When Ohio families hit a crisis — a shutoff notice, an eviction filing, an empty pantry, a job loss — the Salvation Army is usually one of the first calls. Across the state, the locations help with emergency rent and utility bills, operate food pantries and meal programs, run Angel Tree and back-to-school programs for kids, and connect households to longer-term case management when one-time help isn't enough. This page is a guide to help you understand what the Salvation Army in Ohio does and where to apply.

Ohio is also one of the few states where the Salvation Army serves as the official application point for multiple utility company assistance funds — meaning that for many Ohio residents, your local Salvation Army office is where you apply whether you're a Columbia Gas customer, an AEP customer, a Duke Energy customer, or several others. That's covered in detail below.

Each location, with links to counties below, sets its own hours and manages its own funding — what's available in Toledo may differ from what a smaller corps can offer in Chillicothe. Find your area in the county list toward the bottom of this page for local contact details.

The utility programs — and which one applies to you

This is where Ohio gets complicated in a useful way. The Salvation Army administers different programs depending on your utility provider, and they don't all work the same way. In addition to the options below, see the Ohio page of utility assistance programs.

HeatShare is the largest and most widely available. It's a partnership with Columbia Gas of Ohio — the state's biggest gas provider — and covers households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level who are behind on their bill or facing disconnection.
For AEP Ohio electric customers, the Neighbor to Neighbor program covers those with a disconnect notice.
For AES Ohio (formerly Dayton Power & Light) customers, the Gift of Power program is administered specifically through the Dayton Kroc Center — call 937-528-5145.
For Duke Energy customers in southwest Ohio, the SA administers the Share the Light Fund — call 513-762-5636.
For Enbridge Gas Ohio (formerly Dominion East Ohio) customers, the Heat Care program runs December through May. Contact the SA at 1-800-725-2769 or Enbridge directly.
For FirstEnergy customers — that's Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, and Toledo Edison — the SA administers Project Reach (Ohio Edison: 1-800-633-4766), CO-OP (Illuminating Company customers: 216-861-8185), and Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Toledo Edison customers: 419-241-3549).

Food assistance

Most Ohio Salvation Army corps locations run food pantries that give out food and sometimes hygiene supplies. Some also operate soup kitchens with hot meals. Distribution frequency, hours, and what you need to bring vary by location — call ahead. The programs from the Salvation Army of Ohio help struggling families keep food on their table

Seasonal meals are also available at some Ohio locations. Holiday food boxes and hot meals around Thanksgiving and Christmas are available at many locations; that's separate from regular pantry operations.

Seasonal programs - Christmas and school season

Angel Tree registration for free Christmas gifts opens in September or October at most locations. It is the primary Salvation Army program for struggling households. When applying, bring a photo ID, proof of income, birth records for each child, and clothing and shoe sizes. Families who arrive in late November typically find registration is closed.

Back-to-school supplies are available at many locations in late summer — contact your local corps in July to ask. The goal of the Salvation Army and local partners is to ensure kids have what they need for the school year.

Emergency housing help

Local corps can provide limited assistance for rent, security deposits, and short-term housing costs for households in active crisis. In addition to the Salvation Army programs in Ohio, there are many other options available. See the NHPB Ohio rent payment assistance page. This is case-managed, not a walk-in program — you'll need to document income, expenses, and the specific emergency. Some locations also maintain referral networks for transitional housing and domestic violence shelter.

Northeast Ohio Youth Services

This division, one of the largest in OH, runs several programs for youth - teens, students and young adults. It includes computer labs, after school programs, Camp NEOSA and others. All of them are aimed at helping young people get the short- and long-term support they need for development. See https://neo.salvationarmy.org/northeastohio/children_teen_services

Ohio Salvation Army Locations

For local contact information, intake hours, and specific program availability, find your area below. The Salvation Army Ohio pages are also at https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/oh/ - or select a county below for more straightforward information.

Allen County

Ashland County

Ashtabula County area

Belmont County

Butler County

Carroll County area

Clarke and Greene County

Cuyahoga County

Delaware County

Erie and Sandusky Salvation Army

Fairfield and Pickaway County

Franklin County and Columbus