Welcome everyone to Midday Magazine for this January 24th, 2024.
Have your host James J. Mailoff here and right now we're welcoming into the studio
our good friends from the ODC. We have Anne Lepeck with us and good to see you.
Good morning. Good to see you.
Oh, is that good to have you here and always good to see you.
And Anne, you brought one of our favorite people with you.
I did. I brought David Buckman with me.
Good morning everybody. It's a pleasure to be here and I'm delighted
to see you again. Yeah, I'm really happy to see you David.
I really, you always give me a big smile and you always make my day
see you at the rest of my day. I'm going to be smiling because of you.
Thank you very much. Yeah, thank you for being here.
And David, the only catch is that you're getting to be a bigger star
around here than me. I need to tone it down just a little bit.
Okay, I need this job, David. I need this.
Thank you for being here, David.
Well, you can have it. I really don't know too much about being on the radio anyway.
Okay, I appreciate that. Thank you, David. I appreciate that.
And we got a bunch of things to get to today.
I wanted to start off talking about the WISPACT.
Yeah, yeah. So thanks. I wanted to just share that WISPACT Foundation
is an organization. We're actually having a press event
tomorrow at ODC here in Wisconsin Rapids.
So that'll be starting at around 1030.
But there's going to be a short presentation at 11.
So if anybody would like to come.
But WISPACT Foundation is really there in organization
that distributes funds to agencies like ODC
for the benefit of the people that we support.
And so this year they're actually giving away
over $670,000 to Wisconsin, not for profits.
And tomorrow there'll be a check presentation to ODC of $11,375.
So we are super excited to be able to accept that award.
And I want to just share a little bit more about WISPACT.
So WISPACT really, the foundation was established in 2021.
And it's really to improve the lives of people with disabilities across Wisconsin.
And the director will be joining us tomorrow.
And really what's involved is that all of the money,
typically are grants that we write are helping to support operations,
helping to start up new programs, things that don't have money following them.
What's unique about this WISPACT is that all of the money has to be utilized to support
the people with disabilities that we support.
So it's not for operations, it's not for staff.
It's really to benefit the people that we're serving.
It goes right to the people.
It goes right to the people.
So we actually received a grant from WISPACT last year.
We called it Creating with Purpose Exploring the Arts.
And so really that was, we developed that to really educate and broaden the experiences
of people with disabilities to connect to their communities and see what else is out there.
So people were able to explore many different things.
They learned different skills.
They discovered community connections and resources.
And they got to participate in workshops, hands-on activities.
And then we ended with an expo at McMillan Library last July.
So David was privileged to be a part of that last year.
And so he got to participate in several things.
Do you want to share what you participated in?
Well, the only thing I really did participate in one of the things that I did many, many years ago,
Pam Ross came to the house and told me, I wanted to know if I would be interested in doing
one more season of locals on stage.
And I said, and I said, sure, why not.
So she came over to my house a little bit at 4 o'clock in the morning.
And so we had to be over at that local TV station over at W-A-O-W-T-B.
I did that one call and wake up Wisconsin.
And one year, I met this one lady by the name of Paige Haas.
I don't know if you've never met her.
Well, I remember her, though.
Yeah, I'd never met her, but I remember her.
So anyway, the first time that I met her, she was a really nice lady.
So you can see, David is really becoming our public gradation sports person.
Really? Is he doesn't need my job?
And good on you for doing that, David.
Good on you for doing that.
Right on.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I'm glad you enjoyed the experience.
Yes, I did.
So for the grant that we got last year,
you were able to go to the Alexander House.
That's right.
That's right.
The museum.
So we did some museums.
We did some classes at the Cultural Center.
And then we also had people come in and do demonstrations.
You were part of the yarn-making demonstration.
Oh, yeah, of course.
That's right.
That was, yeah.
And then we had a slight of hand magician come in, right?
That's nice.
I wanted to say something about that magician.
Do you know exactly where that magician came from?
I don't.
I think he's pretty local.
And I think maybe he'll be coming back.
Okay, yeah.
Oh, very cool.
Very cool.
Yeah, that's awesome.
So we got to really do some cool and fun things last year.
We had 178 people that participated in the grant last year.
And I'm happy to report now that we're getting more grant
dollars again this year, which is why we're holding the press event tomorrow.
And so we're actually going to be having three different grant opportunities.
For this year, one, we're going to continue the exploring the arts.
Good.
