Fighting for health insurance

Margaret and her husband do not receive health insurance through their jobs, they do not qualify for Medicaid and they are unable to purchase health insurance for the family because their daughter has Down Syndrome. The lack of insurance has meant that Margaret and her husband don't go to the doctor as often as they should and that their daughter has not been able to take part in the therapy programs that have been recommended for her.

It's a nearly impossible situation, but Margaret does not let it get her down. She has been speaking out to try make it easier for families in Ohio and across the country to receive health insurance and the health care they need. Click here to read more about Margaret and her family.

Ceremony honors GED graduates

More than 80 students graduated from the GED program at The Work Station during the 2008-2009 academic year. A special ceremony was held recently for this year's GED graduates, and the event was highlighted by the inspiring story of new graduate Gilbert Norris. In the photo on the left, Gilbert Norris is shown receiving his degree from Scott Hatfield. The photo on the right shows graduate Tabatha Button and her daughter after the ceremony.

Click here to read about the ceremony, see more photos of the event and learn what Norris, Button and several of the other graduates had to say about earning their degrees.

Local hotel donates televisions to Athens County residents

The Hampton Inn of Athens recently donated between 50 and 60 televisions to local charitable organizations to give to area residents in need. Athens County Job and Family Services received six of the televisions and gave them to senior citizens in the county who needed new sets but could not afford them. Click here to read about the donation, which made a positive difference in the lives of numerous Athens County residents.

Program gave out more than 2,700 computers in Athens County

The Computer Connections program allowed thousands of Athens County families to receive free computers, training and Internet service over the last eight years. The program, which was the result of a successful partnership between Athens County Job and Family Services and Hocking College, had to be eliminated earlier this year because of state budget cuts. Click here to read more about the program.