For more information on these organizations, or for more on serving your community, contact Ann Gosky at: agosky@kent.edu.

Altercare
American Red Cross of Portage County
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Portage County
Boys and Girls Club of Portage County
Boy Scouts of America
Center of Hope
Coleman Professional Services
County Clothing Center
Family and Community Services
Four Seasons
Habitat for Humanity of Portage County
The Hattie Larlham Foundation
Haven of Rest Ministries
Head Start Programs
Kent Social Services / The Lord’s Pantry
King Kennedy Community Center
Miller Community House
Mobile Meals
Portage Area Transitional Housing (PATH)
Robinson Memorial Hospital
Safer Futures
The Salvation Army
The Senior Nutrition Program
Skeels-Mathews Community Center
Stewart's Caring Place
Townhall II
United Way Foundation
Youth Challenge

Altercare
Altercare provides a serene, supportive style of living for senior citizens in need of high-quality care. Residents are provided with continual management and attention. Altercare accommodates its residents with affordable living to enhance the quality of their life. For volunteer information, contact Altercare at 330-296-6415.

American Red Cross of Portage County
The American Red Cross works to prepare for disasters through education on disaster response in order to mitigate suffering and alleviate those affected by a tragedy with food, shelter and other essential provisions. A major part of student involvement with the Red Cross is through blood donations. Contact the local Red Cross at 330-296-9991. For the Portage County chapter, visit portageoh.redcross.org/.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Portage County
This program connects children with role models to nurture learning through mentoring relationships. Mentoring a little sister or brother is as easy as spending the time to play board games or sports. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister by calling 330-296-6655 or visit www.bbbsa.org.

Boys and Girls Club of Portage County
The mission of the Boys and Girls Club of Portage County is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Club provides a wide variety of programs including education and career development, health and life skills, and other valuable development activities. For more information on how to volunteer, call 330-296-8535.

Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts mission is to instill moral character through youth programs and values-based leadership training. The scouts provide community service and offer young people responsible fun and adventure. For more information, call Mike Panasiti at 330-773-0415 or visit www.gtcbsa.org.

Center of Hope
The Center of Hope provides individuals  and their  families with resources and services regarding employment, social activities, housing options and personal development. To volunteer, contact Daryle Fullum at 330-297-5454 or visit www.portagefamilies.org.

Coleman Professional Services
Coleman Professional Services is a private, non-profit corporation designed to help improve the lives of children, families, and businesses. Coleman has three major divisions consisting of behavioral health, rehabilitation, and an entrepreneur division. For volunteer information, contact Jennifer Wallace at 330-676-6949 or visit www.colemanprof.com.

County Clothing Center
The County Clothing Center provides gently used clothing (as available) to low income families/individuals in need, at no charge. To become involved, visit www.portagefamilies.org.

Family and Community Services
Family and Community Services  seeks to support, strengthen, and empower individuals and families through a broad continuum of community-based services that meet the needs and values of the community. The agencies that make up the Family and Community Services family include those that aid the poor, homeless, seniors, youth, abused, etc.  Family and Community Services is the largest, most integrated, strongest and most effective social service agency in Portage County.  Volunteers serve meals, distribute clothing, tutor and mentor youth, provide service to seniors, etc.  Contact 330-297-7027 or www.portagefamilies.org for more information.

Four Seasons
Four Seasons offers independent living for senior citizens. The complex holds many social events and is designed for comfort and affordability. Volunteers are involved in social activities and programs, such as Adopt-a-Grandparent. To volunteer, call Patty McNerney at 330-346-0063 or visit www.fourseasonsatkent.com.

Habitat for Humanity of Portage County
An affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat for Humanity of Portage County works with qualified persons with housing needs to help them create a better human habitat in which to live and work. HFH has a goal of building five houses per year to eliminate substandard housing in Portage County. For more information, call 330-296-2880 or visit habitatofportage.com.

The Hattie Larlham Foundation
In the past four decades, Hattie Larlham has built a rich legacy upon the principle that every child and adult with mental retardation and developmental disabilities deserves the best care possible. Beyond just providing for a person’s basic needs, Hattie Larlham recognizes the importance of socialization, relationships and fun. When an individual receives services from Hattie Larlham, whether at the Center for Excellence, a community home or in their own home, they are in the hands of those who not only give care but who do care. For information, call 1-800-233-8611 or visit www.hattielarlham.org.

Haven of Rest Ministries
Haven of Rest is a non-profit, non-denominational, Christian social service organization whose purpose is to serve and glorify God through a Christ-centered outreach of love and compassion that responds to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of disadvantaged men, women and children without regard to race, color, creed or social standing. Haven of Rest Ministries offer counseling and assistance for homeless people who need help in obtaining social services. Annual community outreach events are offered, including a summer picnic, and basketball camp for boys and girls in grades three through eight. They can be reached at 330-434-1149 or visit www.havenofrest.org.

Head Start Programs
Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to allow them to offer comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families. A special focus is placed on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they need to be successful in school. Contact them at 330-676-9531 or visit www.nhsa.org.

Kent Social Services / The Lord’s Pantry
Kent Social Services provides daily hot meals and food pantry assistance to help families and individuals meet their basic need for nutritious food. The pantry provides emergency food relief for the local areas of Kent, Brady Lake and Franklin Township. For more information, call 330-673-6963 or visit www.portagefamilies.org.

King Kennedy Community Center
The King-Kennedy Community Center was created and partially funded by Kent State University students. Nowhere else in the United States have students created and funded this type of endeavor. The King-Kennedy Center remains one of the largest social service projects ever created by students. The Center provides organized recreational, educational, cultural and social programs for both the elderly and the young. Contact Richard Brantley at 330-296-9957 or visit www.portagefamilies.org for more information.

