment rate in the state of Ohio, while neighboring Highland County ranks at the top of the list. August numbers had Clinton County with the 10th highest and Highland County with the second highest, behind Meigs County.
After a slight decline in August to 14.5 percent in Clinton County, the rate of joblessness dropped further to 13.9 percent in September, according to statistics released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).
Clinton County Board of Commissioners President David Stewart said that the commissioners are working to bring jobs back to Clinton County.
The commissioners recognize the unemployment rate in Clinton County,” Stewart said. “The job loss with the DHL air park was devistating, and we will continue to work hard to bring jobs back to Clinton County.”
Stewart said the fact that the jobless numbers were falling was a sign of a positive upturn.
“I’m optimistic,” Stewart said. “I’m an optimistic person. We have a lot of assets here, and when the economy starts to turn around we will be able to market the community very well. We have a tremendous work ethic in the citizens of Clinton County, and I think businesses will recognize that. We will continue to work to bring jobs to Clinton County.”
The unemployment rate also declined in neighboring Highland and Fayette counties in September. The rate was 15.3 percent in Highland County, a full percentage point below the rate reported for August. In Fayette County, the rate of joblessness declined to 11.7 percent. Unemployment had remained at 12.1 percent for the previous two months in Fayette County.
Ohio’s unemployment rate was 10.1 percent in September, down from 10.8 percent in August. Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 5,900 over the month, from 5,103,100 in August to 5,097,200 in September.
“Ohio’s unemployment rate declined in September as more Ohioans dropped out of the labor force,” ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin said. “The service-providing and goods-producing sectors continued to show losses as well.”
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in September was 594,000, down from 641,000 in August. The number of unemployed has increased by 190,000 in the past 12 months from 404,000. The September unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 6.8 percent in September 2008.
Unemployment also was down in Dayton and Cincinnati. For Dayton, the rate for September was 12 percent, below 12.6 percent reported for August. The rate of joblessness is now below 10 percent in Cincinnati. For September, the rate was 9.3 percent, down from 10.1 percent in August.
The U.S. unemployment rate for September was 9.8 percent, up from 9.7 percent in August.
Even with an economic revival, many U.S. jobs lost during the recession may be gone forever and a weak employment market could linger for years. That could add up to a “new normal” of higher joblessness and lower standards of living for many Americans, some economists are suggesting.
The words “it’s different this time” are always suspect. But economists and policy makers say the job-creating dynamics of previous recoveries can’t be counted on now.
Here’s why:
— The auto and construction industries helped lead the nation out of past recessions. But the carnage among Detroit’s automakers and the surplus of new and foreclosed homes and empty commercial properties make it unlikely these two industries will be engines of growth anytime soon.
— The job market is caught in a vicious circle: Without more jobs, U.S. consumers will have a hard time increasing their spending; but without that spending, businesses might see little reason to start hiring.
— Many small and midsize businesses are still struggling to obtain bank loans, impeding their expansion plans and constraining overall economic growth.
— Higher-income households are spending less because of big losses on their homes, retirement plans and other investments. Lower-income households are cutting back because they can’t borrow like they once did.
That the recovery in jobs will be long and drawn out is something on which economists and policy makers can basically agree, even as their proposals for remedies vary widely.
Retrenching businesses will be slow in hiring back or replacing workers they laid off. Many of the 7.2 million jobs the economy has shed since the recession began in December 2007 may never come back.
Many economists believe the recession reversed course in the recently ended third quarter and they predict modest growth in the nation’s gross domestic product over the next few years. Yet the unemployment rate is currently at a 26-year high of 9.8 percent — and likely to top 10 percent soon and stay there a while.
“Many factors are pushing against a quick recovery,” said Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the labor-oriented Economic Policy Institute. “Things will come back. But it’s going to take a long time. I think we will likely see elevated unemployment at least until 2014.”
At best, many economists see an economic recovery without a return to moderate unemployment. At worst, they suggest the fragile recovery could lose steam and drag the economy back under for a double-dip recession.
“We will need to grind out this recovery step by step,” President Barack Obama said earlier this month.
Obama and congressional Democrats are having a hard time agreeing on how to keep the recovery going and help millions of unemployed workers — short of another round of stimulus spending amid rising voter alarm over soaring federal deficits.
So far, they’ve been unable to win even a simple three-month extension of unemployment insurance for people in states with jobless rates above 8.5 percent.
The extension easily passed the House earlier this month but is bogged down in the Senate over disputes over which states would get the funds. Hundreds of thousands of people have already lost their benefits or are about to lose them.
The White House credits the president’s $787 billion stimulus plan passed in February for keeping job losses from becoming even worse. Since Obama took office in January, the economy has lost 3.4 million jobs.
Republicans argue that the stimulus program has not worked as a job producer and is a waste of tax money. And last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a multimillion advertising campaign to celebrate small business entrepreneurs — and to argue that further government intervention will not spur permanent job growth.
Chamber leaders called for creation of more than 20 million new private-sector jobs over the next decade, saying it’s needed to replace jobs lost in the recession and to keep pace with population growth. To many economists, such a goal seems unreachable given today’s altered economic landscape.
Many economists consider a jobless rate of 4 to 5 percent as reflecting a “full employment” economy, one in which nearly everyone who wants a job has one. After the 2001 recession the rate climbed to 5.8 percent in 2002 and peaked at 6.3 percent in 2003 before easing back to 4.6 percent for 2006 and 2007.

