Final Month For the Year

Spring appears to be near! The sheltering season at OBK is drawing to a close on April 30th. We have served approximately 157 guests this year--many families and children included. We thought things were winding down, but over the last couple of days, new folks have needed us, and we are up to capacity again. Currently we have five children and 28 adults. 

Most of the winter's guests have found their way into housing, employment, reunited with family or relocated out of the area. A few have been sheltered for most of the season for various reasons. We celebrate the successes and continue to help as we can our homeless and hopeless guests find a better path.

The volunteers have been amazing this year! FSU students, in particular, really stepped up and gave a hand. As always, we are VERY grateful for our over night volunteers and staff as well.

We currently have grant applications out to United Way, Mecosta County Community Foundation, Lake County Community Foundation and Osceola County Community Foundation and are anxiously waiting for replies so we can plan our next season, or....perhaps have some limited over night access in the warmer months. Cross your fingers!

Due to the lack of single unit housing availability in the area, board members plan to take a field trip to Madison, Wisconsin to visit their "Tiny House" community for homeless folks. We feel something like this could offer a real solution and know we have the community resources to pull it off! 

Please keep OBK Shelter, its guests, volunteers and Board members in your prayers as we continue to look for understanding, funding, support and material resources to solve the problem of homelessness in the community. Save your "old treasures" for our summer yard sale. It's not too late to volunteer!