Join us at Applebee’s!

Come join us on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at the Bloomington Applebee’s to help raise money for SCCAP! Please print the flyer which you can find below and bring it when you come. Present the flyer to your server during lunch, dinner, or any To Go order and 15% of the bill will be donated to the SCCAP. This is a great opportunity to get excellent food and help the Monroe County South Central Community Action Program.

 applebees flyer link -Ross Freeman

Hello!

Hey everyone my name is Ross Freeman and I am interning in the communication department at the SCCAP this summer. You may remember me from last summer’s Operation Back to School; I was on the team of people which helped provide school supplies to children. Over the summer I will be posting to the blog and keeping people informed about the current SCCAP activities as well as writing articles for the web site.

A little about myself; I am going to be a senior at Ball State University this year. At Ball State I am earning a degree in general studies with two minors: a minor in business management and another minor in organizational communication. I grew up in the little a very little town just north of Ft. Wayne named Albion. This town is so small that it only has one stop light and it is basically surrounded by nothing but fields. So naturally as a kid I lived outdoors and I was an avid fisherman and hunter. Now that I’m in college my favorite past times are a bit different, I enjoy video games, golf, and working on cars.

A little over a month ago I proposed to my girlfriend of three years. Her name is Ann and she said yes! So now, either by choice or not, my biggest past time activity is wedding planning with Ann. We have a lot of fun planning together, and she now has me watching wedding T.V. such as: Say Yes to the Dress, Four Weddings, My Fair Wedding, and Bridezilla.

I look forward to a great summer with everyone!

Stay well,

Ross Freeman

Update on Impact of Possible Government Shutdown on SCCAP staff and programs

UPDATE (posted Saturday): With Congress coming to an agreement on a budget to avoid a government shutdown late Friday night, SCCAP will be open l on Monday with all staff reporting as usual.

__________________________________________________________

(Posted Friday afternoon) With the possibility of a government shutdown at midnight tonight, SCCAP still doesn’t have information on whether a shutdown would affect the agency’s programs and staff.

Currently, we have not had any direction from the State of Indiana on whether Community Action Agencies in the state will be closed in the event of a shutdown.  The state is not releasing any information as they, too, are holding out until midnight in the hopes of a resolution.

In the event that the government does shut down, and our agency is closed due to the shutdown, we will be notifying staff by the following methods:

• Utilizing the “telephone tree” where department heads are notified and they, in turn, call their staff,
• Posting updates on this blog,
• Notifying local media.

If the agency is closed in the event of a shutdown, staff must remain away from the workplace unless and until you are told to return to work.  Also, if our agency is shutdown, staff will not be permitted to serve as an unpaid volunteer.  This means staff must not perform work for the agency from home or anywhere else, even if you have an agency cellphone or laptop or have remote access to the agency’s network.

If the agency is closed in the event of a shutdown, further communication regarding updates will be sent to staff via the above methods.

If staff has not been contacted over the weekend by telephone, or information has not been published on this blog site or in the media, the agency will be open on normal business hours on Monday and staff will report to work as normal.

If SCCAP or any of its programs are closed on Monday because of a shutdown, the agency will have signs on its doors and information on its voice mail system for callers. We also encourage clients to follow this blog, our agency website – http://www.insccap.org/ - and local media for any updates.

SCCAP closed again on Wednesday

The South Central Community Action Program will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 2 because of the continuing winter storm and hazardous conditions.

 

 

SCCAP closed today

The South Central Community Action Program is closed today, Feb. 1, 2011, because of the winter storm.

WTIU coverage of Free Community Tax Service

Here’s news coverage of United Way Executive Director Barry Lessow and SCCAP Executive Director Todd Lare at last Friday’s press conference to announce the Free Community Tax Service being offered at SCCAP and other locations. Check it out by clicking on this link.

The first opportunity at SCCAP for people to have their taxes done for free and to see if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit is tomorrow (Tuesday) from 4 to 7. Service will be first-come, first-served.

For more information, including a complete schedule and list of locations, visit the United Way of Monroe County website or call 211.

EITC Awareness Day press conference today to promote Free Community Tax Service offered by SCCAP and other organizations

United Way of Monroe County will be hosting a press conference to announce community-wide efforts to raise awareness of and increase participation in the Free Community Tax Service and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

WHO:

•           Barry Lessow, United Way of Monroe County

•           Mayor Mark Kruzan, City of Bloomington

•           Eloise Erickson, Internal Revenue Service

•           Todd Lare, South Central Community Action Program

•           Sara Laughlin, Monroe County Public Library

WHAT:   EITC Awareness Day is a national effort to increase knowledge about the Earned Income Tax Credit. EITC is a financial boost for working people hit by hard economic times, yet is often overlooked by those who need it most.

