NEWS
Behind the Scenes
THANKSGIVING AT OAR
November 2025
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Although the immediate crisis of suspended SNAP benefits this November has been resolved, it has left some in our community struggling. OAR, already equipped with a local pantry, has stepped up its efforts around the holidays. One of our Board Members created Thanksgiving ready-to-go meal kits, and packaged over a dozen of them for pick up or delivery last week.
We also received a generous grant from Taste of the Finger Lakes, that supported us in collaborating with our community partners, distributing and delivering hot meals and non-perishables to our clients for Thanksgiving.
We're so grateful for the ways in which all of you continue to show up to support us in the work that we do. We couldn't do this without you.
Thank you.
OAR CLEANING ASTERI APARTMENTS
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Housing First is one of many ideas to support homelessness, but it fails to implore the intense wrap around services required to properly support people coming from homelessness. There are many complex mental health and social challenges that if not addressed simply allows people to fail, adding to layers of trauma. Hording is a learned coping mechanism, which is said to provide a sense of control. Professional support, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and supporting the development of coping skills are just the beginning.
OAR & IPD VOLLEYBALL GAME
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In 2022, OAR staff, OAR clients, and IPD joined with mixed teams and had our first volleyball game. The following year we reached out to County Probation. We have similar goals, different ways in achieving them, and work with many of the same clients. A simple game that helped humanize one another.
OAR HIRES RACHEL LLOYD
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