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Volunteer Appreciation Night!
Wednesday, April 14 7:30pm at Hilda's Place
If you are a volunteer cook, painter, sorter, tutor or bottle washer, we want to say "thanks"! Stop by for some homemade treats. Residents of Hilda's Place will show off some of their favorite recipes to share with you. Pass this invitation on to fellow volunteers of your school or church group, rsvp to lt@cfthinc.org.
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THANK YOU!
To all the individuals and groups who supported Connections for the Homeless with in-kind donations.
Concerned community groups and businesses who gave in-kind items in February included:
Aeropostal - store #361
Complete Birkenstock
Convent of the Holy Spirit
Garrett Seminary
Holy Cross Catholic Church, 8th graders
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Kappa Phi Lambda, NU
Lambda Chi Alpha, NU
Levi Strauss
New Trier High School
St. Athanasius, confirmation class
St. Catherine Laboure Church
St. Norbert's Church
Tiny Dog Bakery
Unitarian Church of Evanston
University of Georgia, Alternative Spring Break
University Lutheran Church
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
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Provide Bag Lunches
Make 30-60 lunches for our homeless drop in program. Include a meat sandwich and drink, other items are optional.
Needed M-Th.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED please call Lisa,
847-424-0945 x.17
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Wish List
We are currently in need of some specific items for our Job Readiness Training program. All the items listed are used to help people in their job search or as they transition to a new job. If you are able to donate any of these items please contact Lisa Todd, Volunteer & Events Manager at 847-424-0945 x.17 or lt@cfthinc.org
Shoulder bags
Target gift cards
Flash drives
CTA day or 7 day passes
Day planners/calendars |
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In-kind donations can be delivered to 1458 Chicago Ave. in Evanston (the basement entrance at the northwest corner of the
Lake Street Church).
Drop off on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 pm and any evening between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. or call for an appointment, 847-424-0945 x17.
Please ring the bell and have a staff member receive the donation. |
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Greetings! Spring is really here right? I've decided that spring officially comes to Connections for the Homeless, in spite of the weather forecast, when the Alternative Spring Break programs arrive. This year, groups helped us with much needed cleaning and repair projects.  | |
Mary - regular drop in volunteer AND Garrett Seminary painter! |
Thanks to students from Vanderbilt University, University of Georgia, the University of Maryland and our own Garrett Seminary, we have sparkling clean walls throughout the shelter, all of our winter clothing in storage (we are optimists) and a fresh coat of paint in the clothing room, food pantry and common areas of the shelter. We are so appreciative of our new look!  | | The University of Georgia, Alternative Spring Break work crew |
Special note: I hope you will each take some time to join myself and the participants in our programs on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:30pm at Hilda's Place Transitional Shelter. You are invited for an evening of homemade desserts as we share our gratitude with you for all that you share with us. Peace to you, Lisa Todd
Volunteer & Events Coordinator |
Spring Home Coming
by Rev. David Jones
American nature writer Edward Abbey notes, "There is no limit to the human capacity for the homing sentiment." Or as Dorothy says in the Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home".
In most synagogues, churches and mosques the arrival of spring is a time when believers are encouraged to reconnect with their spiritual home base. This is true in particular for Christians and Jews. The month of April will see the observance of Passover as well as Holy Week and Easter. The slow advent of spring brings thoughts and hopes for renewal to that which is deepest and most human within each of us.
As our hearts and souls turn homeward in springtime, there is an opportunity to remember those neighbors who live among us who have no homes or are in danger of losing the ones they have. As you reconnect with your spiritual home base in this season, join us and help make this a time of homecoming for those we serve as well.
Please pray for those neighbors and for those who serve them. If you notice someone you suspect struggles with poverty, please reach out to them and speak a kind word. If you have not already shared of your bounty to help us confront this societal evil, please make that a part of your own homeward journey this spring by making a donation to support our work..
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Family Housing Program
Volunteers = zero stress
The bulk of volunteers who serve Connections for the Homeless provide meals for Hilda's Place Transitional Shelter or work in the clothing or food pantry in our homeless drop-in program, Entry Point. There is however, another volunteer pool - a quiet and committed group of volunteers who serve our Family Housing Program.
