By Greg Archer | Contributing Columnist
Women of Worship and Warfare International, or WOWW, is proof that blessings can come from humble beginnings.
Several years ago, the Colton-based organization began in the basement of Pastor Roseanna Campos’ home and has since become a vibrant nonprofit organization helping women in need.
“We would go to the pastor’s home for Bible studies,” said Geri List, assistant to the executive director of WOWW Transitional Home and Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter. “What ended up happening was some of the women needed help with groceries and maybe even paying utilities. Or with situations in their home with their children, husbands, drug activity, and more.
“We ended up helping the women by giving them counseling, directing them to the church, and bringing them groceries,” she said.
A seed was planted.
Today, the faith-based nonprofit’s reach revolves around a primary goal: To prepare women through awareness, skills, and strategies to confront and move through challenges, personal or otherwise.
“Although our organization is mainly the women’s home, we do have community services, such as monthly food distribution the third Thursday of the month in the city of Colton,” List said. “We also have an annual Thanksgiving dinner giveaway.”
One program under WOWW’s 2023 Community Relief Program umbrella, WOWW Women’s Home, served more than 152 women in need. The individuals were housed or referred to other agencies to get help. WOWW housed 20 women and 3 children.
WOWW in The Streets Food Distribution Program offered 4,644 families or households food necessities with more 29,500 pounds of healthy meats, dairy, dry goods, breads, or fresh produce.
Another program, WOWW in The Streets Community Outreach Program, revolved around distributing home goods and personal care items to single mothers. The goal is to provide a fresh start in a new place.
With homelessness remaining a key issue throughout the state, WOWW in The Streets Homeless Program hoped to fill gaps. More than 900 homeless meals and/or care packs were distributed throughout San Bernardino County.
Recently, Women of Worship and Warfare International received a grant from through . Because WOWW serves women who may be overcoming domestic violence experiences, the grant will be used to assist housing efforts.
“The home is geared so they don’t have to worry about anything,” List said. “It’s about focusing on their healing process in order be stronger. We establish a home that makes them feel welcome. We even tell them, ‘This is your home.’”
Designed to ease stress, the home becomes a haven of sorts, offering such things as food, clothing, employment preparation, personal and spiritual enrichment, domestic violence advocacy, opportunities to address consequential responsibilities, and more, she said.
WOWW is currently seeking an apartment complex to house more women in need of shelter.
Group classes are also offered to aid in getting to the root cause of trauma.
“Maybe they’ve experienced trauma but didn’t recognize it as such because that was their normal way of living as a family unit or if they were in a foster care system,” she said. “We’ve had some girls that have been in foster care system their entire life and they’re in their 20s. We want to help as much as we can.”
On the horizon for summer is the 2024 WOWW Boot Camp, open to everyone.
“It’s an opportunity for people to get away and get a spiritual encounter,” List said. “We do incorporate God within our organization and even within the home itself. Girls will be attending that as well.”
The camp creates experiences that are not always within reach for individuals in need.
“It’s a way to show them different ways of doing things,” List said. “A lot of times, many of these girls have not experienced going out to a nice restaurant, or going out to a hotel, which is where our event will be. This opens them up to new things, which other people may have encountered in their upbringings, but they haven’t.”
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works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy.
