

image by: Robert A. DeFrank

Belmont County Office of Position and Relatives Solutions Director Jeff Felton, foreground, reports on using purposes for the College Apparel 4 Young ones plan, with purchasing to be performed in advance of the first day of faculty. Pultney Township Trustee Frank Shaffer observes.

Belmont County is all over again aiding college students get started the faculty year off with the annual University Apparel 4 Little ones system, utilizing Momentary Aid for Needy People funding.
Belmont County Director of Job and Relatives Solutions Director Jeff Felton and DJFS Finance Director Jack Regis Jr. noted to the Belmont County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday on plans to get the term out to people. Felton claimed the system is obtainable to individuals whose money is at or below 150 per cent of the federal poverty amount.
“It’s a nicely-recieved software. Individuals are really, quite appreciative when they occur in,” Felton explained. He reported the plan dates from about 2014 or 2015.
Felton claimed pupils are particularly appreciative of beginning the faculty 12 months with new outfits. With that in brain, the plan is acquiring an early begin this 12 months.
“Last yr we did not get it off the ground right up until in all probability Oct, so we’re striving to be new, before faculty starts off, which we should have done very last calendar year,” he said. “We’re forward of the activity in contrast to past year. It’s a application we operate each individual year. Luckily most counties have excessive TANF bucks, that’s our greatest allocation and alternatively than sending it back to the state we consider to place it to use in our community.”
Felton included there are two clothes programs. One is for kinship companies this kind of as grandparents, aunts and uncles who have connected kids positioned with them.
“We have a different allocation for kinship support, and this is just for the common general public who qualify dependent on profits,” Felton claimed.
“Last 12 months around involving our two packages in addition the income the Local community Motion Fee assists with for families that are somewhat previously mentioned the 150 per cent poverty degree and ineligible for TANF, we did almost $725,000 at the Ohio Valley Mall,” Regis said, introducing this proved a profit to the neighborhood overall economy.
“The mall’s been great to get the job done with,” Felton explained.
He claimed they began spreading out the software times because of to the COVID-19 pandemic, given that outfits had to be quarantined following it was tried using on. They noticed optimistic variations, which includes a lack of extensive traces and crowds.
“I feel it is less difficult for the personnel and unquestionably easier for the households,” he stated.
“They get to decide on it out on their own,” Felton mentioned. “It’s for kindergarten all the way by way of 18, so we’re equipped to serve the entire school-age inhabitants.
Felton said programs can be taken at the St. Clairsville DJFS place of work and at the Ohio Implies Work Martins Ferry place of work right until 4:30 p.m. July 19. The shopping times will most likely be Aug. 9-11 and Aug. 16-18.
The St. Clairsville business is located at 68145 Hammond Road, and the Martins Ferry place of work at the Ohio Usually means Work centre at 302 Walnut St. Application types can also be downloaded and printed from BelmontCDJFS.com.
Felton extra these households unable to participate on the desgnated days will be accommodated.
“Once we system eligibility, we’re going to assign the procuring days and give them a present card,” Felton mentioned. “Everyone appears to be like ahead to it. I know we have started off to get phone calls. We’re content to make that announcement.”
Gift cards are really worth $300. Felton claimed all the suppliers in the shopping mall settle for the reward playing cards, as properly as the Gabe’s footwear and clothing store on the shopping mall residence.
Felton mentioned they might hold the occasion at the similar time as Monroe County’s garments system. He reported about 1,800 young children ended up assisted last yr, with about the similar turnout anticipated this yr.
“We have sufficient cash to meet up with the needs, no make any difference what variety it is, no matter if it is 1,800 or 2,000, we’re not going to turn any individual away,” Felton said. “With the economic predicament and COVID, folks are even now battling.”
“It’s a great software and it does have a substantial impact on a lot of children,” Commissioner Josh Meyer claimed. “… I enjoy the strategy that we’re acquiring this in in advance of school begins. … It’s very well really worth the time and exertion put into it. … There are a whole lot of extremely appreciative individuals.”







