IHELP Bi-Weekly Newsletter week of March 27, 2011

IHELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program)

Providing the first step toward a better future

Tempe Community Action Agency Newsletter

HOST SITES & MEAL PROVIDER

MARCH 2011

29th:

Host: Grace

Meal: Grace

30th:

Host: Salvation Army

Meal: City of Tempe

31st:

Host: City in the Desert

Meal: City in the Desert

April:

1st:

Host: University Presbyterian

Meal: University Presbyterian

2nd:

Host: Desert Palm

Meal: Desert Palm

3rd:

Host: First United Methodist

Meal: Temple Emanuel

4th:

Host: Bethany

Meal: Bethany

5th:

Host: Grace

Meal: Grace

6th:

Host: Community Christian

Meal: Tempe Metro Church

7th:

Host: City in the Desert

Meal: Inner Vision

8th:

Host: Community Christian

Meal: Community Christian

9th:

Host: Church on Mill

Meal: Bethany & Friends

10th:

Host: First United Methodist

Meal: The Newman Center

11th:

Host: First UCC
Meal: LDS - Kristy Clason

12th:

Host: Grace

Meal: Grace

13th:

Host: Tempe Church of Christ

Meal: Tempe Church of

Christ

14th:

Host: City in the Desert

Meal: Mt. Carmel

15th:

Host: University Presbyerian

Meal: Quakers

16th:

Host: Desert Palm

Meal: Desert Palm

View full calendar at:

IHELP Calendar

Login: ihelp

Password: wecare

www.tempeaction.org

For Questions email:

ihelp@tempeaction.org

Sam Sumner
IHELP Manager

(Including Newsletter)

480-350-5884

Stephen Sparks,

Director of Operations

480-350-5893

Beth Fiorenza,

Executive Director

Tempe Community Action Agency

480-350-5883

CELEBRATE IHELP'S 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Looking for a low-cost night of fun and entertainment? Plan to attend the IHELP 5 Year Anniversary Concert. Where you can enjoy great food, musical entertainment, and a chance to win some really nice raffle prizes* all for a small monetary donation of $10? An added bonus is your donations will go back into helping sustain the IHELP program. TCAA will be celebrating the 5 year anniversary of the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program (IHELP) through this Concert Event held on April 8th, 2011 hosted by Grace Community Church featuring the Rebecca De La Torre Band from 6:00-9:00pm. We are excited to bring together the 30+ faith congregations, community organizations, and volunteers who have made this innovative program a success in Tempe. Please note: The next planning meeting is Tuesday, March 29 at Grace Community Church in the Dorsey Center at 6:30pm. Please join us! Help us make this special event very memorable! For more information, please contact Stephen Sparks at 480-350-5893.

* Raffle tickets sold separately

**Thank you to our volunteers who have acquired items for our raffle and the effort put into making this a successful event!

PROJECT CONNECT

Here are some statistics from the March 17 Project Connect (previously known as Project Homeless Connect):

Project Connect served:

- 188 adults

- 135 individuals currently experiencing homelessness (72%)

- 17 chronically homeless individuals (9%)

Sampling of Service Results:

- 87 individuals were assisted by Department of Economic Security (DES) (individuals may have received one benefit or both benefits)

- 53 individuals received SNAP benefits

- 50 individuals received AHCCCS benefits

- 15 individuals assisted by Tempe Municipal Court with legal matters

- 500+ meals were provided

Success Story:

One military veteran was very thankful to be at Project Connect for the first time, because he was able to get his birth certificate, a state ID, SNAP food, AHCCS health benefits, and employment services. Since he doesn't have a car it would have taken him several days to do this on his own. He came to Project Connect with the goal of advancing his ongoing job search. He was thankful for the friendly assistance he received at Project Connect and was particularly excited to get his state ID, without which, "you can't hardly get anything done," he said. "I wouldn't miss this day for anything," he enthusiastically proclaimed as he posed for a picture, brand new ID in hand.

ESCALANTE COMMUNITY GARDEN

The Escalante Community Garden (ECG) was recently in the news at az central.com! This is the program that Dave Tally is working on. The article discussed how the garden will help TCAA's clients live healthier by providing TCAA's food pantry and "Cooking on a Budget" classes with a portion of fresh, organic vegetables, fruits and herbs from the garden. Also, the ECG is in the final stages of Phase 1 construction, and there are many ways you can help our garden continue to grow. We are currently on the hunt for furniture for our community gathering area! If you have any new or slightly used outdoor tables, chairs, benches, or garden decorations, please consider donating them to the project, so we have a well-furnished area for garden potlucks, meetings, and events. For more information about the Escalante Community Garden, including other ways to support the garden, please contact Alyssa Brooke-Gay, TCAA's Garden Coordinator.

IHELP OPPORTUNITIES

There are many opportunities available to serve IHELP. We are still in need of the following help:

Volunteer Opportunities:

*Coordinate a Water Drive (with the weather heating up IHELP guests are in need of water to keep hydrated).

*Laundry Sheets for IHELP Clients ~

*Donate sheets

*Coordinate a Towel Drive, so our clients can keep up their hygiene and keep their employment.

For more information, please contact Sam Sumner.

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