Contact Courier - Contact Ministries

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Newsletter Winter 2009
Many thanks to our volunteers who worked long days
making our Christmas Give Away a Huge Success!
Pamala Robert and Andrew Paoni
Rick Brown and Don Kliment
Tammy Manheim, Dedra Gregory, Sue Blankenship
Bonnie Wright and her elves in the toy area
Over 825 families received assistance
this year - a record number!
This represents 2,682 people
who were shown the love of God in action!
THANK YOU, FRIENDS, FOR YOUR
INCREDIBLE SUPPORT!!!
Inside this issue:
Contact Info/ Annual Sponsorship Levels/ Williamsville
2
Executive Director/ President of the Board Comments
3
Shelter News
4
Volunteer Spotlight/ Immediate Volunteer Needs
5
Employee Spotlight/ Invitation to Tour/ Glenwood
6
Contribution Form
7
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Board of Directors
Jennifer Isringhausen
President
Rev. Paul Rose
Vice President
Andrew Paoni
Treasurer
Susie Hoffman
Secretary
J.T. Britton
Phil Chiles
Lashondra Davis
Rev. Gerald Lasley
Rev. Mark Merrill
Jeff Raes
Laura Riker
Pamala Robert
Therese Romanelli
Jim Rousey
Mike Ryan
Bonnie Wright
Dr. Larry Yarrington
Staff
Bill Kienzle
Executive Director
Estell Smith
Linda Vehovc
Tonya Payne
Sonja Brady
Annual Sponsorship Levels
The Board of Directors has adopted the following sponsorship levels.
INDIVIDUAL
Platinum
$5,000
VIP invitations to all receptions and VIP seating at all events
Appropriate listing in newsletter
$4,000
Gold
VIP second tier seating at all events
Newsletter Recognition
$3,000
Silver
VIP third tier seating at all events
Newsletter Recognition
$1,200
Bronze
VIP fourth tier seating at all events
Newsletter Recognition
Participating as an Annual Sponsor enables you
to support Contact Ministries by making an annual commitment
that may be contributed as a one-time donation, or may be
contributed in quarterly or monthly installments.
(Please contact us for information regarding Corporate Sponsorship Levels)
Contact Ministries is overwhelmed with the generosity and sacrifice
displayed by the students and staff of Williamsville High School. Teachers Kathy
Lemme and Jo Ellen Walsh led a huge drive collecting money, food, toys, and coats
for Contact Ministries‟ Christmas Give Away. This is Kathy Lemme‟s 17 th and final
year heading up this effort (she will be retiring this year)! Thank you, Kathy, for all
your work!!!
After collecting coins as well as checks, the result amazed everyone! A
grand total of $4,500 was signed, sealed and delivered to Contact Ministries. In
addition, 6,500 pounds of food, toys, and coats was donated.
Not only did this drive bless hundreds of families with vital assistance for
the holiday season, it also encouraged a spirit of giving in the young people of
Williamsville.
Thank you, Williamsville High School!
Contact Ministries
1100 E. Adams
Springfield, IL 62703
P: 753-3939
F: 753-8643
www.contactministries.com
Page 2
C O N T A CT C O U R I E R
From the Executive Director by Bill Kienzle
How
exciting!
Today I
received
the
building
permit to
remodel
our upstairs storeroom into three
more bedrooms. This increases
the existing 6 bedrooms to 9,
which enables us to serve more
women and children as they face
homelessness. This is all possible
thanks to a generous donation
from the 2008 LPGA State Farm
Classic! Phil Chiles will be
leading a construction crew that
will begin the project
immediately. The first shipment
of lumber came just four hours
after I received the building
permit.
How challenging!
With the State of Illinois‟ budget
in its current condition, funding
for the operation of the new
rooms will be very challenging.
Yes, we have the monies to build
the rooms, but it will take extra
dollars for the day-to-day
operation to serve the additional
families. And, for the second year
in a row, over 1,300 new families
who have never walked through
our doors came to us looking for
food and clothing, as well as
assistance to pay for rent,
utilities, prescription medicine, or
gasoline for their car.
How can you help?
First, continue to pray for Contact
Ministries. Your prayers have kept
this ministry thriving for over 30
years. Second, please consider
volunteering at Contact Ministries.