Jobless benefits run out for many Ohioans

2009-10-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

If U.S. Senate fails to act on extension, 65,000 in state will fall off rolls by year's end

Thursday, October 8, 2009 3:22 AM

By Tracy Turner

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The number of Ohioans who have exhausted their unemployment benefits has risen to levels not seen since the early 1980s.
At the end of September, benefits ran out for 21,000 people, and that number is expected to grow several times over by the end of the year unless more help is made available.
The U.S. Senate is debating whether to extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks, but that effort is stalled for now.
Like thousands of others, Randy Hotsinpiller of Westerville is waiting anxiously and hoping an extension passes. His benefits run out in four weeks.
"Right now, unemployment is the only thing that keeps me afloat," said Hotsinpiller, who was laid off in April after working in information technology for 27 years. "They say there's six people competing for every one job opening, but in my experience, it seems to be so many more.
"If 3 million people fall off the unemployment roll, what will happen to them? It's crucial that they get this thing passed. Unemployment benefits aren't much, but they at least keep a roof over your head."
Ohio's unemployment rate stood at 10.8 percent in August, the most-recent figure available, after dropping slightly from July. Overall, the report showed the state with 5.1 million people employed and 641,000 jobless.
At any given time, the state has had more than 300,000 citizens collecting unemployment, with an average stay of 16 weeks, causing a constant churn that's difficult to track, said Judi Cicatiello, deputy director of unemployment compensation.
"We started seeing larger groups of people exhaust their benefits in early September, but this is the first time a group this large has extended its benefits at one time" in more than 20 years, Cicatiello said. "These are certainly dire times."
The bill before the U.S. Senate would extend jobless benefits by 13 weeks to workers in Ohio and 28 other states where the unemployment rate is greater than 8.5 percent. To be eligible for those additional benefits, those in Ohio would have to exhaust the current 79 weeks they have received from both the state and federal governments.
Passage of the bill has been stalled by lawmakers who are upset that their states would be left out.
The extension would allow some unemployed workers in Ohio to eventually collect 92 weeks of benefits: the state's 26 and the federal government's 53, as well as the additional 13 federally backed weeks.
If the extension isn't passed, 65,000 Ohioans would exhaust their benefits by the end of the year, said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who co-sponsored the bill. In central Ohio, 2,109 people are expected to exhaust their unemployment benefits this month, he said, including 1,186 in Franklin County.
"Unemployment is an insurance program, not welfare. There's broad support to extend it, and it serves as a stimulus," Brown said. "They put that money right back into the economy, money that will be spent by people looking to put bread on their table."
Brown said he hopes there will be a vote on the issue by next week, if not sooner. He said he's "very sympathetic to extending it to states that haven't been hit as hard by the recession, but my goal is to get it done as soon as possible so that people don't see their compensation expire."
In Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland extended unemployment benefits an extra 20 weeks for Ohioans who lost their benefits in February. That extension ended last month, said Brian Harter, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The state does not have the option to extend benefits again, he said.
One-third of the nation's 15 million unemployed people have been jobless for six months or more, according to the National Employment Law Project. The New York-based research and advocacy group said the rate is at a record high since data started being recorded in 1948.
Margie Brown is one of the statistics. The East Side resident had no idea she'd still be without work a year after being laid off from her job as an administrative assistant.
In Ohio, the average unemployment benefit is $315. The maximum amount for a worker with three or more dependents is $503 per week. Both weekly amounts are bolstered by an extra $25 from the federal government.
"Unemployment is allowing me the time to get retrained in another field because no one is hiring in what I've worked in previously," Brown said. "Without it, it'd be an extreme hardship for my family. It helps people keep our noses above the water."
If an extension of unemployment benefits is passed by the federal government, Cicatiello said, the state would be able to start distributing payments after 45 days.
"We've been doing everything we can to get ready for it," she said. "We know how dire these times are and how vitally important unemployment is for people. We know we are their primary safety net."

