Program provides clothing for kids

CELINA - Mercer County families in need can pick out shoes and school spirit clothing for their children before the school year starts.

The items are available through a county job and family services program.

For the last two years, JFS has offered qualifying residents $100 vouchers for each child to buy shoes at local shoe stores.

"It's become very popular," said JFS director Angela Nickell. "We're able to serve at least 300 kids a year if their family qualifies."

This year they've added another component to the program - school spirit clothing packages valued at $100 per child.

"We buy school shoes for kids and try to support Mercer County vendors as well with that," Nickell said. "Those people who qualify for shoes, their child can also choose to have a long-sleeve shirt, shorts and sweatpants with their school logo on it."

The spirt packs also include a hoodie and shorts.

"The shoe has really been successful for us these last couple years. We've been real pleased that we were able to help so many people," Nickell said. "(School-affiliated clothing) is important to us, too, because so many kids, they'd like to support their schools but school shirts can be rather expensive."

Residents who have or support a child and who are at or under 200% of the federal poverty level may fill out an application available at the JFS site on the county website at mercercountyohio.org. Applications must be returned by July 16.

Those approved will receive a letter in the mail containing codes and links to purchase spirit clothing and the dates to pick up the packs from JFS. Also included will be a date when they can shop for shoes at participating stores.

Approved families will be given vouchers to purchase shoes at Kelli's Shoes in Fort Recovery, and at Shoe Show and Wilson's Shoe Store, both in Celina. Store mangers will then return the vouchers to JFS for reimbursement, according to a resolution approved by county commissioners.

Commissioners authorized JFS to purchase the spirt packs through McSports of Coldwater, which submitted the lowest quote for the clothing items.

The county will pay for the shoes and clothes with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program dollars and other funding sources, Nickell said. Each year JFS is the recipient of roughly $80,000 in TANF dollars, part of which pay for the program.

"Through the TANF funds we have to come up with a plan that gets approved by the commissioners and then the state of Ohio as to how we can spend those dollars in the community," Nickell said.

The shoe and spirit pack initiative is part of the county's Prevention, Retention and Contingency plan, she said.

"Every county has one. You get this pot of money and what can you do to help the people in your community who are in need?"

In recent years, a bulk of the plan has been geared toward employment support, Nickell said.

"We provide car repairs for people who qualify. If this is their only vehicle and they need to get to work, we'll pay for car repairs up to $3,000," she said. "We give gas vouchers for people. We started an incentive program to keep people working. Every 30 days they get a cash bonus."

JFS also offers childcare vouchers to qualifying residents, Nickell said.