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Works For Wares!

A new alternative created by ReUse Industries.

Why Works For Wares?

Currently, Athens County’s poverty rate is about 30%, more than twice the state average of 11.9%.

The average family in Athens County receiving public assistance, through the Ohio Works First (OWF) program, receives $373 in cash assistance and an additional $270 in food stamp assistance, placing them at less than half the federal poverty level. According to Jack Frech, director of the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services, “over 140,000 children depend on the OWF Program for assistance. While regulations and responsibilities for these families have increased, benefits have not.”

This places families in a difficult situation. The Athens County Department of Job and Family Services has cited, many families with children “must make difficult choices between the necessities of food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and other basic needs.”

ReUse Industries’ Works for Wares program is a third way for people on public assistance to obtain crucial merchandise such as: small and large appliances, computers, furniture, and building materials.

What is this new alternative?

Works for Wares utilizes a theory called time-dollars. Time Dollars are used to repair a notion called the core-economy.

Time-Dollars, or service credits, are a special, new, and tax-exempt form of currency. Volunteers working inside of ReUse’s Works for Wares program incur service credits they can trade in for selected merchandise.

Frank Monroe Jr. of New Marshfield received a refurbished electric dryer through the Works for Wares program. Frank is grateful that the program has created an opportunity "for individuals that can't buy the stuff" to obtain an appliance or other household necessity.

Time-Dollars are a current trend in non-profit organizations. The goal is to turn recipients of non-profit services into co-producers rather than mere receivers.

Four Core Principles of Time-Dollars

Assets: Every person has the ability to contribute. Time-Dollars allow a new community to be built through the giving and receiving of personal contributions.

Redefining Work: Work must be redefined to include whatever it takes to rear healthy children, make neighborhoods safe and vibrant, and care for the frail and vulnerable.

Reciprocity: One way acts of giving should form new reciprocal relationships; instead of needing someone, you need one another.

Social Capital: Social Networks require ongoing investments of social capital generated by trust, reciprocity, and civil engagement.

What is the core-economy?

The core-economy is the non-monetary economy of neighborhood, family, and community. It is the social fabric of society that keeps it strong. In poverty stricken areas, such as Appalachia, this social fabric is damaged.

The core-economy stresses the importance of unmeasured social capital. In order for the monetary economy to survive the core-economy must be strong.

Time-Dollars improve the core-economy by recreating a traditional community working together.

What is a co-producer?

Co-production is “the theory that welfare and social services only work effectively when they are jointly produced by professionals and beneficiaries.”

Co-production seeks to define people by what they have, instead of what they lack.

By becoming co-producers, recipients of social services gain: a sense of community, a sense of self-worth, and pride.

For instance, when asked about ReUse Industries’ Works for Wares program, ReUse job-training clients Beverly and Mike Hicks cited: “it makes you feel good to know that you can work it off as if you had a real job. It’s a good feeling knowing you don’t owe anyone once its worked off.”

How Can A Client Apply?

Interested clients must apply through participating job and family service offices. To be eligible, clients must be receiving cash and food assistance through the Ohio Works First Program.

Participating job and family service offices can provide clients with entrance questionnaires, brochures, and applications. They will provide a release of information to ReUse Industries.

Applicants can specify which merchandise they are interested in.
After ReUse Industries receives a clients information, he or she will be entered in a database and waiting list. Clients will be called into the Works for Wares Program based on needs, skills, and availability.

Mike Hicks of Albany received a refurbished electric stove through the Works for Wares program. Mike says ReUse Industries "is a good place to come to get a used applicance if you don't have a lot of money.

How Does It Work?

Clients will perform volunteer work at ReUse Industries Albany facility.

Volunteer hours through the Works for Wares program are separate from a client’s job-training hours. To be part of the program, a client does not have to be a job-training client at ReUse Industries.

Once you have applied, ReUse Industries will contact you in regards to merchandise available and the amount of time-dollars needed.

Once clients have completed a preset allotment of hours, they can trade those hours in for merchandise.

If a client is working on computers or appliances, a small part of his or her time will be spent doing service learning. For instance, a client working to receive a refurbished computer will help refurbish computers and gain general knowledge of the inside components, operating system, and everyday use.

Clients can use time dollars to obtain a collection of needed merchandise such as appliances, furniture, building supplies, and computers.