WE NEED YOUR HELP

On Saturday February 4, 2012 in Collaboration with the Franklin County EITC we are hosting a Super Refund Saturday tax clinic. We need your help this year to serve the working families who depend on us for a free, fast, and accurate tax return. Your dedication allows us to prepare more returns year after year. For many families, the EITC is a safety net that helps them keep their heads above water during these tough economic times. Help us meet our goal to prepare 640 returns.

Over the next few weeks we will be contacting you by phone and e-mail to encourage you to volunteer tax preparer for this clinic. We need at least 40 certified volunteers to meet our expected demands.

Step 1 - Please complete the Volunteer Registration Form. This will make sure we have the most up-to-date contact information for you.
We have three shifts, when you register you will need to select one.
9:00 - 5:00 pm (full day)
9:00 - 1:00 pm (Morning Shift)
1:00 - 5:00 pm (Afternoon Shift)
Step 2 - Recruit a friend. If you know someone who would make a great volunteer please encourage them to register as a volunteer. Ask them to visit www.ohiobenefits.org to learn more about the Ohio Benefit Bank™. We have volunteer roles for people who want to help but do not want to prepare taxes. Please send me an e-mail if you are interested in volunteering but not preparing taxes.

Step 3 - Register for a training. Below are the dates for both the benefit and tax counselor training in Franklin County. We have tax update training for returning tax counselors. This will be available in January.

Follow the link to the registration.
Saturday, January 14, 2012 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Registration Link: http://www.planetReg.com/E12151331726
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Registration Link: http://www.planetReg.com/E102511575826
Please note that each return you process will be counted towards your agencies report.

And know that an hour of your time could be worth up to $5,000 to a family.

It’s Tax Season!

It's tax season and The Ohio Benefit Bank will be hosting a number of tax clinics here in Central Ohio.

Feb 4, 2012 TBD- Super Saturday Tax Kickoff Clinic–Columbus Downtown High School *In conjunction with United Way and the EITC Coalition of Central Ohio
Feb. 9, 2012 1:00-7:00pm Morrow Co. Tax Clinic– Morrow Co. JFS
Feb 10, 2012 11:00am– 6:00pm Knox Co. Tax Clinic– Knox Co. JF S
Feb. 25, 2012 9:00am– 1:00pm Madison Co. Tax Clinic– St. Patrick's School
March 6, 2012 1:00pm– 7:00pm Licking Co. Tax Clinic– Licking Co. JFS
March 13, 2012 12:00- 6:00pm Union Co. Tax Clinic– Union Co. JFS

To schedule an appointment for tax preparations please contact Scott Flenniken or Jasmine Lewis at 614-221-4336

*Walk ins accepted*

Please bring the following:Personal Information: Address, SSN, bank accounts for direct deposit
Federal Returns: 1040; 1040-ES; 4868
ALL Income Documents: W-2; 1099; etc.
Expense records: child care, education; charitable donations; etc.
For more information on Ohio Benefit Bank Tax Preperation please visit ohiobenefits.org

Need Tax Volunteers?

Attention, Ohio Benefit Bank sites:   

Would you be interested in receiving tax volunteer referrals from The Ohio Benefit Bank^TM to support your OBB tax services?

Click here to complete the survey.  

We will be promoting volunteer recruitment for The Ohio Benefit Bank statewide and look forward to targeting the volunteers you are looking for! Please take a moment to complete this short survey and tell us what you are looking for in volunteers to support OBB at your site.  

Click here to complete the survey. 

Thank you for all that you do!   

Make a Difference Day

This year AmeriCorps members at The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks celebrated Make a Difference Day by hosting a Fall Festival at the Glenwood Recreation Center. The event that started as a simple Halloween-themed party grew into much more in the months it took planning, and in the end was a major success. AmeriCorps members, along with the Glenwood Recreation Center and the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, were able to provide nearby families with a place to get pumpkins, produce and enjoy holiday festivities. Children were able to play games and get their faces painted all for free.
In the seemingly short 8 hour day, over 170 families were served with fresh fruits and vegetables. The AmeriCorps members also held a childrens' costume drive prior to the event, which provided free costumes for approximately 60 children. Thanks to Columbus Police, children also received bicycle helmets, water bottles and tips on how to be safe while trick-or-treating. Special guest included McGruff the Crime Dog and Columbus City Firefighters.
In total over 700 people were served in one day. The Fall Festival was a success not just because of the large turnout but because it brought a distressed community together for a day of enjoyment. The many smiling faces were enough to prove that the time and energy was more than worth it.
Special thanks to our vendors: Hands on Central Ohio, Urban League Head Start and The Ohio Benefit Bank.

Please Join Us for our Tax Season Webinars!

Tax season is just around the corner and to prepare you for this exciting time we will be holding monthly informational webinars! Please see below for descriptions and to register for these upcoming webinars. Click here for more information on the webinar topics.