tturner@dispatch.com

Exercise Your Right To Vote!

2009-10-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

Are you registered to vote? If not, now is the time to stop into the WOBB and get registered! Give us a call or stop in! You'll be glad you did!

WOBB in the News!

2009-10-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

10/1/2009

Wilmington Benefit Bank Welcomes AmeriCorps Volunteer

The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank welcomed it’s second AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) member this month. Annen Stuckert joins Alex Ives at the Benefit Bank site located at 61 E. Main Street. Annen Stuckert has lived in Wilmington for 4 years with her husband Rob Stuckert who is a 3rd grade teacher at Denver Elementary. She also has a 2 year old daughter named Alora.

Annen and Alex will be working together to recruit and train volunteers to become Counselors at the Benefit Bank. The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank works to help low and monderate income familes apply for Federal Benefits, such as Food Stamps, Medical Assistance, HEAP, Rx Prescription Help, and many more.

To learn more about your local Benefit Bank site, call our office at 937-366-1279, e-mail us at contactus@wilmingtonobb.com , visit our webpage, http://www.wilmingtonobb.com/, or find us on Facebook.

Spotlight on our Counselors!

2009-09-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

We would like to take a moment to recognize our Counselors of the Month for August and September! Randy Mabry and John Lundblad have been selected because of their dedication and hard work they have both put into the WOBB. They volunteer regularly, are hard working, and exceptionaly pleasant to be around. Congratulations guys on an awesome job. We couldn't do it without you two! (Randy, below- John, left)

Little Church, Big Hearts

2009-09-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

The WOBB had the pleasure Thursday evening to venture to the Clarksville United Methodist Church for their monthly free grocery night. There was music provided by the Blanchester Grace United Methodist Church as well as snacks for all of the families an individuals who came to pick up their groceries. Pastor Ann Meyers gave everyone a warm welcome and all of the volunteers did a great job of making sure that the over 60 people who came to get groceries did not leave empty handed. We would like to thank Pastor Ann and the members of the Clarksville United Methodist Church for helping us to spread the word in Clinton County that there is help available to those in need of relief in these tough times. If you are interested in having the WOBB at your next event, please contact Annen Stuckert or Alex Ives at 937-366-1279.

If you are interested in making food donations to the Clarksville UMC, please contact Pastor Ann at 937-289-2460 or by e-mail at clarksvilleumc@aol.com. Here is a short list of the things that are needed.
Canned Vegetables
Soup
Canned Fruit
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Crackers
Bread
Tuna
Cereal
Pancake Mix
Syurup
Rice
Mac and Cheese Thank you for helping out!

