Posted October 20, 20153:34 pm
October 2015 -- United Way provides funding to more than 20 local charities in Ashtabula County, many of which depend on the organization to help provide services.
“Those are very important programs and agencies that are really meeting basic needs of people,” United Way Executive Director Randy Jones said. “ The United Way agencies touch a lot of families.
Some of the local charities include the Ashtabula Senior Center, Country Neighbor food bank, Ashtabula Dream Center, Legal Aid Society and the Samaritan House.
Last year Legal Aid Society in Jefferson, which provides “non-criminal legal services for low income and vulnerable people,” received more than $25,000 and this year they received $27,500.
“Funding is crucial,” said Melanie Shakarian, director of development and communications. “It helps us help people who are at a point in time where legal issues are affecting one’s health, shelter or economic security. It’s important to people in Ashtabula County because a lot of people don’t have access to the legal system and we give them that opportunity.”
Last year, Legal Aid helped more than 1,100 people in Ashtabula.
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