Oxford Junction, IA

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.

  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.

   While school was still in session, a registration form for a Day Camp opportunity in Oxford Jct. was sent home through the school to children in grades Kindergarten through 5^th with a $10.00 registration fee required.  The registration fee would prove a hardship for some families so a Junction For Opportunities (JFO) scholarship application went home with students along with the camp registration form.  If parents wished to apply for a scholarship they had to fill out the registration and scholarship forms and send them to the school secretary who is a JFO member.  We are proud to announce that we were able to send 6 children to day camp who would not otherwise have had the funds to attend.  We are grateful to have the Midland School District as a partner with JFO in coordinating  this scholarship opportunity.

How often have we heard the proverb – give someone a fish, and they will have one meal, but teach them how to fish and they will never be hungry – or something like that.

Mark and Nettie Tracy have taken that proverb to heart. They first tilled an area in the yard of a young, low-income family, then provided garden plants and seeds. The three children learned to dig a hole to plant tomato plants. They learned to place seeds in a straight row and how to space the seeds for the best yield. They will learn to weed and tend the garden and the Tracys will be there to teach and continue to carry out the meaning of the proverb.

A questionnaire focused on assistance which may be needed by community residents, skills or knowledge that residents are willing to share with others and community facilities or activities needed or desired by local residents. In addition to distributing survey questionnaires at the July 4 celebration, the questionnaires were included with The Booster, a community newsletter, and were available at five locations in town.

The questionnaire gave community members the opportunity to share their thoughts anonymously, regardless of economic or social situation.

Of the 84 questionnaires that were returned, information was most requested for help with yard or home maintenance, help with heating assistance or utilities and help with transportation.

Skills and knowledge community members are willing to share included providing transportation, lawn mowing, gardening and landscaping, reading with kids at school and library, arts and crafts and home maintenance.

Community activities and facilities most requested were movies in the park, river activities, weekly kid’s activities, frisbee and putt-putt golf, ice skating rink, snow sledding hill and a splash pad.

Groups having similar interests were gardening and landscaping, card playing, arts and crafts, book club, quilting, and genealogy.

Requested community classes were computer, gardening and landscaping and fitness and aerobics.

Information from the questionnaire has been used throughout LeadershipPlenty® and Celebrate OJ. Several suggestions have been put into action by the work groups and plans are to use the information for future programs.

By participating in Horizon meetings, Mark and Nettie Tracy were motivated to restore a house located in Oxford Junction. Their goal was to start the project in October, 2007 and have the house restoration completed and ready for occupancy by June, 2008. The first goal was met and they are working hard to meet the completion goal. They say, “This is a home that will be productive for the community; where as if it was not restored, it would have been another empty lot”.

Another Celebrate OJ Work Group is gathering volunteers to provide transportation for those needing services outside of the community. Sign up sheets have been placed in churches and businesses for these volunteers. This service is designed with the elderly in mind, and volunteers are also being recruited to help with maintenance of homes. Needs for transportation and help with maintenance were identified through the community survey. Comments on these needs were also shared starting with Community Conversation Horizon meetings and at following Horizon meetings, and through conversations with family and friends. Celebrate OJ is one way these needs can be met by volunteers who really care about them.

All volunteer services in the community help to meet basic needs and will build on the talent and assets of all members of the community.

The Celebrate OJ Communication Work Group has distributed a Human Services Directory that explains services available in Jones County and in the area. The directory was developed by the local “Community Partnerships for Protecting Children” and includes a listing of 35 human services agencies providing services in Jones County. Specific services in 29 different categories; such as, assistance with food, financial, health, heating, housing, and legal needs are included. Many times, those who need help with fuel, food and other essentials, do not know where to look. They do not know who to ask. This directory will provide the information that will help them through a difficult time. This work group, in conjunction with OJ Community Betterment, has developed a town brochure, which has been placed in Oxford Junction locations and the Jones County Tourism Office.