During the week of July 20-27, 2008, Nardin Park will open its doors and host guests from the S.O.S. program. With their main office in Royal Oak, S.O.S. helps provide temporary shelter for individuals and families from Oakland County.

S.O.S. offers meals and a 90-day stay during which clients are required to be drug and alcohol free, willing to work, and committed to saving a large percentage of their income to prepare for independent living. Men, women, and children are welcome at S.O.S. Clients receive counseling, employment assistance, and community referrals as they work to rebuild their lives.

As quoted from an S.O.S. client: “We are a mix of people from all walks of life who, for whatever reason, have fallen on hard times. We are determined to get out of this situation. With a little compassion, we can make it.”

Michigan has fallen on tough times. Many people have lost their jobs and their homes. We are fortunate and wake up daily, thanking God for all that we have. Helping those less fortunate is just a small way of giving back. S.O.S. depends on the compassion of over 60 churches and synagogues that open their doors to provide weekly shelter, meals, transportation, and social activities. They receive funding through local, state, and federal grants; generous individuals, corporations, and civic organizations. S.O.S. is not, however, exempt from the tough Michigan economy and funding has been soft. Our help is needed now more than ever.

It takes hundreds of volunteers and dollars to have a successful host week at Nardin Park. Guests are picked up in Royal Oak each evening and driven to Nardin Park by our volunteers. We provide our guests with a meal in the evening when they arrive, snacks through the evening, a lunch for the next day, and a cold breakfast in the morning. Dinners are funded and graciously prepared by groups from the church. Guests are also transported in the morning to their place of employment or the general Royal Oak area, also by our volunteers. All food, other than dinners, is paid for through the Mission Ministry budget. Loose coin for June has been established to help fund these costs. Your help is greatly appreciated to help cover these costs and other needed expenses for the week. Volunteers are needed for transportation, overnight hosts, preparing lunches, breakfast, laundry, and set-up and tear-down on the first and last days. With gas prices on the rise, transportation is of great concern and historically we have had a tried and true group of committed individuals driving for us. We would love to have them get a bit of a break and involve new drivers with this wonderful cause. Please open your hearts and planners and volunteer in any way you possibly can.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call your S.O.S. coordinators, Deb and Jeff Lockledge.  You can get their number by calling the office.