Central Outreach and Advocacy Center

We open doors to overcome and prevent homelessness

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4 Easy Ways to Make Change Happen

by Brenna Lakeson

Knowing the best ways to support our work can be overwhelming.  Between fundrasiers, donating toiletries, and volunteering, there are a lot of options, especially if you’re short on time or resources.  But even if you have limited time or money, there are still some incredibly easy ways to give back.

OAC Stewards

Another new oppotunity, and perhaps the one we’re most excited about: OAC Stewards!  Known elsewhere as “recurring donors” or “monthly givers”, OAC Stewards help support us year round.  This is a great option for people who are unable to give a large lump sum and allows you to spread out your giving over time. Become an OAC Steward today by choosing “monthly” under “donation frequency” here, and receive a free bumper sticker, like the one pictured above!

Amazon Smile

This is another great option if you want to give automatically with each purchase you make!  Amazon Smile gives a small portion of each purchase you make on Amazon to a charity of your choice.  Visit smile.amazon.com and choose Central Outreach and Advocacy Center as your charity to get started!

Kroger Plus

Do you shop for groceries at Kroger?  If so, register your Kroger Plus card, choose us as your charity, and Kroger will donate to us each time you shop!  It’s quick, easy, and especially great for those with limited finances, since you’re not actually the one who has to do the donating!

Sponsor an Event

We currently have two main fundraising events each year – Central ArtWorks and Cheers for Change.  We’re always looking for more individuals and businesses to be sponsors for these events.  Sponsorships include event tickets, publicity in our literature, and other fun perks! If this is something you’re interested in, contact Kimberly Parker at [email protected]

We appreciate all the different ways we get support from donors and volunteers.  We couldn’t do our work without you!  For more information about donating or volunteering, visit the drop-down menu under “Get Involved.”  We also hope you’ll consider some of these new out-of-the-box donation options to help us serve even more individuals experiencing homelessness.

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The Best Me I Can Be

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been doing a lot of teaching in the Main Frame.   At first this was a frightening prospect for me, and I was quite insecure about it.  As time has gone on and my confidence has grown, however, I’ve begun to enjoy it.  I love witnessing the moment when a student learns something brand new…it’s almost as if a light goes on behind their eyes.

For me, one of the most interesting things about teaching is the way students also teach me valuable lessons.  It seems like the very second I start to think that I have a subject figured out, one of our students shows me that I clearly do not.  

This truth was illustrated for me again last month.  During that class session, a Main Frame student named Ms. L kept using a phrase that stuck with me.  She would say, “I just want to be the best me I can be.” There is a lot of wisdom in that statement.  Ms. L was not concerned with what others thought of her or with what other people were doing. She focused all of her attention and energy on taking steps to better her situation by finding employment and appropriate housing.  She recently found work as a caregiver for elderly adults and is simultaneously returning to school to complete her GED.  There’s no doubt she’s blossoming into the best version of herself.

Despite Ms. L’s struggles-domestic abuse, homelessness, family illnesses, and unemployment, she has somehow managed to find a way to focus on what truly matters in the moment by asking questions like, “What can I do to improve myself right now?”  “What can I learn?” “How can I grow?”

Over the past few weeks, when I begin to compare myself to others or worry about something going poorly, I try to remember that all I can do is be the best me I can be.   Thank you for that lesson, Ms. L.

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I Believe

by Cat Perkins

I believe that hands can tell a story.
I believe that time is an enemy and a friend, but when living on the streets it can be elusive.
I believe that a moment to tell a story can be a precious gift.
I believe that doing paperwork feels unnecessarily formal after the harrowing experiences some of our guests endure.
I believe that free water can heal both physically and mentally.
I believe that it is worth making time for our guests to have a comfortable place to sit and think.
I believe that a brief hug or handshake is a thank you worth a thousand words.
I believe that happiness is like a spirit, fighting to be seen and felt everywhere.

There are many things that I have come to believe since I started working at the OAC. It is hard for me to pick a brief moment in time from this year to share. For me, when I think of serving at Central OAC, experiences flash in my mind from many different interactions. I see the faces of those I’ve worked with and hear their voices as they tell me their stories. The big focus for me is on guests and their stories. All people deserve to know they are seen, but when you are marked as a “person in need”, many people turn their backs, or avert their eyes. We all know this, and yet all of us find ourselves doing it in one way or another. That’s why it’s all about stories. When you see someone who looks like they may be in need, remind yourself that they have a story, and they are human. Everyone deserves to know that someone believes they have value.

I believe that everyone has value.

Make space for people in the ways you are comfortable, and then try to see if you can make space in ways that make you uncomfortable. The program I’ve been serving through, Young Adult Volunteers, focuses on being uncomfortable, and when we find ourselves getting comfortable, the program encourages us to find ways to be uncomfortable again. Not worrying about your own comfort can make you more able to fully care for other people. I have to admit I have found myself comfortable in some of the parts of my work at Central, but I assure you, there is a time every day, that I experience discomfort. I consider it a great gift. I take a deep breath, and then dive in. A little over a year ago, I never would have thought I could do that, let alone learn to love it. I have found a passion in this place, a passion that is shared by the staff and volunteers, a passion for seeing those who often go unseen, hearing the stories and understanding the humanity of those who are rejected or seen as valueless. Central OAC is about helping people to help themselves, building back some confidence, and showing people their inherent value along the way.

As I prepare to leave, I can only express my gratitude to Central OAC for teaching me how to have humility, compassion, patience, and kindness for everyone. I feel God in this place, every day.

Cat is our year-long intern and will have her last day with us at the end of July.  We’ve loved having her on board at the OAC, and we can’t wait to see what she’ll accomplish next!

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Called by Name

I walked through the art room and I heard, “Hey Ms. Kimberly. How are you today?” This happens almost every time I walk through the art room and it often happens when I walk through the lobby. Someone notices me and calls me by name. I like that feeling of knowing that someone knows my name and wants to say hello.

I am always impressed with April, Ahren, and Brenna because of how many of our guests’ names they know. They start talking about Mr. Smith or Ms. Brown and lately it seems that I ask a lot, “Which guest is that? What does he look like? Would I know her?” It bothers me a lot that I don’t know names like I used to when I provided direct services on a daily basis.

I’m pretty good with faces. I can look at a face and remember it, but not always the name.  Names don’t come easily for me unless it’s someone who has been around for a long time, someone I’ve specifically worked with, or an individual we’ve asked to leave the OAC.

Despite my shortcomings with remembering names, I think being called by name is important. When we can call a person by name it says that we paid attention when we first met. It shows that each person is a human being and deserves being remembered . It’s a form of respect and dignity, which are two of our staff values. I believe being called by name shows that we care.

I’m trying to figure out a way that I can learn and remember more of our guests’ names since I don’t provide direct service on a regular basis. It’s important to me because I like being called by name, and I think it shows that I care about the other person if I can return the favor. When we call a person by his or her name, I think it helps us to put our values at Central OAC to work:

We believe in meeting people where they are with patience and humility and treating each person with respect and dignity! I am grateful to be a part of this team who calls people by name.