And then we're also expanding and adding exploring Wisconsin so that we can
you know, do some things and throughout the state.
Great idea.
And then also helping to build our supplies for art therapy and our mental health
area as well.
So it's cool.
Again, all of the dollars are spent on supporting the people that we're supporting.
So enhancing the programs and things that we maybe can't do otherwise.
And then also, you know, people that we support and always have the financial means to
participate in some of these things.
So this money all helps to enhance our programs and pay for all of those things.
And you know this better than I do.
But without these grants, we're not talking about any of this possibly.
Exactly.
None of it.
None of this happens.
You know, David doesn't have that experience or how many other clients had
experiences similar to that or something.
Exactly.
Exactly.
So this this is very unique in that the money has to be spent
for the individuals that we're supporting.
The other week, we were talking to a grant writer a little bit.
And I don't think for those like myself that have never done anything like this,
understand all the work it takes to just even get that process done and get a good grant
out, a great grant proposal out.
Correct.
Correct.
Yeah.
So just even doing that.
And I also credit you and your staff and everybody over at the ODC.
We're looking for these things too because this stuff isn't just sitting there for everybody
to see.
Sometimes you got to really hunt these things down.
Correct.
Correct.
Yeah.
You got to go out and find it and you got to find what foundations are willing to support
the work that you're doing because not, you know, there's a lot of opportunities out there.
But they may not all support, you know, what we're offering.
Yeah.
So what's going on tomorrow?
Is this something that we can, as citizens, as a community, we can come and take in
and see how this goes?
Yeah, absolutely.
Absolutely.
Anybody can come and join us.
Again, the press event is tomorrow at ODC in Wisconsin Rapids on Huntington,
Avenue.
There will be, we'll be starting around 1030, but the check presentation will be at 11.
Just a real short presentation.
And then there will also be tours available if anybody would like to tour.
So we'd welcome if people would like to come.
So our president will be saying a few words.
Julie Stren and then also the president of the Wispack Foundation as well.
Oh, cool.
Nice of them to show up.
That's very smart.
That's very cool.
And with that, I do want to piggyback on what you just said there.
If it's been a while or you have never taken a tour of the ODC,
can not encourage you enough to do that.
It's not only a great opportunity to take in the building and see what it's like,
but I think it can, I'm always looking for ways to create more empathy situations
in our society.
And this is one of them.
Yeah, absolutely.
And we're very proud to share what we're doing.
It looks very different than what it did, you know?
Even 10 years ago.
Well, that's funny.
You said that I hadn't been in the building to be honest in a good 10 years.
And last year, I went there and I think it was, yeah, last year,
I went there and I picked up this shirt that I'm wearing right now,
which I encourage people to check out the ODC merchandise and wear it and support it.
And suppose show your support to the ODC.
I go there to pick it up and I didn't know where to go.
I was like, wait a minute.
I thought I knew my way around here and everything,
but things have changed so much and there's so much things going on over there.
It was cool to see.
Yeah.
It was very nice, very fun for not only you and the team, the clientele,
but our community, I think is really good for too.
Yeah, absolutely.
We also wanted to touch on something else that some updates
on the mental health clinics and services available.
Yeah, yeah.
So we wanted to just share that ODC now,
we do have an opportunity for mental health clinic.
We do now have a free Narcan dispensary in our vestibule.
So that is open to some when the clinic is open.
But we do have that available.
If people are in need, it is free to the community.
And we're just, we know that overdose and substance misuse is pretty prevalent.
And so this is one way that we wanted to help be able to keep our family friends
and neighbors safer by having that available to the general, to the general public.
So we're we're happy to have that available.
I just speaking for myself, I really appreciate that.
I think it's very smart.
I think it's an incredibly, it shows that the ODC cares about its community,
shows that it cares about human beings and goes a long way for our society.
Yeah, yeah.
And I appreciate that and I will say, you know,
since we opened the clinic and I would say even since winter, since the weather has changed,
we've seen more and more needs in our community.
So that's just one of the needs that we've seen.
But we're having people come in that really are lacking general resources,
typical health and hygiene, kinds of things, food necessities, things like that.
Let's piggyback from that.
If you don't mind and talk about some of the essential kits that have been,
we were talking about in our pre-game a little bit.
Yeah, yeah.
So we had found that when people were coming in, they really just,
they don't have the finances and they are really simply lacking in
basic health and hygiene and, you know, basic food items.
