OARRIC HOME

Fall 2006

Did You Know…?

 During the last fiscal year OAR served 3,835 clients at six jail sites and two post-release offices.  The total number of clients served included an almost equal distribution of clients who were new to OAR during the fiscal year and “continuing” clients who had also received services during the previous fiscal year.  During intake interviews with new clients, the following significant information was reported:

 58% were unemployed or had been unemployed prior to their   incarceration

41% were homeless or had been homeless prior to their incarceration

57% reported a history of substance abuse

44% lacked a high school education or GED

57% were parents of minor children

 Client Services Highlights for FY 06

 Ø      2,528 received job search assistance

Ø      1,224 attended educational/support groups and job readiness classes

Ø      1,286 received transportation assistance

Ø      338 received emergency assistance such as  clothing, hygiene kits, and medications

Ø      759 identification documents were secured

Ø      98 received direct housing assistance

Ø      90 received referrals for housing assistance

Ø      428 full-time and part-time jobs were obtained

Ø      180 received work boots, tools, or clothing required by their employers

We cannot address our clients’ service needs alone.  We need, and value, the support of others in our community--social services organizations, churches, businesses, local governments, and individuals. 

 Volunteer News

From July, 2005 through June, 2006, 113 volunteers provided 2,700 hours of their time to the organization.  They served as facilitators of client groups, coordinators of special projects, mentors, tutors, and Board members. 

We would like to welcome the following new volunteers:  Janice Bentley, Leah Bolling, Natasha Christian, Juanita Cole, Darrell Jackson, George Lee, Robert Loker, and Alice Pastorius.

Get to Know an OAR Volunteer…

Jennifer Black has been volunteering with OAR since February.  Each week, she assists clients at our Central Office prepare their resumes, learn basic computer skills, and do job searches on the internet.

Jennifer is attending VCU and rarely misses her volunteer time with clients even though she is very involved in school.  This semester when her class schedule changed, she immediately contacted us  to be sure that we could adjust the time for her weekly resume workshop so she could continue helping our clients.

Her devotion to volunteering and to our clients, specifically, is a personal commitment that has significantly increased the service opportunities for our post-release clients.  People like Jennifer, as well as our other direct service volunteers, who give  their time and energy, make it possible for OAR to reach so many in need of opportunities and understanding when they are released from incarceration back into the community. Thank you, Jen, for being part of the OAR team!

Volunteer Opportunities

J      Responsibilities of Fatherhood: Help clients learn the financial and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood while developing positive communication skills in this 6 week program.

J      Parenting Education Group for females:  Help incarcerated parents improve their parenting skills in this 8 week program.

J      Impact of Crime on Victims:  Educate offenders on the impact that crime has on victims, families, and communities by teaching a series of classes in this 11 week program.

J      Mock Interviews:  Give OAR's post-release clients an opportunity to practice their interviewing skills.

J      New Program Opportunities:  Volunteer to work with clients in a program designed specifically for females with prostitution convictions or be a reentry coach for newly released male or female inmates through a pilot offender reentry initiative being jointly coordinated by the Richmond Department of Social Services and OAR.

J      Cooking Classes:  Would you, your church, or civic group be interested in teaching cooking classes to OAR's post-release clients? 

Call Christy Ellis at 643-2746 to find out more about volunteering with OAR.

Staff News

We would like to welcome the following new staff:  Christina Ford, Nathan Hamm, Jennie Jarvis, and Sean Monroe.  We would also like to welcome Morgan Salvador to the Central Office.  Morgan was recently promoted into our new Reentry Specialist position after several years as OAR's case manager at the Henrico County jails.  Three case managers, Kay Gray, Richard Wilkerson, and Nicole Sturdivant, left OAR to pursue other opportunities.

Boaz & Ruth @ OAR

October 14 marks the two year anniversary of the opening of the Boaz & Ruth @ OAR resell store located on the first floor of OAR’s building at 300

E. Main Street.  New store hours are 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.  The store carries a diverse collection of antiques, collectibles, home accessories, all occasion greeting cards for $1.25 each, and many items suitable for gifts.  All items have been donated and cleaned and/or refurbished by Boaz & Ruth program trainees.  If you would like to donate items to OAR for the store, contact Barbara Slayden at 643-2746.

Board News

OAR welcomes the following new Board member:   Margaret "Peggy" Horn, Major, Richmond Police Department.  We appreciate Peggy's commitment to OAR’s mission and look forward to working with her.

Mark your calendars now for the OAR Board of Directors Annual Meeting at Club 533 in Jackson Ward on Tuesday, November 14, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.  Please plan to join us and celebrate OAR’s 35 years of service to the community.  Invitations will be mailed in late October.

Thank you to…

Beta Tech, Tasha Brubaker, LaShaun Evans, Myrtle Fultz, Richard Massey, Lewis Parker, Robins Foundation, and St. Peter Baptist Church who donated gift certificates, money, or other items to OAR during the last quarter.

United Way Campaign

This year’s United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg Campaign is off to a great start.  The support of United Way staff, volunteers, and contributors has provided a "security blanket" for OAR for over 30 years.  United Way's Community Care Fund and Focused Care contribution options give you the opportunity to support hundreds of human services programs in our community.  When deciding how much you will contribute, be as generous as you can.

"People will forget what you said…

People will forget what you did…but

People will never forget how you made them feel."