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
| Small Groups | Frequency | Total Participants |
| Create Sundays and Thursdays | 2x’s a Week | 21 |
| Young Adult Men’s Basketball | 2 x’s a Week | 56 |
| Elementary Youth Activities | Weekly | 6 |
| EKG Spiritual Discernment | Weekly | 8 |
| Meditative Silence | Daily | 11 |
| After School Middle School | 2x’s a Week | 48 |
| Science and Theology Discussions | Weekly | 6 |
| Studying | Daily | 8 |
| Video Production | Weekly | 17 |
| Writing Workshop | Weekly | 9 |
| Pre-Marital Counseling | Monthly | 6 |
| Healing Practices Collaborative Meetings Neighborhood | Monthly Weekly Weekly | 10 18 19 |
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.
Table 2: Oasis Outreach Facility Partnership Participants
| Program | Participants/Staff/Volunteers |
| Harmony House Inc. (18-26 yr.) | 24 |
| Day Care (2 ½-12 yr.) | 58 |
| High School Mentoring | 65 |
| Basketball Training (10-15 yrs.) | 31 |
| Other (Adults) | 16 |
| Total | 194 |
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.
