PO BOX 5417 Akron, OH 44334
We are pleased to announce that we received a grant for $3000 from the Welty Family Foundation for 3 youth in The Way program. We have received multiple grants from the Welty Family Foundation in the past and their continued financial support is greatly appreciated!
After our graduation party where we saw 12 OASIS youth graduate OASIS spent quite a bit of time exploring Akron as well as the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Throughout the Summer we took hikes, held scavenger hunts, walked through rivers and had a barbecue. We also got the chance to stay at the Stanford house in the National Park for two nights.
We took youth and adults 12 in all, to the Northwestern Ohio Synod sponsored “Daybreak” at the Kalahari resort in Sandusky. Our executive director Lisa Arledge, as well as the youth got to share their story and explain what OASIS is and what it means to them.
We also attended an Akron Racer’s game, hung out at the Highland Theater and capped off our Summer at Strickland’s.
As the Summer comes to a close many of the youth get ready to go back to school. Some are just starting high school, some are now seniors and some have already graduated. For those that have graduated some have decided to continue their education, others join the military and still others look for jobs or find alternative programs
Noah received a soccer scholarship to Mercyhurst Northeast, a junior college in Pennsylvania. He started school this past week and his soccer team is currently 4-0. Angela started classes at Kent State University and Will started classes at Stark State University. Anthony made a decision years ago that he wanted to join the military. He went off to Army boot camp on August 11th.
Damon and Tyler started at ALTyear in Toledo, Ohio this past Wednesday where they will learn vital skills for serving God and their community.
These are big changes for some of the youth and at OASIS we teach the youth to rely on God in times of uncertainty or homesickness. These are exciting times as we continue pray for and guide the youth to be dependent on God and independent in the world!
We are pleased to announce that OASIS has received a grant of $5000 from WITAN for the sponsoring of students in “The Way” program. Please check out WITAN’s website!
The mission of WITAN, a local non-profit women’s service organization, is threefold:
• To educate members concerning civic responsibility and to promote volunteerism.
• To recognize, establish and financially support projects which fulfill a need in the community.
• To develop and nurture friendships by working together toward a common goal.
June 16, 2013 4th Sunday after Pentecost
Galatians 2:11-21, Luke 7:36-8:3 Marla Wood Kay
Grace and peace to you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
In the Spring, I resigned my full-time parish deaconess call at St. Paul in Sharon Center, and while I really miss the people, I’ve been enjoying going to different churches and taking in how they minister uniquely in their communities. I think it’s wonderful you have an outdoor service—it really allows people to see what you do—from a person who’s both a seasoned church worker and now an itinerant visitor, I’m surprised how hard it can be to go inside a church building when you don’t know anyone or what’s going on in there.
OASIS has received a generous grant from The Reinberger Foundation for which we couldn’t be more grateful. This funding will be used to help five students in The Way program, who receive financial and spiritual support in order to graduate from high school, to attend post-secondary school or training, and to secure and maintain employment. Bus passes, shoes for school, clothes for job interviews, books, groceries and driver’s training are just a few of the many resources provided.
Lives are being changed through the financial support of The Reinberger Foundation and OASIS is pleased to be one of the many agencies to receive their support!
Oasis would to thank all that donated items to the “White Elephant” event this past December. A big thanks goes out again this year to The Reserve Group for their generous donations and volunteer efforts! Oasis would also like to thank Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn for their donations and continued support! Over 50 youth participated in this year’s annual “White Elephant” event on December 12th. The youth picked out gifts for their family and then were met in the fellowship hall by volunteers who assisted the youth in wrapping their gifts. It was a really wonderful time and we could not have done it without your generous support and gift donations!
We had a lot of fun this summer at OASIS!
13 Oasis Guys and 2 adult leaders went to Philadelphia for a Youthworks sponsored work camp. The group stayed with 2 other youth groups at a church in the “Fishtown” area of Philadelphia. We worked alongside members of the Philadelphia community at urban produce gardens, homeless shelters and battered women shelters. We learned about the city’s history as well as some of the struggles that people face in inner-city Philadelphia. The guys went on a spiritual journey led by Youthworks’ leaders, worked hard at the different sites and came back to Akron with a completely different mindset.
The Oasis girls went on a spiritual retreat in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Everyone got to know each other better by participating in spiritual activities as well as bike rides and hikes in the park. The girls stayed for 3 nights and got to experience a time in nature without technology and the things they had become dependent on in every day life.
In honor of the 2012 Summer Olympics we participated in our own “OASIS Olympics.” We designed games that promoted teamwork and cooperation rather than athletic prowess. Youth and adults worked together and competed in three separate teams.
We also took 40 youth for a summer treat of water slides and fun. We also attended an Akron Aeros baseball game in downtown Akron.
It was a great Summer, and even though it is coming to an end we look forward to the routine and challenges that going back to school brings.
We are pleased to announce that OASIS has been awarded $4000 from Witan for the sponsoring of students in “The Way” program. Please check out what Witan is all about on their website!
WITAN, initially founded in 1943 by seven young women, has grown to an active membership of over 300 remarkable women who give their time and money as volunteers to benefit the community.
Along with countless volunteer hours within the community, the Women of Witan donate approximately $50,000 per year to community organizations. The WITAN French Market, a 2 day juried/invitational show featuring artists selling their original works, is our major fundraiser. It is underwritten by WOW, our gala Patron Party.
Since 1943, WITAN has volunteered over 3 million hours in the community and granted over 1 million dollars to nonprofit agencies.
God has put a calling on all our lives. Just like Jonah, most often our initial response is to run. Run as far and as fast as we can. Good. Run. Get as far away as you can… just know that God is going to pull you back. You can keep running, but you will never out run God’s calling on your life.
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