THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409230191
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
Oasis needs you.
The city's mainstay for those in need is in need itself.
It needs both volunteers and donations, especially cash.
``But we use everything,'' John Larcombe, a volunteer and board member, told me. ``If we can't use it or sell it, we pass it on to somebody who can.''
Larcombe is chairman of a committee hoping to come up with some new fund-raising ideas.
``We're trying to explore ways to raise money as well as to get food and clothing,'' Larcombe said. ``People rely on us.''
Larcombe's committee is looking for grants to help out.
``But we need more than one-time grants,'' he said. ``We mainly need help on an ongoing basis.''
For instance, he would like to get schoolchildren involved, not only in collecting canned goods but also in bringing the donations to the Oasis on High Street to see what happens there.
Some churches and organizations contribute on a regular basis and also serve the free hot meals on weekends.
``But we need more,'' Larcombe said. ``We rely solely on donations.''
With the proceeds designated for Oasis, churches could stage spaghetti suppers or bake sales for their members and neighborhoods. Or they could have yard sales.
``It wouldn't be a whole lot for anybody to do but if every church did one event for Oasis, it could add up to a lot,'' Larcombe said.
Not only does Oasis provide daily meals. It also provides clothing, household goods and money for medicines or for people about to lose heat or electricity because of extenuating circumstances.
``All kinds of people need help with all kinds of problems,'' Larcombe said.
Ironically, Oasis now finds itself providing help for some people who have been benefactors in the past.
For instance, Larcombe said the staff has been working with the shipyard personnel department to help people who have been laid off and unable to find jobs before their money runs out.
Meanwhile, like many charitable agencies, the revenue has decreased while the needs have increased.
``We were down $15,000 over the past two years,'' he said. ``That's a lot for us since we operate on a small cash budget.''
Last year, Oasis gave bags of groceries to 2,000 families, medical assistance to 176 and financial aid to 54 families.
At Thanksgiving and Christmas, hundreds of families receive baskets of food. Last year, 120 families were ``adopted'' for Christmas through Oasis by people who bought food, toys and other gifts for them.
People, who need expensive medicine for ongoing ailments, are a problem. Recently one person's heart medicine cost $800 to get the prescription filled and Oasis helped make up the difference.
The American Red Cross calls on Oasis for help with clothing and food for families that are burned out of their homes.
All of this is in addition to the daily hot meals at the Oasis soup kitchen for people who otherwise would not eat. A total of 32,000 hot meals were served last year.
Many, many people in the city do donate. In downtown alone, a number of businesses make daily contributions of baked goods and other food they make fresh daily.
The Oasis thrift store sells clothing and household items that are donated, so if you need a place to recycle usable items, this is it.
Small appliances and television sets with minor problems are accepted and volunteers repair them before they are either resold or given to people who have lost their belongings for one reason or another.
Everything that is given to Oasis is used one way or another. Unused yarn that is donated by people cleaning out their closets is knit into caps that are given away in the cold of winter.
Even clothing too worn to be useful is saved and given to a group that has a buyer for rags.
So, whatever you have to give away always is acceptable at Oasis.
But, right now, the place needs some cash.
They need help from churches and other organizations who can stage a benefit supper or sale. Small amounts of money from 100 different events would add up, Larcombe said.
Furthermore, he added, having events all over town would increase the visibility and the mission of Oasis.
``We've concluded that a lot of people don't know Oasis exists, let alone what we do,'' Larcombe said. ``We need to reach average folks who would give if they knew about us.''
So, now you know. If you want to volunteer your time or your money either directly or through a benefit activity, call Oasis at 397-6060 and leave a message for Larcombe. He'll get back to you. by CNB