Ashland-area agencies give update on food and shelter programs
ASHLAND − The Ashland County Emergency Food & Shelter Program held its second meeting of the year on Sept. 27 with various county agencies reporting the status of their individual programs.
Representatives from Associated Charities, St. Edward Hunger Center, Ashland Emmanuel Church and Ashland Church Community Emergency Shelter Services (ACCESS) each gave an update via a Zoom meeting.
The agencies were awarded American Rescue Plan Act money at the end of last year and have until April 30, 2023 to spend it, “but a lot of them go through it pretty quickly,” said Nikki Hiller, who chairs the program.
Associated Charities assisting up to seven families
Chris Box of Associated Charities said the agency has not spent all of its American Rescue Plan funds and anticipates being able to provide housing assistance for up to seven families by offering one-time payments of $350-$400 during a 12-month period to help with expenses. Depending on family size, it could help up to 40 people.
St. Edward serving hot meals
Judy Klobutcher from St. Edward said they are serving food to an average of 40 diners per meal.
“Some weeks we have 25 and on other weeks we may have 55. The meals include a protein, vegetable, carbohydrate and a fruit. It is always a hot meal.”
The meals are served in the St. Edwards’ Activity Center on Wednesday.
“Our doors open at 5 p.m. and the meal is served at 5:30,” she added. “We have spent our entire allotment ($1,200) already and I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing. But it is complete and it has been working out really well. It is nice to give the people fresh meat and not have to use canned vegetables or fruit, especially in the summertime when it is abundant around town.”
“You do have to stretch the dollars as best you can,” said Hiller.
ACCESS works with Ashland County agencies to help women
Sunny McCarty spoke on behalf of ACCESS and said they have spent all of the $2,800 appropriated to them.
“ACCESS works with women or moms with kids,” explained Hiller. “They help them to find a safe place to live. It could be a domestic situation or maybe they are homeless.”
ACCESS works with other agencies in the county, and in 2020 supported 26 families, including 60 individuals and 29 children.
Inflation puts strain on breakfast program
The Rev. Alan Willingham from Ashland Emmanuel Church said they have spent over $2,000 on their Saturday morning breakfast meals. The breakfast has been averaging 44 people per Saturday.
“We have a little over $200 left,” he said. “We serve breakfast consisting of egg, some form of protein and pancakes or hash browns and fruit. We have ranged anywhere from 29 to 75 people that show up randomly. Our most consistent number is probably 42 and we have served 1,233 meals so far.”
He also discussed the economics of the meals. A meal was costing $1.77, but with rising prices he expects the cost to grow to $2.25 to $2.50 per meal.
“We are open from 8:30 in the morning until 10,” he explained. “What is interesting is there are still some people who do not know we are up and running even though we have advertisements all over the place. After COVID shut us down, we have people who don’t know we are open again.”
Klobutcher said even with the increase in the price of groceries, they have not had to sacrifice the quality of each meal.
The Salvation Army is also a part of the committee, but was unable to have a representative present.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland-area agencies give update on food and shelter programs