WHEN:   Friday, January 28, 2011; 11am

WHERE:   City Hall at Showers Plaza, Atrium

WHY:   EITC Awareness Day is particularly important in today’s economy; more workers may qualify due to reduced incomes. EITC can make their lives a little easier. The credit can increase their federal income tax refunds from $2 to more than $5,666 depending on individual circumstances, but only four out of five eligible people claim and get their EITC. Individuals and families must know about the credit, then file and specifically claim it.

Residents can receive free help determining their EITC eligibility and claiming the credit at eight volunteer tax sites in Monroe and Owen Counties. The Free Community Tax Service helps low- to moderate-income residents file their federal and state tax returns for free. Eligible residents can file their taxes for free and receive 100% of their refund quickly and easily — usually in just 10 days or less.

United Way of Monroe County is a nonprofit organization that improves people’s lives by addressing critical needs today and working to reduce those needs tomorrow. Through its Community Action Fund and grant opportunities, United Way works with 24 member agencies and community partners to focus resources on the building blocks for a better life: education, earnings, and the essentials. You can find more information at www.monroeunitedway.org.

SCCAP Quiz Bowl team will compete tonight

Here’s a report from the SCCAP Quiz Bowl team on this year’s competition, which starts tonight:

Quiz Bowl is double elimination this year, and the first two rounds are tonight. We have a first round bye, but then we compete in the second round tonight between 8:50P-9:30P. Super late! We’ll be the Public Library tonight for it, but for those of you don’t want to stay out so late, it will be on television, on CATS. You should be able to catch us live sometime after 9P (probably close to 9:20).

Regardless if we win or that other thing that I don’t know the word to, we will return in April to compete. Our team has changed quite a bit from last year. Sky Adams and Jason Keller have moved on to new opportunities, so the new Sky is Monica Miley and the new Jason Keller is Abbey Bonner. Myself and Bethany have returned to the team, but to make things more complicated, we have switched brains. Andrew Hollis is our bench player.

For those who need to be reminded of Quiz Bowl, here’s a link to us last year beating the reigning champs in the first round!

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_iZSfSfDZI

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9DMEm1SYko

Come see us live out our nerd dreams!

 Cheers,

Eddy, Bethany, Monica, Abbey, and Andrew

Circles Initiative Meeting cancelled

The Circles Initiative meeting for tonight, Jan. 20, 2011, has been cancelled because of the snowy road conditions.

Everybody chips in on snowy day

With Bloomington blanketed in several inches of snow today, we’d like to thank all the people who have helped keep the business of helping people rolling today at the South Central Community Action Program. We appreciate your positive attitudes and camaraderie in making the best out of this slippery situation.

Before the doors at SCCAP opened to the public this morning, members of our weatherization staff chipped in to shovel our sidewalks so clients and customers would be safe. Kathy Potts of our Head Start staff, wearing her dashing wide-brimmed navy hat with chin strap, went above and beyond in brushing the snow off people’s cars that had accumulated since they’d arrived at our office.    

With a couple of cars stuck in the parking lots and hills around the main SCCAP office today, groups of staff went out and pushed them back onto the road. One car belonging to a Head Start parent needed staff members to stand on the back of it to get it rolling up the hills (pictured above).   

In the office’s front lobby, it was a busy day with many people visiting us to seek energy assistance. Much of Bloomington was pretty slow today, but not here. Many local people are struggling this winter and we’re glad to be able help them, particularly during this season of cold weather and high utility bills.

SCCAP seeking applicants for weatherization program – Bloomington, IN – AmericanTowns.com

SCCAP seeking applicants for weatherization program – Bloomington, IN – AmericanTowns.com.

Brewing snow storm shuts down Circles Holiday Celebration

The Monroe County Circles Initiative Holiday Celebration scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday has been canceled.

For more information, contact Linda Patton at the South Central Community Action Program, 339-3447, ext. 206, lindap@insccap.org.

Tuesday News – SCCAP Weatherization does it again!

Once again this quarter, the SCCAP Weatherization Department has exceeded its goal for the number of homes it has weatherized using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

This is the second quarter of the second round of ARRA weatherization funding. The assigned goal was 117 homes this quarter. SCCAP had made energy efficiency improvements to 123 homes in Brown, Monroe and Owen counties as of this morning.

Great job, Weatherization staff!!

This has also been a very busy time for the SCCAP Energy Assistance Program. SCCAP has approved 2,357 families for energy assistance in its 2010 winter program, including 817 who received additional crisis assistance.

Those numbers mean that SCCAP has already gone though just over 50 percent of its allotted funds for the entire winter, meaning the agency may run out of funds before the scheduled end of the winter program.

Friday Photos: Circles Initiative Thanksgiving 2010

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Participants in the Monroe County Circles Initiative, along with their family and friends, held their 2010 Thanksgiving dinner Thursday night at St. Marks United Methodist Church in Bloomington.

