With the exception of a few well-known gentlemen who ride their bicycles up and down M-24, homelessness isn’t really a problem that’s given much thought in Oxford.
Oxford High School seniors Kirstie Day and Anna Moses are hoping to change that by raising awareness and funds for Grace Centers of Hope as part of their project for DECA, a student marketing and business organization.
Founded in 1942, the Pontiac-based non-profit, Christian program provides shelter, food and other forms of assistance for homeless men, women and children.
On any given night, Grace Centers of Hope gives shelter to 150-200 adults and kids.
Each year, the program serves more than 127,000 meals and provides more than 55,000 overnight stays.
And that doesn’t include the myriad of other services ranging from child care and legal advocacy to counseling and education. A full recovery and rehabilitation campus for those who have been abused or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol is also available.
As part of their DECA Club community service project, Day and Moses are distributing literature about Grace Centersof Hope, collecting pennies and non-perishable food items, selling T-shirts and hosting charity events.
Day and Moses first learned of Grace Centers of Hope while seaching the internet. Interested in what they saw, the two went on a tour of the program’s facilities.
‘It wasn’t anything like Oxford,? Moses said. ‘We saw people addicted to drugs or alcohol and how they lived. It was just sad.?
Day said seeing all the homeless people, particularly children, made them realize ‘how sheltered we are.?
‘We were so freaked out,? she noted.
On Monday, Nov. 17, the ladies are holding a fund-raiser at Buffalo Wild Wings in Lake Orion during which 20 percent of patrons? meals (not including alcohol purchases) will be donated to Grace Centers of Hope.
Over the course of their project, Day and Moses are hoping to raise about $1,500 for the homeless program.
Grace Centers of Hope’s annual budget is more than $3 million and all of it comes from private support.
‘Nothing’s from the government,? Day said. ‘It’s entirely a non-profit organization.?
For more information visit www.gracecentersofhope.org.