MONROE — As Family Promise of Green County Director Rick Gleason continues to focus his energy on helping others, the former homeless veteran never takes for granted how hard it can be to get by.
Today, he’s seeing groups and organizations that began because of his leadership flourish, even faster than anticipated. One of those is Family Promise — and he’s considering it a big step forward after purchasing a building and moving the group’s Day Center into its own facility.
The mission of Family Promise is to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence, and Gleason feels that a facility to better fit the needs and help people is the road to help more people and see more successes.
The building, located at 615 26th St., Monroe, was owned by Greg Fedders, who teamed up with John Baumann, former CEO and president of Colony Brands, to host a fundraiser last summer that raised nearly $32,000. That money plus funds contributed by Family Promise helped to purchase and prep the building to serve the community.
“We do have a mortgage,” Gleason said, noting they closed on the building at the end of October. “We’re homeowners now. But we’re confident right now in our situation.”
The group also received a grant from the Monsignor Thomas Campion Fund for more than $14,000 to install a handicap accessible bathroom and make changes to the stairs for full access, which is still in progress. A recent Green Bay Packer Fund grant also helped.
“It means we are going to be able to continue to expand services and better meet the needs of the people,” Gleason said. “We have an opportunity here to better serve the people with physical disabilities and this gives us that opportunity.”
A plaque featuring the founding member of Family Promise, Bob Beck, hangs in the entryway for the new center and Gleason says it’s fitting that he’s honored there. He’ll step down from the board this year, as the program continues to grow.
“He was a man with a vision for us to come together as a community to have an effect on the poverty in Green County,” Gleason said.
The Family Promise Day Center had been operating at Grace Lutheran Church since 2011, but when the opportunity to purchase the building presented itself, Gleason said it was the perfect fit.
“This is a really big step forward for us,” Gleason said.
The more modern space was once a Wausau Home, a model home split level that’s been redesigned. It’s host to some green space in the back yard, and has a two-bedroom apartment in the upper level. Gleason is excited about more shared spaces where he and the case manager can interact more with people. There is also a space for people who sleep during the day because of shift work or babies who need to nap. The back yard has a tall, vinyl privacy fence.
A space is designated with a computer to study or work on job searches. There is a room for board meetings, which is something Gleason hasn’t had before.
Family Promise saw less people served in 2019 than the year before, Gleason said, for a couple of reasons. One is a more stable economy. However, the group never knows what could be on the horizon for food share services and other things that may be cut off without notice.
“These will be something we’re always going to have to deal with,” he said.
Gleason feels the milestone of moving to the purchased building after eight years from startup is momentous.
For more information on the Day Center, or on Family Promise of Green County, contact Gleason at 608-328-2600 or email director@familypromisegreencounty.org.
