Lives in Transformation - Catholic Community Services of Western
Transcription
Lives in Transformation - Catholic Community Services of Western
Newsletter November 2010 Lives in Transformation I have been with Rose of Lima Housing for almost two years. When I came to Rose of Lima I was very glad to have a good place to live. I was also a little bit afraid. Now I don’t have to live on the streets at all. When I have any problems I can go to Morgan so we can talk about it to see if there’s any way they can help me solve a problem. When I had been there for a year, Emily asked me to come to the office. She asked me if I could help them out by delivering announcements and tape them on doors. I have also asked them if I can volunteer anytime they need help. Last December, I let them borrow my Christmas tree to make the community room look nice for Christmas! And this year I will put up the tree again. Besides volunteering at Rose of Lima, I volunteer at the Recovery Café by teaching a beading class and working as a barista every Friday. continued on page 3 Jeana I’ve been homeless for approximately eight years. I became homeless because of a child custody battle. I was homeless in Snohomish County for about 3 yrs and then back and forth between King and Snohomish counties for the last five years. During this time I have been learning about compulsive disorders. My compulsive disorder/addiction is smoking. I can relate and have empathy for those who have other disorders - each is unique in its own way and should be treated as so. When I moved into my new apartment in Bakhita Gardens I felt very welcomed. The room is extremely nice and there were new items including brand new towels, cleaning supplies and toiletries. I live on the sixth floor and have a gorgeous view of Puget Sound. Its so nice to be able to see the Space Needle as I’m coming or leaving my apartment. continued on page 3 A Tradition of Giving Heidi The Hayward Family Foundation is a dedicated source of support to Noel House Programs. Colleen Hayward participates with her parents and sister to offer supporting grants through the foundation they created a few years ago. "Each of us makes recommendations for donations to organizations of our choice, dear to each of our hearts. It's a wonderful opportunity to make a significant and tangible gift and to share our passions with each other. Thanks to my parents for this!" Colleen first learned about Noel House at her weekly meditation group, Seattle Insight Meditation Society, which meets at St. Mark's Cathedral. SIMS donates healthy snack food for the women who use the shelter, and runs drives for blankets and holiday gift cards each year. "I decided I wanted to know more about the women who came to St. Mark's each night at 9:30 for a snack and a safe bed. I went downtown to 2nd and Bell and met with [Program Director] Eileen who introduced me to her fellow staff members, all of whom were positive and passionate about providing for their "ladies" -- a great group who work so well together to bring dignity and consistent shelter to the homeless women in Seattle. I wanted to join in!" continued on page 3 Noel House Programs 118 Bell Street Seattle, WA 98121 Phone: (206) 441-3210 www.noelhouse.org Eileen McComb Program Director [email protected] Noel House Programs and Rose of Lima House are enjoying a strong collaboration at Bakhita Gardens. More than 75% of the women moving into the Rose of Lima apartments have used Noel House Programs services. Many of these women have been in the shelter system for years and it is very exciting to see them moving into permanent housing. The services available to the residents, combined with a focus on community building are helping to stabilize women who have long been homeless. Rose of Lima House is providing an opportunity to move from survival mode to a focus on improving their quality of life. Bakhita Gardens Update Sharon Poole Community Liaison [email protected] Give the Gift of Warmth Rose of Lima House 118 Bell Street Seattle, WA 98121 Phone: (206) 456-3487 www.rosehouse.org Diane Swanberg Program Director [email protected] Fund Development Anna Cronin [email protected] Phone: (206) 456-3105 With winter fast approaching, blankets are the most important durable item Noel House Programs makes available to the 92 women receiving shelter each night. As one Noel House client put it, “When you have a warm night’s sleep in the shelter, it feels like home. Being homeless is hard. When you don’t have warm blankets or enough blankets, it makes you sick in your body and soul.” The wear and tear of constant use means blankets must be replaced frequently. Clients also take blankets with them with our blessing. Uncertainty is a constant presence in their lives, and it is always better to be prepared for the cold. Without your support we simply do not have enough blankets to go around. Please consider donating new or gently used twin-sized blankets made of cotton, cotton/poly blend, or fleece. A great place to purchase them is overstock.com/twinblankets. Better yet, you can make a huge difference by coordinating a blanket drive. Here are some suggestions for making it a success: 1. Pick a collection goal, then choose a date, a time, and a location Having a goal of how many blankets you want to collect can help determine how long the blanket drive will last. A clear idea of when and where people can drop off blankets will also help in the achievement of your goal. 2. Contact friends, family, and members of your community In addition to having people donate blankets, you’ll also benefit from having help with sorting, folding and delivering them. Many hands make the work easier and fun! 3. Spread the word! A simple flyer, an e-mail to your workmates and friends, a pitch on your MySpace or Facebook page, a notice in your church or school bulletin, an ad on Craigslist, a poster in your local grocery store: utilize all the avenues at your disposal! Saint Josephine Bakhita Here is some information to include in your announcement: Noel House Programs