Following the successful launch of 2-1-1 services for Tiffin and Seneca County in October 2023, Tiffin-Seneca United Way has announced the completion of the conversion of their First Call For Help program to a TSUW fund. The TSUW First Call For Help Fund will be administered through a partnership with the Tiffin Salvation Army.

“First Call For Help has been a cornerstone program for Tiffin-Seneca United Way,” said board president David Stover. “It has provided crucial assistance to countless Seneca County residents through the years. This conversion from program to fund will ensure that we can continue to get help to the people who need it, through both 2-1-1 and First Call For Help.”

Application for assistance from the First Call For Help fund will now be made exclusively through the Tiffin Salvation Army. Requests directed to the TSUW office will be referred to the Salvation Army.

“The consultancy partnership between Tiffin-Seneca United Way and United Way of North Central Ohio means that we are streamlining some processes to make space for developing additional funding for nonprofits in Seneca County,” said Amber Wertman, UWNCO CEO. “Salvation Army’s capacity to take on distributing First Call For Help funds with our financial backing makes this an ideal collaboration.”

The success of Tiffin-Seneca United Way’s rollout of 2-1-1 services for the county has given residents around-the-clock access to vital community services. “There’s no wait for 2-1-1 assistance and no in-person application requirement,” Stover said. “The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.”

Since its launch in October, TSUW 2-1-1 has fielded 1,042 requests for assistance in the county. 38% of those requests were in the Housing & Shelter category and included individuals looking for emergency shelters, low-cost housing, rent and/or mortgage assistance, and help with landlord/tenant issues. Residents also called 2-1-1 for help with utilities, food and other household necessities, transportation assistance, and mental health resources.

Tiffin-Seneca United Way funds more than 20 primary and associate nonprofit partners working to fill Seneca County with successful children, healthy families, and self-sufficient residents. TSUW is committed to their presence and partnerships in the community and will continue to provide updates about improvements at the organization.