It was a great event with a big turnout and a terrific traditional Thanksgiving meal. We thank everyone who participated and particularly those who donated their time and/or turkeys to make this event possible.

Tuesday News: Energy Assistance Program busy

With the arrival of colder weather, this has been a busy week at the South Central Community Action Program with lots of people seeking assistance in paying their heating bills.

The Winter Energy Assistance Program has served 1,926 households already this season, providing $742,615 in assistance.  This is an average of $385 for each of the households receiving assistance in Brown, Monroe, Morgan and Owen counties.

SCCAP has also provided $231,760 in crisis energy assistance to 674 households, an average of $344 per household.

With a reduction in funding, it is more likely that SCCAP will run out of energy assistance funding at some point this winter. For families who have not yet applied, you can schedule an appointment by calling 339-3447 in Monroe County (push 0 to get the appointments person), 988-6636 in Brown County, 342-1518 in Morgan County and 829-2279 in Owen County.

Deadline for Morgan County Coordinator applications is Friday

Friday Photos – Parking lot expansion impact

New spots added to SCCAP side parking lot

New spots added to SCCAP back parking lot

The photos above show the 15 new spaces added to SCCAP’s back and side parking lots at our Bloomington main office. This work was finished a couple of weeks ago. The back and side parking lots are now usually mostly full, but typically have a few empty spots for employees or Head Start parents, who enter at the side of the building.

Front parking lot at SCCAP

 This photo shows half of the front parking lot at SCCAP. During the winter energy assistance season last year, this parking lot was completely overfilled with cars. Energy assistance clients who use the front entrance had to park their cars in every available cranny, resulting in many vehicles that were illegally parked in the lot and along the street.

This was a dangerous and inconvenient situation, especially for senior citizens and people with disabilities. With thousands of people receiving energy assistance from SCCAP each winter, this situation was a major problem.

With the expansion of the back and side parking lots, there are actually open, legal spots intended for parking where our clients can park throughout the day this EAP season. What a change from a year ago!

We want to thank the Jack Hopkins Social Service Funding Committee and City Council at the City of Bloomington, which provided most of the funding for the parking lot expansions.

Wednesday Woof 4

Luna – Emily Resing

Dexter – Sandy Boomsma

Sophie – Kathleen Edwards

Tac – Sandy Boomsma

Buddy – Kathleen Edwards

Please keep sending us your pet photos to doug@insccap.org or text them to 812-369-1423. Make sure to include the dog’s or cat’s name and your name.

Tuesday News: We need your help – please pass the message along

The Monroe County Circles Initiative has an urgent need for volunteers to help end poverty in Monroe County. Please join us for an informal discussion about the volunteer opportunities within the Circles Community.

This discussion will be held next Monday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the South Central Community Action Program, 1500 W. 15th Street. Coffee and dessert will be served. Please RSVP by Friday, Nov. 12 to circlevolunteer@insccap.org or 812-339-3447, ext. 206.

Here is a statement by current Circles Ally Markus Dickinson about his volunteer experience:

“My wife and I joined the Circles program with the idea that poverty was bad, and we had no idea what to do about it,” Dickinson said. “It’s a shame, we thought, that we really don’t know anyone in poverty and we only know bits and pieces of the research on poverty.

“So, we signed on to be Allies, partnering to move them out of poverty, despite barely knowing what that meant. What prevented us from joining sooner was the imposing 18-month commitment required of Allies. But that’s one thing we discovered: it’s not a commitment any more than a friendship is a commitment. It’d be weird to say that you have an 18-month friendship, and it’d also be missing the point.

“We’ve been able to help someone and, at the same time, have them help us. Like friends do. In good times and bad times. It’s been eye-opening to see how hard some things are for people in poverty, like housing issues or car troubles, but wonderful to see how deeply the friendship can grow in the midst of those hardships. That’s why we signed up: for a deeper sense of community, here in Bloomington.”

The Circles® Initiative facilitates intentional relationships between people who have sufficient resources to thrive and those who do not.  A Circle Leader is someone who is motivated to increase his/her resources in order to move out of poverty.  A Circle Ally is someone who has sufficient and stable resources, and an interest in eliminating poverty in Monroe County.  Each Circle Leader is matched with 3-4 Circle Allies creating a circle of support.  These circles not only help individuals move out of poverty, but they work to break down class stereotypes, advocate for the poor, and create a more sustainable economy for our whole community!

 Come and learn more about:

• Becoming an Ally!
• Helping cook & serve a meal at our weekly Circles® Community meeting!
• Volunteering with our Youth Program!

If you have a personal facebook account and would be willing to pass this message along to your friends, please hit the “Share” button below.

Muncie Circles Initiative featured on NPR

With Muncie and Monroe County having the two most advanced Circles Initiatives in Indiana, it’s great to see that Muncie’s has just been featured on NPR.