Special Needs Nonprofit Facing Challenges in Face of Pandemic, Suspected Arson This Summer
by Jamie Bergsten
W
hat do a U.S. space mission and a Shawnee entity have in common? They share the same name, and both are proof that overcoming challenges is completely doable with the right support system in place. On May 15, 1963, the spacecraft Faith 7 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as the final crewed space mission of NASA’s Mercury program. It was piloted by none other than Shawnee native Gordon Cooper and marked the last time an American was launched alone to conduct an entirely solo orbital mission. The craft completed 22 Earth orbits before splashing into the Pacific Ocean after more than 34 hours in flight. Some at NASA felt that this particular mission – the ninth flight in the Mercury series – was too risky and shouldn’t be conducted, but other officials who supported the venture prevailed. Cooper – a United States Air Force major at the time – performed a variety of experiments and took numerous photographs during the flight. He was also the first American astronaut ever to send back television images from space. Cooper’s feat of independence left a lasting mark on his birthplace as Shawnee gained its own Faith 7 that same year. The nonprofit Faith 7 Adult Activity Center opened in 1963 with the goal of providing employment opportunities and independence for those with delayed or limited development. Now called F7 Work Activity Center, the organization seeks to improve vocational skills, provide fun activities in a safe environment and promote social interaction for its clients. They are paid for the work they do sorting items for recycling, assembling bags for conferences and events, shredding documents and more. “The clients love F7, their little corner of the world, and the work they do,” said John Klaser, vice-chairman of the F7 board and president of the parents & guardians association. “There are about 40 people total in the program, counting both clients and staff.” Klaser said the staff includes about six employees – some full-time, some part-time. Unfortunately, F7 has had to face some major struggles this summer. First, the annual Faith 7 Bowl, pitting some of the best high school basketball players in Oklahoma and Texas against one another, had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. “That was heart-wrenching in two aspects,”
On May 15, 1963, the spacecraft Faith 7 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as the final crewed space mission of NASA’s Mercury program. It was piloted by none other than Shawnee native Gordon Cooper. ... Cooper’s feat of independence left a lasting mark on his birthplace as Shawnee gained its own Faith 7 that same year. The nonprofit Faith 7 Adult Activity Center opened in 1963 with the goal of providing employment opportunities and independence for those with delayed or limited development. Klaser said. “First is the players and the public that get to participate lost that opportunity this year. The second is that the funds generated by the Faith 7 Bowl help to pay for sending clients to Special Olympics the following year. So next year is going to be difficult for getting clients to that event.” Soon after, more tragedy struck. A June 10 fire believed to have been set intentionally burned a semi-trailer at F7’s property on South Kennedy Street, followed by a second, much more damaging suspicious fire on June 23. “We’re still not sure of the total loss yet,” Klaser said. “We’re waiting on the insurance adjuster's reports, but it’s likely to be a sizable sum.” “All of the offices are mostly okay, except for smoke damage,” Klaser said. “The same is true for the workshop area. The paper and cardboard baling areas are extensively damaged, though, along with the balers, the forklift and the tractor. The bale storage area was completely destroyed.” F7 officials scrambled to find an alternate location so that clients could resume work as soon as possible. However, they’d like to find a more permanent solution. “First, we need something we can afford,” Klaser explained. “Second, we need a safe location. We’re looking for 5,000 to 10,000 square feet with some office space and a workshop area in an environmentally controlled space with some truck bays for the balers and storing the bales and equipment. Something we can fence for client security would also be nice.” Klaser knows that those requests can come with a hefty price tag.
“The baler we really need is about $75,000, and we don’t know how much the insurance will cover,” he said. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed.” Klaser’s son, Seth, began transitioning to his client role at F7 while in high school, and has now worked there for about 12 years. “Hands down, his social interaction with the other clients and the staff are Seth’s favorite parts of F7,” said Klaser, who has had a leadership role with the organization for the past six years. Cardboard comes from many local and regional businesses to F7. Those recycled materials are then picked up by an Oklahoma City company and trucked there. “The staff has major dedication to the organization and to the clients,” Klaser said. “They’re all thrilled to be back at work for the first time since March. Paper shredding and tearing has resumed operations. Cardboard is being picked up and/or delivered. Cardboard baling will continue when we obtain a new baler.” Income from recycling, Habilitation Training Services through DHS, grants and donations account for F7’s funding. Board members carefully allocate monies to pay staff and clients as well as paying for utilities, vehicles, equipment and maintaining work spaces. Any extra is used toward activities with the clients, like Special Olympics, bowling, Oklahoma City Dodgers games and other things in the community. “Of course, this year, COVID-19 has put a major crimp in those activities as well,” Klaser said. Another change impacting local recycling this year is the removal of paper and glass drop-off containers at the Central Disposal facility on 45th Street. As of July 1, the facility no longer has containers placed for residents to drop off their recycling materials, which means F7’s paper recycling efforts could play an even bigger local role for those wanting to discard large cardboard or bulk paper items that do not fit in their open, curbside bins. Curbside recycling pick-up service will continue for residents with blue bins – though, glass is not allowed in these bins – and residents can also drop-off of large trash or recycling items once a month at the Central Disposal facility with presentation of a current utility bill. For more information on F7’s Work Activity Center, its projects, recycling capabilities or to help in some way, visit f7wac.org or call (405) 275-4223. Contributions can also be mailed to P.O. Box 3907, Shawnee, OK 74802. www.shawneeoutlook.com
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