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Program offers food relief through today
Needy people can get up to $250 in aid for food.
LISBON — The Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services is still trying to get aid to the needy who lost food after last week’s windstorms.
One of the programs will have its last day today.
Columbiana County has about $66,000 to help the needy whose food spoiled or who had home damage during windstorms Sept. 14.
Some $55,000 is from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families for the program.
The rest is non-TANF funds that Eileen Dray-Bardon, the director of the JFS department, told the county commissioners might be used for home or appliance repairs. But she said there was little of that kind of damage.
Instead, she said, those funds also were used to help the needy with food. That program will end today.
The TANF funds will be available until Oct. 27. So far, the program has given away $15,745 to replace losses for some 66 applications.
Workers are processing an additional 73 applications.
Some $10,115 of the non-TANF money was given to 45 applicants. Some 35 applications are pending.
The commissioners said some 1,000 meals were provided last week at United Local High School to people who did not have electric power.
Bill Young, school principal, sent a letter thanking the commissioners, 11 local stores that provided food and more than 15 organizations ranging from student clubs to the Ruritans that helped in some way.
“It just proves the community does come together in an emergency,” said Commissioner Penny Traina. Her home was without electricity for several days.
People may either apply at the JFS office in Lisbon from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or at the agency’s office in East Liverpool during the same hours Tuesdays through Thursdays.
wilkinson@vindy.com