Our Home Welcomes Amy Buening, Prepares for Annual Angel Tree Program

CELINA — Our Home Family Resource Center has welcomed Amy Buening as its new Direct Services Coordinator as the organization continues assisting local families and prepares for its annual Angel Tree program.

Buening and Our Home Executive Director Kevin Draiss discussed the organization’s services and upcoming holiday program during an appearance on WCSM Radio’s Spectrum program.

A lifelong Mercer County resident from Maria Stein, Buening previously worked with the Mercer County Council on Aging and as a home health therapy assistant. She said those experiences opened her eyes to the number of people in the area who need assistance.

“I kind of fell in love with it, to be able to take someone, pick them up, dust them off and help them through a hard time,” Buening said.

As Direct Services Coordinator, Buening helps operate Our Home’s food pantry and assists residents with utility bills, rent and other unexpected needs.

Draiss said Buening’s experience working with local agencies made her a strong choice for the position. Our Home provides thousands of referrals each year, connecting residents with other organizations when it cannot directly meet a need.

“Sometimes you get people with a big heart and no experience. Sometimes you get people with experience and no heart,” Draiss said. “We were fortunate to land Amy because she has both of those attributes.”

Buening said utility assistance has been one of the organization’s most common requests recently. Fourteen families visited the food pantry Tuesday.

The pantry is available to eligible Mercer County residents once each month on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visitors are asked to provide identification and information about their income. Draiss emphasized that residents will not be judged for seeking assistance.

“We’re not here to critique your situation or how you got there,” Draiss said. “We’re just there to help you and guide you.”

Our Home is also preparing to serve approximately 900 children through its annual Angel Tree program. Each participating child receives two toys and an outfit, requiring the organization to distribute approximately 3,000 gift tags throughout the community.

Businesses, churches, organizations and individuals can request one or more tags through the Angel Tree page at ourhomefrc.com.

Families seeking assistance must register by November 17. The program is available to Mercer County children ages 12 and younger, and Draiss said no registrations can be accepted after the deadline.

Donated gifts will be collected December 9 at Celina First Church of God. Volunteers will organize the items into shopping areas based on age and gender. Participating parents will then shop for their children December 11, allowing them to select gifts that match their children’s interests.

Volunteers are also needed to help collect, organize and prepare the gifts. Information about volunteering, requesting tags and registering children is available at ourhomefrc.com.

Residents who need assistance or do not know where to begin can call Our Home at 419-586-4663.