Summer Newsletter_2013 - St Francis House Puyallup

St. Francis House
SE IN
HELPING THO
NEED
Volume 18, Issue 2
mARK YOUR
CALENDARS
TOUR SCHEDULE
Lunch tours at St Francis
House are scheduled the last
Thursday of the month
from noon - 1:00pm.
Upcoming dates are:
August 29
September 26
October 24
Call (253) 770-6991 today to
reserve your space!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Miracle Makers' Breakfast
Wednesday, Oct 9 at 7:00am
Bethany Baptist Church
Breakfast is FREE!
Back-to-School Supply Drive
Now accepting backpacks and
school supplies through the
end of August!
“
Pete and his two sons finished
shopping and leave St Francis
House bearing new outifts,
backpacks and school supplies.
"I don't know what to say," said
Pete. "I was so stressed when
I came today. Now I feel like
we are going to be OK. I don't
know how to thank you!"
”
FRANCIS SPEAKS
A Publication of the Puyallup Valley St. Francis House
SUMMER 2013
An Envelope Arrived
Armando winced with pain as he got
purchased. It was then discovered that
up from the table. It was the end of the
the doctor had also given Armando a
month and he and his family had come to
prescription for a topical cream that
the St Francis House meal program at the
would ease the pain. The pharmacist
National Guard Armory for a good meal.
explained that one small tube would
Sister Pat stopped to chat with the
cost $800!! When asked if there were an
family and noticed the pained look on
over-the-counter cream that might also
Armando’s face. When asked about
work, he gave some suggestions. A few
it, he raised his shirt to reveal a large
minutes later, armed with pills and cream,
angry-looking burn-like swelling above
Armando gratefully hurried home to
his waist. “I have shingles,” he said. “It is
begin his treatment.
spreading around to my back. I haven’t
been able to work for almost a week
The next morning, an envelope
because it is too painful.”
arrived at St Francis House. It came from
Knowing that Armando was selfa woman whom the foundress, Doris
employed, Sister Pat realized that this was
Michalek, and St Francis House had
a serious issue for the family. She asked
befriended over ten years ago. Enclosed
what medication the doctor had given
was a note expressing sympathy over
him. “Well, he gave me a prescription for
Doris’ passing a year ago … and a check
some pills, but I found out at Walmart that
for $200!
they cost $200. I can’t pay that much, so
I don’t know what to
do.”
Pondering this,
Sister Pat considered
the status of St Francis
House’s emergency
assistance fund. She
knew that it was
below the $200 mark,
but decided that this
was a crisis situation
and trusted that
God would provide
the needed funds.
She asked Armando
to meet her at the
Walmart pharmacy.
Once there, the
St Francis House meal program serves approximately 55 hungry people 5 nights a week
pills were quickly
Page 2
A Publication of Puyallup Valley St. Francis House
Who we are
We are a center of compassionate
presence and service.
OUR CALL TO SERVICE
We, as concerned citizens,
choose to serve those in need
in the spirit of St Francis of Assisi
by reaching out to the poor, the
oppressed, and the immigrant. All
services are provided free of charge.
OUR CORE PURPOSE
To improve the lives
of those in need
OUR MISSION
St Francis House offers hope for the
future by providing basic necessities
not provided by others.
________________________
Board Members
Phyllis Van Winkle, Chairperson
Paula Jones, Vice-Chairperson
Susan Adams-Provost
Sharon Coleman
Burt Ellison
Cosette Gibson-Pfaff
Marlin Horeis
Justin Nimick
José Padilla
Judy Vidal
Richard Zech
________________________
Francis Speaks is published
four times a year
Graphic Design by Katie Zech
of Zech Design
_________________________
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 156 • Puyallup, WA 98371
Physical address
322 7th St. SE • Puyallup, WA 98372
Clothing Bank: Office: 253-848-3618
253-770-6991
www.puyallupfrancishouse.org
www.facebook.com/
puyallupfancishouse
_________________________
Subscribe to the monthly
St Francis House E-News by
sending your email address to
[email protected]
SUMMER 2013
You Can Make A Difference!
Our office door has
been swinging back and
forth quite a bit these
past months. People of all
ages and circumstances
have come, hoping that
we can help them with a
special need.
There was David who
had fallen from his bike
and broken his glasses;
extremely near-sighted,
he was having a difficult
time getting around.
This mom and daughter came to SFH seeking support. Fortunately,
Could we help?
because of donors like you, we were able to serve this young family.
