BY C.J. CARNACCHIO
Oxford Leader Editor
A local charity found a new home. A piece of community history found new life. And one ‘family? found a way to help another in need.
After 18 months of searching for new place to house its food, clothing and furniture for the needy, Oxford/Orion FISH was handed the keys to Thomas Community Hall Aug. 28 during a special church service entitled ‘Farewell to a New Beginning.?
FISH received title to the building on Friday, Sept. 9.
For the sum of $1, Thomas United Methodist Church sold the charitable organization the 55-year-old community hall which sits across from it at the corner of First and C streets (just east of Thomas Road) in the Village of Thomas.
‘I just feel like one family has given a very cherished home to another family,? said Valerie Cass, who manages the FISH food pantry. ‘Like you, FISH is a family. We’re all volunteers and we help our fellow neighbors because we serve in Christ just like all of you do. We will be using this building wisely and with great love.?
‘I think it’s just wonderful that the building will still be alive with giving and the community spirit,? said Thomas UMC member Laurene Baldwin.
For those of you not familiar with it, Thomas is a little unincorporated village located in the northwestern part of Oxford Township. The 18-acre community was platted in December 1873 by John Thomas in response to the demand for a station and village on the Detroit & Bay City railroad line.
Built in 1949 by the Thomas Community Association (or Society) and opened Jan. 4, 1950, the 1,800-square-foot community center features an assembly hall, full basement, kitchen, coat room and dining room.
The hall is a testament and monument to the strength of the Thomas community spirit. When the first hall burned down Jan. 29, 1949, the people came together on Feb. 1 to discuss rebuilding it. Ten days later, they voted to do it.
With only $2,500 insurance money to start with, the entire community pitched in by donating most of the materials and practically all the labor. Suppers, dances and other fund-raisers were also held.
Thousands of man-hours were spent building the hall we see today.
In May 1994, the Thomas Community Association disbanded and gave the hall to the church.
‘It makes me very happy to be involved in the transfer of the hall to FISH,? said Rick Bailey, chairman of the Thomas UMC Board of Trustees. ‘We weren’t using it very much. We had almost no functions in it anymore.?
‘As the community passed it on to Thomas Church now we at Thomas can pass it back to the community so God’s children and our own brothers and sisters in Christ can be fed and clothed,? Bailey said. ‘Once again (the hall) can be used and valued and involved in good works and good times.?
FISH was certainly thankful for its new home, which will allow the charity to keep pace with the growing demand for its services.
‘We are very grateful,? said FISH President Margaret Monprode as her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears of joy. ‘I didn’t think I’d cry.?
Monprode explained how the organization has ‘outgrown? its current home at Immanuel Congregational United Church of Christ. Since 1973, the church at the corner of Hovey and Dennison streets in the Village of Oxford has housed the FISH food pantry.
In last four years, FISH’s client based has doubled. In 2001, the charity received 1,950 calls for help. By 2004, that number rose to 4,038 requests for assistance.
‘We needed something bigger,? said Monprode.
FISH embarked on an 18-month search for a new home that was at times frustrating and disappointing, but ultimately had a happy ending in the little village of Thomas.
‘The path to get here sure was convoluted,? said Monprode, acknowledging that ‘the Lord works in mysterious ways.?
‘We have modest, but grand schemes to put this building to good use,? she told the audience. ‘We plan to rejuvenate it.?
FISH is still exploring how to best utilize the main floor and basement to house its food pantry, clothes closet and furniture donations, all of which benefit needy families and individuals in Oxford and Orion townships and parts of Addison and Oakland townships.
‘We are excited and we are thrilled. You are always invited to walk in anytime that someone from FISH is here,? Monprode told the crowd.
For more information about Oxford/Orion FISH call (248) 693-0638. Thomas Community Hall is located at 487 First Street.
(This article was originally published in the Aug. 31, 2005 edition of The Oxford Leader.)