Stories: How Nonprofits Shape Madison
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This multi-photographer exhibition documented the work of nonprofit organizations throughout the greater Madison, WI region. Focal Flame Photography owner Clint Thayer focused on the subjects of Hunger and Homelessness, and created photo essays telling the stories of two nonprofits: Porchlight Products and Briarpatch Runaway & Homeless Youth Program.
Porchlight Products trains disabled and formerly homeless adults to craft gourmet canned or preserved food items using locally grown produce. This empowers both the local farmers, who supply Porchlight with ingredients, and employees, who produce the artisan products while gaining job skills and a sense of purpose. For the photo essay, Thayer photographed employees making strawberry jam in the Porchlight Products commercial kitchen. Porchlight Products are available at retail outlets throughout Madison. To find out more, visit http://www.porchlightinc.org/porchlightproducts/.
Briarpatch Runaway & Homeless Youth Program is operated by Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin. 2011 marked the 40th anniversary of the program, which provides teens and their families with the support and resources to deal with homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, custody difficulties, education troubles, and other complicated issues of adolescence. Thayer accompanied a Briarpatch staff member/street outreach specialist while he interacted with homeless youth and adults in the streets of Madison, providing food, mail, clothing, and emotional support. For more information on Briarpatch including its 24/7 telephone help line, visit http://www.youthsos.org/.