Business as Usual

2009-09-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

Good News For Ohioans on Unemployment

The story below from the Associated Press is good news here in Clinton County where everyone it seems is struggling to make ends meet. We here at the WOBB encourage all of you to stop by and meet with our Volunteer staff before your Unemployment Benefits end. We can be of more assistance when we have time to help you apply for benefits before all of your income stops. Call today to make an appointment.

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer Jim Abrams, Associated Press Writer – Mon Sep 21, 3:32 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Despite predictions the Great Recession is running out of steam, the
House is taking up emergency legislation this week to help the millions of Americans who see no immediate end to their economic miseries.

A bill offered by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., and expected to pass easily would provide 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits for more than 300,000 jobless people who live in states with unemployment rates of at least 8.5 percent and who are scheduled to run out of benefits by the end of September.

The 13-week extension would supplement the 26 weeks of benefits most states offer and the federally funded extensions of up to 53 weeks that Congress approved in legislation last year and in the stimulus bill enacted last February.

People from North Carolina to California "have been calling my office to tell me they still cannot find work a year or more after becoming unemployed, and they need some additional help to keep their heads above water," McDermott said.

Critics of unemployment insurance argue that it can be a disincentive to looking for work, and that extending benefits at a time the economy is showing signs of recovery could be counterproductive.

But this recession has been particularly pernicious to the job market, others say.

Some 5 million people, about one-third of those on the unemployment list, have been without a job for six months or more, a record since data started being recorded in 1948, according to the research and advocacy group National Employment Law Project.

"It smashes any other figure we have ever seen. It is an unthinkable number," said Andrew Stettner, NELP's deputy director. He said there are currently about six jobless people for every job opening, so it's unlikely people are purposefully living off unemployment insurance while waiting for something better to come along.

The current state unemployment check is about $300 a week, supplemented by $25 included in the stimulus act.

That doesn't go very far when a loaf of bread can cost $2.79 and a gallon of milk $2.72, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said at a hearing last week on the unemployment insurance issue.

"We need to keep our unemployed neighbors from falling into poverty. We need to figure out how best to make our safety net work," Baucus said.

The jobless rate currently stands at 9.7 percent and is likely to hover above 10 percent for much of 2010. Gary Burtless, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said at the Finance Committee hearing that, according to Labor Department figures, 51 percent of unemployment insurance claimants exhausted their regular benefits in July, the highest rate ever.

"It is likely the exhaustion rate will continue to increase in coming months" as the unemployment rate continues to rise, he said.

Stettner predicted that Congress will likely have to continue extending jobless benefits through 2011.

McDermott in July introduced a more ambitious bill that would have extended through 2010 the compensation programs included in the stimulus act. Those benefits are now scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

But with a price tag of up to $70 billion, that bill would have been far more difficult to pass. McDermott instead decided to offer the scaled-down 13-week extension to meet the urgent needs of those seeing their benefits disappear this year.

McDermott said his bill would not add to the deficit because it would extend for a year a federal unemployment tax of $14 per employee per year that employers have been paying for more than 30 years. It would also require better reporting on newly hired employees to reduce unemployment insurance overpayments.

Three-fourths of the 400,000 workers projected to exhaust their benefits this month live in high unemployment states that would qualify for the additional 13 weeks of benefits under his bill, McDermott said.

They include Alabama, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Other states could qualify for more benefits if their unemployment rates are approaching the 8.5 percent threshold.

(This version CORRECTS average unemployment benefit in 9th graf to $300 a week instead of a month.)

Volunteer at the Benefit Bank

2009-09-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Visit Us this Week During our Open House.

Tuesday- 9am-12pm & 5pm-8pm

Wednesday- 9am-12pm

Thursday- 9am-12pm & 5pm-8pm
Friday – 9am-12pm & 2pm-5pm

Visit The Benefit Bank at the Clinton County Corn Festival!

