On the morning of August 4, 2019, a gunman opened fire in Downtown Dayton’s historic Oregon District, killing nine and wounding nearly 37 innocent people in the process. In this time of vulnerability and passionate emotions, I urge all constituents who have been affected by this tragedy, to utilize all necessary resources listed below to get help. This tragedy has affected me on a personal level, and we need to launch a national conversation to prevent something like this from ever happening again. For further question’s please contact my district office in Dayton, by calling 937-225-2843. 

Disaster Distress Hotline:
 
 The helpline is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.  Those seeking emotional support coping with the mental or emotional effects of the shooting can call 1-800-985-5990 or text ‘talkwithus’to 66746. The helpline connects callers with trained professionals and can provide confidential counseling, referrals and other needed support services.
 
Clark State Community College is offering counseling services at no cost through the counseling coordinator Melinda VanNord. Ms. VanNord is available by phone at 937-328-7961 or via email at vanndoordm@clarkstate.edu.  Walk-in service is available at the Springfield campus. Appointments can be made for Clark State students at the Bellefountaine, Beavercreek, and Xenia locations.
 
Dayton police will continue to use the Dayton Convention Center as a place for resources to help those affected by the shooting in the Oregon District.
 
Friends or family members of people who were in the area of the shooting can get information at the convention center, 22 E. Fifth St. in Dayton. Family members and friends can dial the following numbers for information:
 
• 937-333-8431
• 937-333-8421
• 937-333-8428
• 937-333-8436
• 937-333-8430  
 
 Skilled Red Cross volunteers are responding to calls and inquiries that come into the Montgomery Emergency Management Family Assistance Center set up at the Dayton Convention Center. 
 Over the coming days, the American Red Cross will continue to work with local officials and community partners to determine how we can best support our community and the loved ones of those who have been harmed. Supportive services such as health, mental health, spiritual and condolences care will be available as needed. 
 
 
Applying for Victims Compensation 
 
• If you or your family members are innocent victims of a violent crime, financial assistance may be available. The following is a list of guidelines to help you determine whether you might be eligible for a payment. For specific questions, call the Attorney General’s Office at 800-582-2877. Applications and supplemental applications can be mailed to:
 
30 E. Broad St., 23rd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
 
 
-or-
 
 
 
How can I help:
 
The Community Blood Center is located at 349 S. Main Street, and is open Monday-Thursday, 7A.M. to 6P.M.; Friday, 7A.M. to 4P.M.; and Saturday 7A.M.to 1P.M. Donors can make appointments and find other area blood drives at www.donortime.com. Donors can also call 1-937-461-3450 for more information.
 
The Dayton Foundation has set up the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund. Donations can be made online using Visa, Mastercard, or American Express at www.datyonfoundation.org. It is a secure website and you will receive a confirmation email after you submit your donation. You can also mail a check to the Dayton Foundation is 40 N. Main Street, Suite 500 Dayton, OH 45423. Your check should designate Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund or Fund#8365.  For more information you can call 1-937-225-9967.
 
August 7-August 21 shoppers at all Ohio Macy’s stores can have their totals rounded up to the nearest dollar to benefit the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund. 
 
The Miami Valley Community Action Partnership has launched a fundraiser for the children of Lois Oglesby, one of nine victims of a Sunday morning shooting at a popular entertainment district in Dayton, Ohio. “Our agency is collecting for the family, not only for funeral costs, but for the long-term care of the children,” the organization said in a Monday Facebook post. Oglesby, 27, leaves behind a newborn daughter, Reign, and a 6-year-old daughter, Hannah.
 
Multiple Miami Valley businesses, ranging from bakeries to restaurants to a candy company, are helping to raise money for the victims and surviving family members of Sunday’s mass shooting in Dayton’s Oregon District, here is a list below:
 
• The Little York Tavern at 4120 Little York Road just off I-75 in Butler Twp. is teaming up with a local band, Mad Hatter, to raise funds for Oregon District Tragedy Fund starting at 9 p.m. this Friday night, Aug. 9. Mad Hatter will be donating its performance fee, the tavern will be donating 10 percent of sales for Friday, and donations from patrons will be collected to benefit shooting victims and their families, tavern officials said.
 
• Salar Restaurant and Lounge in the Oregon District said on its Facebook page Tuesday that it is “opening an hour early every day this week to invite our town and its visitors to celebrate the opportunity to come together. Our featured #DaytonStrong menu, of which 100% of the proceeds are being donated to The Oregon District Tragedy Fund, will vary daily.”
 
•La Puf Sweets bakery at 1003 Shroyer Road at the Dayton-Oakwood border said on its Facebook page that it will donate 10 percent of sales all this week, along with 100 percent of all tips, to the Oregon District Tragedy Fund.
 
•Working in collaboration with our community partners, the American Red Cross will provide a space at our local chapter to continue the healing process after the tragic and senseless act of violence experienced over the weekend. The Dayton Chapter, located at 370 West 1st Street, Dayton, 45402, will operate as a Service and Recovery Center for those affected by the tragedy in the Oregon District. The Center will begin operation on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 
• All week, Partial to Pie at 200 Shroyer Road is donating $1 for every pie slice sold to the Oregon District Tragedy Fund, its founders announced on the bakery’s Facebook page.
 
• El Meson restaurant in West Carrollton will be donating 10% of sales to the Oregon District Tragedy Fund through Friday, Aug. 9.
 
• Troll Pub Dayton at 216 Wayne Ave. will host a an event Sunday night, Aug. 11, at which Happy Hour specials will be available from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the pub will be raffling off prizes to raise money for a victim relief fund. 
 
• Papa John’s will donate $1 from each order placed online or in-store on Thursday, Aug. 8 to the Oregon District Tragedy Fund.
 
Pizza Hut is accepting customer donations through the month of August and will match those donations up to $10,000 for victims of the Oregon District mass shooting.
 
Willowdale Botanicals, which operates a booth at the 2nd Street Market in downtown Dayton, announced on its Facebook page that it is donating the profits of its Body Butter and Heal & Seal salve to the Oregon District Tragedy Fund. The shop is open Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
Dayton Skyline – Fundraiser for the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund – 9/3/19 – 7PM
 
ALL proceeds of every seat purchased for this event will be donated to the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund, created by Dayton’s regional community foundation to raise money for the victims.