During early November, the Social Work Association held a fundraiser for the homeless shelter Our Brother’s Keeper, in which people could come by and send support through donations.
OBK is located at 405 S. Third Avenue in Big Rapids. The shelter offers a dining area, sleeping rooms and other services for the homeless. The SWA hosted a couple bake sales in the Interdisciplinary Resource Center for people to bring in their donations to support OBK.
SWA’s Vice President and social work senior Madalynn Brown found that it was important to set up the two-day bake sale during the holidays so that people who were in need could get into the holiday spirit.
“We identified this organization as one SWA would like to help because we know that it can be hard to celebrate and get in the holiday spirit when an individual or family is experiencing homelessness,” Brown said. “As future social workers, we believe in helping vulnerable populations and giving back to the community. This bake sale was a fun way for us to accomplish that.”
Social work senior Allissa Ash serves as one of SWA’s social media managers. Ash gives an explanation as to why the SWA decided to set up bake sales for OBK.
“SWA strives to not only support people on campus, but off campus as well,” Ash said. “Our Brother’s Keeper provides many services for those struggling with homelessness or transitioning into permanent housing. We wanted to give back to an organization that gives a lot to begin with.”
OBK was in need of donations before the bake sales. Back in 2013, the Ferris State University welding technology and engineering students donated more than 240 food items and a check worth $250 to the OBK. The OBK was the perfect place to help a vulnerable population and to give back to the community according to Brown.
College of Arts, Science and Education academic advisor Dave Schrock baked some homemade cookies and brought them to the SWA so they could donate them to the OBK.
“I learned that SWA was doing a bake sale to raise money for Our Brothers Keeper,” Schrock said. “So I donated cookies because it’s a great cause. I also love supporting my advisees, many of whom are SWA members.”
Schrock also donated the cookies because he knows that Ferris’ campus and the Big Rapids community are closely connected and depend on each other. His students who major in social work can complete an internship at OBK to help those in need. He stated that those who took the internship learned a lot from the experience and benefitted greatly from the shelter’s services.
Math professor Dr. Victor Piercey, who is the treasurer of the shelter, stated the donations have allowed him and the other staff to help many people in need.
“We are a shelter for people experiencing homelessness serving Mecosta, Osceola, Newaygo, and Lake Counties,” Piercey said. “We provide meals and a place to stay while those facing homelessness work to find more permanent housing. So far in 2023, we have provided over 12,000 bed-nights to those in need. Altogether, typically we spend about $30 for each bed-night. We are grateful to our donors that help us make this happen.”
Visit Our Brother’s Keeper’s website or contact (231) 629-8033 for more information about the organization, or to learn how to help.