November 9th: (12:00 - 1:00 pm)

Connecting Financial Aid; Emergency Savings Accounts and Savings Bonds to Tax Season: 

Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/268310514

December 14th: (12:00 - 1:00 pm)

Form 1099R, Child Tax Credit, EITC, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit:

Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/129215506

January 11th: (12:00 - 1:00 pm)

Tax Updates: 

Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/573492346

February 8th: (12:00 - 1:00 pm)

Conversations to have with your tax client:

Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/652333722

March 14th: (12:00 - 1:00 pm)

Incorporating Self-Serve Into Your Tax Services:

Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/419745234

April 11th: (12:00 - 1:00 pm)

What Does OBB Asset Development Mean for My Clients, Staff, and Volunteers?

Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/960223610

Applications due 9/30 for OBB Academy

The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) is seeking applicants to participate in The Ohio Benefit Bank Academy! The OBB Academy is a year-long program designed to support and enhance the professional development of OBB counselors and/or site administrators, with the goal of enhancing the capacity and long-term sustainability of key OBB sites. Graduates of The OBB Academy will be equipped to provide local leadership for the OBB network in their communities. Travel, meals and supplies will be covered so that there is no cost to participants who complete the program.

Once a month day long workshops with experts from Ohio State University Leadership Center, Central Ohio Professional Education Council among other speakers from various specialties, working one on one with participants to hone skills in areas key to capacity building and sustainability for your agency.

Workshops include:
- How to know if your marketing is working for you?
- Grant Writing with practical exercises
- Responsible and effective budgeting for your program

This offer is for staff of Ohio Benefit Bank sites and partners only.

Click here to download the application.

Applications are due 9/30 so don't wait! Apply today!

Let's Build Something Together!

For 6 years Lowe’s has been dedicated to helping better schools and communities. Through there Charitable and Educational Foundation Lowe’s has donated 25 million dollars through the Toolbox for Education grant. This year Lowe’s will carry on this initiative and donate 5 million total to over 1,000 different schools. Applications for this grant are being accepted now through October 14 or once 1500 applications have been received. Past winners have used this grant to fund gardens, physical fitness areas and increase parent involvement. For more ideas and to apply for this grant please visit the Toolbox for Education website.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign and Logan Counties Launch Mobile Food Pantry

Today the Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign and Logan Counties launched their new state of the art Mobile Food Pantry at the Chakeres Cinema 10 in Springfield, OH. The Mobile Food Pantry and volunteers provided members of the Springfield community with fresh produce and shelf stable foods. The new addition will assist in aiding central Ohioans with the food and nutrition they need and deserve.

The Mobile Food Pantry will be out again this Thursday, serving elders in the Mechanicsburg and Lewisburg areas. For more information please call (937) 323-6507

A Year you Won't Forget!

OASHF is currently accepting applications for AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) members to start in November. VISTAs, who are the domestic counterparts to overseas Peace Corps volunteers, are passionate and enthusiastic individuals who dedicate a year of their lives to fighting poverty here at home.

Our SHARECorps program will be placing up to 30 VISTA members across Ohio, focusing on alleviating hunger and poverty by building the capacity of local nonprofit organizations. To search for our available positions and to apply, visit www.americorps.gov, but first, go to http://www.oashf.org/docs/programs/AmeriCorps_Application_Instructions.pdf and check out the instructions for finding OASHF positions on the AmeriCorps website.

One lucky VISTA will be based here, in the OASHF office downtown Columbus. We are seeking a Community Organizer, who will work with the Ohio Benefit Bank sites in central Ohio to increase the financial security of low-income community members by assisting them in accessing public benefits and tax credits and by increasing financial literacy. A complete description is here:
Central Ohio AmeriCorps VISTA

For questions about the VISTA positions, contact VISTA Leader Alesha Rademan at 614-221-4336 x253 or arademan@oashf.org.

FREE PRODUCE!!!

The Salvation Army of Marion will be having a produce market this Friday. They will be giving away produce to the community for FREE! Make sure you stop by between 2:00 and 3:30 pm and take home some free, healthy goodness. The Salvation Army of Marion is at located at 317 W. Church Street Marion, OH 43302.

Barn Sale

The Lancaster- Fairfield Community Action will be having a Barn Sale this Friday, August 26th from 9 am to 3 pm. They are asking for donations only on some spectacular used household items. The proceeds will go to the organizations Emergency Services Program to help Fairfield County residents who are in need. Items available include bikes, computer equip, pic frames, lamps, toys, glassware, baby dressing table, and much more.

Community Action is located at 1743 E. Main Street Lancaster. Hope to see you there!

OBB Upcoming Events

Its “Back to School” season and the Ohio Benefit Bank will be attending a number of festivals and back to school events. Be sure to come out and speak with one of our Community Organizers and find out more about what we do at the Ohio Benefit Bank. In addition, most of the events will have free games, food, health screenings and school supplies. Be sure to visit the links for more information on these amazing events. We Hope to see you there!

August 12th
Urban League Head Start Community Festival @ Fort Rapids Waterpark Ballroom Columbus OH, 9 am-5 pm

August 13th
Single Parent Fair @ Heritage Christian Church, Westerville OH, 9 am-12 pm

August 20th
Back to School Blast @ Columbus Christian Church, Columbus OH 9 am-2 pm
Glen Fest @ Glenwood Park and Recreation Center, 12 pm-5 pm

August 27th
Family Fun Day @ Wesley United Methodist Church, Columbus OH 1 pm- 6 pm
Clinic @ Vineyard Church of Plain City 3 pm-6 pm