SIDNEY — Alpha Community Center hosts a meal every day in their facility at 330 E. Court St. in Sidney. They also offer programs to help adults rise out of poverty. Match Day gifts will help in both areas.
“We will be using our Match Day funding to continue the fight against food insecurity with our soup kitchen meals,” said Jan Geuy, executive director. “In addition, we continue to offer our Getting Ahead program to adults. This education curriculum helps our adults understand the reasons contributing to poverty, instability, homelessness and unemployment and gives concrete steps and ideas to get ahead by pulling away from these adverse conditions.”
Nearly 34,000 meals were served last year at the Alpha Community Center. They also offer after school programming to youth, an emergency pantry and rent and utility assistance.
“Our goal is not only to offer comfort and support to at risk people but to show them how to make meaningful change and that it’s possible,” said Geuy.
Getting Ahead classes are held once a week for ten-week periods. Participants look at their current situation, community issues and the resources they already have. They learn financial literacy, budgeting, goal-setting, managing situations and resume skills. The goal of the program is for participants to become employed or return to school or job training and build permanent resources. They strengthen their life skills by the time they graduate from Getting Ahead.
“The program works well for someone who wants to change their life circumstances, is willing to participate in the workshops, will partner with someone in the community and is not currently in a crisis situation,” said Geuy. “Match Day gifts help us help others get ahead.”
To support the Alpha Community Center on Match Day, gifts must be made payable to the Community Foundation of Shelby County with: Match/Alpha noted on the memo or in an accompanying note or form. Details and forms are available at the Community Foundation website at www.commfoun.com and at the Alpha Community Center. Gifts must be received on or before Nov. 27 to be eligible for up to $5,000 in matching money.