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For 40 years, ECHO has been helping community

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

A line forms outside of the ECHO office shortly before the doors are unlocked at 9:00 a.m. earlier this week.

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Photo by Gazette file photo

Gladys Cohen packs an ECHO food box in this 1984 photo.

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Photo by Gazette file photo

ECHO volunteer Frances Thorman stands in front of the ECHO office that was located on Dodge Street in Janesville.

JANESVILLE — When Inell Snow moved to Janesville from Alabama six years ago, she didn't have a job or a place to live.

But with the help of Everyone Cooperating to Help Others, Snow got security deposit money for housing, and she got food. Over the years, ECHO has helped Snow and her family through programs that give job leads, Christmas toys, Easter candy baskets and school supplies.

"Without ECHO, it would have been rough. I probably would have been in a homeless shelter until I got on my feet," the 51-year-old Janesville woman said.

Since Doug Brucker lost his job of 11 years and his unemployment compensation ran out, ECHO has helped keep his family eating.

"It's unbearable to ask for help," the 58-year-old Janesville man said.

His wife's full-time wages and his small pension aren't enough to buy groceries after paying the monthly bills.

"With one person working, you don't make it in this society," Brucker said.

Snow and Brucker aren't alone.

Each year for the past 40 years, ECHO has helped low-income individuals and families in the Janesville area who fall through the cracks without a lot of red tape or questions. The nonprofit, faith-sponsored charity gets support from individuals, businesses, school and community groups, foundations, and social service agencies in the community, said Karen Lisser, executive director.

That's why ECHO is throwing an anniversary block party Saturday, May 22.

"It's to acknowledge all the support we've gotten from the community, how far we've come and that we're still needed and will continue to help. We'd like clients and donors to come," Lisser said.

Fran Brien, who was a member of ECHO's original board of directors, said the motivation for starting ECHO "was to act as a clearinghouse plus to help people with emergency services in the community."

Brien in 1975 hired ECHO's first executive director, La Verne Sandgren, and Brien remains as the ECHO volunteer coordinator today.

As the population of Janesville grew so did need.

In 1975, ECHO filled 349 food orders for 1,016 people, provided rent assistance seven times, gave 140 lodging nights and helped fill 76 transportation needs.

In 2009, ECHO filled 8,592 food orders for 26,793 people, provided rent assistance 538 times, gave 4,249 shelter nights and filled 1,082 transportation needs.

"When we started, we would have never dreamed of anything like this," Sandgren said.

"It makes me feel thankful there is still an ECHO to help," she said.

Demand for ECHO services will continue to increase "until jobs are plentiful again."

"We're seeing one to three new faces every day for the last couple years," Lisser said.

"It's escalated to the point that funding keeps us from doing as much as the demand."

ECHO TIMELINE

1969—St. Mary's Catholic Church forms a commission under the direction of the Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald to meet the needs of the poor, elderly, disadvantaged and handicapped.

1970—St. John Vianney creates a similar commission.

1973—Both of the above churches merge and create a food pantry at St. Mary's and a clothing depot at St. Patrick's, which had joined the small group. Everyone Cooperating to Help Others is formed with a mission to help people falling through the cracks without a lot of red tape.

1975—A rent-free office opens at 317 Dodge St. courtesy of First Congregational United Church of Christ. La Verne Sandgren is hired to coordinate and train ECHO volunteers.

1990—La Verne Sandgren retires. Barb Smith is hired. ECHO grows and rents its first annex at 7 N. Academy St., where food, clothing and household goods are provided to clients in need.

1995—Karen Lisser becomes ECHO's fourth executive director. She continues to serve in this capacity today.

1997—ECHO moves its annex to Ortmayer Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church on East Court Street.

2002—ECHO moves its operation into its new building at 65 S. High St., which houses a pantry in the lower level and social services on the main floor. The annex continues to operate from Ortmayer Hall.

2006—ECHO closes its annex after making arrangements for other groups to address clothing needs so it could focus on providing food, rent, lodging and transportation services.

ECHO SERVICES

ECHO's services for low-income people in the Janesville area include: food pantry; bread and other food for breakfast clubs and other agencies; emergency rent assistance; emergency lodging; cleaning and personal supplies; diapers and baby food; furniture and appliances; gas and bus vouchers; community meals; school supplies; holiday toys and dinners; information and referral for those needing public aid or help from other agencies.

ECHO CHURCHES

ECHO relies on a network of churches to support its mission:

Member churches include: Afton Community Church; All Saints Anglican Catholic Church; Asbury United Methodist; Cargill United Methodist; Faith Lutheran; First Christian; First Congregational UCC, Emerald Grove; First Congregational UCC, Janesville; First Lutheran; First Presbyterian; Good Shepherd Lutheran; Mount Calvary Lutheran; Mount Zion United Methodist; Randolph Park Church of the Nazarene; Rock Prairie United Presbyterian; St. John Lutheran; St. John Vianney Catholic; St. Mark Lutheran; St. Mary Catholic; St. Patrick Catholic; St. Paul Lutheran; St. Peter Lutheran; St. William Catholic; Trinity Episcopal; and Unitarian Congregation of Rock County.

Associate member churches include: First Baptist Church; Grace Community International; Harvesters Church; New Life Assembly of God; Orchard View Alliance; Song of Joy Foursquare Church; Trinity Free Lutheran; and Westside Baptist.