As Virginia Woolf said, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” This month residents shared the kitchen with volunteers and longtime friends of COTS Lynn Van Zeeland & Mary Harp-Jirschele, during our Turkey Cook Off. This event engaged… Read More
Volunteer teaches residents how to make easy, delicious meals The group peers into the cupboard, almost overwhelmed by the possibilities. “OK, what do we want to make today?” says Sarah, COTS volunteer. Voices chime in with different ideas and preferences, and they ultimately decide to… Read More
Like the numerous others who volunteer through our Meal Ministry Program, YOU can make a difference by providing heartwarming meals to our residents! Every Monday and Wednesday evening of the year, our Meal Ministers take turns providing the individuals living at COTS with the basic… Read More
On September 9th, 2016, COTS’ Veterans’ and Young Adults’ building was filled with the sounds of hammering, the swish of paint brushes, and the hum of drills as volunteers from the Home Depot worked feverishly to overhaul the building. 40 volunteers from around the region… Read More
“They don’t teach this in high school. If we can teach [residents] to manage their money, we can reduce their stress so if–really when– bad things happen, they don’t resort to bad habits. The chance of a positive outcome is a lot higher,” says Pete… Read More
Pernilla Werninger has been a Meal Minister for COTS for around two years. She heard about COTS after running into a neighbor who was a Meal Minister. Being a Meal Minister appeals to her because she is able to “do something nice for someone who… Read More
New Campaign Transforms COTS into a True Home This year, COTS launched a campaign to transform our facilities into a place of healing and new beginnings. Our Campus of Change Campaign helps our facilities become “home” for our residents who are working on life skills… Read More
Cooking class of COTS reveals inner strength of residents “I’d been wanting to do volunteering, but I didn’t know what to do,” explains Mary Kay Maigatter, COTS volunteer. She knew that she wanted to do something hands-on, but didn’t know where to start. At a… Read More
Pierce Manufacturing team teaches residents how to be effective job seekers Hands shot up around the room as eager residents asked questions about job seeking that they had always wondered about. Throughout August and October, volunteers from the marketing department at Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh… Read More
Monday, September 21st marked COTS’ second annual chili cook-off to thank our wonderful Meal Ministers, who graciously prepare home-cooked meals for individuals residing at COTS every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the year. Meal Ministers attending this special event were greeted by the overwhelming gratitude… Read More