Current News
ARTICLES AND PRESS RELEASES
January 12, 2012 - WCCS' 741 Senior Center is delighted to present Sonja Strathman
Special Guest Speaker "Growing Up Under the Swastika" -- Sonja Strathman will talk about her life in Nazi Germany as a young girl growing up in the shadow of this infamous time in world history. She has appeared on television and is known throughout the region. Question and answer session included. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at The 741 Senior Center - 570 N. State Rt. 741, Lebanon, OH 45036. Seating is Limited.
Tickets for luncheon and speaker are $10. To RSVP call 513-695-2239 or e-mail michellec@wccsinc.org and reserve your seat.
Deadline for reservations: Tuesday, February 14, 2012.
Click here to download the press release
January 11, 2012 - What a way to start the new year...Caresource Foundation awarded WCCS $5000 to implement the "Get Healthy, Get Employed" program! "Get Healthy, Get Employed" is designed to help low-income women who are the heads of their households in Warren County.
Thank you so very much, CareSource Foundation.
In photo (L to R) are Cathy Ponitz - Exec. Dir. CareSource, Tom Salzbrun - WCCS Exec. Dir., Sue Miller - Director, WCCS Family Services, and Jennifer Parker - WCCS Employment Specialist.
January 10, 2012 - Early Head Start Openings Available – WCCS Early Learning Centers currently has openings for home-based Early Head Start services for children ages birth to three and pregnant mothers. Parents receive support and education on infant health, nutrition, child development and parenting skills, as well as referrals to connect them with community resources to meet family needs.
Early Head Start families receive a weekly home visit from a specially trained home visitor, plus two play group sessions per month, providing a time for social interaction for both parents and children.
Judy Butler, Early Head Start Manager, explains that the home visitors bring new toys, books and learning activities into the home each week, and that the children are always excited to see their home visitor arrive. “The parents and the home visitors form a wonderful relationship based on encouraging the child’s growth and development. Young parents with a new baby gain so much confidence from having this personal support in handling the many challenges of parenting a small child.”
Eligibility for Early Head Start is based primarily on family income. Infants and toddlers with special needs are welcomed, and may be eligible even if the family is above the income guidelines. Families who are interested in enrolling a child in Early Head Start may call (513) 695-2215 or print an application from the WCCS website at www.wccsi.org.
Click here to download the press release
January 3, 2012 - Local Agency Puts Tax-Dollars to Work Tackling WInter Heating Bills. – Sub-freezing temperatures combined with a still recovering economy leave many hard-working, Warren County families with increased heating bills they just can’t afford. If you find yourself being stretched farther and farther trying to make ends meet this winter, the E-HEAP Winter Crisis Program (WCP) offers help. E-HEAP WCP is a federally (tax-payer) funded program administered by Warren County Community Services (WCCS). Households who face a disconnection of their primary or secondary heating source (gas and/or electric), have been disconnected or have less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel should contact WCCS immediately. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2012 and households with income at or below 200% of the 2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines may apply, see examples listed below:
Household
Size |
13 weeks Income |
12 months Income |
1 |
$5,445 |
$21,780 |
2 |
$7,355 |
$29,420 |
3 |
$9,265 |
$37,060 |
4 |
$11,175 |
$44,700 |
5 |
$13,085 |
$52,340 |
6 |
$14,995 |
$59,980 |
To apply for this or other available Home Energy Assistance Programs (HEAP), please contact WCCS’ HEAP department toll-free at 1-866-747-1042 for an appointment. Limited walk-in appointments are available as well.
Click here to download the press release
December 6, 2011 - Lebanon Ford’s Generosity Helps WCCS Help Others
 A Special Thank You to Lisa Cryder, owner of Lebanon Ford, for a special donation of a gently used 2005 Dodge Caravan to the Meals on Wheels (MOW) program.
