A collaborative effort to give homeless Oshkosh families a safe shelter and fresh start will open its doors to 8 families in the New Year.
The Oshkosh Kids Foundation (OKF) has teamed up with 17 local community partners to introduce the Tiny House Village - Jake’s Network of Hope is thrilled to be one of these community partners!
The Tiny House Village provides affordable, short-term housing for families while they learn life, financial, and home management skills. Jake’s is providing goods to furnish each home - such as bedding, small kitchen equipment, dining ware, bathroom needs, and so forth - a partnership that has greatly helped reduce the project’s growing budget - according to Julie D., Co-Founder, and Executive Director of OKF.
“We love Jakes, we’re super excited about the group staging our houses - all the items that Jake’s is providing are going to make it a home,” she said.
As of early December, the village’s community center is complete and ready for the organization to start furnishing and “moving in.” The first couple of houses are expected to be move-in ready in the next couple weeks, with doors opening to 8 families just after the New Year, Julie said.
Families are referred by school social workers, Winnebago County social workers and the Christine Anne Center. The families who are ultimately selected for the program are those who are homeless or on the verge of homelessness and are also working hard to overcome their situation. The Tiny Homes village goal is to give these families time to get back on their feet and re-establish financial security while offering a fresh start.
There are 100 families on a waitlist for programs that could ultimately refer to the Tiny Homes, showcasing just how desperate the need in the area is; Jule said the group hopes to have 16 homes available by the end of January and 32 by the end of June. The homes use solar power panels to reduce tenant costs, and the village will provide internet; the only utility residents will pay is water.
“These people, we’re getting them stabilized and then giving them hope and dignity and excitement about a brand new house with brand new stuff - and they can start over,” Julie said. The organization will provide each family a picture frame with a family photo upon move in.
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
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We all know the comfort, safety, warmth and love that a home can provide us. For refugees, restoring the luxury of a safe place to call home and rebuild their lives is so important. Over the past decade, the Fox Valley has seen an influx of almost 1,400 refugees.
Cherith International is one of Jake’s partners serving these refugee needs. Cherith International provides free clothing, household items and other resources to refugees and low-income families in the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin through the Cherith Clothing & Resource Center located in Oshkosh. Refugees are referred to the program through social agencies, churches, school district counselors, Winnebago County institutions, Oshkosh Police Department and other community organizations.
Harry and Jenny became aware of Jake’s partnership opportunities through volunteering.
“We are able to purchase all kinds of personal hygiene items that will be useful for the refugees and low-income families we serve in the Fox River Valley area of Wisconsin for very competitive prices,” they explained via email. The group also makes great use of the “great variety of items available” in our Hope Hub.
Supplying the basic needs and resources that refugees and low-income families need, allow refugees to allocate their energy to building the foundations of their new home. Jake’s Network of Hope and Cherith International have partnered to ensure all basic needs items are supplied to those that need them.
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
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There is a saying that ‘when a child is born, a parent is born, too. No one is born an expert in childcare, it is a skill learned with time and practice. Education for new and young parents can play an essential role in the family’s success. The Family Services Parent Connection of Northeast Wisconsin (N.E.W.) is on a mission to create this for regional families.
Parent Connection partners with families to help prevent child abuse and neglect and promote school readiness. The organization’s programs aim to help parents have the tools to do this important work through the agency’s mission to protect, heal and care.
In Wisconsin, one in six children live in extreme poverty, making it hard for young families to afford basic diapering needs. Jake’s Network of Hope and Parent Connection have partnered to ensure families have the diapers and other basic needs they require for health, safety, and dignity,
“Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher,” said Kelly of Parent Connection. “(From Jake’s, we use) diapers, wipes and feminine hygiene products. These items are expensive, and being able to help provide these to families allows them to spend their money on other necessities.”
Parent Connection is also a frequent visitor of Jake’s Hope Hub to fulfill other needs they have as an organization. What is so great about this resource center?
“The array of treasures you find!” Kelly said. “We purchase many safety proofing items and baby items at a fraction of the costs, which allows us to assist clients with other goals they may have. I also love that you can sign up online for a shopping spot.
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
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When it comes to our country’s veterans, it’s never too late to say, “Thank you.” This statement is at the heart of what became the nonprofit known as Old Glory Honor Flight.
Old Glory Honor Flight is dedicated to honoring our local veterans, one mission at a time. The organization takes local veterans on a free, one day “tour of honor” to the nation’s capital to see the memorials built in their honor. Old Glory Honor Flight gives veterans an opportunity to heal, find closure, pay their respects to fallen comrades and form new friends . In general, Old Glory sees this as a meaningful way for our community to thank veterans for their service.
The organization is almost entirely volunteer run; Jake’s Network of Hope partnership is able to help the nonprofit through a partnership to support its operations.
“Our partnership with Jake’s helps stretch our limited dollars for supplies and volunteer gifts; being mostly volunteer run, I love that we can give our volunteers a nice gift without worrying too much about our budget,” stated Old Glory Honor Flight Executive Director Diane.
In the coming months, Old Glory Honor Flight plans to utilize its partnership to supply basic hygiene needs to veterans’ homes.
A family member of a veteran that participated in a Old Glory Honor Flight stated, “My dad graduated from High School and immediately enlisted in the army. He was a proud Vietnam Veteran, serving two tours in Vietnam. His proudest moment was going on the Glory Honor Flight. The day brought him to tears often and it helped him heal.”
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
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Jake’s partners with many regional food pantries in order to enhance efforts and resources available to people in need. Partnering with pantries is a great way to get many basic needs items in one spot for individuals using this type of service.
Kingdom Come of Oconto County is one of those partners, and we have been working together for several years. During the pandemic, Jake’s was able to provide a large percentage of the pantry’s goods for its people in need.
Belinda of the pantry said recently many families are finding out about the diapers and adult incontinence products, and we are blessed to provide these to individuals in need in the Oconto area. Recent reductions in other resources as well as area pantry closures are impacting area residents, she said.
“The closure of local NEWCAP food pantries, the ending of max Covid SNAP benefits and the end of CARES act rental evictions protections have negatively affected our clients,” she said, also citing high gas prices (many clients commute 80 miles a day for work) and increasing inflation are also taking its toll.
Jake’s is happy to continue this ongoing service to individuals in need in partnership with Kingdom Come and other area food pantries. Donate today to provide daily living essentials to families during the holiday season. On our donation page, you can choose a category to ensure your gift goes towards projects aligned with your personal interests, mission or passion.
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
Links:
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