Our Community Inc. is a 501 c 3 tax-exempt non-profit charitable organization.
Our mission is to create unique opportunities to bring the communities we live in together
and to belong without regard to social labels or status.
We believe much can be accomplished when we join resources and people to serve one and another.
Our projects are accomplished by utilizing volunteer committees.
Our mission is to create unique opportunities to bring the communities we live in together
and to belong without regard to social labels or status.
We believe much can be accomplished when we join resources and people to serve one and another.
Our projects are accomplished by utilizing volunteer committees.
'One Portage' Finds Numerous Ways to Give Back to the Community
WRITTEN BY TIM MORAN
LAST UPDATED ON 24 NOVEMBER 2014
Helping those in need is a service a number of organizations focus on during the holiday season, but “One” community organization is beginning to make that a year-round effort.
“One Portage,” a non-profit group under the umbrella of Our Community, Inc., will host their sixth annual free Thanksgiving Dinner this week at Willowcreek Middle School, but have taken steps in recent years to provide the needy in Portage with food during other times of the year as well.
“Our mission is to love people,” said Staci Pearman, a member and former deacon of Crossroads Family Church in Portage who runs “One Portage” and began the Thanksgiving Day tradition that last year saw 297 meals delivered and countless others given away during the Willowcreek dinner.
The Thanksgiving dinner began just at Crossroads church for the first two years, but then rose in popularity each year since 2011 when other area churches decided to take part in the charitable act.
The effort didn’t really have a name, until questions from the public on how they could help created the need for a website that would address those inquiries.
“We saw ‘One Portage’ was open so we named it that for a website, and it has taken off since,” Pearman said.
Other local churches and community organizations have gradually jumped on board, and since the recent awarding of Our Community with a 501(c)3 tax exempt status, for-profit businesses have joined in on providing resources.
“Meijer has been wonderful, Bass Pro Shops donated the turkey frying oil, Starbucks gives all our volunteers coffee in the morning and afternoon and the local Trustee office supplies paper products,” Pearman said, noting Portage Township Schools’ donation of the janitorial service for Thursday’s event and Minuteman Press, which has provided thousands of flyers to promote the community get together.
“A lot of people want to help. It’s the most amazing thing,” Pearman said.
But ‘One Portage’ is not only a resource on Thanksgiving Day. Since their inception and growth, the organization has added a Christmas Project and Back-to-School event to help struggling families in the Portage school system have the meals and school supplies needed to succeed.
The Christmas Project, Pearman, says, involves providing elementary school students whom Portage schools officials identify as ones being in “dire need” a box full of two-weeks worth of meals over the winter break. The need for this was evident since the schools have a summer feeding program makes meals available to those children and families during the long break and backpacks filled with two days worth of food are sent home every weekend. But during winter and spring breaks, the need still persists.
“We’d like to fill that gap during the winter break,” Pearman said. “We fill them with healthy food, like meatloaf, chicken and beef stu. If you give them garbage, they will feel like garbage, but if you give them good stuff they will feel like a strong part of the community.”
While this effort started small in 2012, last year’s Christmas Project saw 107 kids represent some 60 families in need.
A back-to-school event held every July provides Portage students with backpacks full of school supplies. But since the Portage Township Trustees Office already has a similar event with supplies being given out, Pearman said One Portage is exploring the possibility of joining forces and providing clothing needs such as socks and underwear to compliment what the Trustees office already does.
“If we come together, we can accomplish even more,” Pearman said.
Right now, “One Portage” is the only branch under Our Community, Inc., but Pearman said interest has been shown from residents in Lake Station, Chesterton and Hobart in having similar programs implemented in those towns.
This year’s “community Thanksgiving dinner” will be from 2-6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at Willowcreek Middle School. Pearman said volunteers (which are limited to 300, although many more step up to the plate) are preparing to feed 900, including several that will be unable to make it to Willowcreek and will need the full-course meals delivered.
In addition to Crossroads, Nativity of our Savior, Portage Bible Church, City Point Church, Grace Church of the Nazarene and Central Church are all taking part this year.
“Without all of the people who volunteer and donate resources, we couldn’t accomplish any of this,” Pearman said, noting how it all comes down to community - and Portage is a strong community.
“Portage is like Mayberry,” said Pearman, a 20-year resident of the city. “If your neighbor’s grass is too long, you go over there and find out why and help them instead of calling the city to report it. Everyone should want to live in a community like that.”
WRITTEN BY TIM MORAN
LAST UPDATED ON 24 NOVEMBER 2014
Helping those in need is a service a number of organizations focus on during the holiday season, but “One” community organization is beginning to make that a year-round effort.
“One Portage,” a non-profit group under the umbrella of Our Community, Inc., will host their sixth annual free Thanksgiving Dinner this week at Willowcreek Middle School, but have taken steps in recent years to provide the needy in Portage with food during other times of the year as well.
“Our mission is to love people,” said Staci Pearman, a member and former deacon of Crossroads Family Church in Portage who runs “One Portage” and began the Thanksgiving Day tradition that last year saw 297 meals delivered and countless others given away during the Willowcreek dinner.
The Thanksgiving dinner began just at Crossroads church for the first two years, but then rose in popularity each year since 2011 when other area churches decided to take part in the charitable act.
The effort didn’t really have a name, until questions from the public on how they could help created the need for a website that would address those inquiries.
