Signs to Look For:

Most surfaces, such as countertops, sinks, stoves, and desks, are piled with items in the home.

The clutter may also have moved outside to the yard, garage or vehicles when there is no more room inside the home.

There are stacks of newspapers, magazines, or junk mail.

The person often moves items from one

pile to another without throwing away anything.

The person cannot throw things away, accumulating unnecessary items such as trash.

The person has difficulty managing daily activities and making decisions, organizing items, and has an extreme attachment to items.

The person often experiences shame or embarrassment

To learn more about available help, please contact

Lorain County Public Health

440-322-6367

Ask for Environmental Health

“The pandemic has increased the financial hardships our customers are facing, particularly as the cold weather approaches,” said Ed Shuttleworth, president of FirstEnergy’s Ohio Operations. “Customers who have lost income during this crisis and who are behind on their utility bills may be eligible for assistance that was unavailable to them before.”

Programs customers may be eligible to participate in include:

• The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP): Allows customers to pay a set percentage of their income toward their electric bill, regardless of the balance. Customers who maintain their payment plans may be eligible for debt forgiveness. Eligible customers should have income below 150% of federal poverty guidelines. To apply, call 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov. 

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): Provides eligible customers with cash grants for home heating bills and emergencies. Customers must have gross income below 175% of federal poverty guidelines. Call the Ohio Development Service Agency at 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov for more information.

• 2-1-1 Helpline: This nationwide resource and information helpline identifies locally available programs that may assist customers with utility bills or other needs. For more information, dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898211 or visit the 211 website.

• Customers who are having difficulty paying utilities, rent or mortgage due to the pandemic may apply for a Home Relief Grant. Visit https://oacaa.org/agency-directory/ for an agency near you.

• Additionally, the $175 Winter Reconnect Option allows residential customers who are disconnected or at risk of disconnection the opportunity to pay a designated amount to have their service restored or maintained. There is no income eligibility requirement. PIPP customers who use this option may be eligible to have a reset of their past due amount.

For a complete list of assistance programs for which customers may be eligible, including installment payment plans and budget billing, please visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist, or call customer service:

Ohio Edison 1-800-633-4766

Ohio Edison serves more than one million customers across 34 Ohio counties. Follow Ohio Edison on Twitter @OhioEdison, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OhioEdison, and online at www.ohioedison.com.

The Illuminating Company serves 750,000 customers across Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. Connect with The Illuminating Company at www.illuminatingcompany.com, on Twitter @IlluminatingCo and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IlluminatingCo.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp.

Rumpke will collect bulky items on your regular service day. You may place bulky items out for collection on one day during each calendar month at no charge. There will be a charge for collection of bulky items on additional days in the same month. Any item placed outside the trash cart will be considered a bulky item. Plastic bags for mattresses and other upholstered furniture can be obtained at 5166 Clinton Ave.

Please be sure to properly prepare your bulk items before disposal.

Here's how you can help keep Rumpke drivers safe:

• Set your items curbside the evening prior to the scheduled service day.

• Appliances with Freon must have Freon removed by a licensed specialist and tagged accordingly.

• Carpet must be cut into rolls no longer than 4 ft. and no heavier than 50 lbs.

• Construction debris must be properly disposed of. Contact a Rumpke representative to discuss your options.

• ALL upholstered items, such as mattresses, box springs and couches, MUST be wrapped in plastic. Please bags should be available at 5166 Clinton Ave., call 440.277.4215 to check availability.

• Household hazardous waste does not belong in your trash or recycling. Items such as batteries, paint, tires, pool chemicals, propane tanks, syringes and electronics bust be disposed of properly. Contact your local solid waste district to find out how and where to properly dispose of household hazardous waste.

Sheffield Township is looking for potential members for the Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Pay is $20 per meeting. Please contact Cindy Caldwell if you're interested.