After learning of the need, Aaron Funkhouser and Lisa wanted to make a difference. This van will help reduce maintenance costs in the aging fleet of vehicles and provide safer transportation of meals to our clients.
Employees also donated Kroger Gift Cards valued at $240 to the MOW program.
Thank you, Lisa and the caring team at Lebanon Ford. Your service to the community is very much appreciated. It is through generous donors like Lebanon Ford that the residents of Warren County can best be served. Lebanon Ford is located at 770 Columbus Avenue in Lebanon, OH.
 December 1, 2011 - Meals on Wheels Gets Funding Boost! : WCCS received a $20,000 grant from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF)! The grant will be used toward the purchase of a new van for WCCS’ Meals on Wheels Program!
Many, many thanks to the Greater Cincinnati Foundation for responding positively to proposal submitted for the “Wheels for Meals” project. This special funding project was initiated to assist with purchase of and upgrade of vehicles critical to serve seniors in need and to allow us expand our reach and serve the developmentally disabled in our county.
“We are very much appreciative of GCF seeing the need and making an investment in our community,” said Vel Hux, WCCS Director of Development.
 “Because of shrinking budgets and increased costs to provide food, Meals on Wheels vehicles were not replaced. Now, imagine how challenging it is to maintain a fleet of vehicles ranging in age from 5 years to 13 years old many with over 145,000 miles,” Hux explained. Food reimbursements do not cover the cost of new vehicles or maintenance on older ones.
Last year, almost 190,000 meals (that’s 525 meals a day) were delivered. WCCS is the only Meals on Wheels provider located in Warren County and all meals are prepared, packaged, and distributed from The 741 Center’s Dining and Kitchen located at 570 N. State Rt. 741 in Lebanon.
Today, many older adults choose to live at home. This program makes a tremendous difference and positive impact in the lives of senior citizens who are homebound and unable to prepare meals or to obtain food for themselves. Food insecure elderly persons have been found to be 2.33 times more likely to report fair or poor health status (Senior Hunger in Ohio Report by Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks).
In addition, not only do Meals on Wheels vehicles travel daily to homebound clients, but also, about 2000 meals are delivered and served monthly at WCCS dining sites throughout the county.
Also, drivers conduct a wellness check on all clients. It is not unusual to find someone who has fallen or gotten ill. Many times the driver is the only person communicating with the client throughout the week.
Please share the wonderful news and look for the new Meals on Wheels van.
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation empowers donors to make a profound difference in the quality of human and community life in the Greater Cincinnati region, today and tomorrow. GCF believes in the power of philanthropy to change the lives of people and communities. An effective steward of the community’s charitable resources since 1963, the Foundation inspires philanthropy in eight counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
WCCS is accepting donations to help more people get on the road to a life of dignity and independence. Your gift of $100, $500, $1,000 or $5,000 can make all the difference in building a stronger community. We encourage you to consider giving your gift in monthly installments. In doing so, the impact on your personal budget is dispersed and the impact on our budget is greater predictability of income streams. A gift in any amount is very much appreciated.
Get inspired…and see what your local non-profit is doing right here in Warren County. For real stories and more on how you can help, please call WCCS at 513-695-2206 or visit our website at www.wccsi.org.
December 1, 2011: Winter Energy Assistance Available Through Local Non-profit -- Many families are struggling and finding it difficult to keep up on winter’s increased heating bills. If you are a low-income household facing disconnection of your primary or secondary heating source, have already had service disconnected, or have less than a 10 day supply of bulk fuel, please contact Warren County Community Services’ (WCCS) HEAP office immediately for assistance. The E-HEAP Winter Crisis Program, a federally funded program administered by WCCS, began accepting applications November 1, 2011 and will continue through March 31, 2012. Households with incomes at or below 200% of the 2010 Federal Poverty Guidelines may apply, see examples listed below:
| HH size |
13 weeks |
12 months |
1 |
$5,445 |
$21,780 |
2 |
$7,355 |
$29,420 |
3 |
$9,265 |
$37,060 |
4 |
$11,175 |
$44,700 |
5 |
$13,085 |
$52,340 |
6 |
$14,995 |
$59,980 |
To apply for this or other available Home Energy Assistance Programs (HEAP), please contact WCCS’ HEAP department toll-free at 1-866-747-1042 for an appointment or to hear our available times for walk-in assistance.