Whether you would like to come
by yourself, or with a small group,
such as a youth group, men‟s
group, women‟s group, or senior
group, we can find something for
you to do. Third, please consider
supporting Contact Ministries with
a regular, monthly contribution.
We need you; we cannot help people
in their time of need without you!
President of the Board Update
by Jennifer Isringhausen
“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and
praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16. God is so good to have made us the
recipient of your kindness. We see ourselves as a pipeline that carries the physical
and financial gifts you provide to meet the needs in our community. Contact
Ministries is a ministry, not a holding tank of financial reserves. Thank you for your
generous spirit and acts of kindness that freely flow through Contact Ministries.
I would especially like to thank Sean and Tara Watts who provided Christmas for ten moms who had
previously lived in our Shelter. They blessed 5 of them with a washer and dryer and the others with rent or
utilities depending on the need. In addition, they provided the children with great gifts.
As we look at 2009, it is intimidating; but we know that our God will supply all our needs. If you can,
please partner with us this year. The difference will last forever.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
Jennifer Isringhausen
C O N T A CT C OU R I E R
Page 3
SHELTER NEWS
NEW BUILDING PROJECT
The drawing plans have been printed and approved.
Work will begin soon on the building of 3 additional rooms in the shelter!
Storage room to be converted into 3 additional rooms
One of the shelter‟s 6 rooms for women and children
THANK YOU, LPGA,
FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION OF
$30,000 MAKING THIS EXPANSION POSSIBLE!
SHELTER MOM STORY
Margaret who currently lives in our Shelter is a
delight! She came to us with her son Anthony, age 11.
Margaret is smart, hard working, and has learned a lot
from personal life experiences. Unfortunately, she reads
and writes at a first or second grade level. This makes it
difficult for her to have employment as well as vulnerable
to being taken advantage of.
Right around the time Margaret moved in, Dianne
Kinzer, a retired teacher, wanted to get involved at CM.
The two have been a perfect match. Meeting three times a
week, they have found it mutually rewarding. Margaret
said she is also finding the Parenting classes very helpful.
She has learned a lot from the several book studies done
on Relationships as well as Budgeting. Her motto is: “Idle
hands are the devil‟s workshop.” Margaret is always busy
assisting the volunteers, helping out other moms, or
working on her and her son‟s improvement. Anthony is
also very bright and loves attending the tutoring program
for school age children overseen by Sue Manson.
Margaret said they are so professional and do a great job
helping the kids with their schoolwork.
Everything is in order and it won‟t be long until
Margaret will have her own home again. We love her and
she has promised to come back to visit and help other
moms. She says “God sent me here because he knew my
heart.”
Page 4
A Big Thank You
to Sue Manson
who coordinates tutoring for the
shelter children every Wednesday!
Al and Sue Manson
C O N T A CT C O U R I E R
Volunteer Spotlight
Judi Nystrom
Judi retired in 2007
with the intention of
making the most of her
“days of leisure.” While
attending a Contact
Ministries‟ event, she was
moved by an inspirational
speech. Judi learned that
small things can make a
huge difference in the
lives of less fortunate folks
and consequently jumped
on the volunteer
bandwagon.
The Christmas Give
Away 2006 initiated Judi
to the world of
volunteering at Contact
Ministries, and she has
been actively involved
ever since. From coordinating Adopt-A-Family
every Christmas to admin-
Lisa Quick
istrating
Project
Relief,
Judi finds herself quite
busy helping others.
For those who are retired
and considering
volunteering, Judi shares,
“A lot of people are
willing, but afraid - afraid
of the commitment.” She
encourages folks to offer to
volunteer in the areas they
enjoy. “Often, volunteering is not a long-term
commitment - but an „as
needed‟ basis. Stop thinking about it and do it!”
Thank you, Judi, for your
tireless contribution!
Pantry Organizer
THANK YOU, LADIES, FOR YOUR
TIME AND ENERGY!
