The Ohio District of Kiwanis International donated boxes of toiletries, blankets, toys and books to Hamilton County Job and Family Services on Friday. Donated items will be given to Hamilton County foster children who are temporarily removed from their homes.
The donation was part of the district’s service project in 2012, which was to supply foster children in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. More than 28,000 items were donated statewide.
Past Kiwanis Lt. Governors Ann Akeson, Alyson Gerwe and Jim Lawler led the collection for Hamilton County. Twenty-one clubs throughout Hamilton County gathered supplies over the past year.
Hamilton County has about 850 foster children on any given day.
If a child is at risk of not being safe at home, the county can remove the children and work with the family to make a temporary living arrangement that will ensure the child’s safety.
“Sometimes, in a situation where a child is being removed, favorite toys, books and even necessities such as toiletries are left behind,” said Moira Weir, director of JFS. “We do our best to make sure all of the child’s needs are met, but we appreciate any help we get from the community. What a tremendous gesture by Kiwanis International. We could not achieve our mission without the great amount of support we receive from this community on a daily basis.”
Hamilton County Job and Family Services provide federal, state and local programs for the needy.
The agency assists with local child protection, elderly protection, child care, child support enforcement, workforce development, cash assistance, food assistance and Medicaid disbursement.
Servicing Hamilton County since 1947, the Department helps hundreds of thousands each year and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, an international, independent, not-for-profit child and family service accrediting organization.
Additional information about Hamilton County services or inquires about the agency can be directed to Brian Gregg, Chief Communications Officer by email (greggb@jfs.hamilton-co.org) or phone (513-946-1728).
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