Portage County Job and Family Services is excited to announce the launch of the 2026 Back-to-School Clothing Voucher Program. This Prevention, Retention and Contingency service provides $175 vouchers per child to be used to purchase school clothing and shoes. Upon approval of application, the vouchers can be provided to eligible school-aged children (Kindergarten-grade 12) who are in receipt of SNAP or TANF benefits.
Applications will be available and accepted for processing from Monday, June 22, 2026, through Friday, July 31, 2026. Applications can be picked up at the Portage County OhioMeansJobs Center located at 253. S. Chestnut St., Ravenna, Ohio or at Portage County Job and Family Services, located at 449 S. Meridian St., Ravenna, Ohio on the 2nd floor. Applications are also available online at www.portagecounty-oh.gov/jfs. Limited funding is available, and applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Applicants must be Portage County residents, and the household must include school-aged children who are currently attending and/or enrolled in school, grades Kindergarten-12. Foster care and kinship youth are considered a household of one. Approvals and/or denials will be mailed to applicants. If approved, participants will be asked to pick up vouchers at OhioMeansJobs after they have received their approval letters.
This year, we are introducing a new option for in-person applications. For one week only, applicants can visit OhioMeansJobs Portage County for a special application event. From June 22 to June 26, 2026, the hours will be as follows: Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and on Thursday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. During this time, staff will be on hand to accept and process applications and print vouchers immediately.
Vouchers can be used at participating local stores only, and applicants should indicate their preferred store on the application. Please remember that vouchers must be redeemed at the selected store before Wednesday, September 30, 2026, or they will expire. Lost or damaged vouchers cannot be replaced. For any inquiries regarding the Back-to-School Clothing Voucher Program, please call 330-296-2841.
