OHM began giving soup and sandwiches to the homeless and indigent at GAR Park in Haverhill, MA. The First Baptist Church of Haverhill invited the organization to use the kitchen and dining hall to cook and serve meals on the premises. A clothing shed was made available to hand out clothing. An area of the Christian Education Building was then offered from which to operate. Structured assembly work
shops have been implemented to provide activity and purpose. The outreach has recently expanded from three to six days a week with a full time director and part time administrative assistant. An active Board of Directors meets several times annually. Additional office support comes from volunteer bookkeeper and office assistant. Volunteer coordinators oversee for jewelry workshop, clothes, hygiene items, meals, mentoring and transportation. Over forty regular volunteers serve meals, distribute personal items, and supervise group activities. Professionals in the community who give advice and volunteer include: ministers, nurses, teachers, business owners, accountants, chefs, mental health therapists, pregnancy/substance abuse counselors and many other careers. This growth in staff and volunteers is due to the ever increasing needs of our community. The basic need for food is addressed by the Meal Outreach Program, serving approximately 16,000 meals per year, many of which go to the aged and indigent. Prepared meals include the weekly Community Meal, a monthly Senior Luncheon, food taken to the homebound during visitation and lunch provided to the workshop participants throughout the week. The Senior Luncheon on the last Wednesday of the month has been a great success and much needed in the community. The numbers of elderly attending is between 50 and 60 individuals each month. The aged enjoy abundant servings of a hot, nutritious meal during their hour in the dining area while they relax and socialize. Entertainment includes singing, dancing, Trivia, and chance for a market gift card. Some elderly take pleasure in preparing and serving the meals. Seniors are also volunteering for and being helped by our Personal Care Outreach where clothing is distributed every Wednesday and the last Monday of the month, hygiene items are provided. The aged are now involved in a Jewelry Workshop which meets two days of the week. Women are instructed how to hand-craft jewelry and may help to sell it at craft fairs, from which the proceeds directly benefit the participants. All of these events allow more opportunity for the elderly to be in a safe, socially stimulating environment. Some who do not find it easy to leave their home or few that remain in hospice or other medical environments receive a visitor from OHM. These appointments, as well as others, now require more than sixteen hours per week outside the office. Close working relationships with local health professionals help clients keep appointments and stay on track with their recovery. OHM also collaborates with community non-profits, church organizations, local corporations and benefactors. Strong alliances are made with community establishments, such as Emmaus, Common Ground, and Haverhill Round Table. The Greater Boston Food Bank, and Fantini Baking Co. also supplement food pantry and meals in the community. Local corporations like Parker Filtration host a food drive and provided gift cards to the local market for food. Area churches such as Byfield Parish partner with Touched Twice United once a year to coordinate an afternoon of health clinics, food, clothing, and live music. Other church groups form teams to prepare and serve food, hold clothing and hygiene drives and provide furniture. Mission of Deeds, a nonprofit furniture organization, partners with OHM to help the needy acquire small home goods and furnishings. The Furniture Program brings seniors to get furniture they need be providing a truck and the man power to move it in for them. These services all help to sustain the elderly that we serve to be able to stay in their homes. Numerous indigent families and aged individuals are turned away from furniture deliveries due to the maintenance needs of the OHM truck. A newer 14 foot boxed truck would enable the Outreach to pick up furniture from Mission of deeds and other sources of donated furniture and deliver to the client, as well as transporting larger quantities of food, allowing fewer trips to the food bank. The current truck mileage is over 300,000, therefore maintenance is costly. The Senior Luncheon provides a great time of social interaction. Our hope is to double the frequency of this meal and promote other healthy activities where the aged may meet. In efforts to encourage the indigent to gather for OHM events, bus or taxi fare may be necessary. Transportation costs for furniture, food, individuals and visitation also involve fuel and service. The aged and indigent need access to computers and education. OHM wants to make available computers that will assist with resources to support them in their need. A volunteer can research information for them or teach a willing person some basic computer skills. Used desks, chairs and computer monitors are supplied and a few refurbished CPU have been requested at no charge. Computer maintenance is often pro-bono, however some remuneration for upkeep and repairs are necessary for their level of expertise. The success and growth of the outreach has generated the need for a full time administrative assistant to care for the general business aspect of the Outreach Program. More attention will be focused on clients when administrative responsibilities are delegated. Additional hours will facilitate better relationships and oversight for OHM with volunteers. Salary will need to increase for a full time administrative assistant. Expansion of the Outreach necessitates a move to a different facility, or possible improvement to the property from which OHM currently operates. The dining hall roof/ceiling needs repairs. Other areas of FBC need renovation before expanding operations. FBC continues to allow OHM use of the facility at no charge to defray the cost of the organization. Aside from using space rent-free and in-kind gifts, different methods are used for fund-raising to provide for the needs of our community. “My Open Heart Jewelry Collection” is sold to directly benefit the participants of the Workshop Advancement Program. OHM sends e-mails, newsletters and uses social media to solicit support. Events like a benefit concert where the community assembles for entertainment, promotes this cause. Furthermore, appreciation meals are offered for our generous donors and volunteers, which encourages support.
