BUCYRUS — Ohio Mutual Insurance Group is donating $50,000 to aid the Salvation Army Bucyrus Corps in providing relief to families In Crawford County during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ohio Mutual is deeply committed to helping our local community and meeting the most crucial needs of our neighbors,” Ohio Mutual President and CEO Mark Russell said. “We are pleased to partner with the Bucyrus Salvation Army in leading our community through these difficult times, when food insecurity for families has increased so dramatically.
It’s part of what we call our guiding principles of our organization, and one of those is support the communities in which we work and live. There’s no better opportunity than right now to do so.”
Russell said an evaluation was completed on which charities were having a big impact, which he said was a hard decision with so many groups working hard to support Crawford County, but the Salvation Army stood out.
Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser was proud to see two staples of the Bucyrus community coming together in the time of need.
“It’s often said, ‘Tough times bring out the best in people,’ and we can see that happening here,” Reser said. “This $50,000 donation stuns us, but it shouldn’t surprise us, because that’s just the type of company they are, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group.”
The funds will be used in the direct care of Crawford County residents.
“We are delivering hope by ensuring that the residents of Crawford County have food and supplies during this pandemic. The needs have increased and so have our efforts.” Heidi Valdez, Auxiliary Captain of the Bucyrus Salvation Army Bucyrus Corps, said. “Anyone in need can receive food. personal care items and toiletries delivered in a safe and caring way.”
The Bucyrus Salvation Amy is providing and delivering meals, personal care items. Baby supplies and diapers to anyone in need. This past month, the group has served 19,252 meals and 1,644 total people in the community. Compared to this time last year, the need for services has increased more than 570 percent, and 80 percent of the families served through the meal program during the past three weeks are first-time clients.
Valdez said with the increase in need, she and the others with the Salvation Army prayed for a way to sustain their efforts and said they asked God to provide to them so they may provide to others. She said their prayers were answered through the donation by Ohio Mutual, but it is not Ohio Mutual’s first time lending a hand.
“They have been here every year for us and they are a great asset to this community,” Valdez said.
Ohio Mutual Insurance Group, founded in 1901 and based in Bucyrus, OH, partners with nearly 400 independent agencies to distribute quality property and casualty insurance products throughout Connecticut, Indiana. Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. Ohio Mutual has maintained a rating of “A/Stable” from A.M. Best Co. for 24 consecutive years and was named to the Wards 50 six times since 2009. Additional company information is available at www.omig.com.