February 9, 2015 at 1:41 p.m.
NATH celebrates four years of helping the homeless
NATH celebrates four years of helping the homeless
Frederick Place is Rhinelander's homeless shelter. Since its doors opened in 2011, it has housed approximately 100 people per year.
What started as the dream of a few Rhinelander residents who wanted nothing more than to help those less fortunate has turned into a saving grace for numerous people who have fallen on uncertain times.
Tammy Modic, executive director of NATH, is proud of what the group has accomplished.
"It's great to know that we've helped over 400 people and to know that we've been able to help make a difference is something truly special," she said.
Modic became executive director a few months after NATH purchased Frederick Place four years ago. At that time, she said she didn't know what to expect. Four years later, she can only smile thinking about what Frederick Place has become.
"I wasn't there for the purchase. They had just started renovations when I came on board," she said.
"I guess you never really know what to expect. I wasn't sure where this was going to go, but seeing the vision that (NATH board president) Bill Miller and the rest of the board had, I knew that this was something that I could be a part of and really help out. I don't know what I predicted four years ago, but they believed they could service approximately 100 people every year and we pretty much have every year, and I'm just glad I was able to help achieve that."
Miller was the keynote speaker this year. He thanked the volunteers for their support and commended the hard work of everyone involved in NATH and Frederick Place.
"Our board of directors had a dream and that dream was to take a leap of faith and to see if we could effectively start a homeless shelter here in Rhinelander," he said.
"Four years ago and one week tonight, that property opened and we are honored to celebrate its fourth anniversary this evening."
"It is a continuing miracle - a miracle because of the vision of the board of directors, the dedication of the staff and each one of you. Your involvement, financial assistance, active voluntary part, your meal and food donations and your prayers have all come together to make this miracle continue," he added.
"Frederick Place is no longer a house. It is a home - a vibrant, positive, loving home to transform the lives of our brothers and sisters who experience homelessness. They are not heavy. They are not heavy because of you, your love and your support."
The goal of any coalition fighting homelessness is to see it eradicated. That's a goal not easily achieved, however, and Modic said she's proud to be part of a group that's there for those who need it while society works to ensure everyone has a place to live.
"I think it's one of those positive/negatives. It's positive that we're here, but it's also negative that we have to be here," she said.
"I think we just tend to look at where we are right now - this person needs us so we're here. Yes, we'd love to see homelessness ended, but that's going to be a tough thing to accomplish, so we're happy we're able to be here to help those that need it."
"We average 10 to 12 people at the house every single night. We've never been empty," she added.
"On day one, we had one person and we've never been empty since. That, to me, means that we need to be here."
And that need doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon, meaning Frederick Place will continue to play an important role in the community.
"This is a celebration. Yes, we're raising money, but this is a little bit different than some of our other events in that we are truly celebrating everyone that has helped us in our mission," Modic said.
"The community support NATH and Frederick Place has received over the years has been phenomenal. There have been so many groups and individuals that have supported us from the get-go - whether it be financially or with their time and their service or running events for us or helping us run some of our events."
Last year, NATH began recognizing those individuals with a Partner of the Year Award. This year, the award went to Newcomers and Friends.
"It is an organization in town who have been supporting NATH since 2009 when it first started," Modic said.
Carol Miller of Newcomers and Friends was honored to accept the award.
"It's wonderful, absolutely wonderful," she said. "We've adopted a room at Frederick Place and decorated and furnished it and we maintain it. Plus, every time they have the Soup for Shelter event, we make desserts or things to that - which we love doing - and we've done a couple garage sales to help raise money. We just think it's something that needs to be supported in the community.
"It's really all about their mission - taking people off the streets and giving them a hand up, not a handout. That's something we really believe in."
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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