2024 FIRST QUARTERLY PIP AWARD WINNER … The 2024 PIP members gathered for a photo to celebrate the award of $5,225 from the Bryan Area Foundation to The Sanctuary Homeless Shelter as a result of their vote and collective funds.
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
Power in the Purse (PIP) met for the first time in their ninth year to discuss with one another the current climate of Bryan area events and come together to grace one organization with a monetary donation.
The three organizations they had to choose from this round were Joyful Bird Ministries, The Sanctuary Homeless Shelter, and the Flair on the Square.
Joyful Bird Ministries offers “Christ centered rest” for women in need of biblical counseling, prayer, and recovery retreats.
They currently have one apartment for retreats in Edgerton and shared that they are looking for funds to help purchase land so that they may build what will be dubbed Joy’s House, a sanctuary where local Christian women can go.
The Sanctuary Homeless Shelter shared that, if awarded, they would use the funds to help expand, as they currently turn away over 600 people a year.
“Rural homelessness isn’t like what you see in the city,” it was shared that “homelessness around here looks like people couch surfing or living in their cars. It is temporary homelessness, and we can help to get these people back on their feet.”
They served 87 families out of four apartments last year and hope to help more through their work.
There will be a free-will worship service at Wesley Church to raise funds on Sunday, February 24 at 6 p.m. and The Sanctuary will have their annual banquet on April 9th.
Flair on the Square served over 3,000 people last year, with over 500 kids being exposed to hands-on experience with the arts.
The whole experience was free to attendees, and it was shared that donated funds would go towards expanding the program this July.
At October’s meeting, it was decided that Bryan Swim Team Association and Joyful Bird Ministries would be eligible for a “second chance” drawing, and as such each presented to the members what they have since used the funding for.
Members announced that the Williams County Agricultural Society is sponsoring a scholarship event on March 2nd for kids going off to college. The event is to be held in the Gillette Building at the fairgrounds, and everything is expected to begin at 5 p.m.
There will be a social hour followed by a silent and live auction. Anyone interested in tickets should contact the Bryan Area Foundation (BAF).
The BAF is also holding an event called 419 Day, which is named after its celebratory date of April 19th.
This event will see people from the Ohio Attorney General’s office in town to inform attendees on governance training with relation to nonprofits. The event has a Facebook page, and people are encouraged to check it out.
It was again shared that The Sanctuary Homeless Shelter will see their annual banquet on April 9th, with the back doors to the Bryan Wesley UMC Fellowship Hall opening at 5:30 p.m.
It was also announced that United Way will be holding a reverse drive on March 30th, and those interested should contact them.
With the next meeting scheduled for April 25, 2024, members were reminded to follow the BAF website, Facebook, and / or Instagram to stay on top of PIP’s latest news, as well as current Bryan area events.