Food and Shelter Inc. is an Oklahoma-based non-profit determined to generate better outcomes for the local community. The organization specializes in providing food and shelter for the most vulnerable individuals in Norman, Oklahoma. Namely, children, women, and men who are in need of assistance can apply to Food and Shelter Inc. to access certain resources that the organization provides. The non-profit was established over 40 years ago, in 1983, as the initiative of several members of the McFarlin United Methodist Church, mainly through the initiative of Harriet Leigh and Kathryn Selmon (“About us,” 2023). Leigh and Selmon’s initiative was to distribute meals to hungry members of the community in public parks. Nonetheless, the organization grew and has implemented a wider, more extensive mission. Currently, the non-profit aims to provide food and shelter services to help members of the Normal, OK community most in need of help.
The organization specializes in feeding programs as well as implications in housing support. The importance of creating such projects and following the above-mentioned mission that is at the core of the organizations’ decision-making is the overall need for such assisting measures in the community. A report based on 2021 data has determined that Oklahoma is among the ten poorest states in the US (“Ten poorest states,”2022). Among the elements that have been generated through the non-profit, Food and Shelter Inc. has created a daily dining room service. Additionally, a food pantry for Cleveland County residents, a day shelter, an emergency shelter, a housing support system, and a prevention assistance program are available (“About us,” 2023). It is certain that affecting the community on so many levels implies a high level of organization implemented by the board members (15 people), as well as 12 staff members and a number of volunteers. The standard staff structure implies a system in which board members conduct formal meetings and have set responsibilities alongside those of staff members while volunteers operate in a flexible manner.
Operational and Personal Summary
As the name of the organization implies, there are multiple objectives that are being fulfilled through the Food and Shelter Inc. initiatives. Moreover, it has been stated previously that the non-profit has facilitated the establishment of both food and housing support programs. On a permanent based, several programs can be mentioned as daily or almost daily operations. Namely, the dining room service, which is the serving of two hot meals, is available every day of the year. Similarly, the dining room service is connected to the day shelter service.
Every day from 8 AM to 4 PM, homeless individuals can use the amenities of the dining room, such as the laundry, shower, and restrooms. A fellow initiative, the food pantry, is available every day between set hours, with the exception of weekends. The project implies the presence of food options guests can pick if they can provide proof of being Cleveland County residents (“About us,” 2023). There are also programs based on available funding; hence, a set time period cannot be referred to said services. They include re-housing initiatives and emergency shelters when the organization’s cottages are not full, or funding that will cover a motel is available.
It is challenging to determine the number of people who receive assistance on a daily basis as the feeding programs imply a rather large influx. However, the organization mentions serving 180,000 meals yearly and preventing homelessness in 250 households (“About us,” 2023). As mentioned prior, besides the board members and the employees working to improve the situation in the community through the non-profit, the organization is assisted by volunteers. Unfortunately, no official information has been provided on the number of volunteers included in service delivery. At the same time, the organization highlights this number being limited due to risks correlating with COVID-19 (“Volunteer,” 2023). Concerning staff members, there are 12 people who work for Food and Shelter Inc.
The current fundraising operation that the non-profit is focused on is the Food and Resource Center. It is an initiative correlating with the Regional Food Bank’s mission to establish locations in which clients will be able to shop for items through an experience similar to grocery shopping. As a result, the community members in need will have more access to fresh vegetables and fruit for their families as well as food management will be based on avoiding waste (“The share center,” 2023). Additionally, there are no current administration operations or changes in the current board and staff members based on existing information. It appears that all staff members (12 employees), while operating based on existing programs, have focused efforts on establishing the Food and Resource Center, especially through partnering with Ideal Homes and Landmark Fine Homes to build the facility.
Regarding responsibilities, the board maintains the decision-making duty correlating with the future of the non-profit. Namely, selecting new board members and chief executives, implementing policies, ensuring inclusivity, and assessing organizational performance are among the main duties (“Food and Shelter Inc.,” 2021). The volunteer group, which changes regarding the number of people participating and joining the cause, is governed by the staff members who are responsible for training provision and assistance. Volunteers are responsible for cooking, cleaning, serving food, and caring for shelter residents (“Food and Shelter get involved,” 2023). Most of them are regular church-based group members and civic group participants, yet community members can also join the program.
