Common Good Of Preble County

TO MOBILIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE MEET THEIR ESSENTIAL NEEDS. THE COMMON GOOD DOES THIS BY PROVIDING A THRIFT STORE, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WHICH INCLUDES A FOOD PANTRY, CLOTING GIVEAWAY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE ONCE AROUND SHOP IS A THRIFT STORE THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND PROVIDES GENTLY USED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AT A LOW PRICE. THE COMMUNITY DONATES THEIR GENTLY USED ITEMS TO THE STORE IN WHICH VOLUNTEERS SORT, INSPECT, PRICE AND DISPLAY ITEMS FOR ANYONE TO SHOP. THIS BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING NEEDED MERCHANDISE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE TO THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, THE STORE PROVIDES MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR 56 VOLUNTEERS WHO PROVIDED 8,120 HOURS OF SERVICE TO SHARE THEIR WORK SKILLS TO HELP OTHERS. THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALES OF THESE ITEMS ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCES TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS IN THREE WAYS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ELIMINATING AS MUCH DUPLICATION AS POSSIBLE, FOCUSING ON SERVICES THAT OTHERWISE ARE LIMITED OR NOT AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY. PARETICULAR ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO "FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS" OF OTHER PROGRAMS DUE TO NOT MEETING STRINGENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.THE FOOD PANTRY RESPONDS TO EMERGENCY FOOD NEEDS BY PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH FIVE DAYS OF FOOD TO BRIDGE GAPS IN RESOURCES OR TO SECURE OTHER SOURCES OF SUPPORT. VOLUNTEERS SERVED 1,626 HOUSEHOLDS THAT INCLUDED 4,585 PEOPLE IN 2022. 196 OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS WERE FIRST TIME RECIPIENTS AND 25% OF THE TOTAL WERE ONE TIME REQUESTS. THE COMMON GOOD ALSO SUPPORTS SCHOOL PANTRIES IN EVERY PREBLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. DURING 2022, 1,723 STUDENTS VISITED THE PANTRY 4,167 TIMES. THE COMMON GOOD ACTS AS COORDINATOR FOR THE COUNTY MILK PROGRAM THAT PURCHASES AND DISTRIBUTES MILK TO SIX FOOD PANTRIES. IN 2022, 8,359 GALLONS OF MILK WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.THE CLOTHING GIVAWAY PROGRAM PROVIDES CLOTHING TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AN EMERGENCY CLOTHING NEED SUCH AS A JOB INTERVIEW OR CLOTHING TO START A NEW JOB. PARTICIPANTS ARE ALLOWED TO SELECT CLOTHING THAT BEST MEETS THERE PREFERNCES AND NEEDS. THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES GRADE SPECIFIC SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BACK PACKS, AND NEW ATHLETIC SHOES TO STUDENTS. DURING 2022, 120 HOUSEHOLD INCLUDING 233 PEOPLE WERE SERVED.THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ASSISTS PEOPLE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM A ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF RENT OR UTILITIES TO PREVENT EVICTION AND/OR DISCONNECTION. PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED BUDGET ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS TO OTHER PROGRAMS TO HELP FURTHER STABILIZE THEIR FINANCES. DURING 2022, 10 HOUSEHOLDS AVOIDED EVICTION AND 18 HOUSEHOLDS' UTILITIES WERE NOT DISCONNECTED DUE TO RECEIVING ASSISTANCE, A TOTAL OF 28 HOUSEHOLDS AND 85 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THIS PROGRAM.