And so we were fortunate enough that the Rotary Foundation provided some support to us also
the library as well.
So we do have free resource kits available.
We have a little backpack and it has, so shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush,
some food items in it as well.
And so we've really been fortunate to be supported by other organizations as well that wanted
to help us with, you know, with what we're trying to accomplish.
We really recognize that there are other organizations out there doing similar things.
But typically when people are coming in, they might be in crisis or they might need something
fairly immediately.
And so this isn't meant to replace or, you know, take over any of those services.
It's just an add-on that we were able to provide for people that might come in and need it.
So yeah, so we have some really great resource kits.
And we have available right outside our clinic.
Okay, I'm just going to ask where they're available.
Yeah, so those are available right outside the door when the clinics are open.
So people, a person wouldn't even have to come in.
But they certainly could or we have them within the vestibules.
So again, you don't even have to connect with a staff person if you feel that you need something.
You're more than welcome to come in and take what you need.
We also have a little bit of a food, food shelf going as well.
And then we also have gently used coats, hat, mittens, things like that.
And so during the day when the clinic is open, there are some resource kits and the coats and hats
are right outside the door.
So again, you wouldn't even have to walk in a door.
You could walk right by and grab what you need.
So it's above and beyond, it's above and beyond what you guys are doing over there.
And our can thing, this above and beyond, it needs to be noted.
And you and your team and the clients over there need to be accredited for that.
That's awesome.
That is very cool.
And thank you for doing that.
Well, thank you.
And we couldn't do it without the support of the community.
And again, it's really about serving the people that are coming to us.
These are things that we've all learned over the last several months.
Again, especially since winter has hit that people have come in and needed these resources.
And so why not have a little bit available that we could help to support people?
And you know, oftentimes society, the community speaks for itself,
well, you just got to listen.
And even if people aren't actually saying anything,
they're actions, the things that you're seeing in your community tell you,
oh, this is going on or oh, this is an issue or this is a very positive thing.
Whatever those things might be.
And in this scenario, chances are you're not going to be hearing
from the people that are in need of these things.
Whatever this stuff that Ann and I have been just been talking about,
because oftentimes they're voiceless.
Oftentimes they don't have a voice.
Oftentimes they don't have an opportunity to speak or talk about these things.
And there's also the shame factor.
I come from this background.
I am a child of addiction.
I am a child of growing up in the projects in these things.
I know what shame can do and I know how much it can hold people back.
I'm very fortunate that I had a mom and dad that didn't care what other people thought.
They were going to take care of their kids.
They were going to do whatever they could,
even though they didn't have a lot of resources.
They were going to do these things.
And it's important for people to understand that there is nothing to be ashamed of.
There is nothing to hold you back from helping you and your family.
You can do that and there are resources like this.
And as far as other organizations that might be doing this,
great, the more the better.
We can't have too much of this.
Right.
If just taking a very kind of loose scenario,
but if there is a person who is unhoused right now
or there is a person dealing with addiction,
they're going to seek help.
It's in the moment and they're going to go to wherever is closest.
So if we have the ODC on this side of town,
and we have this group doing it on this side of town and everything,
it's important to be able to have these multiple places doing this
because you never know where that person might be
and when they're going to be reaching for that hand.
Exactly.
And you're exactly right.
When people are reaching out, they're already in crisis.
And so they need that help immediately.
And so we do what we can to give them that immediate help.
But then also we connect them with those other resources.
So you said that we've had other organizations help out
with those essential kits.
I just want to say a big thank you to them too.
Not just with that, but with the other things
that we've talked about with the ODC.
We are so much stronger when we work together.
And nonprofits get that better than most.
Yep, absolutely.
I really just the support we've had
from the community, from foundations.
Our clinic would not be a reality without that support.
And so we are so thankful.
And I know the people that we're supporting really appreciate us
being available when they need it.
Yeah.
We're speaking with Anley Peck.
And we have David Buckman with us as well from our ODC.
David, good to see you.
Good to see you too, James.
I got to make sure the listeners hear you.
So they know you're still there, David.
Because you're the star of this show.
So we got to make sure they know you're there.
One of the things that I would like to touch on.
I know.
I know.
We're kind of running out on time.
One of the things that I would like to touch on.
On November the 27th, the week right after Thanksgiving,
I started this new job over at the Renaissance.
And they are really, really nice people there and everything.
So I've really been enjoying it.
So with that, I'll turn the mic over to you.