2009-09-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Festival will be held at the Clinton County Fairgrounds on Friday, September 11th, through Sunday, September 13th. The WOBB has a booth set up in the Swine Barn and we will be there all 3 days! Come by and support your local Benefit Bank! Thanks to all of you who have volunteered your time this weekend. Admission is $3, and the hours are as follows, Friday 12pm-10pm, Saturday 9am-10pm, and Sunday 9am-5pm. The Corn Festival will be open to the public tonight (Thursday, September 10th) beginning at 6pm. Admission for the Open House is Free! We hope you'll stop in and see what the Corn Festival has to offer!

Caseload jumps at Benefit Bank

2009-09-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

NEWS JOURNAL STAFF REPORT

The caseload at the Wilmington office of the Ohio Benefit Bank is about double what it was, Wilmington Mayor David Raizk said Tuesday.

The number of dislocated workers turning up at the Benefit Bank recently has “really picked up,” Raizk said.

Through the Ohio Benefit Bank, dislocated workers can find out whether they may qualify for food stamps, weatherization and other government services, and can get guidance from a Benefit Bank counselor to apply for aid.

The DHL Air Park Task Force wants to get the word out to dislocated area workers not to wait until their severance packages expire before contacting agencies that provide services to the jobless.

Staff at the Wilmington office of the Ohio Benefit Bank, 61 E. Main St., are seeing people who waited until their severance benefits ran out before coming to the Benefit Bank.

It’s important to go to the Ohio Benefit Bank as soon as possible so workers can learn for what assistance they’re eligible. Also, placement for retraining can take a while so it’s prudent to get an early start on that process, too, Raizk said.

“See what kind of assistance is available and try to work out a game plan,” Raizk recommended.

All services provided by the Benefit Bank are free of charge. It is open from 9 a.m. to noon, except Sundays and Mondays when it is closed. The phone number at the Wilmington office of the Ohio Benefit Bank is (937) 366-1279.

Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank in the News

2009-08-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank will be attending the Forclosure Prevention Seminar on August 28th from 12pm-7pm. Read more from the Wilmington News Journal.

Open house for foreclosure prevention
A foreclosure prevention event for homeowners will be held next Friday, Aug. 28 at the Wilmington City Building. The open house type event will be from noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 28. During those hours, homeowners will have the opportunity to speak directly about their options with area lenders, regional credit counselors and nationwide lenders and servicers.

In addition to the open house, two presentations will be given at noon and 6 p.m. by a Freddie Mac representative. Persons who plan to attend are asked to bring the following documents: current pay stubs (within the past 30 days), 2007 and 2008 income tax returns, three months of bank statements, household expense budget, a copy of closing documents and the most recent correspondence from their mortgage company, and the most recent property insurance and mortgage statements.

Also, staff from the Wilmington office of the Ohio Benefit Bank will be on hand throughout the afternoon and will conduct free screenings to help people discover which government aid programs they’re eligible for. Through the Wilmington Benefit Bank, residents can determine their eligibility for benefits such as health care coverage, home energy assistance, child care subsidies, housing assistance, school lunches and food stamps.

It only takes a few minutes to learn what aid and benefits a person qualifies for. Persons seeking help should bring their driver’s license or ID card, Social Security number, and birth certificate if they have one.

The Wilmington City Building is located at 69 N. South St. in downtown Wilmington.

For more information, call the Wilmington mayor’s office at 382-5458.

Upcoming Events

2009-08-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

The Wilmington Benefit Bank will be at Wilmington College on Thursday, August 20th! We will be recruiting incoming students as volunteers to help fulfil some of their service hours. We will also be passing out information about benefits that some student may be eligible for such as free tax filing and FAFSA application assistance.

