Pictured from left to right: WCDP Outreach Chair Anita Hunt, Oasis Interim Executive Director Carla Filkins, and WCDP Vice Chair Paula Meyers with a table shot of the WCDP’s donation of household goods for a family at Oasis.
This effort is part of the WCDP’s ongoing commitment to community service, focusing on different local organizations each quarter, according to WCDP Vice Chair Paula Meyers. Oasis is the group’s current focus for service. At Christmas, the WCDP adopted a large family through Oasis, granting holiday wishes for a parent and children ages 3 to 13. Members delivered three carloads of gifts, ensuring the family could experience a joyful holiday morning.
Oasis Family Resource Center, a nonprofit based in Cadillac, has been “a sanctuary of hope and healing” for over 40 years. The organization provides shelter, counseling and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence and their children. In 2024, Oasis staff answered 877 crisis hotline calls, provided support to 439 survivors, and assisted numerous families in finding permanent homes through its two-year transitional housing program. The organization recently launched a $100,000 annual appeal to secure its future and expand its services.
Carla Filkins, interim executive director of Oasis, expressed gratitude for the WCDP’s continued support, saying, “Oasis is incredibly grateful for the support of the Wexford County Democratic Party. The work they are doing in our community and for Oasis is outstanding. Partnerships like this are vital to our community’s continued success.”
The WCDP prioritizes community outreach as part of its strategic plan. Past efforts have included donations to local food banks and shelters, as well as organizing volunteer opportunities. Chair Bill Allen emphasized the group’s mission: “The Wexford County Democratic Party’s mission goes beyond the ballot box. The WCDP strives to be an active agent of support for the residents of Wexford County. Our slogan Forward Together emphasizes this goal.”