By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
With plans to expand her agency’s reach across the community, the new director of Yukon Sharing wants people to feel welcome when they seek help.
Many people are familiar with Yukon Sharing Ministry because of its annual Christmas basket distribution to help those in need during the holiday season.
But this Yukon helping agency provides much more, and executive director Missy King is doing her part to spread the word.
Yukon Sharing provides clothing, food, household goods and other necessary services to people who meet income guidelines.
“We want to get it to where we’re open as many days as possible and help as many people as possible,” said King, who became Yukon Sharing’s executive director on Aug. 1. “We want people to know we’re open – and we’re here.
“We want to be visible in the county so they know we’re here and we can help.”
The Yukon Sharing office, 4 N 6th (north side of Main Street) is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
“In October, we’re looking to open one evening a week to help people who can’t get here in the afternoon,” King said.
“Our goal is to get more volunteers so we can open more days and be more available.”
‘HAND UP … NOT HAND OUT’
Yukon Sharing Ministry was founded in 1987 with a vision to offer everyone who can benefit a “hand up” – not a “hand out.”
The helping agency serves those who live in the Yukon school district, specifically in the 73099, 73085 and 73127 zip codes.
“We work with the school system as much as we can if they know of people who need help,” King said. “They refer students and parents to us.”
Eligible residents can come to Yukon Sharing once a month to receive food and once every 60 days to get clothes.
King realizes it’s difficult for many people to ask for help.
“I want them to come in and feel comfortable, feel welcome and know that we’ll do whatever we can to help them,” the director said. “We don’t know their background; we don’t know their story. I just want to treat everyone with respect and make them feel like this is a place they can come.”
King came to Yukon Sharing after 25 years as director of the Aging Services’ program at Redlands Community College in El Reno. There, she helped senior citizens across Canadian County with food and transportation.
She jumped at the chance to lead Yukon Sharing to continue that type of service work.
“It’s exactly what I like to do – help people,” King said. “Now it’s not just seniors. We can help anybody, which makes it nice.”
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization.
As the new director, King has been tasked with expanding the Yukon Sharing’s volunteer base.
“We can’t do this without them,” she said. “And like so many organizations, we can always use more volunteers.”
Yukon Sharing Ministry is governed by a board of directors: President Scott Schuermann, Vice President Pam Shelton, Secretary Becky Stevens, Treasurer Stacey Gaylord, Jim Poe, Kense Woodall and Kayleigh Ferguson.
For more information, call 354-9456 or email yukonsharing@gmail.com
