HISTORY

Oberlin Community Services (OCS) has evolved over fifty years from a small volunteer group of citizens to a professionally managed agency, consolidating a variety of social services for Oberlin and southern Lorain County under one umbrella. OCS was established as the merger of two existing United Way supported organizations, the Oberlin Community Welfare Council and the Oberlin Health Commission.

The Welfare Council was founded in 1955 by a group of concerned Oberlin citizens to: provide information/referral services to the Oberlin community, improve the quality and effectiveness of welfare services in Oberlin, achieve coordination and better understanding among agencies, offer temporary emergency assistance, discover and study social needs and promote efforts to meet them, and organize a Christmas clearing house for community Christmas giving.

The Health Commission was formed in 1958 to promote health education and provide medical assistance as well as some senior citizen recreation programs. As a result of the merger, senior citizen recreational activities, monthly luncheons on health subjects, and various health screening services were added to the welfare mission of the welfare council.

OCS Dial-A-Ride

OCS has responded to emerging community needs over the years by adding and expanding services. In 1974, a Meals on Wheels program was started, utilizing volunteer drivers and coordinators. OCS established dial-a-ride bus transportation for senior citizens in 1975 and continued to provide Oberlin's public transportation, supported from 1981-91 by a federal/state grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, until 1992 when a private bus company took over the service. Emergency food distribution was expanded in 1982 when the County Cupboard, now Second Harvest Food Bank was formed to deal with the recession in Lorain County. Mass distribution of government surplus commodities was begun in 1983 (OCS now serves southern Lorain County with monthly distributions). Utility assistance for southern Lorain County has been expanded in the last few years in collaboration with the Salvation Army and the City of Oberlin and funded also by EFSP money. For several years, OCS handled the non-transient emergency assistance for the Oberlin Salvation Army service unit and continues to provide prescription assistance for the Red Cross for the southern part of the county.

High School Math Tutoring

In 1992, OCS began a new program providing math tutoring for academically disadvantaged youth. The agency runs a summer program for high school students and an after-school program for fourth and sixth graders. Tutors consist of agency staff, community volunteers, and Oberlin College students.

4th Grade Math Tutoring

Over the years, OCS has played a major role in collaborative program planning with other agencies. Examples include the Oberlin Interagency Council (1991-2001) and the Oberlin Community Technology Committee which established The Bridge. More recently, OCS has worked with the City of Oberlin and the SplashZone on a summer pool pass program for low-income Oberlin children.

Oberlin Community Center, 80 South Main Street

The agency was located at the Oberlin Community Center from 1960 until 1996. The Community Center was successively owned and maintained by Nordson, Oberlin College and O.H.I.O. (Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization). United Way funds supported operating costs fully until 1983, but these funds diminished and were replaced by revenue from the occupants and outside renters of the space. Starting in the 1970s, the building also was occupied by Oberlin Seniors and F.A.V.A., a nonprofit arts group. The Center provided free space for various county social service agencies, including Food Stamp and Social Security outreach workers, Nord Center, and the Lorain County Health Department, which held Adult Health, WIC, and Immunization clinics. Furthermore, the Center provided free or low-cost meeting space for various civic groups, clubs, and charitable organizations.

Demolition of 80 South Main Street 

In 1996, O.H.I.O. demolished the Oberlin Community Center to create a park area in front of its historical houses. F.A.V.A. had moved in May to the New Union Center for the Arts. Both of the remaining organizations eventually secured temporary facilities. However because of the unavailability of a large space, the social services were split: Oberlin Seniors moved in October 1996 to the Jeanne Beattie Butts house. In January 1997, OCS moved down the street to a former convenience store and established the Oberlin Community Services Center at 129 South Main Street.

New Building

In June of 2000, Oberlin Community Services launched a capital campaign to build a new building. Due to the generosity of the community and local foundation, the agency was able to raise the nearly $500,000 needed for the buildings. In January 2001, it completed the construction of a permanent facility on South Professor Street. The new building is centrally located and highly visible in the community. It is suited for receiving, storing and distributing food as well as providing adequate space and privacy for case management, meetings, information dispersal, and other services rendered. The facility on South Professor creates a welcoming environment that promotes clients' sense of dignity and self-worth and supports face-to-face interaction among community groups and members.

The new Oberlin Community Services center is situated in a historic area next to a national landmark, the Oberlin Railroad Depot. The North Coast Inland Trail bike path operated by Lorain County Metroparks runs alongside the new site. On the corner of South Professor and South Street, Oberlin Community Services faces the Oberlin College Arboretum.

The milestone of our 50th anniversary in 2005 provides us with an opportunity to look back on the history of our organization. Through years of collaborating on projects and sharing resources, we have established connections with other agencies, forming a network that allows us to integrate services and extend our reach. Reflecting on the individual struggles we have witnessed, we are inspired by the resiliency of the people we serve. Families who receive assistance often return to volunteer or make donations. As we celebrate our successful partnerships, we also acknowledge the continuing challenges faced by Oberlin area residents. It is clear that the services we provide are necessary, and as we continue to develop our role within the community, we reaffirm our commitment to helping low-income residents meet their basic needs.