History

 

• GIFTS was born in 2007 when a group of concerned Janesville citizens recognized an unmet need in their community. Women and children without shelter had options available to them; however homeless men had nowhere to go. These concerned citizens first met in early fall, and on Christmas Eve 2007, the shelter opened with 4 cooperating churches. Today 38 churches are involved in the operation of the shelter.
• GIFTS provide a safe place to sleep, warm meals, and faith-filled camaraderie for homeless men in the Janesville area.
• From 2007-2017 GIFTS overnight shelter rotated among multiple local churches. In November of 2017 the men moved into our new building located at 1025 N. Washington Street. Volunteers continue to staff the overnight shelter.
• Last year, GIFTS provided over 8,070 nights of shelter and 16,140 meals to more than 274 different men.
• The goal to provide the men a hand up rather than a hand out led to the October 2013 opening of the GIFTS Resource Center. The Center offers materials, technology, and personal assistance to help the men connect with established community resources. Each guest partners with a volunteer who helps them create an individual life improvement plan to guide their efforts to respectfully regain their footing in society. This guest/volunteer partnership includes assistance in meeting basic needs, as well as obtaining necessary identification, medical and other treatment services, resume preparation, employment, housing, and transportation.
• GIFTS accepts no governmental funding; we rely solely on community support to continue our mission and ministry.
• Financial contributions to GIFTS provide direct assistance to the men as they seek to improve their lives. Contributions also support day-to-day operating at the shelter and Resource Center, such as equipment, office supplies, insurance, and staffing. GIFTS has only four employees, two full time and two part time. Volunteers logged over 29,900 hours during the 2016-2017 season. We could not provide the services we do without our volunteers committed to this ministry.

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Website Designed by: Increase Marketing