United Way Needs Assessment CLOSED
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WiLL Programs
Women Living Leadership: Give. Advocate. Volunteer. The mission of WiLL is to improve women and children’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of women. Program support has grown and the work is making a difference in the lives of women and children in our community.
The inaugural luncheon in the fall of 2006 raised $37,000 with a five year total of $145,000. Our 2007 WiLL luncheon raised over $44,000, with a five year total of $146,000. In 2008 our luncheon raised over $47,000 with a five year total of nearly $160,000. In This enabled support of eight programs in 2009:
Addictions Recovery Center Walk with Me, mentoring program
Community Works, Dunn House Transition Services, rent deposits for single women.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Money Management for Vulnerable Women
Family Nurturing Center Project Childcare
Maslow Project, Girls Unite!, girls mentoring program
Medford School District, Project Dove, Girls Cirriculum
Rose Circle, Camp Lun
WinterSpring, Healing from Loss & Grief
WiLL Programs Creating Change
Bridges
Diana J. Kelley, a local massage therapist, became 20 year-old Elizabeth Robin Baines mentor in early spring as part of WiLL and OnTrack’s Bridges Program. Elizabeth had put substance abuse behind her and Diana welcomed her into her life with open arms.
Elizabeth explained that the most helpful part of having a mentor is, “someone to talk to, someone who understands the clean experience.”
Elizabeth just gave birth to her beautiful son, Elijah. She has bright goals for her future. She wants to earn a GED, get a driver’s license, attend Beautician school, buy a car and gain custody of her daughter. Diana is there to support her; they have become a team and they respect and grow from each other.
It takes a community to help those in need take another step forward.
Dunn House
Sarah came to to Dunn House in March of 2007, fleeing her ex-partner who was stalking her. While at Dunn House she found a job but was concerned about finding housing with three cats and a past eviction. She was given the opportunity to rent a 5th wheel RV with the option to buy and she needed to locate a trailer park where she could place the 5th wheel.
Sarah was saving money to purchase the trailer and could make payments to the owner. She needed help to move into the trailer park. Through the WiLL grant, Dunn House Shelter was able to provide two months rent at the trailer park so Sarah could move in. That was in May. She continues to work, attend the support group at Dunn House, and keep her trailer with her three cats who mean everything to her.
Sarah feels safe for the
first time in a very long time and is thankful for the assistance she received.
It takes a community to help
those in need take another step forward.
Family Nurturing Center
Angry and disturbed when she was enrolled in the Family Nurturing Center, Sara’s life had not been easy with her single mom and baby sister. Living in a small trailer with no stove or heat, in extreme disrepair, they faced issues of domestic violence, poverty, unemployment, and drug addiction. Removed from their mother's care, they had recently returned home.
Sara attended therapeutic preschool two mornings a week, leaving school each day to go home to chaos and dysfunction. The WiLL project was born when staff suggested Sara be in a quality childcare center three days a week when she was not at the FNC.
Sara transformed from an angry, defiant child to a happy, playful child. By the end of her 11-month stay at the FNC and four months in childcare, she was ready to move to Head Start where she appears to be adjusting.
They have moved into an apartment and mom remains sober. Life at home is less chaotic and some of the parenting challenges have been resolved. Hope for the future is more realistic now.
It takes a community to help
those in need take another step forward.
Addictions Recovery and WinterSpring Healing Arts
Jamie, 23 and a single mother of four, had three of her four children, all under five, removed from her care because of her meth addiction. Growing up, her mom was in active meth addiction and four of her six siblings are addicts. Jamie started with alcohol and pot and by age seventeen she used meth every day.
Despite intermittent drug treatment, jail time, and removal of her children, she was pregnant again. Knowing she couldn’t do it alone, she arrived at Addictions Recovery Center in June 2007, wanting to do it differently and knowing she needed longer term treatment.
Jamie’s grief and depression over the loss of her three children was overwhelming. The WiLL-funded Healing Arts program was just beginning and she enrolled. Through the safe, supportive group she came to understand her shame and guilt. For her, it wasn’t a coincidence that the group was offered when she needed it and she is grateful.
Like to be part of the WiLL effort? Follow the links!