2014 Summer Issue
Transcription
2014 Summer Issue
OUR News Outreach United Resource C e n t e r, I n c . Steps to Self-Sufficiency Agusn Silva is a hardworking family man who, a few years ago, faced a crossroads. The commercial maintenance company he worked for was relocang to Michigan. He could have moved his family with them, but chose not to, thinking that it would not be in their best interest. Agusn Center from me to me. With nodid all he could to find a new job– but where else to turn, Agusn made an nothing was materializing. appointment at the OUR Center and The then family of four moved in with learned about the help that was Agusn’s mother in Longmont. It was available. ght, but they made it work for a Case manager Margie Aguirrewhile. Agusn connued to look for Moreno immediately got the family work throughout Boulder County, but into temporary emergency shelter at landing a job was taking much longer a motel. She then lined them up with than he had hoped. A*er a few one of the units the OUR Center months, Agusn could no longer keep leases at First Lutheran Church, his family in his mother’s home. He which is in turn subleased to families looked to see if they could stay with in need. The family was able to stay another family member, but that was the church’s unit for a brief period as not possible either. Agusn connued to look for work. During that me, the family received It was then that he realized that his services at the OUR Center, such as family had no place to stay – they groceries and clothing. were homeless. Agusn’s mother directed them to the OUR Center. She is disabled and had received services from the OUR A*er a few weeks, case manager Margie secured a place for Agusn and his family at The Inn Between in OUR Capital Campaign Have you heard? OUR Center is creating the way for a new program services and administrative center at 220 Collyer Street in Longmont. What does this mean? Efficiency. Centralized resources. The ability to serve more people, with more services, in a timely manner. Efficiency and effectiveness in addressing increasing needs That's the OUR Center's vision. A larger, consolidated facility will help us to address the community needs for the next 25 years. Our vision is driven by our compassion to serve the increased number of people in the Longmont area struggling to stay in their homes, keep the heat and lights on, and put healthy food on their tables as they work toward self-sufficiency. This campaign presents a unique opportunity for supporters to strengthen our community and Longmont. An OUR Center partner, The Inn Between provides melimited housing, life skills classes, and case management to people as they work toward self-sufficiency. Living at The Inn Between has given the family the stability they’ve needed since returning to Colorado. They have had access to services and classes at both the Inn Between and the OUR Center. Agusn has since landed a job as an irrigaon technician at a landscaping company, and he is doing well there. The family has recently welcomed a new baby as well. Summer 2014 Inside this issue: President’s Leer 2 Execuve Director’s Leer 2 Volunteer Needs 3 Fall Benefit 3 Wish List 3 Matching Program 3 Aspen Center Tidbits 4 With a strong desire to become fully self-sufficient, the family is also looking for an apartment of their own. It is challenging to find an affordable three bedroom unit in this area, with the high cost of rent and low availability of units, but Agusn is hopeful that they will find something soon. “I am so grateful to the OUR Center for everything they have done for my family,” Agusn said. “It was a rough me for us . If it wasn’t for the OUR Center, I don’t know what we would have done. These are special people that treat you with care and respect. I wish I could pay them back somehow, but I hope God will keep blessing them for all the good they do.” invest in OUR story — our shared story. The story of a healthy and strong Longmont. We need your help! Please come for a tour of our facilities to see our plans first-hand and to help us spread the word about the importance of this project for our community. Contact Elaine Klotz at [email protected] or 303.772.5529 ext. 224. Thank you for your support! Join us for an upcoming Outreach Breakfast to learn all about the OUR Center and the many ways you can get involved. Plan to come and bring a friend! Dates are: Weds., October 1 Weds., December 3 From 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. at the OUR Center Contact [email protected] for details. Page 2 OUR News P r e s i d e n t ’s M e s s a g e Bruce Robbins, Past President Board of Directors: Chuck Philipp, President Ryan Mason, Vice President Rick Burdick, Treasurer Raven Astrom, Secretary Bruce Robbins, Past President Greengs: As our organizaon Along with these historic situ- We are currently debt free looks forward to starng a aons, the OUR Center began and are raising funds for the new fiscal year, and my term and connues to work construcon stage at the new as President comes to an end, through a capital campaign facility. I would like to thank each and and construcon project for As I ponder through all the every employee and challenges the organizavolunteer for helping on has faced and faces As I ponder through all of the challenges the OUR Center to the organizaon has faced and faces sll, it sll, it occurs to me that meet all of the chalwe always connue to occurs to me that we always connue to lenges we have faced move forward, and I am move forward. I am thankful that each together. thankful that each chalchallenge has ulmately made our In the last few years, lenge has ulmately community stronger. our organizaon has made our community been blessed with the stronger. The OUR Cenunselfish, collecve talent and our new 220 Collyer locaon ter is truly “our” community and work with other agencies organizaon, and it has been work of many who have helped our neighbors endure to create a human services my pleasure to serve. Thank a crippling recession, a record campus when we move out you for everything you have of the buildings we now ocdemand for services, and a done to help us thrive. cupy. 1,000 year flood. ~ Bruce Robbins Chrisne Cavalier A Note from OUR Executive Director Jim Dykes Jessica Greenlee Angela Groeninger Duane Hahn Anahid Katchian Carol Matheis-Kra* Bill Prout Lori Shrader Kent Ware Edwina Salazar, Execuve Director It may seem so long ago. Looking around, it is hard to tell that anything happened at all. But, as the flood waters of September 