The snow and the cold have certainly got our attention in 2026. To me, it is pointless to complain about the weather since we are incapable of changing it. And typically, I rather enjoy winter – sledding, skiing, hiking, hot soup, I love it all. To me there is nothing as beautiful as the white landscape covering the fields, and the sight of the snow clinging to the tree branches, softening the sharp lines into gentle curves. I never tire of hiking the Jimmy Nash Park trail in any season, but especially during winter. The air feels quieter there; the snow muffles sound, sealing the forest in a hushed stillness, as though the trees themselves are listening.
But now in my position at the Community Foundation, I am seeing beyond the beautiful snowscapes to the grave hardship this extreme weather is tolling on people, especially our unhoused. I made a food delivery to WellSpring during the first frigid week of this storm, and once again I was taken aback to what is happening right here in Morgan County, not far from our beautiful hiking trail at the park.
A representative from Google called our office the Monday following those dangerous cold temperatures offering assistance. I contacted the Director of the Morgan County EMA, who indicated our county nonprofits were handling the need and to reach out to those individual organizations. (Surprisingly, this effort falls to our nonprofits.) After making those calls, I started making food deliveries, and WellSpring was first. I happened to be following the school bus. When it stopped, more and more kids kept getting off the bus. I counted 22.
Jennifer Burnam has a close, emotional connection to WellSpring, as the food pantry bears the name of her beloved, late son Gunner James Burnam who was an 8th grade student when he passed away from brain cancer. First volunteering at the food pantry, Jennifer assumed the role of Director of Operations in September 2024. I’ve known Jennifer a long time but only recently was I enlightened to her amazing work at WellSpring. She gave a compelling speech when nominated at 100+ Women Who Care about the desperate situations of need she is tending to. Fellow nominee Susan Lowe of A Senior Retreat threw all her supporters to WellSpring saying, “We have a greater need in Morgan County,” and WellSpring deservingly won over $30,000 that December night.
Jennifer met me at the front door the day I delivered the food. Behind her were several cots with people eagerly waiting to help. Yes, they were sheltering the unhoused in the small lobby. Jennifer had people everywhere, including the spacious office of the former executive director. As she showed me the facility, I asked her about the student population, since I had watched so many get off the bus. She corrected my count – they house 65 children.
Wellspring, HopeSpring, and LifeSpring offer vital services to our most vulnerable neighbors. LifeSpring is the outreach branch of the operations. It is through LifeSpring that the lobby is housing 9 individuals around the clock. They are currently looking to hire two case managers to grow their outreach program to go into encampments, looking to help those needing shelter. They also do homeless diversion, helping people stay housed, assisting with late rent, and other risks, to prevent eviction. Through LifeSpring, unhoused individuals can visit the food pantry, take a shower, eat a hot meal, do their laundry, and have social support anytime.
WellSpring is a 90-day emergency shelter. It has 9 units for emergency family sheltering and 4 units for single room only. Currently, they house a total of 49 people of which 20 are school-age children. The families are housed first, and then programming starts to address the layers of barriers. The WellSpring’s team assists with acquiring identification, birth certificates, employment and a host of other critical starting blocks for life.
HopeSpring offers permanent supportive housing in their 13 units. These families currently total 46 people, including 26 children. Residents can stay indefinitely, although it is recommended they stay two years prior to graduating to a housing choice voucher out in the community. HopeSpring offers extensive wrap around services through internal programming and community partners. Financial literacy, cooking classes, mental health, and Yoga are just some of the offerings.
I am in awe of what is being accomplished at Wellspring, the demand for their services, and the plan for more preventative services for those at risk of losing their housing. One of the many things we do at CFMC is to connect donors to needs. If you are interested in supporting Wellspring with a charitable donation, please contact me. My hope with this article is to share and inspire. The more we know, the more we can help.
