Cargill Cares contribute dollars, time and talent to volunteer activities that have a local impact. We thank them for their generosity and commitment to the Akron community. The $5,000.00 received will be used to provide creative arts and supportive activities for the Oasis participants and occupants of our three young adult houses. Stable housing is one of the major obstacles to progress in the lives of urban youth moving into adulthood. Oasis collaborates with Harmony House, Inc. to provide support and housing for young adults ages 18-26 in two of the houses adjacent to our Oasis Outreach facility at 847 Crouse St. in the Middlebury neighborhood of Akron.
We are pleased to introduce you to Karen Shepherd, our newest Oasis Board member. Karen is Director of Imagine Schools. After graduating from Kent State University, she taught in Cincinnati. Karen and her family are members at Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn. She has two teenage children who attend Wadsworth High School. We welcome her expertise and gifts to our Oasis Board leadership team.
Wash hands often with water and soap (20 seconds or longer)
Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry your hands
Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands or after touching surfaces
Clean and disinfect “High-Touch” surfaces often
Call before visiting your doctor
Practice good hygiene habits
If you have questions regarding Coronavirus/COVID-19 please call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634)
CLEAN ALL “HIGH-TOUCH” SURFACES EVERY DAY
High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
Oasis is a 2020 Greats Streets Façade Grant awardee! Oasis in partnership with Fadia, Harmony House, Inc. and Monroe Enrichment Academy has received a matching Grant from the City of Akron for its Crouse St. location. With this grant Oasis will be getting new asphalt and lighting for its parking lot, which provides a throughway for the Crouse St. neighborhood to Dave’s Market and the Akron Metro bus stop.
Welcome new Oasis Board members Kemp Boyd and Lesli Eisenhart. Kemp Boyd is the Director of Love Akron and Lesli Eisenhart is Manager of Accounts Receivable at Red Oak Behavioral Health in Akron.
Oasis Outreach Opportunity, Inc. (Oasis) is now located in 4 Buildings in Akron, Ohio: (1.) The Oasis Outreach facility located at 847 Crouse St., (2.) The Oasis Healing House I on the north side of Akron (3.) 828 East Exchange St. (adjacent to the Oasis Outreach facility’s parking lot). (4.) The Street Outreach Services (SOS) (house adjacent to the Oasis Outreach facility). Direct outreach is centered on After School Middle School students, Young Adult Men’s Basketball, Recovery, Housing, and relationships with older Oasis participants, many who are now young adults with jobs and families of their own. Spiritual care was provided during times of crisis, sickness, hospitalizations, 2 weddings, and 2 funerals in 2019.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2019 – 381 individuals participated in small groups at the Oasis Outreach facility (230), the Oasis Healing House I (153), or both (2 people participated at both buildings). In addition, three off-site Retreats were presented for 13 teens and 19 adults. In all, 418 youth, teens, young adults, and older adults were involved in Oasis small groups in 2019. Also, in the house adjacent to the Oasis Outreach facility, 159 older youth and young adults were served at SOS, which is a drop-in center run by Shelter Care, Inc. for older youth experiencing homelessness. And 194 youth and young adults were served at the Oasis Outreach facility through our collaborative partners. Therefore, in 2019 over 750 people, mostly youth and young adults, were involved in activities in the four Oasis locations.
Direct outreach through Small Groups at the Oasis Outreach facility included: Create Sundays and Create Thursdays, Young Adult Men’s Basketball, Elementary Youth Activities (for children of basketball players), EKG Spiritual Discernment, Meditative Silence, After School Middle School, Science and Theology Discussions, Studying, Video Production, Writing Workshops, Pre-marital counseling, Spiritual Direction, Healing Practices, Collaborative and Neighborhood Meetings. Oasis supports 4 young adult participants who are currently attending college.
Table 1: Oasis Outreach Facility Small Groups in 2019
Multi-cultural Collaboration is the key to everything at the Oasis Outreach facility. In 2019, 194 collaborative participants, staff, and volunteers participated at Oasis in the day care, Fadia high school mentoring program, and basketball mentoring. Also, this year Harmony House Inc. began to utilize office space for their non-profit, which provides transitional housing for young adults.
Events held at Oasis in 2019 include the McAdory/Beverly wedding and the Harmony House Inc. Christmas party for clients.
In addition, Deacon Deb Metzger led 3 off-site retreats:
Teen Chrysalis Retreat
13 Teens
Women’s Retreat: Give Your Worries to God
9 Adults
Retreat: The Sacred Art of Living and Dying Understanding Spiritual Pain
10 Adults
TOTAL
32
At the Oasis Healing House I on the north side of town, the shared leadership model continues to be a huge success. Five unrelated adults live together at one time in intentional community. In 2019 The Oasis Healing House I housed 4 young adults (and two older adults from January to May). 8 different Young Adult Occupants have resided at the Oasis Healing House I since its inception in May of 2017.
828 East Exchange St.
The renovation of this formerly abandoned house began in 2019 with the cleaning and clearing of debris, the purchase of new windows and doors, and the preparation work for heating and ventilation. Members of Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn came on multiple mission site workdays to replace a large broken window, paint the back porch, help clear away debris in the yard, remove bushes, repair downspouts, landscape and more.
The Oasis and Harmony House Inc. collaboration is planning to provide transitional housing for young adults, ages 18 to 26, upon the completion of the renovation. At that time Harmony House Inc. will also re-locate their offices to the first floor of the house. Harmony House Inc. and their Director, Karla McDay currently use office space in the Oasis Outreach facility.
Street Outreach Services (SOS)
The Shelter Care Inc. Street Outreach Services program continues to address the needs of the homeless and street youth by providing outreach services that promote safety, well-being, self-sufficiency and permanent connections with caring adults. This program not only helps youth leave the streets, but also assists them in moving and adjusting to a safe and appropriate living arrangement. The SOS program engages through harm reduction and trauma informed approaches to build healthy, trusting relationships between youth and the qualified staff who provide direction and support. A range of education, intervention, and prevention services are offered to at-risk youth including those subjected to sexual abuse or exploitation. The Drop in Center provides food, clothing, showers, laundry facilities, computer access, and emotional support. In 2019 159 young adults were served at the SOS Drop in Center.
December 18, Harmony House, Inc. Christmas Celebration at Oasis! The clients of Harmony House, Inc., family and friends enjoyed a delicious meal and a Christmas basket of gifts and supplies
Congratulations to Andrew and Jessica Cantrell married at 4:00pm October 12, 2019. Friends and participants of the Oasis Healing House I in North Akron, we pray for your foreverness.
Congratulations to Lonnie and Rachel Beverly Married at Oasis on September 14, 2019. Rachel planned her own wedding and beautifully decorated the Oasis sanctuary. Thanks to Jan Romance, long-time Oasis Board member and supporter of all of the youth and young adults at Oasis, for all of her wedding planning help.
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