There was Angela,
we help a young mother escape a
the single mother of three small
dangerous relationship? Could we
children, who was going back
take time to just listen while a dad
to work after two months of
tried to work out a solution to his
recuperation following a major
family’s distress?
surgery; her electricity had been
turned off the week before. Could
As we listen, we search for ways
we help?
to respond to these cries of the
There was Jim, the father of
two toddlers, whose apartment
manager could not seem to get
around to replacing their broken
stove. Could we help?
Meanwhile, at the clothing bank
our volunteers have been listening
to other kinds of needs:
Do we have ideas for how a
mom can feed her family more
nutritiously on a reduced food
stamp allowance? How could a
family with limited resources learn
to manage its money better? Could
we help a bread winner find a better
job? Could we help a family of six
find a cheaper place to rent? Could
working poor, ways to bring a ray
of hope into their lives, ways to
ease their hardships just a bit. And
in these moments, our gratitude
overflows for our wonderfully
generous donors!
It is you who make it possible
for us to continue opening our
doors to those in need in our
community. It is you whose
donated items and financial gifts
support our programs and touch
so many lives. To each of you, we
give a heartfelt thanks on behalf
of those who come to us in need!
You truly make a difference in our
community!
Sister Pat
Gifts Gratefully Received
In memory of Bev Arms, Henry Krebs, Mary Ann Manning, Charlotte
Morrow and Art Riebli.
In honor of Jerry and Germaine Korum
Page 3
A Publication of Puyallup Valley St. Francis House
Fun-Raising Events That
Make A Difference
Raising Hope
Our second annual benefit auction, presented by Korum
Automotive Group, was a night of food, fun and fashion!
This lively event held at The Liberty Theater, showcased
fashion from our clothing bank with back-to-school
trends, career attire, and trendy styles! Guests
also enjoyed Broadway style performances
that portrayed our client's struggles, fears
and hopes for the future!
Summer 2013
With Gratitude, We Thank You!
Thank you to all those who attended and shopped
at our auction, Raising Hope Broadway Style!
You raised close to $50,000 to support the
campaign efforts of St Francis House!
With gratitude to the sponsors
that partnered with us:
Korum Automotive Group
Northwest Motorsports
AmericanWest Bank
Cornforth Campbell Carstar Auto Body
Olympic Landscape and Irrigation
D.M. Disposal
SHAG (Sunset Gardens)
Sunrisers Kiwanis
The News Tribune
The Puyallup Herald
KOMO News Radio
KVI Talk Radio
Print NW
Cast members from our Broadway performances pose in our photo booth
Golfing & Giving
Our first ever golf tournament, presented by Bart
Anderson - Home Team Northwest, was a sold-out event!
There were 78 enthusiastic golfers swinging for the cause
and raising $4,422 to support our campaign.
A sincere thank you to our tournament
sponsors that made it all possible!
Dane & Micha King Family
Bart Anderson
Korum Automotive Group Elite Collection Services
Fast Forward Your Success
Puyallup Business
Home Team Northwest
Connections
NW Yamaha Golf Cars
Bath Fitter
Polich Family
Alpine Mortgage Planning
WA Orthopedic Massage
ARPI
Your Health, Inc.
Burt Ellison Family
(in memory of Doris & Stan Michalek)
Druids Glen
Charlie's Restaurant
Retro Refine Photo
Our sponsors from Bath Fitter swing for the cause!
SAVE THE DATE:
Become a Miracle Maker and join us
for our annual fundraising breakfast on
Wednesday, October 9 at 7:00am.
Bethany Baptist Church
Page 4
A Publication of Puyallup Valley St. Francis House
SUMMER 2013
God Pays Us Back Double!
Standing protectively at their parents' sides, the three
boys waited as the intake interview for the clothing bank
began. Their dad explained that he had been out of work
for eight months and had only been able to find odd
jobs. Their mom was working part-time in a local fastfood restaurant.
"Our boys have been wonderful through all of this,"
said their mom. Thirteen-year-old Brad grinned. "We
have been weeding flower gardens and cutting people's
lawns ever since school got out. We wanted to have our
own money to get school clothes and school supplies."
Nine year-old Brandon piped up, "I did all the raking
by myself. I'm really good at it now!" His eleven-year-old
brother, Bryan, eagerly added his own comment, "People
liked our work so much that they told their friends about
us. Now we have lots of business!
"What is difficult for me," their dad said quietly, "is that
they used up all of their savings to help me pay the rent
this month. Of course, I will pay them back when I can."
When the family learned that they could find new
school clothes and school supplies in the clothing bank,
they were thrilled. "I guess Mom was right," said Brad.
