Norman nonprofit gets $1M check to help vulnerable community members
Food and Shelter, an organization that provides services for those struggling with homelessness, was presented a check from the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Food and Shelter, an organization that provides services for those struggling with homelessness, was presented a check from the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Food and Shelter, an organization that provides services for those struggling with homelessness, was presented a check from the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
A Norman nonprofit was awarded a $1 million gift on Thursday to help support those most vulnerable in the community.
Food and Shelter, an organization that provides services for those struggling with homelessness, was presented with a check from the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The nonprofit said the investment will change thousands of lives.
"You never have to worry about where you're going to eat, and we're going to help as many people as we can with housing solutions," said April Doshier, the executive director of Food and Shelter.
Record inflation and a global pandemic created economic stresses over the past few years, but the nonprofit never shut its doors.
"When our food pantry lines grew long, we expanded our hours," said Doshier. "When more and more people were facing eviction for the first time ever, we took our resources saved in our reserve and flooded them out there so as many people as possible would avoid becoming homeless."
Now its investment in the community is paying off as Cleveland County presented the check to help them continue the life-changing work.
"I was on the streets for 14 years," said Food and Shelter resident Paul Jonas. "This place is a lifesaver. I’d still be out there if it wasn’t for this place."
Last year, Food and Shelter served over 210,000 meals, according to Cleveland County Commissioner Rod Cleveland. The organization also provided supportive housing to more than 1,000 people in the county.