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www.wkyc.com reports - Ohio's Needy Wait for Food and get More
January 2010
 :1. Families & OBB
:2. Families & OBB
Anti-hunger advocate Joel Berg: September 2, 2009
Berg commends the efforts of The Ohio Benefit Bank in Dispatch.com
Berg estimates it would cost $24 billion a year to eliminate hunger. That's how much is needed to serve the 36 million Americans that the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates can't afford enough food.
Presidential Task Force: August 18, 2009
The Economic Recovery and Fighting Poverty Task Force focuses on identifying strategies for reducing domestic poverty and engaging local faith-based and community organizations to carry out federal economic recovery programs.
The task force has selected the following focus areas: reviewing laws and regulations to suggest improvements to federal programs for the poor and improving eligible Americans' access to government benefits.
For example, the task force is considering recommending programs modeled after The Benefit Bank, a centralized, Web-based program that serves as a "one-stop-shop" resource for people with low and moderate-level incomes to apply for and receive food stamps, Medicaid and tax credits.
Read more about this on the Pew Forum web site.
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=432
Free Tax Prep: January 26, 2009
:Channel 4 Interview
By Denise Yost
Managing Editor, nbc4i.com
Published: January 26, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The economy is forcing many who never thought they would need assistance scrambling for help.
Groups making up Ohio Benefit Bank are able to link consumers with the right service—even tax preparation, NBC 4‘s Marcus Thorpe reported.
Ohio Benefit Bank is a web-based counselor assisted program.
"Individuals trust that in their church communities, they’ve volunteered or got services. We build on that," said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, of Ohio Benefit Bank.
The program helps consumers with services from food and shelter to tax help.
Anamaria Crockett is a single mom. She did the free on-line service last year at OhioFilesFree.com. This year, it’s a face-to-face meeting to try and squeeze the most from her refund.
"It’s tight—really tight. I need work done on my car and help with bills," she said.
With a shrinking economy tightening budgets, every dollar counts. For example, if you get $3,200 back from your taxes, fees from typical programs would bring that number down. The Ohio Benefit Bank charges no fees for those who qualify for the program.
The program has 35 local offices helping with tax preparation.
"They tell us, ‘What you were able to do allowed me to pay debt or get a car,‘" Fugitt said.
The Ohio Benefit Bank is offering a free tax filing day for those who qualify on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at their offices at 51 North High Street, Suite 150.
Call their offices at 614-221-4336 or 800-648-1176 to schedule an appointment.
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