Community Insights: Oasis Helps Women and Children Build Pathways Out of Poverty

By Sola Fide Johnson | WMSC Community Insights – March 2026

“You can’t study if you have nothing to eat. You need both things at once.” 

Paterson, NJ — In honor of Women’s History Month, it’s especially fitting to highlight the work of Oasis — A Haven for Women and Children. I had the opportunity to speak with Laetitia Cairoli, Oasis’ Director of Development. 

Oasis was founded in 1997 by Ann Wagner and Christine DeVita Breit. Both women had previously worked at Eva’s Village. During their time there, they noticed a critical issue: women with children were being left out. Due to safety concerns, children were not permitted in the soup kitchens, leaving women with children without access to meals. 

Recognizing this gap, the founders created a space specifically for women and their children. Today, that mission remains clear: help women and children rise out of poverty.

Oasis is committed to working with low-income individuals, those who live at or below the federal poverty level, by providing them the resources and the opportunities they need to improve their lives. The organization does this through a dual approach, by meeting basic human needs while also creating pathways for long-term growth.

On one side, Oasis provides essentials such as daily hot meals through its soup kitchen, grocery distributions, and baby supplies, along with access to affordable clothing through its thrift store. They also provide on-site social workers for crisis support, including domestic violence and housing instability. 

At the same time, Oasis invests in opportunity through free GED and literacy classes, English language courses, job training and citizenship preparation classes. These programs are for both men and women alike. However, Oasis works at breaking barriers through services such as childcare, as Cairoli explains, “motherhood shouldn’t prevent women from accessing education.”

Looking forward, Oasis is focused on expanding employment opportunities. “We would like to provide… different paths women can take to get employment… that might not require a four year degree,” Cairoli adds.Through partnerships with institutions like Passaic County Community College, Oasis is working to make those opportunities more accessible. 

Since 1997, Oasis has grown exponentially. What started as simply handing out food to the community has grown into a four-story organization that is working to helping people build sustainable futures. 

At its core, Oasis remains committed to accessibility and support. As Cairoli states, “any woman and child can walk in and have a hot meal. We don’t ask any questions.”

Anyone can help support their cause through donations, food drives or volunteering. To learn more about Oasis — A Haven for Women and Children or find ways to get involved, you can visit oasisnj.org.