Miller Community House
Miller Community House exists to provide emergency shelter to those adults and children in a housing crisis, while also providing support, advocacy, and referrals to encourage self-sufficiency and movement to permanent housing. Miller Community House is dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents by providing a 30-day shelter that includes case management , advocacy, information, and referrals to area resources and collaborative agencies. The services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, call 330-673-0034 or visit www.portagefamilies.org.

Mobile Meals
The purpose of Mobile Meals is to provide meals and nutritional services to vulnerable and chronically ill individuals of all ages. In order to accomplish this purpose, the organization utilizes educators, dietitians, nutritionists and volunteers to provide and promote services and to educate those who are served. Mobile Meals is dedicated to providing services needed to sustain physical and mental health, including the provision of food, nutrition information, social contact and a connection to other community organizations. Contact Mobile Meals at 330-677-4709 or visit www.mobilemealsinc.org/mobilemeals/site/.

Portage Area Transitional Housing (PATH)
The PATH program assists homeless families and individuals who are experiencing significant difficulties that hinder their ability to maintain stable housing. PATH offers comprehensive, supportive services and subsidized transitional housing for up to 24 months to support participants in their efforts to increase social and economic strength and to secure permanent, stable housing. The services are designed to promote greater self-sufficiency, self-determination, and permanent housing acquisition. Contact PATH at 330-677-0880 or visit www.portagefamilies.org for more information.

Robinson Memorial Hospital
The mission of Robinson Memorial Hospital is to provide high-quality caring and cost-effective services; to inspire staff to exceed the expectations of their patients and their families; and to achieve financial results to ensure its continued success. Contact them at 330-297-0811 or visit www.robinsonmemorial.org/.

Safer Futures
Safer Futures is a resource center and shelter for women and children seeking freedom from domestic violence. The  organization provides shelter, advocacy, moral support, education concerning domestic violence, and access to relevant community resources in addition to a 24-hour hotline. To volunteer, contact Safer Futures at 330-673-2500 or visit www.portagefamilies.org.

The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army social service programs meet the basic needs of daily life for those without the resources to do so themselves. Often the programs provide food, shelter, clothing, financial assistance to pay utilities, and other necessities based on need. The Salvation Army is serving more people in the USA than ever before, and is seeing large increases in the number of Americans seeking the basic necessities of life--food, shelter, and warmth. For more information, call 330-296-7371 or visit www.salvationarmyusa.org.

The Senior Nutrition Program
The Senior Nutrition Program, a project of Family and Community Services of Portage County, provides meals for the elderly in a congregate setting. Utilizing the resources of the old Portage County Nursing Home, weekday meals are prepared and delivered to three senior residences, one senior center, four churches, two cupboards, one adult day care center, and two community centers in the area. The goal is to provide one nutritionally balanced meal a day to persons 60 years of age or older in order to maintain the health and vitality of older persons for as long as possible. Meals are offered on an anonymous donation basis to ensure that those who cannot afford to pay can also participate. Malnutrition, chronic illnesses and loneliness are daily concerns for older persons who may be living alone and who are struggling to stay healthy as they face the ever-increasing costs of living. This alternative to institutional care offers a cost-saving choice for those who, through the years, have contributed greatly to our communities. Contact them at 330-296-2747 or visit www.portagefamilies.org for more information.

Skeels-Mathews Community Center
Skeels-Mathews is a community center which provides services and programs for all Portage County residents. The mission of the Community Center is to improve the educational, physical, cultural, and social aspects of the community and surrounding areas. For more information, call Sharon Sanders at 330-297-0192 or visit www.portagefamilies.org.

Stewart's Caring Place
The mission of Stewart’s Caring Place is to provide a caring environment of healing and support for individuals and families touched by cancer. Stewart’s compliments medical treatment by providing a network of non-medical cancer support services free of charge. To contact them, call 330-836-1772 or visit www.stewartscaringplace.org.

Townhall II
Townhall II exists to promote health, wellness, and recovery of individuals and communities through prevention, education, advocacy, intervention, and treatment. All services are provided in a caring and nurturing atmosphere respectful of individual goals. Townhall II engages in securing the resources to obtain a primary site and ensuring the continuation of quality services in response to community needs. Contact them at 330-678-8109 or visit http://www.townhall2.com.

United Way Foundation
Mobilizing resources to create lasting change in community conditions that improve lives, United Way of Portage County is a good way to help the people in our community. It is a results-driven organization that focuses resources on high-priority human service needs. United Way of Portage County funds 35 different programs which enhance the lives of an estimated 40,000 residents in Portage County. It is the largest non-governmental funding source for human care issues in our community. United Way of Portage County also promotes volunteerism. The United Way Volunteer Center offers a resource and referral service to all nonprofit organizations in the community and sponsors several activities such as Project Fresh Start, a school supply donation effort for children in need. Contact the United Way at 330-297-1424 or visit www.uwportage.org.

Youth Challenge
Youth Challenge offers year-round adapted sports and recreational programming throughout the Greater Cleveland area to children with disabilities. Activities are tailored to fit the needs of children using wheelchairs or crutches, the hearing and sight impaired, and children with other physical disabilities. Participants not only improve their strength and motor skills, but they develop social skills and confidence through peer interaction. Volunteers are able to fulfill community service requirements while gaining leadership traits, patience and understanding, and a sense of civic responsibility. The most important byproduct of Youth Challenge programs are the interactions between the participants and the volunteers, which is the focal point of the agency’s mission. To learn more, contact Sarah Perez-Stable at 440-892-1001 or visit www.youthchallengesports.com.