For the caretaker looking after a family member living with mental illness; for the family struggling to put food on the table and afford rent; for the young father recovering from addiction—there is hope. As we near the end of the year, our mission to serve the most vulnerable members of our community shines brighter than ever before. Here are a few 2023 highlights we’re most grateful for:

Zero Suicide Initiative

We’re proud to share that all Oaks employees received QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training this year. The foundational belief of Zero Suicide is that suicide deaths for individuals under the care of health and behavioral health systems are preventable. Even one life lost is simply too many, and we commit to recognizing the signs and intervening before it’s too late.

Camden County Schools Partnership

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a steep rise in the need for youth mental health services. Oaks’s timely partnership with the Camden County Schools to form the Wellness Interagency Network (WIN), aims to make it easier to evaluate and provide services to save students from stressful emergency room visits.

Hunger Relief

With record-high inflation, it’s no secret that families across our region are struggling to make ends meet. Our neighbors faced with food insecurity often have to make the terrible choice between paying for food, rent or medications. Thanks to your support, our food pantries kept up with the demand, serving over 10,000 individuals this year.

Community Support

As always, thank you for your generosity. With your help, the 3rd Annual Rooted in Community Awards in June raised $130,000. Touch A Truck rolled into Camden again this summer where we distributed over 300 stuffed backpacks. Last but not the least, we established the Thomas & Deborah Whitesell Giving Circle to honor the Whitesell family and inspire others to follow their path through planned giving.

Thank you for growing by our side and for your heartfelt support of our mission.

With Gratitude,

Derry Holland
Chief Executive Officer

P.S. There’s still time to make a tax deductible year-end donation to assist us in serving our most vulnerable community members. Every gift, no matter the size, makes an impact.