Where We Started: In the spring of 2012, a small group of concerned community members gathered together with a shared desire to meet the basic needs of God’s children. Less than one year later in 2013, Our Brother’s Keeper Shelter (OBK) opened its doors to provide an overnight shelter during the coldest months of the year - November to April.
As time went on, the Board of Directors realized that OBK was capable of doing more than just offering a meal and a place to stay.. The shelter was able to onboard a retired social work professional who was able to aid guests with obtaining the services they needed and desired. Mid-Michigan Community Action Agency kindly agreed to make weekly shelter visits in order to meet with guests and offer housing and rental assistance.
Our Brother’s Keeper Shelter has advanced greatly since its initial conception. As support for our shelter grew, OBK was able to begin implementing new policies and procedures that helped ensure the health and safety of guests, staff, and volunteers. The positive changes have resulted in consistent day to day operations. Our ongoing commitment to serving those in need has given rise to volunteers and staff that have been trained in skills such as crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and empathetic listening abilities. Hope House and Community Mental Health joined our partnership with a mission to provide guests with physical and mental health services. Through community donations and support, our shelter gained the ability to provide guests with bus tokens to travel to Michigan Works, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Social Security Administration Office, and Ten16 Recovery Network. To promote and aid the spiritual growth of guests, daily devotions, Bible study with visiting Pastors, and transportation to local church services were provided.
Where We Are Now: At OBK, we believe that everyone that walks through our doors is capable of doing great things. Each day, we continue to provide our guests with the skills, resources, and knowledge that we have available to us. We have seen an overwhelming number of success stories come from the guests who have utilized the services of Our Brother’s Keeper Shelter. From January 2022-March 2024, Our Brother’s Keeper Shelter completed 831 intakes, and had a total of 28,155 bed nights. The shelter served 435 women, 288 men, and 225 families. In efforts to strengthen self-sufficiency, we have created many programs that teach important life skills that guests can utilize once they transitioned into permanent housing. Some of these programs include:
Home Economics (cooking, cleaning, serving, money handling)
Rental Readiness (application process, leases, budgeting for rent, paying bills on time, communicating with a landlord, and proper upkeep of a rental space)
Resume Building (interviewing skills, creating a resume)
Personal Hygiene (proper hygiene tips, the importance of cleanliness for health)
Mental Health Awareness (mental health education, tips for managing mental health)
Gardening (promotes personal interests, encourages time spent outside)
We would like to thank these businesses, foundations, and organizations for the generosity they have shown. Mid Michigan Community Action, Hope House Free Medical Clinic, Community Mental Health, Mecosta County Health Department, Project Starburst, Michigan Works, Department of Health and Human Services, and Ten16 Recovery Network. True North, Big Rapids Elks, Big Rapids Lions, Big Rapids Rotary Club, Big Rapids Eagles, Pioneer News Paper, Currie Towing & BP, Old Pioneer Store & Emporium, Star Shooters Bar & Restaurant, Lake and Lodge Realty, Mr. C's Party Store, Pizza in Paris, Blue Cow Cafe, Raven Brewing & BBQ, Preferred Office Machines, Elite Graphics, Topping Frozen Yogurt, J.D. Fitness, Three Girls Bakery, Big Rapids Nutrition, Lily's Nails & Spa, The Studio/Cardinal Spa, Mecosta County Convention Center, K&J Garage Doors, The Pie Hole, Remax Together, Sherman Williams, Bulldog Cinema, Big Rapids Department of Public Safety, Big Rapids parks and Recreation Department, Youth Opportunity, Youth Crossbow, Bernie's Donut Shop, Nanos, Ferris State University Students and staff, Jokers M/C Evart, Mayor Tom Hogenson, Big Rapids Biggby Coffee, Cranker's Brewery, Gypsy Nickel Lounge, Sunny 97.3 FM, Big Rapids City Hall employees, Babb Ford, 9&10 News, B103.9, Lerner, Csernai & Fath Financial Group, Brown's Barber Shop, Flow Tek Inc., Jordan Balkema Elder Law Center, Habitat for Humanity, Rodney United Methodist Church, Hersey United Methodist Church, United Church of Big Rapids, Laprino Foods, Canadian Lakes campground Bingo Players, St. Paul Women of ELCA, Third Ave Methodist Church, Familiar Dog Grooming Salon, Big Rapids High School Key Club, Mecosta County Visitors Bureau, St. Michael's Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Board of Directors & Staff
President Ron McKean Interim Vice President Dee Van Horn
Secretary Dave Nicol
Treasurer Victor Piercey
Executive Director Jeffrey Auguste Board Members Mark Gifford Karen Hashimi William Sell Lila Ecker Kristine Szot-Schult Shelter Administrator Harley Rogers
