REAL CHANGE DAYTON

Real Change Dayton is a collaborative awareness program to address panhandling in the Dayton community.

The primary focus is to educate the public on the resources already available that provide an array of services to those in need, including food, shelter, clothing and other support.

The program also offers an alternative to giving spare change directly to individuals on the street. The Dayton community’s generosity better serves those who are truly in need when directed to social services agencies that are better equipped and trained to handle those crises. Money donated to Real Change Dayton will be invested in programs that focus on financial stability, positive health outcomes and emergency services.

Real Change Dayton offers several ways for you to help make real change for Miami Valley individuals and families in need:

Log on; make change

The website www.RealChangeDayton.org is the hub for information on different local agencies and the services they provide. There are links for those organizations and information on supporting their services through donations as a volunteer or financial support.

Real Change Dayton meters

Vibrantly wrapped retired parking meters will serve as collection sites for those who wish to make a monetary donation. Look for them in heavy pedestrian-traveled areas.

Text to give

A text-to-give method provides a way to make mobile donations that will support local agencies tasked with helping those in need. Funds collected at all Real Change Dayton meters and online donation sites will be directed to the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area and invested in programs that focus on financial stability, positive health outcomes, and emergency services like homeless shelters. Text “RealChange” to 71777.

Connect with a card

Real Change Dayton has created small cards with important information to connect those in need to local social service agencies. Emergency information is printed on one side, and the HelpLink is on the other. HelpLink is United Way of Greater Dayton’s free and confidential hotline that supplies information about social services to those in need. Call 2-1-1 (or 224-3000) to reach the HelpLink 24/7. The call assistant will determine which organization(s) can best help individuals in need and help that person with the next steps to obtaining assistance of any kind.

Lend time and talent

Volunteer opportunities at each agency can be found via links from RealChangeDayton.org. Donations made directly to those organizations can impact underserved communities and those in need of services.

Tell a friend

Real Change Dayton will work when we all work together to find a better way to give. Share information about Real Change Dayton in your social circles and let people know they can make their donation go further by contributing to the agencies that are best suited to help those in need.

For more information on Real Change Dayton, download a PDF of the program brochure here. Printed copies of the brochure, posters, and other materials are available for those businesses and organizations interested in displaying them. For information on obtaining these materials, please contact Laura Woeste at (937) 224-1518, ext. 229, or woeste@downtowndayton.org.

Real Change Dayton is made possible with support from the City of Dayton and the Dayton Police Department; Montgomery County; United Way of the Greater Dayton Area; Goodwill/Easter Seals of the Miami Valley; Homefull, Miami Valley Housing Opportunities; Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug, Addiction and Mental Health Services; PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) Program Street Outreach; St. Vincent DePaul; the Foodbank; City of Dayton Department of Law; and the Downtown Dayton Partnership. Visit RealChangeDayton.org to learn more about these organizations.