Members of the HOPE Fund Steering Committee of the Wayne County Common Good (WCCG) met Oct. 12 in Smithville. The committee approved a new initiative from Wayne College for emergency text book loans for degree-seeking students.

The HOPE Fund currently provides GED test scholarships to ABLE students and emergency gas vouchers to adult education students. The committee is accepting applications for new initiatives from Common Good members and plans to fund two or more this year. The application and guidelines are at http://www.hopefundwayne.org.

The next Pay It Forward activity is Veterans Day flag route for Rotary Parade of Flags. Volunteers are needed to help put up flags and take them down. To volunteer, contact Lee Peart at 330-624-7506 or infohopefundwayne.org.

The HOPE Fund (Helping Others Prepare for Employment) is a self-sustaining work and education fund at the Wayne County Community Foundation. It supports the efforts of the Wayne County Common Good to help adults get jobs or better jobs by providing “pay it forward” scholarships, grants, and good faith, interest-free loans.

The next meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m. at the Smithville Inn in Smithville.