There will also be an Open House the week of September 15th (a Tuesday)- September 18th to celebrate our new evening hours that will be starting the 15th. We will provide refreshments as well as information on Volunteer Opportunities, community outreach opportunities, and information on the variety of benefits that are offered. We hope that everyone will make an effort to come in and see us. Open House hours will be Tuesday-Friday morning from 9-12 and Tuesday evening as well as Thursday evening from 5-8. We hope that you will be able to stop by and get to know your local Benefit Bank better!

Our Volunteers

2009-08-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

Suzanne Madison - Site Coordinator/Benefit Counselor

Alex Ives - AmeriCorps VISTA working with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks in Partnership with The Ohio Benefit Bank focusing onVolunteer Recruitment and Community Outreach; Benefit and Tax Counselor; Community Trainer

Annen Stuckert - AmeriCorps VISTA working with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks in Partnership with The Ohio Benefit Bank focusing on Volunteer Recruitment and Community Outreach; Benefit Counselor; Public Relations

Craig Botts- SCECP Employee and Receptionist, Tax and Benefit Counselor.

John Lundblad- Tax and Benefit Counselor/ Site Supervisor (on call)
**Counselor of the Month**
September 2009

Randy Mabry- Benefit Counselor
**Counselor of the Month**
August 2009

Barb Atley- Benefit Counselor
**Counselor of the Month**
October 2009

Alice Lundblad- Tax and Benefit Counselor
**Counselor of the Month**
November 2009

Louise Morrison- Tax and Benefit Counselor

Kim Hilderbrant- Tax and Benefit Counselor

Jane Riley- Tax and Benefit Counselor

Ann Wolford- Tax and Benefit Counselor
**Counselor of the Month**
January 2010

Lee Ann Moore- Tax and Benefit Counselor

Jennifer Kerschner- Tax and Benefit Counselor
Jim Graham- Benefit Counselor
**Counselor of the Month**
December 2009
Lynne Green- Benefit Counselor

Peggy Hampson- Benefit Counselor

Stephen Hein- Tax Counselor
**Counselor of the Month**
February 2010

Thank You For All That You Do!

Without you, there would be no us!

Useful Links

2009-08-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

Clinton County Links
Clinton County Community Action
Sugartree Ministries
Clinton County Ohio Site
Clinton County Resources - The Starting Place
United Way of Clinton County

Ohio Links
Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services
Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks
5 County Solutions
Ohio Food Stamps Information
Unemployment Benefits Information
Ohio Golden Buckeye

Benefit Bank Links
Ohio Benefit Bank Site
HEAP Information
Medicare Information
Free Application for Federal Student Aid Information

Other Links
AmeriCorps VISTA
Wilmington College Grow Food, Grow Hope

Benefits Offered at the Ohio Benefit Bank

2009-08-07T14:22:00.001-07:00

Many of the Benefits that you can apply for can be submitted electronically to Job and Family Services from the Ohio Benefit Bank office. You can apply for one or all of the benefits listed below. We can also register you to vote!

Child Care Subsidies
Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Credit
USDA Child Nutrition Program
Ohio Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Health Coverage
Medicare Rx Extra Help
Senior Community Service Employment Program
Golden Buckeye
Medicare Savings Program
Food Assistance Program (Food Stamps)
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Cash Assistance
2009 Federal Tax Filing (Back Taxes as well 2006, 2007, 2008)
2009 State Tax Filing
2009 School District Tax Filing

About the Ohio Benefit Bank

2009-08-07T14:16:00.001-07:00

The Ohio Benefit Bank is a program offered in partnership with the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks.

It is a free service that simplifies the process of applying for benefits. We make it easier and faster for you to access the programs you need to feel healthy and secure.

At our Benefit Bank site, you can receive counselor assistance to check eligibility and prepare application for work support benefits.

The Wilmington Ohio Benefit Bank is located in the United Methodist Building:
61 E. Main Street
Wilmington,OH 45177

Our office is open: Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-12pm, as well as Tuesday and Thursday Evenings from 5pm-8pm.

We are also available by appointment at the time of your choosing!

Please call our office at any time: (937)-366-1279 If we are not in leave us a detailed message so that we can get back to you.