Social agencies discuss services

North country social agency representatives gathered Friday morning for the first Community Roundtable discussion to remind one another of their services and how to spread that knowledge to people in need.

Reminding people that assistance with food, clothing, shelter and other needs is available comes at a time when rents and utilities are high and the economy is poor.

"The need is up across the board," said Jayn M. Graves, United Way of Northern New York chief professional officer. "It'll be another 12 to 18 months before we shake out what's going on."

More than a dozen agencies attended the meeting at the Children's Home of Jefferson County. Many organization directors have said the number of people seeking assistance in 2008 increased two- or threefold, and they're bracing for what's to come this year.

Here is a look at some of the many agencies that offer programs and services for those in need:

■ Jefferson County Department of Social Services — All of the assistance DSS provides is based on an individual's or family's income. DSS provides help with temporary assistance with rent or mortgage, utility payments, purchase of household items and more.

The agency provides medical assistance, such as helping people enroll in health-care plans such as Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus or Medicaid; food stamps, child support enforcement, child care, the Home Energy Assistance Program and volunteer income tax assistance.

Call DSS at 782-9030 for more information.

■ Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, 518 Davidson St. — The agency has four main components: the Jefferson-Lewis Childcare Project, Head Start, Housing and Energy Services, and Family Center. Most of those programs have income or other eligibility guidelines.

The Childcare Project's main component is a child care resource and referral program. It also serves as the registrar in Jefferson and Lewis counties for family child care and School-Age Child Care programs, among other offerings.

Head Start is free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Universal prekindergarten also is under this program.

Housing and Energy Services addresses renters' and homeowners' weatherization needs, upgrades of substandard homes, and health and safety issues for low-income elderly people in Jefferson County. It also focuses on energy conservation measures.

The Family Center has a food pantry, a tax counseling service, a fair housing component and other services.

For more information, call CAPC at 782-4900.

■ Watertown Salvation Army, 723 State St. — The agency has a soup kitchen that serves an average of 140 meals every weekday.

The Salvation Army has an after-hours food pantry, gives away clothing and furniture vouchers, hosts supper clubs for children and teenagers, has a drop-in center during the summer and school breaks and has a summer camp.

For more information, call the Salvation Army at 782-4470.

There also are Salvation Army locations in Ogdensburg and Massena, and they can be reached at by calling 393-3351 and 769-5154, respectively.

■ Watertown Urban Mission, 247 Factory St. — Executive Director Mary M. Morgan said the agency's supply of food in the food pantry hasn't been able to keep up with demand.

In 2007, the monthly average number of households that received help from the pantry was 486, compared with an average of 637 households per month last year.

"We used to do a seven-day supply of food, and we reduced it to five, and now we do a three-day supply," Miss Morgan said. "The number of elderly and homeless have also doubled."

Other programs the Urban Mission offers include the Christian Care Cafe, a drop-in center; and critical needs, which gives away clothing, gas vouchers and other necessities. The agency's Wheels to Work program takes vehicles, fixes them up and gives them to local families.

For more information, call the Urban Mission at 782-8440.

Linya H. Bell, president of the North Country Council of Social Agencies, said other agencies, and their information, are posted on the council's Web site.

People also can find information on the New York Connects: Jefferson County Web site. The site provides a comprehensive service listing.