Ken Taft, chairperson for the Okefenokee Alliance for the Homeless (OATH), was guest speaker at last week’s Rotary Club meeting. OATH serves the homeless in Pierce, Ware and Brantley counties out of a Waycross office at 115 Albany Ave. In 2024, OATH served 379 client: 92 children, 236 adult and 59 seniors (60+ years old). They helped place 16 clients in housing and saved 10 clients from eviction. The Alliance also served 6,100 hot meals last year. OATH helps their clients acquire documents necessary to apply for housing and connects them with assistance programs they qualify for. They provide tents, toiletries and other supplies as needed. OATH also hosts ‘All Recovery’ meetings twice a week in partnership with Unison Behavioral Health and the Southeast Health District. Last year, OATH hosted 50 recovery meetings with 150 in attendance and distributed 281 overdose prevention kits. OATH currently employs a HOPE Coordinator, Healthcare Navigator and an administrative assistant. The local nonprofit receives no federal or state funding and relies primarily on local partnerships and sponsors to fund their operating budget. For more information on ways to partner with OATH, visit www.oathnsega.org or call 912-816-4399. Blackshear Rotary Club meets weekly at J. Leonard’s on Main. Pictured above (l-r) are Ken Taft and Rotarian Sarah Gove.
