ASHLAND – Whether you’re looking to snag some diamond jewelry, a Hilton Head beach vacation or a pair of Cleveland Indians tickets, mark your calendar for Aug. 4.
Leadership Ashland’s Class of 2018 will be auctioning or raffling off not only these things but also many more items and services from Ashland area businesses and individuals at the ACCESS Endowment Fundraising Auction. All proceeds from the auction will go toward a newly created endowment fund for Ashland Church Community Emergency Shelter Services.
ACCESS is a coalition of Ashland area church congregations who provide temporary emergency shelter, meals and assistance for homeless women and families in Ashland County.
Aaron Huestis, a member of the Leadership Ashland class, said the group chose an auction fundraiser for ACCESS as its capstone project because class members felt a collective desire to support an existing community organization that offers comprehensive support for people who need help overcoming barriers to success.
“It’s a very comprehensive program that they offer to the guest,” Huestis said. “It’s not just food and a bed.”
So far this year, ACCESS has served 10 family units including 12 adults and six children, according to executive director Cathy Thiemens. Nine of those 12 adults are successfully sustaining employment and housing, and the other three are still in the program, Thiemens said.
An average guest may stay in the program 40 to 50 days, Thiemens estimated. In addition to receiving temporary housing and food assistance, guests meet with Thiemens weekly to work on self-sufficiency plans and help connect them to an array resources to meet their needs.
Since the program started in 2009, Thiemens said, the need has evolved, but it hasn’t subsided.
Ten years ago, many of the shelter’s guests were experiencing homelessness for the first time as a result of job loss during the great recession.
“Now, many times they can find employment but not a living wage, or maybe they can’t find affordable housing,” she said.
Thiemens said the establishment of an endowed fund through Ashland County Community Foundation will help sustain ACCESS into the future.
“With an endowment fund, that kind of anchors our future,” she said. “It provides an opportunity because as people embrace the ACCESS program and decide they want to make a substantial gift or they want to put ACCESS in their will, they can do that.”
The auction will be held Aug. 4 in the Freer Field barn, 1256 Center Street. Doors open at 9 a.m., and silent and live auctions begin at 10 a.m.
The Leadership Ashland class set a goal of raising $10,000, and Huestis said the team is well on its way to achieving and possibly surpassing the goal as donations keep pouring in. Some of the larger items include a boat, 40 hours of custom woodworking, Indians tickets, five-burner grill and a one-week stay at Hilton Head. Smaller items include restaurant gift cards and baskets from area businesses.
“Everyone should come out to the auction, one because it’s a great organization that needs a little bit of assistance, and it strengthens Ashland if they’re successful,” Huestis said. “Secondly, we’ve got great items that people are going to want.”
For more information about auction items, find the Facebook group ACCESS Endowment Fundraising Auction 2018. To donate auction items, fill out this form.
Thiemens emphasized the auction for the endowment fund will not eliminate the need for ACCESS’s largest annual fundraisers, Walk A Mile For ACCESS and Souper Saturday, which will be held Sept. 28 and 29, respectively. Those fundraisers bring in general operating money for the program while the endowment fund will provide a small amount of investment income annually.
ACCESS is also in need of volunteers to mentor ACCESS guests as well as individuals interested in training to provide in home childcare, especially during evenings and weekends.
Questions about ACCESS can be directed to Thiemens at 419-685-1232.