12, 2013 subsided and the evacuaons were complete, our work was only beginning. basic needs, the OUR Center conducted two major distribuons of water, food, bedding, boots, coats, and other clothing to 766 households. more than 100 households affected by the flood through loss of their homes and jobs. For the next year, 20 new cases are expected to need the In disasters, the next phase a*er relief is recovery – o*en OUR Center’s assistance each the longest phase to disaster month, requiring addional It was then that the City of response. resources for a focused, susLongmont and Boulder Coun- Since November, the OUR tainable recovery for the longty mobilized for flood relief. Center has been working with term well-being of these famiInial organized flood relief lies. The OUR Center will conefforts began September 16 at our partners in coordinang the Disaster Assistance Center and providing direct financial nue to help in the recovery (DAC). assistance to flood survivors. efforts as long as donated For the next three weeks, the Donated monies allowed the resources allow. OUR Center staff was onsite at OUR Center to hire two dedi- I want to thank the hundreds the DAC, working in partnercated case managers to help of volunteers and donors who ship with government and the flood survivors face a mul- have helped through their other nonprofits in assisng me, skills and contribuons tude of challenges as they flood survivors with renot only in the restoraon of work toward restoring norsources. homes but the restoraon of malcy. Since November, case In the following months, fohope for flood survivors. cusing on the survivors’ most managers have worked with ~ Edwina Salazar Page 3 S u m m e r i s a G re at T i m e to Vo l u n tee r Are you, or is your teen (16 years old or older) in search of rewarding ways to give back to your community this summer? Do you know others who are as well? You can make all the difference in the lives of neighbors in need by volunteering at the OUR Center! We have a wide range of ongoing opportunies and one-me volunteer projects available for individuals and groups. OUR Wish List Hospitality Center and Starng Place Day Services 250 3rd Ave., Longmont 303-772-1342 8am-5pm M-F, 10am-2pm weekends & holidays Summer is a busy me at the OUR Center with increased client need. As such, our volunteer needs grow as well. It is vital that we keep volunteer posions filled so that we may connue to serve all those who come to us in their me of need. • • • • • • • If you can help or if you’d like to learn more, contact Jennifer McNeill at 303-772-5529 ext. 235 or [email protected]. Clothing Bank 50 E. Rogers Rd. 303-772-7773 8am-12pm Mon.-Sat. • Rock & Soul is Back Again! NEW underwear for men and women. All sizes. Aspen Center for Child Development 501 5th Ave. 303-772-4320 6:30am - 5:30pm Mon.-Fri. Mark your calendars and get your dancin’ shoes ready once again for the third annual Rock & Soul—OUR Center’s Fall Benefit! Presented again by Amgen, this indoor/outdoor fesval features internaonal cuisine from area restaurants and caterers, live and silent aucons, and dancing under the stars to the rock & soul sounds of One-on-One & the MilesApart Band, one of the area’s top local dance bands! It’ll be another great party with an even greater Canned protein items Tomato sauce/spagheU sauce Cereal and cereal bars Juice boxes Canned fruit in light juice Insect repellant & sunscreen Deodorant • • Saturday, Sept. 20 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. 220 Collyer Street Longmont mission—to raise funds for OUR Center programs. Sponsorships are available for $5,000 to $1,000, and include event ckets, preand post-event markeng, and recognion. Individual ckets are available now and are $40 through 9/7 and $45 therea*er (including at the door). Contact Elaine at 303.772.5529 ext. 224 or [email protected] for more informaon, or visit www.ourcenter.org, select Events & OUR Fall Benefit. • • Sidewalk chalk Water color and Tempera paints Elmer’s Glue Construcon paper In addion to Amgen, sponsors include: Matching Programs Bank of the West Home State Bank Dr. Lisa and Mr. Erwin Turner Does your employer have a matching gi* program? Check with your Human Resources Department and make your donaons go even further! Many companies offer matching gi*s of up to 100 percent of your donaon to a charitable organizaon. Some will give based on volunteer hours as well. NON PROFIT ORG. USPS POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 94 BOULDER, CO Outreach United Resource Center, Inc. 303 Atwood St. Longmont, CO 80501 Phone: 303-772-5529 Fax: 303-684-0856 www.ourcenter.org ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Your newsletter is inside... Aspen Center for Child Development Tidbits OUR Mission - Aspen Center recently earned a Four Star Qualistar Ra5ng™! Qualistar measures the quality of early learning programs by evaluang environments, family partnerships, staff training and educaon, adult -to-child raos and group size, accreditaon, and more. This is the highest score a center can receive! Staff worked hard to achieve it, and we could not be more thrilled! We help people move toward self-sufficiency by unifying community resources. - Received grant to renovate playground into an outdoor classroom and play space. Is parcipang in Happy Feet Soccer Program, Zumba, & Stretch-n-Grow for physical fitness. - Did you know that if you donate to Aspen Center, you qualify for the Colorado Child Care Contribuon Tax Credit? For more informaon, consult your tax advisor, call 303-772-5529 or visit www.colorado.gov and search "FYI Income 35". OUR Center in the Community ∗ Fes5val on Main - Friday, August 22. Look for the OUR Center and Aspen Center for Child Development's booths at Fesval on Main, downtown Longmont's signature evening event for the enre community! ∗ Longmont Ford "Cars for a Cause"- Saturday, August 23. Takes place at Longmont Ford from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and raises funds for the OUR Center and other local nonprofits. ∗ Modmarket Fundraiser -Tuesday, August 26. One of Longmont’s newest addions, Modmarket (700 Ken PraY Blvd.), will donate 20 percent of all sales brought in from flyers or menons at the register from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sign up for monthly E-News! OUR monthly E-News is a great way to keep up-to-date on our needs, news, and events. To sign up, please email [email protected] or register via www.ourcenter.org. We do not share our mailing list with other organizaons.