News Briefs Week of 4/20/20

Portman remembers
former staff member
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) released a statement regarding the death of Wes Fahrbach, a former staff member who served as Northwest Ohio District Representative in Senator Portman’s office from 2011-2017. Fahrbach passed away April 9 after battling the coronavirus.
“Wes was a wonderful guy who was dedicated to serving Northwest Ohio. He was a Sandusky County Commissioner, Director of Sandusky County Economic Development Corp, and Northwest Ohio District Representative for Sen. George Voinovich, then me.
“I was always proud to have Wes represent me. He did so with integrity, good humor, and optimism. Wes never met a stranger. Jane and I were honored to know Wes, and our hearts go out to his great family, as we all mourn the passing of a true public servant.”

GTCF grants
Greater Toledo Community Foundation announced that local philanthropists, family foundations, corporations and businesses continue to add to the Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
GTCF’s program department and board of trustees are reviewing applications and approving grants at record pace, and 100% of the donations made to this fund will be granted out to our local nonprofits as they deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in our communities.
Seven grants totaling $61,450 from the COVID-19 Response Fund have been approved to support Northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan nonprofit organizations, bringing the total distributed in three weeks to more than $200,000. Another $18,000 in grants has been recommended and are in the approval process.
Awardees of the seven recently approved grants totaling $61,450 include:
• Bittersweet Farms to purchase personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies to support services for residents with intellectual disabilities.
• The Cocoon to provide crisis support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence by increasing staff time, providing communication devices and basic needs items.
• Heartbeat of Toledo to support additional costs for formula and diapers for clients.
• Ohio Living to support additional staff hours and personal protective equipment to continue to support elderly residents living in its Northwest Ohio locations.
• St. Martin de Porres – The Claver House to support transitioning an in-person feeding program that serves the homeless, veterans and other adults to a grab-and-go system.
• Sunshine Foundation to purchase medical supplies and personal protective equipment.
• United Way of Greater Toledo to increase the hours of staff who operate the 211 service and manage data collection.
Donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund at GTCF are urgently needed to meet the huge demand for aid to Toledo region residents affected by COVID-19's economic consequences.
Donations may be made online at https://toledocf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list.
GTCF will continue to make grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund as long as donations are received. Local nonprofit organizations may apply for grants by visiting www.toledocf.org/grants, or contacting Patrick Johnston at 419-241-5049 or Patrick@toledocf.org.

United Way grants
United Way of Greater Toledo (UWGT) encourages community organizations which are specifically working in the space of food insecurity to apply for an Emergency Relief Fund grant.
Grants will vary in quantity and size based on the request outlined in the application, which can be found at UnitedWayToledo.org/EmergencyFund. Singular grants will be capped at $25,000 in size. The objective is to expand the applicant’s capacity to serve community members due to COVID-19.
“From April 13 to the 27, the team at United Way, along with key volunteers and funders, will be closely reviewing proposals on a rolling-basis,” said Wendy Pestrue, president and CEO of UWGT.
The goal of the Emergency Response Fund is to address ongoing, emerging community needs as COVID-19 continues to impact every corner of UWGT’s three-county footprint.
UWGT hopes to invest $100,000 in total to tackle food insecurity, as pantries and meal service entities manage unprecedented numbers of those seeking nutrition resources. There is not a determined timeline for a second-round of grants, as studies at UWGT will continue for the next topic area.
To contribute to the Emergency Response Fund, visit UnitedWayToledo.org/Donate.

4-1-DINE Market &
Community Care Fund
Fowl & Fodder downtown restaurant announced this past week the 4-1-DINE Market, a new online grocery store.
The market offers customers the opportunity to order grocery everyday staples like bread, milk, eggs, butter and produce, along with some of the harder-to-find-items like hand soap, all-purpose disinfectant cleaner, toilet paper and paper towels. Meal kits will also be offered.
Customers can shop and order online throughout the entire week, with delivery and pick up days currently being offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Delivery is available for $4.19 within a 15-mile radius of downtown Toledo with a $75 minimum purchase.
“The day we temporarily closed the doors at Fowl & Fodder Downtown was the day we opened our hearts and our minds to figuring out new and innovative ways to best serve our customers and our neighbors during this difficult time,” said Alicia Wagner, co-owner of Fowl & Fodder Downtown.
Fowl & Fodder Downtown also created the 4-1-DINE Community Care Fund in collaboration with their nonprofit partner, Mosaic Ministries.
Mosaic is a nonprofit helping those in the community beat poverty and overcome food insecurities. Fowl & Fodder asked to collaborate with them to help raise even more money to help people who are struggling to meet their basic needs due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19.
Individuals can help raise money for the fund by putting a donation into their shopping cart when checking out of the market or by going directly to Mosaic Ministries website and clicking 4-1-DINE Fund.
Visit the 4-1-DINE Market online at https://the41dinemarket.squarespace.com/, and the 4-1-DINE Community Care Fund at https://beatpovertytoledo.com/41dine/.

