Woodward Main Street’s mission is to help create a unique and vital downtown that enriches our businesses community. Their vision is to be thriving and vibrant by engaging the community members in revitalization strategies to create experiences that preserve their history, culture, and to build a future. Part of this work is done through community engagement events such as the Pumpkin Drop and Food Truck Throwdown – both events that have grown so largely, they’ve expanded much beyond Main Street itself.
While participating in monthly Economic Vitality meetings, Circle of Care Regional Program Director, Kendra Pierce, began building relationships and engaging with Main Street Director, Sarah Eckhardt, and Woodward Tourism Director, Megan Johnston. Through this, a conversation of bringing Bingo back to Woodward arose.
Circle of Care, Inc. has been serving vulnerable children and families in Oklahoma since 1917. Beginning with a children’s home in 1917, Circle of Care has grown to seven different programs across the state focused on providing prevention, intervention, and restoration services to those who need it most. Circle of Care opened their Woodward office in 2016 for their Foster Care program. Circle of Care is licensed by OKDHS to certify and support foster families. The Woodward office supports foster families from Harper County down to I-40 with homes in Elk City, Clinton, and Weatherford and all areas in between. In 2022, Circle of Care hired a full-time counselor, filling a gap in Northwest Oklahoma’s mental health desert and has since expanded to two full-time counselors.
As a non-profit, Circle of Care largely relies on donations, grants, and fundraisers to operate. Woodward held it’s first banquet fundraiser in 2023 with it’s inaugural Circle of Care Adult Prom and raised $15,000 to continue providing support services to foster children and families. The fundraiser will be hosted again for a third time this year in September.
“For me, it’s not just about raising money for what I do. It’s the general awareness of who we are and what we’re doing in Woodward to serve this community,” Pierce stated.
That continues to be her main goal as she teams up with Woodward Tourism and Main Street to host their Bingo event on February 1st at 1:00. The event will be held at Woodward’s historic Josie Adams Cultural Centre.
“Honestly, I’m just so thankful to have support like Megan and Sarah’s. We have Elizabeth Terry with Omni Insurance on our committee too, who has been a huge supporter of Circle of Care for the past couple of years. I couldn’t keep doing what I’m doing without supporters like them in the community.”
Bingo will be $1 per card per game. Concessions will also be available with drinks and snacks for $1 each. The funds raised will be equally divided between Circle of Care and Woodward Main Street, both non-profits. Circle of Care’s Woodward office currently houses four employees. Their foster care program currently oversees 14 foster homes in Western Oklahoma providing homes for 21 children. Statewide, 5800 children are in DHS custody.
Comments