provides emergency shelter to homeless women in Seattle. Each night, 92 women have access to a safe, comfortable place to sleep through Noel House Programs’ six area shelters. Noel House is in need of new or gently used twin-sized cotton, cotton/poly, and fleece blankets. Your generous donation immediately helps women experiencing homelessness. To coordinate a blanket drop off, please contact Sharon at (206) 456-3101 or [email protected]. THANK YOU! Heidi, continued from page 1 I feel that Rose House residents share a strong bond; it’s like one big happy family! There is always help without asking. I feel very blessed seeing familiar faces as they move into their own apartments, and see how excited they are as they’re moving in. The new staff is awesome and they have been very helpful. I feel safe here because there is a large community of neighbors who are strongly involved in the safety of the homeless. I know that in God’s time I will be an active participant in giving back to our community. A Tradition of Giving, continued from page 1 The Haywards decided their first donation to Noel House would be a grant to purchase leather couches, replacing those that were worn out and in bad shape. Those couches were used to provide 8 extra overflow shelter spots for women at Noel House. Among other things, the Haywards also provided a grant for 40 beds at our temporary site while Bakhita Gardens was being built. "When I walked into the shelter and saw those rows of beds, it was a nice feeling that they came from my family. It is a way to honor my parents who have worked hard and saved well to be in a position to give back in so many ways." Jeana, continued from page 1 Now I’m in permanent housing, and I don’t have to worry where I’m going to be living, I can afford a cell phone to contact my daughters. I even bought a swimsuit for my granddaughter! I also attended the 20th Annual Washington Conference to End Homelessness in Spokane and I will attend the 21st Annual Conference in Tri-Cities next year. In the new building I live in a beautiful view apartment which has a view of the ferries and the cruise ships. I have been sober for two years. I am a “computer geek”, and because I now have a place to stay all day and a place to sleep at night, I can teach other people how to get on the computer and internet. Holiday Volunteer Opportunities Coordinate a Gift Card Drive The Hayward family consists of Thomas (dad), who is a retired Admiral and former Chief of Naval Operations, Peggy (mom), and Cyndy (sister), who lives on the Long Beach Peninsula and is the owner of Adelaide's Book Store and Café. Colleen is an artist, a retired professor and a creativity coach, in addition to being a co-convener of the Noel House Ministry at St. Mark's. She donates much of her time to St. Marks and downtown, with a steadfast belief in our mission. Gift cards are the best way to help provide life’s necessities and niceties to homeless. Smaller gift cards denominations of $10 allow for equitable distribution to all women receiving assistance from Noel House. Cards from coffee shops, drug stores, fast food restaurants, and Payless Shoes are immediately useful and greatly appreciated. Colleen and her family will be giving a grant this year to provide computers for the new media area at Bakhita Gardens. Colleen dropped by last week to see our new home with the ladies really settling in. "It's gonna be neat to get to know the ladies in a place where they feel a lot of pride because it was built for them." New underwear, socks, and bras, like blankets, are highly sought-after staples that are often in short supply. A wide assortment of sizes, with emphasis on comfort and durability, works best. Donations Needed Personal Care: Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap, Lotion, Deodorant, Toothbrushes, Tooth paste, Razors, Q-Tips, Kleenex, Combs & hairbrushes, New undergarments and socks Staples: Hand Sanitizer – we can never have too much!, Blankets – please visit overstock.com/twinblankets, Feminine hygiene product, Toilet paper, Dish soap, Dishwasher detergent, 33 gallon trash bags, Laundry soap, Coordinate an Undergarments Drive Provide Holiday Event Assistance The holiday season is a frenetic time as staff and community members come together to help make the season one of caring and equality. Donations are sorted, gift bags assembled, event locations decorated, and meals served. Your involvement helps ensure that the focus is squarely on providing the best holiday experience possible. Coordinate a Move-in Kit Drive For the Kitchen: Coffee, Sugar, Creamer, Margarine, Jelly, Napkins, When women at Rose of Lima House obtain permanent housing, provisioning their new home becomes a top priority. The most helpful items are starter dish/silverware sets, twin mattress covers, bed sheet sets, and pillow sets. First Aid: Band Aids, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Acetametaphin, Cough drops, Non Alcohol Cold/Flu Meds, Vitamin C, Antibiotic Cream. Please contact Sharon Poole, (206) 4563103 or [email protected] Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Seattle, WA Permit #6602 118 Bell Street, Seattle, WA 98121 Programs of Catholic Housing Services Please indicate changes in the boxes below and return the address label to the address above □ Remove me from your mailing list □ Change name or address □ I am receiving a duplicate □ I’d prefer to receive the newsletter via email My email is: ________________________ Community Support Transforms Lives A Very Warm Thank You Salmon at Sunset was an unqualified success. We raised almost $9,000, with 96 cents of every dollar going toward providing services for Rose of Lima house residents. We would especially like to thank Flying Fish Restaurant for donating gourmet salmon dinners along with the time and professionalism of their wait staff; Sandpoint Grill for donating appetizers; Wild Salmon Seafood Market for donating salmon; Starline Luxury Coaches for discounting the shuttle service; and the Sugar Rush Baking Company for donating dessert.