The Crookston Care & Share Center has chosen Jane Freeman to be their new Executive Director after the previous director, Brain Halos, resigned. Freeman has been a long-time service member of the Center for six years, and after Halos’ resignation, the Center’s board of directors asked her to take the position, which she agreed to do and officially took over as the Center’s director at the beginning of July.
Jane attended the University of North Dakota, where she got a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Law Degree, which led her into various positions in human services. “At one point, I was an advocate for people with disabilities. At another point, I was a corporate human resources manager. My education has taken me a long way,” said Freeman. “I actually did retire and started part-time at Care & Share for something to do, and then this opportunity came along, so here I am.” Soon after she retired from her jobs, she began working part-time at the Center to give back to the community after visiting it as a part of a program for retired folks. And after the state had stopped paying her wages, Care & Share hired her as a part-time case manager to work with individuals specifically to help them get housing. She was soon brought on to the organization as a full-time employee due to there being a need for them. During her time, she has worked with Alluma and Tri-Valley Opportunity Council to help find housing for many people in the community.
As the director of the Care & Share Center, Freeman is now in charge of finances and budgeting for the Center, mainly what they will do with Grant money and how they will pay their expenses and operations. Upon doing this, Freeman made an astounding discovery about one of the ways the Center receives its funds. “I found something out when I was looking at this. Approximately a third of our operating income comes from personal donations from people in the local area, and some from the area who are now outside of the area who still choose to support us,” said Freeman. “I think that’s very significant, and it says an awful lot about our community and how they understand that Care & Share is an essential part of it.” Freeman says that her many years of experience working with people and helping them solve problems may be one of the main reasons she received the position and says that she needs to use that now on a much bigger scale to help the organization as a whole.
Despite only being on the job for several weeks, Freeman has been working hard to keep the Center running and hold events to help the many people that come to the Center for help. “We don’t just provide beds for people to sleep in and meals for the community. We have other things that go on too. I’d like to especially point out that right now, we are preparing for our winter coat/clothing giveaway on September 12. We will be open to the community to come in and have people look at winter coats and clothing. That being said, we are now accepting donations of winter coats and clothing, and we would very much love it if you would feel it in your heart to donate those kinds of items to us.” The donations are of no cost to anyone and are welcome for everyone to come out. Freeman also mentioned that the Center’s Food Shelf is open every Monday and Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The only requirement is to provide them with your name and the number of people in your family coming to eat.
For more information on services at the Crookston Care and Share or ways to help the organization, call 218-281-2644.
