Oxford Junction, IA

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.

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.

Oxford Junction Improvement, Inc. is now busy working on IRS Form 1023 to acquire 501c3 tax exempt status. The board has had frequent e-mail communication with an attorney in a nearby town, who is helping the board pro-bono. They are about to send the application to Richard Koontz of the Larned Waterman Iowa Non-Profit Resource Center at the University of Iowa for his review and consultation. After the board makes the changes he suggests, they will meet with their attorney for a final review of the application. The application will then be submitted to the IRS.

Acquiring a tax exempt status has been a long and involved process and only a dedicated group of community-minded people would have followed through.

The city of Oxford Junction will apply for a CDBG grant to relocate and improve water mains that now are under Highway 136. The Iowa DOT is resurfacing Highway 136 in 2009 from Wyoming to Lost Nation. Oxford Junction obtained a continuance to 2010 so the water mains can be moved before the resurfacing is done within the city limits.

Oxford Junction youth of all income levels participated in a certified babysitting class in their own community on May 3. The three hour session was offered in partnership with the nursing staff at Camp Courageous of Iowa and was the first babysitting class held in Oxford Junction. When Horizons showed an interest in sponsoring a babysitting class, the Jones County Child Care Resource Coordinator connected the Oxford Junction community with two nurses who have taught babysitting classes for over 25 years in Jones County. Both nurses are CPR and First Aid Instructors. They have volunteered to offer additional classes on business basics and to certify students in CPR and First Aid. Horizons, the community of Oxford Junction and the nurses look forward to continuing this effective partnership to empower youth to provide quality child care services in their area.

The free family film shown to youngsters and their parents just before school started probably will never be mentioned for an award, but it was a delight to those relaxing on blankets and in lawn chairs on the lawn of the Masonic Lodge. A free outdoor movie and more recreation was high on the “want list” in a community survey filled out at the annual July 4th celebration. Plans are to continue the free outdoor movie when warm weather arrives in 2008. An ice cream social was held in conjunction with the movie, with the proceeds used for Celebrate OJ projects.

The Recreation Work Group continues to plan to meet the recreational needs of the town. In the planning stage is a Fun Day at Wapsie Park next spring. There will be no charge for the Fun Day activities. These activities will be held with the help of the Wapsie Park Board.

Free recreational activities provide individuals and families with an opportunity to participate regardless of income. More of these activities will be held in the effort to build family and community relationships. Local entertainment and activities will encourage the youth of the community to stay in Oxford Junction, rather than driving miles to “hang-out”.

Members of the Recreation Work Group have applied for a Hamburger Helper grant for recreational equipment and are looking for other grants to fund activities.