Click here to download the press release
November 1, 2011: Healthy Eating: It’s a SNAP! -- WCCS, along with Ohio AARP and Shared Harvest Foodbank, will be hosting a special lunch event for persons 60 and over on November 15. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be offered at three locations throughout the county:
WCCS The 741 Center in Lebanon,
Earl J. Maag Retirement Community in Morrow, and
Sherman Glen Retirement Community in Franklin.
At each event, you can get help to determine whether you should apply for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that will help stretch your grocery budget. Lunch will also be available.
You must RSVP for the location of your choice by calling toll-free 1-877-926-8300 by Thursday, November 10. Space is limited, so don’t wait! Click here to download the press release
Nov 1, 2011: Local Nonprofit Sponsors Medicare Check up Day -- When the leaves turn red, orange and yellow, people 65 and over receive lots of mail and phone calls from insurance companies vying for their business. This information can be very confusing and the callers are very convincing. That’s why seniors should come to The 741 Center on Tuesday, November 29 for the Medicare Checkup Event. All Medicare recipients are invited. Please call Karen at 513-695-2288 or 937-425-2288 to schedule an appointment for an individual session for the November 29 Medicare Check-Up event.
Click here to download the press release
October 27, 2011 -- Emergency HEAP Department at WCCS Gearing UP – Customers may use the plan only one time between October 17, 2011 and April 13, 2012. There is no income eligibility requirement, but the plan requires the customer to sign up for a payment plan to pay the past-due balance on their utility bill.
The Winter Crisis Program begins November 1 and payments made on behalf of customers from the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (E-HEAP), may be applied to the $175.00. For guideline and eligibility requirements please call our toll free telephone number at 1-866-747-1042.
Click here to download the press release
October 30, 2011: Emergency – HEAP (E-HEAP) Fact Sheet: Emergency HEAP is designed to assist low-income households with their energy needs. This includes providing financial assistance to those who are threatened with disconnection of utilities, have already had service disconnected, or who have less than a ten day supply of bulk fuel. The programs and guidelines are subject to change due to limited funding. Winter Crisis Program begins November 1 and the Summer Crisis Cooling Program begins July 1. For information regarding Emergency HEAP please contact our toll free phone number at 1-888-747-1042. Click here to download the fact sheet
September 10, 2011 –
32 ways to LOVE your Senior Center.
Click here to download a flyer
September 10, 2011 - Cow Pie Bingo to Benefit Warren County United Way: Cost per square is $50.00 and multiple owners of one square are allowed. Land (squares) can be purchased Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm beginning Monday, September 12, 2011 through Friday, September 30, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. at WCCS, 570 North State Route 741, Lebanon, OH. Purchasers can pay for your “land” and then pick out your location by writing in your name(s) and a phone number on the Cow Pie Board located in the 741 Center Lobby. For more information, please call 513-695-2294. Attendance is not required to win. In the event the winner is not present, winner’s name(s) will be posted on the Board in the 741 Center Lobby. Winner will be notified by WCCS. Download the press release
Download the Rules of Cow Pie Bingo
July 21, 2011: Summer Energy Assistance Available Through Local Non-profit -- The E-HEAP Summer Crisis Program (SCP), is accepting applications now through August 31, 2011 The SCP provides assistance to low-income households with a member age 60 and over or a member who can provide documentation from a physician of a respiratory illness requiring air conditioning. Households with incomes at or below 200% of the 2010-2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines may apply. Individuals that may qualify and would like to schedule an appointment, please call toll free
1-866-747-1042.
Download the press release.
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