She's even got the transition down.
He's so good at this.
That's not fair, David.
I've been working a long time at this,
and I still can't do that that well.
So anyway, I want to say this once again,
in a hurry.
On the 27th of November, like I had mentioned before,
I just started working over at the Renaissance job.
And I do have to work again the day.
And I hours there are from three until about 5.30.
So with that, I would like to turn it back over to you.
Thank you, David.
Excellent.
And to end.
So yeah.
Thank you, David.
And big thank you to Renaissance and to a great organization,
great group of people.
Got a lot of friends over there that work there.
Good people.
And we appreciate the organizations, the companies out here
being, you know, bringing in the clientele from the ODC.
Some of the hardest best workers you'll ever have.
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaking of, that's the clientele,
but the staff over there at the ODC,
also some of the hardest working people you'll ever meet.
And we're looking for some new people over there.
Yeah, yeah.
So of course, we're always looking for good people to join our team.
And you can always go to ODC's website and check out our job postings.
We are really, you know, we had talked about our opportunity
for whole mental health clinic.
And some of those positions really require
some other credentials.
And so if there's anybody listening that is an LCSW or an LPC,
if you're interested in joining a great team,
we'd love to chat with you and love to talk more
about the opportunities that we have.
The, when you work at the ODC,
it is so much more than a job too.
It's a passion, it's a calling.
It's something that really, anybody that I know
that has worked over there,
they, I've never heard them talk about a job,
like they do the ODC.
They've had a couple of friends and known a couple of people
to work over there.
And everybody talks so highly of it.
And how it is so much deeper than a job,
it is a real passion.
And I appreciate that of you and your team over there.
Yeah, thank you.
Yeah, I would agree.
It's about the passion and it's about helping people
and it's about doing the right thing for people.
And I've known a number of people as well
and that have come from other jobs or other non-profit
to go into the ODC world and don't want to leave.
They, it's a different thing working there.
Not only with the clientele and everything,
but the way that you are able to impact lives,
the way that you are able to make a difference every day,
every moment of, every hour almost.
There's not a whole lot of opportunities in life like that.
And we're seeing more and more.
And we saw this during the pandemic
and it played out a bit where we had people
leaving from jobs to careers, from jobs to passions.
And that has continued a little bit.
It's even doubt a little now.
But you're seeing more and more people
of being going where, oh, I'm going to go back to school
so that I can get this, so that I can do my passion.
So I can follow through on that.
And with that, I think that we're seeing,
and we're going to see more and more people
going into this industry.
Absolutely.
Here's the hope that, too, that we get more and more good people
in this, like not only you and but the great team
that you have over there.
I love the David brought up Pam Ross.
Any chance I get, I'm going to bring up Pam's name.
We love Pam and appreciate all the work
that she did over the years.
And we appreciate our volunteers, too,
because we know how important it is to every nonprofit
to be able to get volunteers.
It's a huge lifeblood of what it is to do work with the ODC.
So we're always looking for volunteers
and want to encourage people to reach out to.
And if they reach out to you, is there a way
to best reach out to the ODC if it'd like to volunteer?
Yeah, so the best way would be to call the main number
at 715-424-2712.
Or you can also go to our website.
There will be volunteer opportunities listed
and there is a way to sign up to be a volunteer.
So yeah, we'd love to have you come and have fun.
And whether it's a once or twice kind of opportunity
with our exploring the arts, we had some belly dancers
come in yesterday.
So that was interesting.
So if you have some cool talents
that you want to share, or if you want to do something
on a regular basis, we are very flexible.
That's very cool, very cool.
And thank you so much for the time.
I appreciate you, David.
No, I appreciate you.
Thank you so much for being here, sir.
Could I just say one last thing before we wrap up?
There was one activity that I used to do all the time
whenever the cowboy union gem comes down.
I used to always, my father and I used to always
go down there and hear it was great.
Because they do a fantastic job.
They're good.
They're good.
You should check them out, everybody.
And check out the ODC.
They've got the milkweed market,
ink splash, plenty of other things over there,
plenty of volunteer opportunities.
Find out more at odcinc.com.
That's odcinc.com.
Be sure to follow them on social media.
Great way to keep up to date
and all the great things going on at our ODC.
Thank you again for the time, everybody.
Thank you.
We'll talk to you tomorrow with...
Thank you for having us.
Thank you, David.
Talk to you tomorrow with more Midday magazine
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