Community service: Graham Crisis Center provides necessary services to those in need

Following the giving season there are many in the community who still require assistance and the Graham Crisis Center provides for those in need. During this time of the season the organization itself also is looking to the community for support.

The nonprofit organization is made up of The Food Pantry, Harry’s House women’s shelter, The Nifty Thrifty and the benevolence fund.

After stepping into the role of director in August, Joy Petersen, her staff and volunteers continue their work to provide for the community.

The Nifty Thrifty

The Nifty Thrifty is a charitable resale store which is open to the public and all proceeds help to fund the other programs within the Graham Crisis Center. Petersen said besides volunteering for the store, a steady stream of donations will help the store continue to support the center.

“The Nifty Thrifty runs off of the donations that are brought in by the sweet people of our community,” she said. “All of the proceeds from that fund all of our other programs, so please keep donating.”

The store on 601 Indiana St. is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations are accepted Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the north side of the building at the rollup door.

Items not accepted by the organizations are mattresses, box springs, bed pillows, workout machinery, older full-size entertainment centers, baby cribs without hardware, copiers/printers, ovens, washers/dryers, refrigerators, guns, ammo, stuffed animals, VHS/DVD players, broken or soiled items or clothing, paint or cleaning supplies, hazardous materials, auto parts and tires.

Additionally, full-size older televisions, car seats (incomplete and non-working) and any items that have been recalled are not accepted.

Those who want to volunteer at the store or within another branch of the crisis center can reach out to the staff at 940-549-6002, or visit the location.

“You just need to come into the office and speak with the crisis center office and fill out the volunteer paperwork and we will get started,” Petersen said. “We are very thankful for anyone who wants to volunteer their time with us because every little bit of monetary or volunteer time is very precious and we are very grateful.”

The Food Pantry

The Food Pantry provides food once per month for anyone whose income is below the poverty level. The organization offers a food choice program which allows those who utilize the service to choose the food they prefer based on the items available.

“In The Food Pantry we served a record number of families last month and this month. On the second Tuesday we served 101 households, which is a record,” Petersen said. “In The Food Pantry we are really… needing jelly, soups of any variety or any kind, crackers, any type of cereal and canned or dried beans. Those are the main things that The Food Pantry really could use.”

The service is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1-3 p.m. at 601 Indiana St.
Alongside the service, a produce express truck available to the public stops in on the second Tuesday of each month from 1-3 p.m. at 705 Indiana St.

Harry’s House

Harry’s House is a safe, private and secure location for women and children, in 15 to 30-day increments, who are impacted by domestic violence.

“We are staying pretty steady over there helping women and children out,” Petersen said. “We can always use detergent, fabric softener, paper towels, toilet paper, any paper goods and then just... socks, basic sizing for women’s underwear, women’s products and kind of just the same for unisex socks, underwear, pajamas for children because a lot of the time they come in with nothing.”

For more information regarding the program, contact the Graham Crisis Center at 940-549-6002.

Benevolence fund

The mission of the Graham Crisis Center is to provide basic needs, both physical and emotional. One of those services is the benevolence fund that assists many in the community.

“If you are needing help with a bill or life situation, we can help you with that,” Petersen said. “We also offer job coaching (and) life support through coaching resources.”

Monetary donations to the crisis center help to keep the fund available for those who require it.

“During this time of the year we see a lot of high energy and gas bills for people through the benevolence program that the crisis center runs,” Petersen said. “We can always use any donations to go towards giving back and helping people with their bills.”

Donations can be mailed or dropped off at the crisis center office located at 601 Indiana St.