Winter 2004

A Message from the Director

The 2005 session of the General Assembly is quickly approaching. The PAPIS (Pre-release and Post-incarceration Services) providers, their Board members, and other supporters have been meeting with legislators in an effort to assure that funding for PAPIS programs is restored in the state budget for FY 2005-06. In addition to restoring PAPIS funds for offender reentry services, we have been urging those with whom we meet to address the needs of the huge number of offenders returning to their communities each year by developing a statewide offender reentry initiative. This initiative would call for systems integration, collaboration, and partnerships among public and private organizations and agencies working with offenders. It is our opinion that such an initiative would create a more efficient and effective transition and reentry process resulting in an increase in public safety. We will continue these discussions and ask that our supporters throughout the Commonwealth join us in this effort.

Last fiscal year, PAPIS programs throughout the Commonwealth provided services to a total of 20,513 clients; 10,433 clients received job search assistance; 2,055 full-time jobs were obtained; 6,527 clients received transportation assistance; 3,040 clients were assisted with obtaining identification documents; 1,615 clients received housing assistance; 8,488 clients participated in educational and support groups; and 541 volunteers assisted in a variety of direct services to clients. Those of us in the PAPIS community know, and can prove, that we are “enhancing public safety by reducing barriers to productive citizenship”. If you would like to get more involved in our legislative efforts, you may contact me at 643-2746 or info@oarric.org.

Barbara A. Slayden

Volunteer News

Since July 2004, 47 volunteers have provided 1,139 hours of their time to OAR. They served as mentors, facilitators of client groups and special projects, and Board members. Our sincere appreciation goes out to all our volunteers.

OAR would like to welcome the following new volunteers and interns: Sarah Harbert, LaToya Myers, Lewis Parker, Tom Piero, Pastor Sheila Reid, Kenneth Roberts, Carla Rodriguez, Bridgett Terry, Ginger Vanhoozer, and Frank Watkins.

Congratulations to……

Wendy Brown-Kong who was named OAR's 2004 Volunteer of the Year at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors. Wendy has donated over 95 hours of her time to assist with the redesign of our client database. It is estimated that her service saved the organization at least $10,000! And she is still fine tuning some areas of the database and serves as our "on call" troubleshooter.

Thank you Wendy!

Get to Know an OAR Volunteer…

Kate Olenyik has been an OAR volunteer since the spring of 2004. She facilitates Parent Education groups for male and female inmates at the Henrico County, Henrico Regional, and Pamunkey Regional jails. This program teaches parents how to provide their children with the tools they need to overcome life’s difficult situations. Kate had facilitated this program in the community for over two years before contacting OAR to expand her service into the area jails. Since then, she has volunteered over 125 hours of her time, often logging up to 50 hours a month!

Kate says that, “Out of all the classes I have done in the jails, I’ve yet to complete one without some amount of tears being shed. I know that because of my interaction with the inmates and the stories they have shared, I have also become a better parent”.

Kate moved to Richmond five years ago with her husband and two sons, ages 8 and 6. Kate is employed at Medical Home Plus, which is a resource center for families of children with special needs.

Volunteer Opportunities

Life without a Crutch and Productive Citizenship group facilitators at Pamunkey Regional Jail in Hanover County
AA and NA facilitators at several jail locations
Job Club Leader at the Central Office in downtown Richmond

If you are interested in volunteering, please call Jennifer Harris at 643-2746.

Adopt-a-Client’s Family for Christmas

Santa’s Helpers Make the Holidays Brighter

OAR is partnering again this year with the Church of the Epiphany in Chesterfield County to provide gifts to the families of some of our clients. As part of the church's “Miracles from the Manger” program, members of the congregation are providing clothing and toys to 25 families, reaching a total of 95 people.

Another volunteer also started partnering with OAR during this holiday season. Pastor Sheila Reid invited a large number of our post-release clients to a Thanksgiving celebration where they received turkey and the trimmings to use for their Thanksgiving family meal. Pastor Reid is also planning to adopt those same families for the Christmas holidays.

We are very grateful for those who think of our clients and their families during the holidays. Santa should be very proud of his OAR helpers!

Board News

Text Box: The next meeting of the Board of Directors is Tuesday, January 18, 5:30 p.m.
at the OAR Central Office.

The Board of Directors Annual Meeting was held November 17 at the Renaissance Conference Center. The theme of the meeting, "Community Partnerships in Action" was echoed by our guest speakers, Sheriff Michael Wade, Henrico County, and LaShaun Evans, Minority Health Consortium. Sheriff Wade told the audience about all the services and treatment programs at the two Henrico jails and about the need for these activities for inmates during their incarceration. Ms. Evans spoke about her organization, her background, her past involvement with OAR as a client and now as a collaborative services partner, and encouraged everyone to get involved and be a part of the solution to the crime and substance abuse problems in our community. In her words, "if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem".

Katie Campbell, Board president, asked several clients who had been invited to the Annual Meeting to stand. Clients who had received 2 and 3 year job retention incentives during the past year were all invited to attend and be recognized for their accomplishments. Unfortunately, not all were able to attend due to a conflict--they were working!

Thank You To…

Charles Adcock, Samuel Brumberg, Katie Campbell, Don Carpenter, Ann Cavan, Consumer Action, Inc., Bob & Jan DeLaney, Jessica & George Forsythe, Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, Don Keck, Christopher Konschak, Meghan & Peirce Macgill, Risto Marttinen, Douglas Massey, Ernest Moseley, Dr. Norma Murdoch-Kitt, Pamunkey Regional Jail Canteen Account, Lewis Parker, James Payne, Kevin Reid, John Rice, Securitas, Nancy Siford, Frank Wood, Tommy Wrenn, Gray Wyatt, and Louisa Yeuell who donated gift certificates, money, or other items to OAR during the last quarter.

OAR offices will be closed for the holidays on the following days: December 23 beginning at 12:30 p.m., December 24, and 31.

Do Your Holiday Shopping at OAR

In our last newsletter we announced our new income-generating project in collaboration with Boaz & Ruth, Inc. The Boaz & Ruth @ OAR store officially opened on October 14. Many of you attended our pre-opening on October 12 and 13. Thank you for celebrating with us.

The opening of the store represents a long-term goal of the Board to develop projects that will assist the organization to meet some of our growing funding needs. As our client numbers continue to increase and their service needs become more complex, more funds are needed to meet those service needs.

The store has a large variety of items from "experienced" furniture and home accessories to new items perfect for holiday or special occasion gifts. Prices range from less than $1.00 to $1,000.00. The store is located on our first floor at 300 East Main Street and is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. When you purchase items in our store, your money goes to support the programs of both OAR and Boaz & Ruth.

Learn more about Boaz & Ruth

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the Board, Staff, and Clients of OAR of Richmond

OAR News
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