New organization raising funds to help homeless

New organization raising funds to help homeless

EDEN TOWNSHIP — A newly formed non-profit organization is raising funds to help provide shelter for area homeless. Helping Others Prosper was formed by Heidi Oliver.

“We created this organization to start addressing the homeless and affordable housing issues in Mason County,” Oliver, who is the organization director, said. “We are a small group of about eight volunteers that meet three to four times per week. We are a registered nonprofit in the State of Michigan. Our first goal is to provide temporary emergency shelter to families sleeping in tents/vehicles. We are planning to have the first five families housed this weekend.”

The organization is holding two separate breakfast fundraisers to help its cause. Cost of each event is $5 per person for all-you-can-eat breakfast, $5 for photos with Santa (one per family) and raffle tickets at $1 per ticket or $5 for seven. Both events are from 9 a.m. to noon.

The events are as follows:

• Saturday, Dec. 9: Victory Township Hall, located at the intersection of Stiles Road and Victory Drive in Victory Township.
• Saturday, Dec. 16: Fraternal Order of Eagles, 108 S. Harrison St., Ludington.

“The fundraiser is to help with those costs and to start raising money for a more permanent solution,” Oliver said. “Once we have families housed, we plan on focusing on women as well, long term shelter options, and affordable housing.”