LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - A good deal of progress is being made on the Jegna Corporation’s Ujima Safe House as the organization launches a donation campaign.
Renovations to the home’s exterior, along with interior remodeling, are well underway at the property at 1307 Saint Johns Avenue. The safe house is intended to bridge Allen County services and resources — such as employment support, youth programs, and mental health and wellness services — into the Lima community, where many families may struggle with transportation needs.
The vision for the project grew out of Jegna’s trade and financial literacy program. About 20 kids involved in the program helped with construction alongside general contractors, giving them an opportunity to build skills while contributing to the Lima community.
"We just want to play our part in making sure that everybody works together, brings the services together, and again, we're reaching the people that may be, the families and our citizens that may be underserved may not be aware of these or might just give up because they don't have transportation or means to get to the central of the city," says Emmanuel Curtis, CEO, Jegna Corporation.
"We are helping kids get jobs now, helping them with their resumes, teaching them job interviews, soft skills- we're just trying to build their resume so they can be ready so when an opportunity presents themselves, they can take advantage of it," says Shawn Russell Jr., Team Member for Jegna's Trade & Financial Literacy Program.
Jegna also launched its new “Give Thanks Tuesday” campaign, encouraging 100 people to donate $100 each, with a goal of raising $10,000 to support the Ujima Safe House. On Tuesday, Lima Third Ward Councilwoman Carla Thompson donated $700 to the effort, using leftover funds from her Lima City Council re-election campaign, which she ended for medical reasons. Thompson said she wanted to use the remaining money to give back to the Lima community.
"I had money set aside for my campaign for city council, and due to the injury and wanting to focus on healing and focus on the community work that I've been doing, I left that campaign and the money needs to go somewhere... and it needs to go somewhere good. Donating to this project will actually work on the things that I've been wanting to work on which is making Lima better, decreasing violence, and giving our youth skills," says Carla Thompson, Lima 3rd Ward Councilwoman.
To donate to the Jegna’s campaign, donations are accepted via:
Cashapp: $jegnacorpmbk
Fifth Third Bank: You can deposit your donation to Jegna Corporation at any Fifth Third Bank location.
If you have any questions, contact Jegna at 419-723-6041.
