United Way tour gives donors inside look at social service agencies
Donors to United Way of Portage County got an idea of how their contributions are used during a bus tour last week of food pantries and shelters.
About a dozen people participated in the May 17 tour, which took people to social service agencies in southeast Portage County. The group visited the Randolph Suffield Atwater Food Shelf, Townhall II, Miller Community House, Freedom House and Streetsboro Community Pantry. Participants then had lunch at Kent Social Services before ending the tour.
Bill Childers, CEO and president of the United Way, said the organization funds about 40 organizations, many of which meet critical needs, such as food pantries. He said 43% of children in Portage County schools receive free and reduced-price lunches. In some school districts, every student receives free lunches because of the town's poverty rate.
"That tells us that at least 43% of families are struggling with resources," Childers said.
He said the United Way was founded in 1970 when the Ravenna United Fund and the Kent Community Chest merged.
Food programs
The tour made stops at the Randolph, Suffield and Atwater Food Shelf, Streetsboro Community Pantry and Kent Social Services, where the group ate lunch.
Diane Jones and Joan Trautman showed the group the Food Shelf's new building, which opened in 2022. Jones called the building "Our little piece of heaven."
The pantry serves up to 80 families each month. The participants are screened through the United Way's 2-1-1 contact line.
Townhall II
Townhall II, located in Kent, has spent more than 50 years serving the community. Its services include emergency and clinical services, prevention education, and serving as a rape crisis center and advocates for victims of any crime.
The agency's helpline operates around the clock, providing services to all who call 9-8-8 from local phone numbers. The agency aso provides treatment for substance abuse, mental health, prevention and educational services. Prevention, education and recovery services are offered in every school district in Portage County, said Tamara Hunter, CEO of Townhall II.
The rape crisis center, Hunter said, provides 24/7 support to all victims of violent crime.
Overdose deaths are trending up, Hunter said, and Portage County was the only one of Ohio's counties that had more deaths in 2023 than 2022. A team from Townhall II, often Hunter and Stephanie Purdue, chief quality officer, is dispatched to counsel the family of every person who dies from an overdose in Portage County.
"Our biggest competition is stigma," said Kurt Ruehr, chief financial officer at Townhall II.
Hunter said the stigma she sees in Portage County is different than what she's seen in the Cleveland area.
"I hear, 'I never thought this would happen to my family,' " Purdue said.
Shelter in Kent
Miller Community House and Freedom House occupy the same site on Kent's west side. Freedom House provides housing for veterans, while Miller provides housing for men, women and families.
Keyonna Smith, assistant manager of both Miller and Freedom House, said both shelters are near capacity.
Freedom House has 11 of its 14 rooms occupied. The veterans, all men, are referred to the shelter from veterans services and can stay for about a year. People used to be able to stay at Miller House for only about a month, but now most people stay about 6 months, or until they find housing. Miller House has five rooms, most of which are occupied.
In both homes, participants can prepare their own meals, or take part in events where meals are provided, Smith said.
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: United Way donors tour social service agencies in Portage
