Oberlin Community Services

Mission & Vision

OCS empowers area residents through emergency assistance, food programs, and other services while promoting systemic change.

We envision a sustainable and thriving community where everyone flourishes.

Programming

The OCS food pantry serves Lorain County residents with income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, as well as those experiencing temporary hardship due to job loss, injury, illness, and other obstacles.

OCS provides emergency financial assistance including rent and utility bill relief to residents of the 44074, 44090, 44049, and 44050 ZIP codes, which cover Oberlin, Wellington, Kipton, LaGrange and surrounding townships of Brighton, Camden, Carlisle, Huntington, LaGrange, New Russia, Penfield, Pittsfield, Rochester, and Wellington.

So many local families are struggling to keep up with the increasing cost of living. More and more OCS clients are middle-income people who have lost their jobs and are falling into the ranks of the low-income for the first time in their lives. Many who come in to see us are struggling with sporadic and inadequate income, hunger, lack of health care coverage, substandard housing, and home foreclosure. Some clients have mental health issues, physical disabilities, or criminal records that keep them out of the workforce. OCS seeks to alleviate these problems by providing food, preventing utility shut-offs, and helping with rent or mortgage payments to avoid evictions and homelessness. OCS works with regional partners to optimize available resources and services offered. For example, we are part of a United Way of Greater Lorain County collaborative with 12 other agencies working to prevent these problems and to create long-term solutions through personal counseling, job advice and training, and careful case management. Our goal is to contribute to the success of every family or individual in need that visits us.