ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services Fiscal Administrator Jack Regis Jr. met with the Belmont County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday morning to discuss its joint School Clothes For Kids Program.

The program will be offered at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds available to serve children whose families meet the requirements of being at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. The shopping days for the program will be August 12, 13 and 14 at the mall. Job and Family Services will set up shop at the former Daily Threads storefront, which is across from the Great American Cookie stand. On the days of the event, DJFS will be at the former Daily Threads store at 8 a.m. to distribute Ohio Valley Mall gift cards for the families who are approved for the School Clothes For Kids Program.

“It truly is a labor of love. It’s a very stressful next six weeks for us, as far as getting the applications in and completed, eligibility determined as well as getting the families notified,”

Regis said.

The program aims to provide assistance for children whose families are at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. It is for families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The application process is currently going on with a deadline of 4 p.m. July 17.

“The commitment that the Job and Family Services staff dedicate to this program each year is commendable. They enjoy the extra work, knowing it makes a real positive difference in a child’s life,” Belmont County Board of Commissioners President Jerry Echemann said.

Regis thanked the board for its continued support of the program throughout the years. He said that 100% of the funding is through federal TANF dollars.

“The kids and the parents really appreciate it. To see their smiles and appreciation after getting to shop, it really sets them off for a new school year,” he added.

Children Services Administrator Christine Parker added that people who have custody of children relatives should also apply.

“The other thing that I would add is we do encourage kinship providers to apply even if they think they might be over the income because we do have some flexibility if it’s a kinship provider,” she said.

Echemann asked Parker if she could clarify exactly what a kinship provider is.

“If you have a grandchild living with you that you’re caring for or a niece or nephew,” she replied. “And it doesn’t have to be an open Children Services case, it can just be anyone in the community that is caring for a relative.”

“So anybody but the parent is what that is,” Echemann said with Parker confirming that he was correct.

Regis mentioned that the department makes sure that the shopping days do not fall on Ohio’s tax-free holidays to ensure that the program doesn’t only help the families and the children, but also that the county receives tax revenue from the shopping days.

“It’s a win-win for everybody involved. The stores at the mall love it, too. Our program has extended to other neighboring counties who do something very similar at the mall, so the mall wins as well,” Regis said.

“Applications will be conducted by mail or online and can be printed from the Belmont County Job and Family Services website at www.BelmontCDJFS.com or obtained from the Job and Family Services office at 68145 Hammond Road, St. Clairsville, or the Ohio Means Jobs — Belmont County center at 302 Walnut Street, Martins Ferry,” a news release from the Belmont County Department Job and Family Services School Clothes Program.