"When we are generous, God pays us back double!"
Our back-toschool program,
serves over 900
low-income
students every year
in 21 schools and in
11 different school
districts. Thank you
for helping children
go to school ready
to succeed!
Emily finds the perfect top and skirt for the first day
of school. She also leaves the clothing bank with a
new backpack filled with school supplies.
Are you age 70½ and have
an IRA account?
This charming group of kids waited patiently outside the
clothing bank for their mom to finish her monthly shopping.
The mother was so inspiring! Not only is she homeschooling
all seven of her kids, but she’s raising them to be kind,
respectful and grateful (the hardest task of them all!). This
is a very typical family of St Francis House; a working mom
trying to feed, clothe and raise her kids on her own. We are
grateful for the support of our donors that allow us to serve
families like this during difficult times.
If the answer is yes, this information may
be of value to you! Now that you are 70½
years of age, you are required to take out a
minimum distribution from your IRA account.
But did you know that you can designate St
Francis House as a recipient of that required
minimum distribution without having the
distribution included in your income? Under
the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extension, you
are able to donate (through December 31st)
to a qualifying charity (think St Francis House)
directly from your traditional or Roth IRA
account with tax benefits. Please consult your
tax advisor and estate-planning attorney
about your situation.
Page 5
A Publication of Puyallup Valley St. Francis House
SUMMER 2013
JUMP for Volunteers
Greeting clients, organizing and sorting clothes,
preparing and serving meals, teaching ESL classes - is
just a "short list" of how our volunteers help make a
difference at St Francis House.
Betty, one of the volunteers that serves weekly in
our clothing bank, comments that "aside from the
friendships that are created at SFH, there is a deep
satisfaction of helping clients find just what they are
looking for. Especially, when the children find something
special that lights up their entire face. Such a joy to
watch."
Not only are we grateful for our committed
volunteers, but the clients also share in our sentiments.
As one client stated "this place is always warm and
welcoming, very organized, and the volunteers are
always happy."
Together, with faithful volunteers, we are able to light
up the lives of those in need. And, sometimes that need
is just a simple smile to get them through the day.
J.U.M.P., “Jesus Uses Motivated People” , traveled from Chinook Montana
to serve at our organization. Volunteers like these individuals are
what truly make St Francis House different!
Betty, our volunteer, helps David find a perfect-fitting
baseball helmet that truly makes his day brighter!
We Appreciate YOU!!!
Dear loyal volunteers, you are invited to our annual picnic
sponsored by the St Francis House Board of Directors.
It’s a great time to meet great people, share great food,
and have fun! We look forward to seeing you!
Wednesday, August 28th
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Bradley Lake Park, South Hill Puyallup
RSVP by Friday, August 19th by calling: (253) 770-6991
Donation Hours
Mon-Fri....................11:00-5:30
Saturday.................11:00-3:00
Sunday....................Closed
St. Francis House
SE IN
HELPING THO
Monthly E-News And
facebook Fans
Subscribe to the monthly St Francis
House E-News by sending
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puyallupfrancishouse
Puyallup Valley St. Francis House
P.O. Box 156
Puyallup, WA 98371-0016
NEED
www.puyallupfrancishouse.org
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Puyallup, WA
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How Can You Help?
There are many ways you can help
support St Francis House. You can
donate financially to our programs;
donate clothing and household
items; volunteer; attend an event;
and/or SHOP THE NOOK!
The Nook is truly a unique place!
The moment you step through
the doors of this boutique, you
unexpectedly feel the magic that it
holds.
Nineteen hard-working volunteers
process the items weekly and
put them out on the floor for the
customers. Items that are for sale are
"typically one of a kind, so unique
that you didn't know you needed
it until you went in and saw it",
comments volunteer Judy Vidal.
The boutique sells home decor,
glassware, cookware, vintage and
NEW clothing, jewelry and other
think! Shopping hours are Thursday unique finds. These items are
Saturday from 11:00am - 5:00pm. Call
discovered at the BEST prices in
town. A customer last week, just
(253) 770-6082 for more information.
bought a Kenneth Cole sterling
silver bracelet for
$7.50 and a brand
new Ann Taylor
pencil skirt for $10!
What bargains!
Judy also states
that it's "an amazing
place with a great
concept. Seeing
how the items
get repurposed
and knowing that
it benefits SFH
financially is a heart
warmer."
Stop by and
check us out and let L to R: (back row) Gayle Arruda, Lori Vermillon, Paula Bevegni and Carol Lanz
L to R: (front row) Mary Melton, Jackie Kirsch and Chris Condy
us know what you