Fatherhood initiative raising funds for new resource center
COSHOCTON – The Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative is hoping to have the lease in hand by the end of this month for its new resource center.
“We had one at Head Start and were working in collaboration with them because we were both applying for the same grant,” said William Johnson, co-chair of the fatherhood initiative. “In return for the space we offered services to their fathers and if they had a program we were there.”
They used the resource center to offer workshops to dads, host fun events like movie nights, and also had computers that could be used for job searches and provided resume help by partnering with Ohio Means Jobs Coshocton County. Children could enjoy the space with their dads or dads could come in and chat about parenting issues or getting helpful information on topics like custody and visitation.
“When Head Start closed down its facility in (Pleasant) Valley and moved everyone up to the hill top location they needed the space back,” Johnson said. “We’ve been without a real home since then and have been storing our equipment, like the griddles for our breakfasts with dads, at The Salvation Army. The (new) site we are in negations for is just the right size and we have people that are going to work with us on cleaning and painting. We just need to get the lease locked down.”
In the meantime, the fatherhood initiative has been holding fundraisers, including selling lunches prepared at the Coshocton County Career Center by Mike Cichon and his culinary arts students, to help cover rent for the new location and continue to hosts programs such as the annual pool party for families.
The next lunch is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 11 and includes beef stew with Irish Soda Bread and buttermilk mashed potatoes and gravy. A donation of $8 is asked for and orders need to be sent to alexiamckay@coshoctoncounty.net by Monday, Jan. 8. Orders of 10 or more to a location are delivered and any orders smaller than that can be picked up in room 145 of the Coshocton County Services Building from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All proceeds from the lunches benefit the Fatherhood Resource Center and anyone interested in more information can contact Johnson at 740-622-6208.
“We are looking forward to having our own space and a place to also have our monthly meetings,” Johnson said. “We have a heavy metal group planning a fundraiser for us, our lunches and some other ideas in the frying pan to help us with the rest. We don’t have a steady income, but we are always looking for grants and other things of that nature. Hopefully by the end of February we will have the resource center open and going well before spring.”
Category: Clubs & Organizations
