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Community Support & Volunteer Services

Community Support

    Sponsor a Family – A Geauga County tradition, the Sponsor a Family Program is assists low income families and families in need with food, gifts and toys for the holidays. This program is funded solely through donations and volunteers are needed. When the program first began over 30 years ago, approximately 12 families received food baskets. In 2010, The Sponsor a Family Program served over 630 families in Geauga County and this included more than 1,300 children.

    Summer Camp Program – Assists low income families or families struggling financially with a summer camp program or summer activity for their child. This program can also assist eligible families with assistance in pay to participate fees for their child. This program is funded solely through donations. In 2010, the program served over 140 Geauga County children. Children attended day camp, resident camp, special needs camp, tutoring, Boy Scout camp, reading and math camp, gymnastics, theater camp, swimming lessons, cheerleading camp, football and soccer camp and horseback riding.

    Help Me Learn Day – A school supply distribution program for low income children or children whose families are struggling financially. The program provides children the opportunity to come to Geauga Co. Job and Family Services and "shop" for their school supplies. A second Help Me Learn Day is held at Chagrin Falls Park Community Center for children living in that part of the county. This program is funded solely through donations and volunteers are needed. In 2010, the Help Me Learn Program provided school supplies to over 600 children from every school district in Geauga County.

    Financial Literacy Workshops – The Financial Literacy Workshop is available free to any Geauga County resident who is struggling financially, having difficulty making ends meet or would just like to educate them self on budgeting and credit issues. The workshop focuses on topics such as how to talk about money issues, knowing where your money goes, knowing how to save for financial goals, how to budget for planned and unplanned expenses, identifying spending leaks, and understanding credit cards and your credit score. The workshop is collaboration between Geauga Co. Job and Family Services and Geauga Co. Community and Economic Development. Since it began in October of 2008, the program has served over 200 people. The program is funded solely through Geauga Community Action.

    Furniture Donation Program - Geauga Co. Job and Family Services accepts donations of used furniture and appliances that can then be give to clients in need. Furniture and appliances must be clean and not need any repairs. If needed, arrangements can be made to pick up the furniture or appliance. Items generally accepted are beds, dressers, desks, couches (not sleeper sofas), chairs, coffee tables, kitchen tables, lamps, stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers and microwaves. Smaller household items and clothing can be donated but are then taken to the Sunshine Shop, a non-profit thrift store located at the Burton Fairgrounds. The Sunshine Shop is open for business on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Donations can also be taken directly to the Sunshine Shop.

**There are no administrative costs associated with any donation made to the Community Support programs. Every dollar donated goes directly to the resolve the need or support the programs outlined above.