Free Community Meals for homeless
Donation protected
Wellness for Everyone (WE) is a non-denominational grassroots group that began in November 2015 as a response to the needs in our community. Hundreds of people in Jackson County are homeless and many of them live in Ashland, hiding along the Greenway and deep in the forested areas of our community. Although many area churches and other groups work diligently on this issue, we could see examples of people who were falling through the cracks and not receiving the services they needed. We wanted to do something about that.
What WE’ve done so far:
In November and December WE hosted two free community meals in Pioneer Hall. The November meal was held a few days before Thanksgiving and dozens of volunteers served a hot, healthy meal to about 60 hungry people. We collected warm clothing and toiletry items and handed them out to Ashland’s most vulnerable residents. In December we fed around 100 people and were able to double our efforts at providing warm gear. Volunteers were able to match folks with the most urgent needs with jackets, socks, shoes and women’s boots.
What WE’re going to do:
We have a core group of a dozen dedicated volunteers and a larger volunteer pool of approximately 80, so we’re set up to be a volunteer driven group with an emphasis on providing free monthly community meals and advocacy for Ashland's homeless. We will continue to do street outreach and try to meet some of the most pressing needs, whether that be providing direct services (Ie clothing or camping gear) or simply ensuring that people know how to get what they need through referrals to community partners.
Our wishlist:
We are trying to raise some seed money so that we could have the option to rent Pioneer Hall again if that’s the best way to offer a February meal. In January, the city changed the rules and began requiring groups to have an insurance policy on top of the rental fees. We are looking for a less expensive place and are exploring other options including partnerships with other community groups. So far, we’ve relied entirely on donated food and see that it would be good to have a little money to fill in any gaps. Traditionally it’s much easier to solicit donations around the holidays and those gifts often get harder to come by at the beginning of the year.
We are seeking funding to cover a years worth of operating expenses.
We are run entirely by volunteers with no paid staff. There is interest in turning WE into a nonprofit 501c3 and future funding could come from grants, in kind donations and other forms of fundraising.
With your gift of $5, $10, $20 or more, WE can continue to do this crucial street outreach and make a difference in the lives of many of our homeless neighbors.
You can help us by sharing this post. Getting the word out about this effort is key to keeping it going. Thank you!
What WE’ve done so far:
In November and December WE hosted two free community meals in Pioneer Hall. The November meal was held a few days before Thanksgiving and dozens of volunteers served a hot, healthy meal to about 60 hungry people. We collected warm clothing and toiletry items and handed them out to Ashland’s most vulnerable residents. In December we fed around 100 people and were able to double our efforts at providing warm gear. Volunteers were able to match folks with the most urgent needs with jackets, socks, shoes and women’s boots.
What WE’re going to do:
We have a core group of a dozen dedicated volunteers and a larger volunteer pool of approximately 80, so we’re set up to be a volunteer driven group with an emphasis on providing free monthly community meals and advocacy for Ashland's homeless. We will continue to do street outreach and try to meet some of the most pressing needs, whether that be providing direct services (Ie clothing or camping gear) or simply ensuring that people know how to get what they need through referrals to community partners.
Our wishlist:
We are trying to raise some seed money so that we could have the option to rent Pioneer Hall again if that’s the best way to offer a February meal. In January, the city changed the rules and began requiring groups to have an insurance policy on top of the rental fees. We are looking for a less expensive place and are exploring other options including partnerships with other community groups. So far, we’ve relied entirely on donated food and see that it would be good to have a little money to fill in any gaps. Traditionally it’s much easier to solicit donations around the holidays and those gifts often get harder to come by at the beginning of the year.
We are seeking funding to cover a years worth of operating expenses.
We are run entirely by volunteers with no paid staff. There is interest in turning WE into a nonprofit 501c3 and future funding could come from grants, in kind donations and other forms of fundraising.
With your gift of $5, $10, $20 or more, WE can continue to do this crucial street outreach and make a difference in the lives of many of our homeless neighbors.
You can help us by sharing this post. Getting the word out about this effort is key to keeping it going. Thank you!
Organizer
Vanessa Martynse Houk
Organizer
Ashland, OR
