Friends In Service Helping – F.I.S.H.

Messaging provided by Jennifer Koopman, Executive Director (Interim)

For over 38 years, FISH has been helping those in need in the community.  FISH now needs your help to continue our mission. 

Our community’s needs have increased, and donations to the organization have decreased due to the recent economic situation. There have been a few delays with grant funding, and the organization still struggles to overcome the financial burdens gained during COVID.   

The institution is vital; no other organization within the community could absorb the impact, and the effect would be insurmountable to those who rely on FISH and the reverberation within the community.

There are three major components of the operation: Samaritan House, which provides emergency shelter, a food bank, and a thrift store. The Samaritan House averages 15 persons a night, 365 days a year. The Samaritan House often has families with children, in addition to the single women and men who are working their way out of homelessness.  

The food bank is a significant operation for FISH. The center hosts three mobile markets for our senior citizens and those without transportation. The onsite food bank has seen the most significant increase in the need to distribute food boxes. Our onsite markets service 150-200 cars, with families and individuals needing food due to food insecurity. Our soup kitchen has additionally seen an increase and feeds an average of 75 people M-F a hot meal. 

The thrift store, one of our primary sources of income, provides free clothing and other items needed by those in need through our outreach center. Please remember that donations to the thrift store must be gently used and in working condition. 

FISH is home to client services for the community and case management for those staying at Samaritan House.  Several of our employees are success stories, turning their lives around with FISH’s help. 

FISH uses a blend of volunteers and employees to support services at the organization, with consistency being the key to our volunteers.  We have many long-term volunteers that are the heart of the organization. 

FISH partners with several organizations in the community and helps support their missions.

Please consider donating to the organization; every bit helps. 

Quoting Mother Teresa, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” FISH historically has fed, clothed, and supported those in our community, but it takes a village to make it sustainable, and we need the village now more than ever. 

Thank you to those who have supported FISH over the years and those new to the cause. Our gratitude cannot be fully conveyed in words. 

FISH is a 501(c) 3 charity.