Portage County Land Bank completes first sale through Welcome Home program
- Staff Report. The Portage County Land Bank recently sold its first rehabilitated home through the Ohio Department of Development's Welcome Home Ohio program.
Nonprofits
How Portage County nonprofits fund themselves to help others
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Nonprofit organizations have to keep their doors open and services running with uncertain revenue, much of it arriving at the end of the year, said Axess Family Services Executive Director Mark Frisone. People feel generous during the holiday season, or maybe they’re looking for a tax break.
Volunteers and donations needed for Community RECESS Initiative
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Founded in July 2025, the Community RECESS (Recreation, Resources, Community Service Supervision) Initiative is the brainchild of Aaron Mitchell, who worked with community navigator Frank Hairston to gently help individuals and families in Ravenna Township’s Skeels and McElrath neighborhoods build a sense of community, secure needed resources and unleash their community spirit.
Rootstown Lions Club Chili Cook-off a hit in its fifth year
- Abigail Kress. Community members and businesses across Rootstown Township came together for the Rootstown Township Lions Club 5th Annual Chili Cook Off.
Community donations helped food pantries survive SNAP shutdown
- Amanda Smith. Community donations helped food pantries in Summit and Portage counties meet rising demand last year, even as government funding declined and a temporary SNAP disruption sent more families seeking help for the first time.
Axess Family Services uses $5M award to make lasting local change
- Wendy DiAlesandro. A year ago, Axess Family Services received an unexpected $5 million award from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, which is backed by multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez.
Portage Developmental Disabilities board planning three months of awareness
- Adriana Gasiewski. The Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities will begin celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with a lineup of events starting in February, including the return of Limitless Art.
From the publisher: New podcast series reveals hunger problem in Portage County
- Ben Wolford.
Six-hour bread lines. A person digs through the garbage. A 75-year-old Army veteran wonders aloud: “What the hell am I going to eat?”
New charity forms to support Aurora Food Pantry
- Lauren Cohen.
The Aurora VFW Post 2629 and the Knights of Columbus Council 14186 have been purchasing food for the Aurora Food Pantry for several years, donating over $36,000 of perishable food yearly as one of their community projects. But the need for assistance is growing.
Longtime Community Action Council leader David Shea retires; John Kennedy appointed
David Shea, executive director of Community Action Council of Portage County for 26 years, is stepping down Oct. 22. Taking the lead role is former county treasurer John Kennedy.
Shower, laundry program restarting at Axess Family Services
Starting this week, Axess Family Services is resurrecting a hygiene program that was one of many shuttered during the Covid era.
Federal funding delay hits Portage County families in need of food and shelter
A FEMA program that has provided emergency food and shelter for over four decades has not released funding under the Trump administration, leaving local aid organizations to increasingly rely on local donors — if they can be found.
Cocoon Makers looking for new home
After more than 13 years as an organization, the Cocoon Makers are looking for a new home. The Cocoon Makers were started by two women, Linda Hall and Marilyn Pol, who had a shared concern for homeless members of their community. The group began making what it called cocoons, or quilted bedrolls for homeless individuals, but now makes a variety of projects for different organizations. Hall has since passed and Pol has retired from the group, but the Cocoon Makers […]
Portage County’s pet pantries look to help those in need
Pet owners sometimes face issues financially providing for their companions. Deirdre Reaves of Kent knows this problem all too well. Twelve years ago, Reaves was facing the possibility of parting with her dog, Dink.
Mantua-based Hearts for Music helping connect people through song
In 2018, Kitrael Chin was contacted by a music group for those with special needs based in St. Petersburg, Russia. The group, named Sunny Notes, wanted Hearts for Music – the Mantua-based orchestra for people with special needs that Chin founded – to play for them, and vice versa. Chin liked the idea.
Socially Responsible Sweatshop prepares quilt for annual raffle
- Staff Report.
The Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent will raffle off a purple butterfly quilt in this year’s raffle, which helps the nonprofit cover its annual insurance costs.
Portage Foundation creates LGBTQ+ Fund after new law shuts down higher ed support
The Portage Foundation is offering financial resources to the county’s LGBT community through a fund created after a new law forced campuses to close centers devoted to scholarships and emergency assistance.
New jail transport program has already helped 173 people
In the first six months of a new Portage County Jail transportation program, 173 people recently released from the jail have taken advantage of free rides to a PARTA hub, personally accompanied by a social worker offering help with employment and housing.