Agency helps make life better for people in need

We usually hear about Mid-Nebraska Community Action Partnership in connection with local representative Barb Ostrum, who seems to show up whenever there's a worthwhile public service project to support.

She's a volunteer organizer of the annual Toy Box and Coat Closet activities that make sure every kid has a present to open for Christmas and everyone has a warm coat to ward off the winter chill.

But her day job with "Mid" sees her joining with many other employees and volunteers to help those who might not be getting the help they need in the face of poverty and economic insecurity.

Mid, which employs 229 people and covers 27 counties in south central Nebraska and two counties in Kansas, joins eight other Community Action Agencies across Nebraska and 1,000 across the United States in celebrating National Community Action Month in May.

"Our board, staff, and volunteers are committed to their task of replacing disadvantages with opportunities. Despite experiencing budget cuts and increased demands for services during these challenging economic times, we continue to put in place innovative and needed programs andservices that alleviate poverty conditions and enhance economic security for individual, families, and communities" said Meredith Collins, Executive Director of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska.

The agency works to help individuals access programs to provide early childhood education, financial literacy, job training, food security, affordable housing, health care, nutrition education, energy assistance and much more.

In 2014, Community Action partnership of Mid-Nebraska:

* served 16,294 unduplicated individuals in 5,300 households.

* collaborated with more than 600 local agencies and provided community education to 5,089 individuals.

* improved 116 housing units through weatherization and rehabilitation activities.

* assisted 2,118 consumers through outreach, phone and in-person assistance for the Affordable Care Act Navigator Program.

* served over 80,000 meals for area seniors.

* provided 125,676 total boardings serving Adams, Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Hamilton and Kearney counties through the RYDE Transit Program.