Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry to Distribute School Clothing to Children in Need

Today, Tuesday, December 4, 2007, Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry announced a countywide initiative that will provide 4,400 Ohio Works First (OWF) clients with a JCPenney merchandise card to purchase school clothing, coats and shoes for children.

The $594,000 (after a $6,000 vendor discount) initiative is being financed through the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services, Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Fund.

Using the September 2007 Ohio Works First (OWF) cash payroll data, eligible children enrolled in the program, age 5 through 17, will receive a $150 JCPenney Merchandise Card.

“The Department of Job and Family Services is experimenting with new and innovative ways to better serve the citizens of Summit County who are facing hardships,” said Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry. “Through this creative program, thousands of local children will have the clothing they need to stay warm this winter.”

Summit County is not the first county in the State of Ohio to implement a Merchandise Card Program. Auglaize, Huron, Lorain and Ottawa Counties have also carried out similar initiatives.

“The Department of Job and Family Services will have the ability to monitor all sales made with the merchandise cards,” added Pry. “Therefore, we will be able to track how the community benefits from this new program and possibly consider implementing it on an annual basis, as long as funds are available.”

The merchandise cards can only be used to purchase school clothing items and are valid at the following Summit County JCPenney stores locations:

• Chapel Hill Mall, 2000 Brittain Road, Akron, Ohio 44310
• Rolling Acres Mall, 2442 Romig Road, Akron, Ohio 44322
• Tri-County Plaza, 1500 Canton Road, Akron, Ohio 44312
• Market Square, 3742 Brookwall Drive, Akron, Ohio 44333

Eligible families will be mailed an individualized program notification letter informing them of an assigned date and time to pick up their card(s). All merchandise cards will be picked up at the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services, Building One, Auditorium, located at 47 North Main Street in downtown Akron.

In order to obtain the merchandise card(s), OWF clients are required to present a valid photo ID, their personalized notification letter, and proof of school attendance for each eligible child.

For more information on the Summit County School Clothing Program, contact the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services at 330-643-7095.