Funding Olivet Neighborhood Mission: G r a s s roots
I
Sustenan c e
n the aftermath of the 2008 flood, the enormous
ONM sought out and received help from civic
need for outreach and support for those
organizations, schools, grocery stores and area students.
devastated by the disaster did not recede with the
Those partnerships provided additional donations of food
flood waters. Nowhere was that more apparent than at the
and clothing.
Olivet Neighborhood Mission (ONM) in Cedar Rapids.
But by last summer, Thomas realized the 35-year-old
The combination of the flood’s impact, rising
nonprofit was going to need more help to continue
unemployment and the recession hit hard those most in
responding to the elevated demand. She requested $25,000
need: low-income families and individuals, the homeless and
over two years from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community
single parent families.
Foundation (GCRCF) Momentum
Jan Thomas, director of ONM, saw
Fund to better address the community
a drastic increase in demand for
need. Last fall, GCRCF granted that
ONM’s Clothing Closet and Food
request; the funds have made a
Pantry programs, which provide free
tremendous difference for ONM.
emergency clothing and food.
“Following the flood in ’08 and
means to help those people,” Thomas
for all of 2009, our traffic picked up
says. “It costs to administer programs
tremendously, by about 300 percent,”
and our costs have increased.
she says. “We were serving 70 to 80
We were able to meet those
people a day and we were open six
needs through the funds from the
days a week.”
Momentum Fund.”
“Those funds give us the
That demand remains high, Thomas points out.
ONM has now been able to go above and beyond providing
“The number of individuals and families we are serving has
just basic sustenance. Over the holidays, ONM was also able
increased dramatically and is staying at this high level,” she
to provide food and gift boxes to those who were struggling,
explains. “Our customers are struggling to get back on their
partnering with individuals and groups who sponsored or
feet and back on track with their lives. They are caught by the
“adopted” families in need.
circumstances of the economy and unemployment.”
“The community response has been just awesome. From
ONM’s Clothing Closet served 21,000 clients in 2009,
both businesses and individuals, it’s been incredible,”
a 46 percent increase over 2008. The Food Pantry’s requests
Thomas adds.
increased 79 percent over the same period.
The food pantry now is trying to provide healthier food
“We have had to go ‘outside the box’ in thinking about
choices for families, too.
how we can continue to serve our client needs and provide a
“Our food pantry is working toward better nutrition and
means to assist in improving their lives,” Thomas says. “Our
also, with our after-school program, providing treats that are
efforts are to serve the needs of others without reservation or
healthier so we help develop healthy habits,” Thomas says.
judgment, not turning anyone away.”
“If we can provide assistance for these people, we help fuel their families.”
16