Oxford Junction, IA

Several students remained after school, until 5:30, on March 10 and 11. This wasn’t punishment, rather we were taking a babysitting course. Sharon Roller and Pat Kurt, nurses on the staff of Camp Courageous lead a talk about the basics of babysitting, including child development. Healthy, but fun and easy to make snacks were prepared. Students practiced diapering a baby, by using a doll. We learned ways to help and discipline children, who are acting up or in need of help.
During the second session, we practiced CPR and the Heimlish maneuver for infants and children. We practiced safety and first aid and were tested by figuring out scenarios that may occur to hurt a child.
Finally the course was evaluated and it was found that we all like having a babysitting courses offered around Oxford Junction for anyone to take.
The courses was sponsored by Junction for Opportunties. Tiffany Feuss, who attended the class, contributed to this article.

Barb Dobling recently reported that the Oxford Junction Improvement, Inc. has received an except from Federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3). A great deal of work and time has been given by members of this committee to receive this designation. Now much more can be accomplished in the community.
A $600 scholarship will be given to an applicant by Junction for Opportunity through Oxford Junction Improvement, Inc. The applicant is to have an Oxford Junction address and be enrolled in a program to study to be a plumber, electrician, carpenter or heating, ventilation and cooling technician. The applicant does not have to be a 2009 graduate, but can be a non-traditional student.
More later on who receives the scholarship.

The committee, OJ Wheels, 4 U – Helping Hands, 2, recently stepped up to show the true meaning of being a volunteer and a caring neighbor. Christmas Day morning, fire destroyed the rural Wyoming home of a family of five. One of the committee members obtained the sizes of needed clothes. She and another member of the committee went through boxes of clothes that remained from the latest clothes-give-away. They found warm clothes that fit the children and some for the two adults. What a wonderful feeling to provide this comfort for a family who had lost everything.
Following the give-away, mittens, gloves and hats were given to the Midland Elementary School and Mission of Hope. Remaining clothes will be again be given to Mission of Hope and to Olivette Neighborhood Mission.

Junction for Opportunities was the sponsoring agency for a matching fund grant of $500.00 from Modern Woodman, out of Rock Island, Ill. Donations from individuals and organizations made up the $500. needed to match the grant funds. Through applications, funds will be distributed to help local residents replace money that was needed for fuel to power pumps to keep water from basements, refill cupboards and freezers and resurface gravel driveways. Many of these families have school age children,and it was difficult for them to provide school supplies and Christmas funds will be short.

Junction for Opportunities sponsored a winter clothes give away on Oct. 25, 2008. Thanks to the committee of Ken and Carol Brinkman, Mark and Doris Denniston and Mark and Nettie Tracy, who put in hours of collecting, sorting and displaying.

Dozens of families picked up warm coats, boots, sweaters, sweatshirts and other clothing that will keep away winter winds and snow. Children’s clothes were especially needed. Local families were represented and others came from surrounding communities.

Sharon Miller, active in Junction for Opportunities and a paraeducator at the Midland Elementary School in Oxford Junction gathered coats in sizes 5 to 8 for students who attend the school from seven communities.

Men’s clothes that remained were taken to Mission of Hope, a half way house for men who have been released from jail or prison. Other clothes were taken to a church in North Liberty that has a continual clothes bank.

This was the second clothes give away headed by this committee. The other was held last spring. Thanks to the committee and to all who contributed clothes for this project. Many families were helped.

  After months and months of setting and meeting goals, Junction for Opportunities received $8500 in November. The grop had earlier received $1500. Everyone who facilitated group meetings, served on committees, attended meetings and worked in any way to make Junction for Opportunities a thriving group - CONGRATULATIONS!

Now comes the HARD work - using this money in the most appropriate way to raise the low income level of Oxford Junction residents. You will be kept updated.

Horizons has reached out to other communities. The decision was made early to not sponsor a Food Bank, as the communities of Lost Nation and Wyoming both have one that services local residents. But, because some people from Oxford Junction use the Food Bank at Lost Nation, the decision was made to help them. Members of Horizons will pick up food at designated locations and bring it back to Lost Nation. This service is greatly appreciated.

Horizons is looking into a Neighborhood Watch program, and will benefit from the work that Olin has already done in this area. A representative from the Olin program will meet with the Oxford Junction group in July.

The annual City Wide Clean Up Days was held in May. Home owners could get rid of old appliances, furniture and accumulations from yards and front porches. In past years, these home owners paid the city for each appliance that was picked up. This year, Horizons gave them a financial break. These fees and other costs incurred by the City of Oxford Junction during this annual cleanup, have been paid by Horizons. Residents of all income levels benefited from this The city benefited because there was less paper work for the City Clerk and fewer complications for the City Maintenance Department.

 Earlier this year a group of young Cub Scouts and their leaders raked the winter debris off of several lawns. They carried away the mess left from winter storms and left an elderly home owner with a nice clean yard to welcome the newness of Spring.

Small town life is great but it presents a dilemma if there aren’t enough things for children and teenagers to do. Parents have to drive anywhere from 10 to 50 miles to provide recreational activities for their children and gas budgets don’t usually stretch that far. Junctions For Opportunities would like to provide weekly activities for children during the summer and have outdoor sporting equipment like Frisbee golf available for older youth at our community park. To fund these projects JFO members wrote 2 Hamburger Helper grants. Although our projects were not accepted to be funded this time around, we will keep trying for a Hamburger Helper grant as well as any other opportunity.  We have also discussed local fund raisers as well as finding local craftsmen to make the goal posts needed for Frisbee golf.