Heather Schaffer, with the Holy Comforter Church, has organized our holiday donations for at least the last five years. She is amazingly organized and has made the holiday time a breeze. Heather and her family are moving to Boston. We know that her generous and compassionate presence will be a gift wherever she goes!
Elaine Waxman from the Jewish Reconciled Congregation (JRC) has coordinated the volunteer effort for our monthly groups with members from her temple. We are hosted by JRC and Elaine personally provides childcare every month as well as coordinates the food and the childrens' activities. She also organized a boot and coat drive for the kids this year that raised $600!
Last Mother's Day Kathy Tshean organized a massive diaper drive that resulted in over 2,000 diapers! She works quietly behind the scenes to organize local churches and groups. On our end, much needed donations miraculously appear. She also helped organize our Museum of Science and Industry field trip this summer, securing free admission for all of the kids. Kathy is a real go getter!
Finally, the members of the Unitarian Church of Evanston, coordinated by Eileen Wiviott, have committed to serving with our families in a variety of ways. They organized a book club between the moms in our program and some of the women at the church; helped sponsor the back to school picnic by providing all the food (and grilling) and are now leading a team of tutors for our new mentoring/tutoring program for the school age children.
Sarah Manaher, Coordinator of Family Services, describes these women as key to the successes of the Family Housing Program. "These women make things easy. They are organized and get so much done for us with zero stress. We are so fortunate to have such skilled and committed volunteers." |
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Job Readiness Training
by Eric Dougal
Bob V(fictional name for real client) came to EntryPoint, Connections outreach/drop-in program, about 2 months ago at 60 years old. He had over 25 years combined experience in both manufacturing/janitorial and administrative/non-profit work. However, over the past few years, Bob had only been able to get PT and temporary positions and lost his apartment due to lack of sufficient income from these jobs. Bob also had been experiencing some age-discrimination from employers across the board.
Bob came to Connections in a difficult situation, with reduced confidence and a real need for some employment assistance. He worked closely with his Connections case worker and came faithfully to the weekly job club. There, Bob got to know myself and Brittany from the employment program and we provided him a number of job leads. Bob displayed a great attitude at all times. After about a month, we developed a relationship with a staffing company that had assembler jobs in Rogers Park. Because we had complete knowledge of Bob and complete confidence in his work ethic and team-oriented attitude, we were able to strongly recommend him to a recruiter at the staffing company. He was hired for a temp-to-perm assembler position with full time hours at $9.90 p/h with the strong chance of becoming permanent in 3-6 weeks.
Presently, Bob is enjoying his first full time job in years, located just a few minutes by public transportation from his temporary housing. He is hopeful of becoming a permanent employee. Further, because he now has consistent income, Connections is able to assist him in getting permanent housing. Connections was able to provide an employment opportunity and now a housing solution for a hard-working, earnest client, who despite his best efforts, had run out of options.
To support similar people who are working through our Job Readiness Training (JRT) program, please consider donating items for our JRT graduation kit: shoulder bag, flashdrive, planner, CTA pass (we could either give $10 , $20 or $25 pre-load or 7 day CTA-Pace ), Target card ($25 for clothing needs). These kits are designed to equip people with the tools necessary to seek employment and transition successfully in the weeks before their first paycheck. |
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 This year, instead of one large gala fundraising event in the spring we are asking our current supporters and friends to organize small events over several months. One very special event will actually be a concert with the Orion Ensemble on Saturday, June 4 at Lake Street Church at 2pm. The music will feature a piece entitled "Connections" by composer, Robert Kritz. The composer will be present and all proceeds will support Connections for the Homeless.
Please save the date!
Learn More about Holding Your Own Roof-Raiser! |
Volunteer Orientations
In April, I will host two orientations for prospective volunteers or people who just want to know more about our programs. Tuesday, April 12 at Noon and Saturday, April 30 at Noon are the scheduled orientations. Encourage your friends to attend.
We will tour Hilda's Place Shelter at 1458 Chicago Ave. and talk through the range of services available at Connections for the Homeless. The shelter is in the basement of the Lake Street Church. (The basement entrance is off of the alley, behind the church, next to the blue donation bin.)
Next orientations: Tuesday, April 12 at noon and Saturday, April 30 at noon. Please RSVP to Lisa Todd at lt@cfthinc.org or 847-424-0945 x.17 and confirm which day that you can attend.
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