“We saw ‘One Portage’ was open so we named it that for a website, and it has taken off since,” Pearman said.
Other local churches and community organizations have gradually jumped on board, and since the recent awarding of Our Community with a 501(c)3 tax exempt status, for-profit businesses have joined in on providing resources.
“Meijer has been wonderful, Bass Pro Shops donated the turkey frying oil, Starbucks gives all our volunteers coffee in the morning and afternoon and the local Trustee office supplies paper products,” Pearman said, noting Portage Township Schools’ donation of the janitorial service for Thursday’s event and Minuteman Press, which has provided thousands of flyers to promote the community get together.
“A lot of people want to help. It’s the most amazing thing,” Pearman said.
But ‘One Portage’ is not only a resource on Thanksgiving Day. Since their inception and growth, the organization has added a Christmas Project and Back-to-School event to help struggling families in the Portage school system have the meals and school supplies needed to succeed.
The Christmas Project, Pearman, says, involves providing elementary school students whom Portage schools officials identify as ones being in “dire need” a box full of two-weeks worth of meals over the winter break. The need for this was evident since the schools have a summer feeding program makes meals available to those children and families during the long break and backpacks filled with two days worth of food are sent home every weekend. But during winter and spring breaks, the need still persists.
“We’d like to fill that gap during the winter break,” Pearman said. “We fill them with healthy food, like meatloaf, chicken and beef stu. If you give them garbage, they will feel like garbage, but if you give them good stuff they will feel like a strong part of the community.”
While this effort started small in 2012, last year’s Christmas Project saw 107 kids represent some 60 families in need.
A back-to-school event held every July provides Portage students with backpacks full of school supplies. But since the Portage Township Trustees Office already has a similar event with supplies being given out, Pearman said One Portage is exploring the possibility of joining forces and providing clothing needs such as socks and underwear to compliment what the Trustees office already does.
“If we come together, we can accomplish even more,” Pearman said.
Right now, “One Portage” is the only branch under Our Community, Inc., but Pearman said interest has been shown from residents in Lake Station, Chesterton and Hobart in having similar programs implemented in those towns.
This year’s “community Thanksgiving dinner” will be from 2-6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at Willowcreek Middle School. Pearman said volunteers (which are limited to 300, although many more step up to the plate) are preparing to feed 900, including several that will be unable to make it to Willowcreek and will need the full-course meals delivered.
In addition to Crossroads, Nativity of our Savior, Portage Bible Church, City Point Church, Grace Church of the Nazarene and Central Church are all taking part this year.
“Without all of the people who volunteer and donate resources, we couldn’t accomplish any of this,” Pearman said, noting how it all comes down to community - and Portage is a strong community.
“Portage is like Mayberry,” said Pearman, a 20-year resident of the city. “If your neighbor’s grass is too long, you go over there and find out why and help them instead of calling the city to report it. Everyone should want to live in a community like that.”
Current Events:
Portage Community Thanksgiving Dinner-Every Thanksgiving we host a dinner for anyone and everyone in the community. The resources that allow this dinner to occur also come from the community in the form of donations and volunteers. We feed over 1,000 people every year including deliveries. The Christmas box-During the winter break from school we provide just under 100 families who are identified as being in dire need with nutritious food. In these cases, having food while the school is closed is truly a luxury. Gifts would be a miracle. Under the Tree-Christmas becomes a reality for those children in our community through your generous adoption of children and familes to bless with presents. Back to School Festival-Each year a back to school festival is hosted on the grounds of the Real Life in Portage, Indiana. We are able to provide over 300 children with socks and underwear because of your generosity! |
Current Projects:
The Gathering Place: This is a community kitchen and training facility. The kitchen will be open to the public from 7am to 8pm. The model will be “pay what you can and earn the rest”. A suggested price will be listed on the menu. A person who has limited financial means or that does not have any financial means can volunteer their time. Their hours may be used to to take life and job skills classes that we offer, learn to work in the kitchen, learn to serve tables, learn to take care of the community garden, learn to clean the facility, etc. We will host several different classes such as Dinner on a Budget, Healthy Dinners for Latchkey Kids, Growing a Garden Feeding Your Family, Freezer Meals, Canning 101, Couponing, Debt Reduction, Bankruptcy 101, Budgeting, Savings, Things to know before leaving for College, Tax Topics, Real Estate Real Talk, Toxic Jeopardy-A Naturally Clean Home, etc. Throughout the year we will have several fundraisers to help support the kitchen. Ask me about Cookie Day! Pierogies for People! Tamales for Tomorrow! Coffee & Cups for the Community. If you are interested in being a volunteer, joining the board, donating services or items are making a sizeable donation that you would like publicized, please contact stacipearman@ourcommunityinc.com. Play It Again Music Program-We believe that music is an important part of our community. We will be accepting donated instruments and repurposing those instruments to the youth in our community who are interested in learning but are not equipped to participate in a formal school class. We are proud to announce the Car Fairy program!
(sorry "Car Angel" was already taken!) Our Community Inc. is able to accept motor vehicles as a donation. The donated vehicle will be utilized in one of three ways: 1. Given to a person in need on easy to manage terms at 0% interest ~ $100 down and $100 month until it is paid off. ~ 2. Used by the non-profit. 3. Sold for scrap. You will receive the appropriate tax deduction. That's a WIN/WIN/WIN For more information please contact us at info@ourcommunityinc.com |