Lana Benedict
Food Preparer
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
Due to the economic times and in order to conserve our resources, Contact Ministries has
an immediate need for these volunteer positions:
Handyman: To assist with building maintenance and
upkeep
Van Drivers: To pick up and deliver furniture and other
large donations
Movers: To assist mothers during their move from the
shelter to their new homes
Laundry Assistants: To sort, wash and fold clothes
donated to clients
Cooks: Groups/individuals to prepare meals for shelter
residents (approximately 25 people)
Administrative Personnel: Individuals to assist
with administrative/clerical work in the office
C O N T A CT C OU R I E R
Jenny & E
m
ma Elliott,
Michelle &
Abbey
Suess
Page 5
Employee Spotlight: Estell Smith
Invitation
25 YEARS
istries
To Tour Contact Min
1983, unbeknownst to Estell,
would completely change many
things in her life! 1983 was the
year Estell Smith joined the staff
of Contact Ministries. Contact
Ministries was a fairly new social
service agency, started by five
churches, and looking for a full
time bookkeeper. Estell was hired
as the new bookkeeper, and has
been a part of seeing many
individuals lives changed. Estell
had never worked with people
truly in need - people with no
food, homes with no electricity,
babies with no formula, seniors
with no funds to afford food or
medication, and the list goes on.
Contact Ministries reaches out to
these people on a daily basis with
the help of grants and community
support.
What has kept Estell here all
these years? “Throughout the
years, it‟s been wonderful to see
the impossible happen. There are
miracles here almost every day.”
“When you have someone call
who needs an air conditioner because
of a sick child, (when we don‟t even
have air conditioners), and just as you
end the call, someone walks thru the
door with a new air conditioner, just
because, no reason - I call that a
Miracle! We have that happen
frequently at Contact Ministries. It
changes how you think about life!
Estell could never begin to explain
how rewarding her 25 years here at
Contact Ministries has been –
reaching out to people in times of
need.
Everyone who
has met Estell
knows she is a
gem…and her
twenty-five years
of serving others
only proves what
a valuable asset
she is to us at
Contact
Ministries.
Would your Ladies Group,
Men’s Association, or Church
Youth Group like to have your own
private tour of Contact Ministries?
We invite you to visit!
When: When your schedule allows
Why: To see first hand what we
do and why we do it!
How:
Call 753-3939 and ask for
Bill to reserve your tour
today!
Thank you to the following
individuals/organizations who
on a consistent basis provide
hot meals for the women and
children in the shelter:
Central Baptist Church
Springfield Development
King’s House Church
Anne Capestrain
Catholic Episcopal Church
Special thanks to...
Glenwood Intermediate School & Glenwood High School’s Key Club
for their donation of over 9,000 Food Items
to our Annual Christmas Give Away!
Page 6
for their donation of food and $1,313.65
to our Annual Christmas Give Away!
C O N T A CT C O U R I E R
Wanted
BUTORS
NEEDED: MONTHLY CONTRI
Your Monthly donation could purchase the following:
$5
Razors, deodorant, or gloves
$10
10 bus tokens
$15
10 cans of meat for food bags
To move shelter residents to their new home
$25
2 packs of diapers
To pick up and drop off large donations
$50
Antibiotics, Heart medicine, or Insulin
To transfer furniture from storage to places of need
$100
Rental/Utility assistance for a struggling family
Good Used Full-Size Van or Pick-up
Would you consider becoming a monthly contributor?
Mail Contributions To:
Contact Ministries
1100 East Adams
Springfield, IL 62703
I would like to become an Annual Sponsor of Contact Ministries at this level:
 Platinum
 Gold
 Silver
 Bronze
Enclosed is my one-time contribution of:
$ ________  $5,000
 $4,000
 $3,000
Enclosed is my quarterly or monthly contribution of:
$ ________ Please circle:
Quarterly
or
Monthly
 $1,200
I am not able to be an Annual Sponsor at this time, but I would like to pledge a monthly gift in the
amount of:
$ ________ $200
$100
$75
$50
$25
$10
Name:________________________________________________________________________________
Address:____________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________
City: ___________________________________________ State: _______ Zip Code:________________
E-mail address: ________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for supporting the mission of Contact Ministries!
C O N T A CT C OU R I E R
Page 7
1100 E. Adams
Springfield, IL 62703
Phone: 217-753-3939
Fax: 217-753-8643
FUTURE EVENTS
CONTACT MINISTRIES
PRESENTS
PROM NIGHT
ENVELOPE PARTY
ILLINI COUNTRY CLUB
Friday, March 27th, 6:30 PM
2ND ANNUAL RAY WRIGHT GOLF OUTING
THE RAIL GOLF COURSE
Monday, May 18th
LPGA STATE FARM CLASSIC
Thursday - Sunday, June 4th - 7th