Okefenokee Alliance for the Homeless, Inc. (OATH) is celebrating its fifth anniversary serving the homeless and housing insecure in Brantley, Ware, and Pierce counties.
OATH began in January of 2017 with the establishment of a task force by the Ware Children’s Initiative, a Georgia Family Connection collaborative.
The task force brought together organizations which had not previously worked together including faith-based organizations, secular and non-profit agencies, volunteers previously housing insecure, and Ware, Pierce and Brantley county representatives.
It was the beginning of shared discussions on poverty, food insecurity and safe, secure housing.
The group which formed from the collaboration of these entities formulated the mission that led to the creation of OATH.
OATH became a tax-exempt charitable organization in 2019 and held its first board meeting.
Niki Spivey was hired as the Homeless Navigator, and OATH opened the doors to the office and day center in August, 2019.
Since opening, OATH has served 1,522 individuals, including 396 children, 959 adults, and 167 senior citizens.
OATH does not receive government funding, operating solely through fund-raising programs and donations.
In honor of its anniversary, OATH has launched a “Fives for Five” campaign. The campaign encourages community members, businesses, and faith-based organizations to donate as many “fives” as they are able, whether $5, $55, $555, $5,555 or more.
Donations can be made online at www.oathnsega.org, in person at the office located at 115 Albany Avenue, Waycross, or by check or money order mailed to P.O. Box 2088 Waycross, 31502-2088.
For more information on services or how to volunteer, call (912) 8164399.
OATH is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Thursday. During the month of August, OATH is open on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
