Standing Together: Supporting Local Nonprofits Helping Neighbors in Southern Ohio
AEP Ohio recent provided emergency grant funding to Community Action Commission of Ross County
When Winter Storm Fern swept across Ohio, it didn’t just blanket communities in snow; it tested them. More than a foot of snowfall, bitter winds and subzero temperatures shut down schools, emptied grocery shelves and made even short trips dangerous. For neighbors experiencing homelessness or food insecurity, the cold wasn’t just uncomfortable — it was life-threatening.
In the face of those conditions, emergency funding quickly turned into warm beds, safe shelter and paid staff who could stay through the night.
“It’s been a balancing act for us,” Julie Bolen, the executive director for the Ross County Community Action Commission, said. “We are open 24 hours a day, but we were at capacity every single night due to the storm.”
A $10,000 emergency grant from the AEP Ohio Foundation helped the agency get more cots to get people out of the extreme cold.