Every year, Sylvania Township receives request from area charities to fund general operating expenses of various organizations. In the last several years, funding and requests have ranged from tens-of-thousands to hundreds-of-thousands. I have always been opposed to these requests for several reasons including the fact that once we provide funds, we have no control or oversight on how they are spent. But a recent proposal brought to the Trustees by Board Chairman Pamela Hanley provided a new perspective on our funding of such organizations and I felt it warranted my support.
Recent conversations between the United Way 2-1-1 and the Township have brought to light an increase in calls to 2-1-1 from township residents seeking information regarding food assistance, as well as rent, shelter and utility assistance. Clearly, given the current national economy, it is not surprising that more people need help including those in Sylvania and food is the most basic of needs.
Locally, there are five service-providers in the Sylvania area that provide food assistance to struggling families including Sylvania Area Family Services, Jewish Community Center, St. Joe's/St. Vincent de Paul, Olivet Lutheran Church, and Lutheran Social Services' Open Door Resource Center (located in Springfield Township but they provide services to Sylvania residents). Discussions between these five organizations and the United Way have developed in to a structure whereby the United Way has agreed to administer contributions from the Township for their SafetyNet Fund, a fund used solely to fund food pantry inventory.
These funds will be distributed to the five organizations that in turn will use those funds to provide food assistance only to Sylvania Township Residents. Accounting and record keeping is in place to make sure these funds are used as requested. The United Way is providing this service with no administrative overhead charge to the township or our residents.
The Sylvania Township Trustees unanimously voted to contribute $8,000 to the United Way's SafetyNet Fund. This amount will be matched with an additional $1,000 from the Toledo Community Foundation. Others may also make contributions designated to this fund. All contributions leverage the resources the community has to provide food assistance to our residents during these trying times. Knowing that the township will have accountability for our contribution and that the funds will be used to serve the neediest of our community, I was happy to support this contribution
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