Karen Reynolds, Contributing Writer

Dawn McReynolds, founder and chairperson of the Ripley County Coalition, explained what she hopes to accomplish. This is a non-profit organization that hopes to connect three entities within the community: churches, human service agencies and any other non-profit organization working for the common good of the community. The movers and shakers in the group are McReynolds, founder and chairperson, and Connie DeBurger, vice-chair.

This is all about community outreach. The purpose, as stated by McReynolds, is to bring these three entities together “to create a successful benevolence throughout the county.” She wants to see “no cracks in the system” in making a successful community.

When asked why Ripley County, she said, “This is where the door opened.” She feels there are four divisions in the county, as evidenced by the fact that there are four separate school districts. This makes it difficult for people in the area to communicate the needs, according to McReynolds. The coalition wants to be a part of bringing the community together to communicate and find out what the people need.

“Human service agencies have long been the backbone of the community; providing money, clothing and food to those in need. Churches have taken the role of bringing spiritual truth that changes the lives of those in the communities in which they serve. Non-profit organizations bring specialized help to certain populations where needed,” McReynolds stated.

“Bringing these three entities together will bring success and effective change to the community. We can’t do it all, but we are a start. People may not join right away but remember, people want to be a part of something good and effective and our goal is to be both good and effective!” she continued.
The coalition meets every other month and rotates meetings to each organization. To become a member, simply attend a meeting. The next meeting will be January 20 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Osgood from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Bring goals you would like to see accomplished by the coalition within a year. Write down what is working for you and what needs improvement. “If you want change, let your voice be heard!” McReynolds states. She also feels that you can help your community by sharing ideas where you see a need for improvement.

Each meeting has a different host site and meetings are the third Tuesday morning every other month beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m. lasting one hour. Hosts provide drinks and a light continental breakfast and will work with McReynolds to create an agenda. They will also emcee the meeting.
The first meeting in September had 16 people in attendance and met at the Napoleon Community Center to discuss the need for a networking coalition. Some of the issues discussed included: where resources are for individuals in need, what others are doing for people, how those in need can be guided to places that will help to educate, and how change needs to come, change that will create lifestyle choices to improve lives. McReynolds said the coalition needs to be “hands-on”.
McReynolds noted that the coalition needs to be one that will find helpful resources for the community at large and one that church leaders and organizations working together can utilize to help diminish poverty in the area.

A manual of resources will be available to access things like the 211-phone directory, LifeTime Resources, and other human service agencies in the area. Organizations will each have their own manual so they can tell people where the resources are.

When asked what the motivation was for organizing such a group, McReynolds said that she grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and saw poverty all around her. She was able to get beyond that point in her life and now wants to help others. She began her own women’s center in Michigan where women learned life skills and obtained job training. They also housed a food pantry as well as a clothing closet called Step Up, which carried professional clothing donated by college professors. According to McReynolds, this is just a natural thing for her to do since she has moved to the area. “This is in my heart, it’s just what I do,” she concluded.

Any organization is welcome to join with the Ripley County Coalition to benefit the community by working together. You can contact 812-593-6865 for more details.