Historical Overview, Financial Summary, and Evaluation of the Organization
The history of Food and Shelter Inc., as highlighted prior, dates back to 1983. The McFarlin United Methodist Church members Harriet Leigh and Kathryn Selmon decided to make a difference in the community by offering meals to the homeless in local community parks. Thus, it started as a small initiative focused on solving the food access problems in Norman, Ohio. The key organizational change that turned the effort into an organized agenda was when the church organized more volunteers who were interested in helping the homeless. As a result, the Food for Friends non-profit organization was established in 1987. Another key organizational change was in 2017 when a new campus opened, and more staff members and volunteers were needed to fulfill the community’s needs.
From a financial standpoint, the total expenses and income of the organization are highlighted in existing reports that can be found in public domains. For example, in 2021, the organization’s revenue was $2,2 million dollars, most of the money being acquired through contributions alongside investment and other revenue (“Food and Shelter Inc – Nonprofit explorer,” 2021). The net income was slightly over $114,000, as the organization spent more than $2 million on functional expenses. Additionally, in 2019, the organization reported $1,3 million in revenue, more than $1,3 million in expenses, and a net income of approximately -$17,000. In 2018, Food and Shelter Inc. had more than $1,2 million in revenue, $1,4 million in expenses, and a net income of close to $170,000 (“Food and Shelter Inc – Nonprofit explorer,” 2021). A year prior, the company reported $1,8 million in revenue with $1,4 million in expenses and almost $400,000 in income. The total assets in each year between 2017 and 2020 are $4,053,649, $3,853,672, $3,801,590, and $3,842,471, respectively. During each year, the majority of the income is generated through contributions, followed by other income and earned income.
The data shows that no program fundraising or executive compensation spending has been reported. The only expenses in this domain are administrative fees through salary compensation ($359,364 in 2017, $382,508 in 2018, $390,286 in 2019, and $404,909 in 2020) (“Food and Shelter Inc – Nonprofit explorer,” 2021). Data for more recent years has not been released as it is stated that the IRS delays nonprofit filing releases. The trends, namely, the increased spending, correlate with the expansion of the organization itself.
During the assessment for the current report, one active volunteer who assists the organization with services has been interviewed in regard to the non-profit, changes, certain challenges, strengths and weaknesses, and improvements. The person in question has volunteered for Food and Shelter Inc. for the last eight years and has observed certain characteristics concerning how the nonprofit has changed. Namely, it has been reported that the organization has been expanding and aims to continue making a significant effort not only locally but also in other Ohio cities. Moreover, the focus on addressing food needs has become more diversified and is equally divided between nutrition and housing. Last but not least, it has been mentioned that the plan to establish the Food and Resource Center is one of the main priorities as staff members work to bring awareness to the need to invest in the initiative through donations.
The volunteer has highlighted that the changes have been partly generated by the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have created more barriers and challenges for families with children in which breadwinners have lost jobs. Thus, the current primary challenge is raising awareness and funds for the Center as people are less potent to help wither with their money or time due to the economic instability in the community. The organization’s greatest strength has been reported as the honesty and efficiency of the board members who prioritize the community over personal interest. The weakness, however, has been reported as inefficient marketing to promote the cause and interests of the nonprofit. The interviewed volunteer has suggested partnering with bigger, regional, or international organizations to gain more recognition locally and be more trustworthy in the eyes of potential contributors.
Conclusion
Food and Shelter Inc. is an example of an initiative that started from the good intentions of two people and grew to be a prolific non-profit that helps countless members of the community with nutritional and housing needs. Its accomplishments include establishing a stable feeding schedule and day shelter for vulnerable demographics as well as incorporating an assistance program for people without a place to live. The difficulties, especially the recent pandemic that has created barriers both from a social and a financial standpoint, have been minimized by the board and staff members who operate based on the agenda of the initiative. Further actions correlating with maximizing the recognition of Food and Shelter within the state can further help its cause and lead to the further improvement of the community.
References
About us. (2023). Web.
Food and Shelter get involved. (2023). Web.
Food and Shelter Inc – Nonprofit explorer. (2021). Web.
Food and Shelter, Inc. (2021). Web.
Top 10 poorest states in the U.S. (2022). Web.
The share center. (2023). Web.