Standing Oaks and Kno-Ho-Co making plans to work together
Initially, Standing Oaks of East Central Ohio (Isaiah 61:1-3) a nonprofit faith-based organization associated with the Homeless Coalition, was planning to create a transitional homeless shelter in the county by purchasing land to build a shelter or renovating an existing building. With the purchase of the Hickory Street Shelter by Kno-Ho-Co their goal is the same, but the game plan has changed.
Kathy Robbins of Standing Oaks said, “We are in the process of how we can help them in their endeavor. Right now, we don’t know what that will look like. We have had two meetings, one face to face and one Zoom. We are still in the early stages. I am so grateful they have purchased it. It’s better when people can work together. I look at this as having the same goal. With Kno-Ho-Co, they will have a facility that is fully staffed instead of volunteer supported.”
Opening a shelter is a major undertaking.
“They bought the property, and it will probably be next summer before the Hickory Street Shelter is ready,” Robbins said. “These are the early days. We support Hickory Street and want to help them in any we can. Grace United Methodist Church has been instrumental with Standing Oaks as well. We do this for the glory of God. We want to get people rooted and established and working together so how can we fail? We want to support and help people.”
Standing Oaks is collecting personal hygiene products, nonperishable food and blankets through Shepherds Church on Main Street, The Salvation Army, First Baptist Church on Chestnut Street and monetary donations can be made at Century National Bank.
For more information on how you can help, call 740-221-0195.
The Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Emergency Shelter Program provides temporary housing to those individuals or families which find themselves in a homeless situation. The goal is to alleviate the plague of homelessness by providing shelter and supportive services so clients can acquire decent, safe, and affordable housing.
Category: People & Places
