From Deb Weis
Monroe
As a member of the Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Green County, I'd like to say thanks to everyone in the community who helped in some way with our first Shanty Town event on Nov. 13. It was a terrible night to be homeless - cold, rainy, gusty winds - and a perfect night to demonstrate to the students in attendance how devastating homelessness can be. We were proud of the students who showed up in spite of the weather - between 75 and 100 of them - and the adults who accompanied them. Attendees represented several churches (Crossroads, St. Victor, Believers Fellowship, Washington Reformation), Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
Decatur 4-H, Monroe High School National Honor Society, and Monroe Middle School Project World. Participants set up tents, huddled in makeshift shelters made of cardboard, and stood in line in the cold while volunteers dished up soup, cheese and crackers, and not much more. It was a lesson in the realities faced by people in our community who have lost their homes due to the economy, loss of jobs, medical conditions (and the high cost of treating them), and a variety of other reasons. More and more often in these difficult times, families are just one paycheck away from losing their home. The HPCGC was formed in 2009 in response to these growing needs.
The coalition is hoping to raise awareness of the problem while raising funds to support the efforts of Green County Human Services. A total of 146 Green County families (including 184 children) have been homeless or near-homeless and have been helped by Human Services so far in 2010. Help comes in the form of funding for temporary shelter, counseling on finding and retaining employment, and one-on-one mentoring on finances and budgeting. The HPCGC is currently funding a two -bedroom apartment that is occupied by a family in need.
We want to thank the following groups for supporting our fundraising efforts: United Way of Green County, Monroe Clinic OR employees, Optimists Club, Monroe Clinic ER employees, Green County HCE, and Kiwanis. And special thanks to everyone who supported the efforts of this group at Shanty Town, especially Baumgartner's, Boomerang Bakery, Garden Deli, Pancho & Lefties, Perks, and Colony Brands for donatingfood.
Monroe
As a member of the Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Green County, I'd like to say thanks to everyone in the community who helped in some way with our first Shanty Town event on Nov. 13. It was a terrible night to be homeless - cold, rainy, gusty winds - and a perfect night to demonstrate to the students in attendance how devastating homelessness can be. We were proud of the students who showed up in spite of the weather - between 75 and 100 of them - and the adults who accompanied them. Attendees represented several churches (Crossroads, St. Victor, Believers Fellowship, Washington Reformation), Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
Decatur 4-H, Monroe High School National Honor Society, and Monroe Middle School Project World. Participants set up tents, huddled in makeshift shelters made of cardboard, and stood in line in the cold while volunteers dished up soup, cheese and crackers, and not much more. It was a lesson in the realities faced by people in our community who have lost their homes due to the economy, loss of jobs, medical conditions (and the high cost of treating them), and a variety of other reasons. More and more often in these difficult times, families are just one paycheck away from losing their home. The HPCGC was formed in 2009 in response to these growing needs.
The coalition is hoping to raise awareness of the problem while raising funds to support the efforts of Green County Human Services. A total of 146 Green County families (including 184 children) have been homeless or near-homeless and have been helped by Human Services so far in 2010. Help comes in the form of funding for temporary shelter, counseling on finding and retaining employment, and one-on-one mentoring on finances and budgeting. The HPCGC is currently funding a two -bedroom apartment that is occupied by a family in need.
We want to thank the following groups for supporting our fundraising efforts: United Way of Green County, Monroe Clinic OR employees, Optimists Club, Monroe Clinic ER employees, Green County HCE, and Kiwanis. And special thanks to everyone who supported the efforts of this group at Shanty Town, especially Baumgartner's, Boomerang Bakery, Garden Deli, Pancho & Lefties, Perks, and Colony Brands for donatingfood.
