OPINION
Editor:
Pearl Buck once said, “The test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.”
Surveys show that affordable housing and temporary shelter are two of the Concho Valley’s most urgent unmet needs. Another need is food security.
The Oasis Community Center, a mission of St. Paul Presbyterian Church, plays a critical role in this challenge. It functions as a day shelter Monday through Thursday, allowing people to relax, recharge, and escape the dangerous heat of summer and bitter winter cold in West Texas for a couple of hours.
The Oasis is also focused on fighting food insecurity. Teaming with the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank and the San Antonio Food Bank, it offers daily hot meals and a food pantry. Prepared and served by two paid hosts and a group of volunteers, it’s not fancy but it’s hot and filling.
The Oasis Center is a lifeline to needed community resources. In partnership with the Concho Valley Community Action Agency (CVCAA), the Oasis assists in the monthly Homeless Navigation Day to unite dozens of organizations by offering medical care, counseling, clothing, and help with obtaining needed documentation. If you don’t have a fixed address, it’s hard to apply for benefits or to replace documentation lost on the road.
Volunteers and donations keep the Oasis open, the lights on, and hope alive for those who need it most.
Donate time, supplies, or resources, and show that our community passes the test of compassion.
— Matt Girton, San Angelo. Oasis Volunteer