“Waitress” rescheduled
In light of the ongoing situation due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the producers of the “Waitress” tour have decided to suspend all dates through this summer. The April 30 -May 3 performances at the Stranahan Theater have been rescheduled for Oct. 8-11.
For those who purchased tickets to this show, seats have been automatically moved to the new run date. Information will be available later in the summer regarding options for those who may need to exchange tickets for a different performance
Email patronservicesrep@americantheatreguild.org for more info. For updates visit BroadwayInToledo.com.

Young Rep sets
video auditions
The Toledo Young Rep has announced auditions for the July 2020 production of Arthur Miller’s suspenseful drama, “The Crucible.”
Actors ages 14-19 years old are invited to submit video auditions by Monday, April 20. The cast includes 12 males and 10 females.
Video auditions should include the actor performing a dramatic monologue of his or her choice, submitted to bherrmann@toledorep.org no later than Monday, April 20. The email should include the actor’s name, age, email, phone number, address, specific role auditioning for, if relevant, and previous theater experience.
Callbacks through Zoom will take place on May 4. Production dates are July 9-12.
“The Crucible” is a 1953 Tony Award-winning classic play based upon the hysteria surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. The production is directed by Julie Zatko.
The Toledo Rep is following all safety guidelines issued by the State of Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wood Co. residents
can report COVID-19
symptoms via survey
Wood County residents who feel they may have coronavirus (COVID-19) are encouraged to complete a survey that will help local public health better track the illness.
The survey, a partnership among Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, Fulton County Health Department and the University of Toledo, is meant to create a better understanding of COVID-19 in Northwest Ohio. Wood County residents are asked to report coronavirus symptoms at https://tinyurl.com/WoodCountyCOVID19.
“Because our testing capacity is still limited, we’re not able to confirm coronavirus in everyone who thinks they may have it. This is a way for us to get a better picture of how COVID-19 is currently impacting our communities,” said Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Batey.
People who believe they may be sick with coronavirus are first asked to review CDC’s information about COVID-19 symptoms at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. Those with concerns about their condition should contact their health care provider.
The survey asks for basic demographic, employment and health information that will only be used to track the coronavirus outbreak. Information will be stored in an encrypted database and only shared with agencies working to respond to COVID-19. Local health departments will monitor all reports but may not be able to respond to your submission personally.

Relief funds
State Rep. Michael Sheehy (D-Oregon) announced last week that the state Controlling Board approved more than $248 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to aid the state’s ongoing pandemic response efforts, including funds to bolster testing capacity, purchase needed personal protective equipment for frontline workers, expand hospital capacity, and provide resources for those most impacted by the coronavirus.
However, Sheehy urged continued action at the state and federal level to address the crisis, saying this is just the beginning of long-term response and recovery efforts.
“True to my commitment and my colleagues’ commitment, we are keeping families first by these expenditures saving Ohio families in this critical time,” said Rep. Sheehy.
The approved federal funding package includes:
•$8.8 million to construct temporary medical facilities to supplement hospital capacity;
•$76.1 million for ventilators and face masks;
•$39 million to expand statewide testing capacity;
•$50 million to purchase additional personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers;
•$20 million in each of the next two years to expand the state’s SNAP food assistance program;
•$25 million to the Summer Food Service Program to provide meals for children and teens in low-income areas;
•$9.5 million over the next two years to support emergency food distribution at foodbanks and pantries.
In addition to the federal funds, some $500,000 in state funds were released to improve services for state and county Jobs and Family Services offices, along with another $95,000 for medical treatment and services for inmates at various corrections facilities.

Funds for health centers
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur announced $3,539,665 in federal funding for community health centers across Northern Ohio as a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) passed last month by Congress.
The legislation included approximately $200 billion for hospitals, health systems, and health research and expanded funding for the personal protective equipment desperately needed by health care workers, including ventilators, N95 masks, gowns, gloves, and more. The funding is being administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Grant recipients locally include Neighborhood Health Association of Toledo, Inc., which will receive a total of $727,910.
In Sandusky, the Family Health Services of Erie County will receive $590,780; and the Erie County Community Health Center will receive $603,560.
“Our community health centers and the health professionals who keep them running are our most precious assets in the fight against COVID-19,” said Kaptur. “It is absolutely critical that they receive the necessary resources to get the equipment and support they need. Each day, frontline health workers put their own health and safety on the line to save others in their community – for this, we will be eternally grateful. They are heroes on the ramparts of this fight, and it is our duty to support them. I’m glad to see this funding getting dispersed without delay and I will work tirelessly to ensure our community health centers and health workers continue to receive the support they deserve.”