County ready to help the needy face winter

By D.A. Wilkinson

Last winter hunters donated 1,338 pounds of deer meat and are being asked to donate again.

LISBON — Are you ready for winter?

Carol Bretz, the director of the nonprofit Community Action Agency of Columbiana County, and Eileen Dray-Bardon, director of the county Department of Job and Family Services, say they are prepared to meet the needs of the county’s less fortunate.

They told the county commissioners Wednesday they are ready for emergency heating calls and other requests for aid, including food.

The Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program provides help to people who are struggling with their heating bills.

During the winter of 2007-08, the emergency HEAP program spent a total of $723,930 in the county.

Bretz told the commissioners that this year, “I think the numbers will be about the same.”

According to the CAA, more than 2,076 households received some sort of assistance.

About half of those recipients received bulk fuel, such as heating oil.

And some 1,027 homes were well below the poverty level.

The application process already is under way. People who apply face about a 10-day waiting period to make their application.

Dray-Bardon said in a few cases people seeking home energy assistance may be eligible for other JFS funding.

If so, the CAA will fax the information to the JFS. The agency will then send out the benefits.

The move will create a one-stop approach to helping those in need instead making people apply again.

Hunters also are being asked to donate deer meat.

Last winter, that totaled 1,338 pounds of venison from some 80 donated deer that was given out through the CAA and food pantries. Packages weighed two or three pounds.

Food went to a variety of charitable organizations, ranging from a shelter for women recovering from chemical abuse to 74 families that had no income for 30 days. “It’s good meat,” Bretz said.

Two groups form the venison program — the Columbiana County Federation of Conservation Clubs, and the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.

The deer must be processed by an approved Ohio Department of Agriculture processing plant.

The CAA has about 180 pounds of venison remaining from last year.

wilkinson@vindy.com