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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 April included:
Bright Spark Travel
Campus Kitchens
Convent of the Holy Spirit
Evanston Township High School
The Homestead
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
St. Athanasius Church
St. Catherine Laboure Church
St. Matthews Episcopal
Church
Tiny Dog Bakery
Unitarian Church of Evanston
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Special Appeal
Our Employment program is close to placing 10 recent graduates of our Job Readiness Curriculum into new jobs (!) and is working with another 28 job seekers, lining up interviews. That is amazing news and our staff are pleased with the current level of employers who are willing to work with us.
The bad news is that we don't have ANY CTA passes to facilitate either new employment or job interviewing. We want to eliminate any roadblocks or delays in our clients' paths to self-sufficiency. Please help us purchase 7 day passes so that our folks who have a job, can get to work before their first paycheck. Day passes will be used for those who are still interviewing. You may deliver them to either our 2010 Dewey Ave or 1458 Chicago Ave (attn. Employment Program) offices.
CTA day or 7 day passes
*** If you have unused Dominicks or Jewel giftcards we can also use those to purchase CTA passes.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! |
Donate/Solicit Auction Items
Do you have concert, theatre or sporting event tickets that you would be willing to donate? Do you have time to meet with local businesses or cultural venues and solicit donations? We want your help to create a pool of auction and raffle items for our Roof Raisers and fundraising events this year. This is something you can do in short bits of time.
Provide Bag Lunches
Make 30-60 lunches for our homeless drop in program. Include a meat sandwich and drink, other items are optional.
Needed Sun-Thur.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED in either of these opportunities please call Lisa,
847-424-0945 x.17
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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! This month marks my one year anniversary at Connections for the Homeless. Reflecting on the past year is bittersweet. So many truly great volunteers and still so much more to do. So many financial supporters and yet so many budget cuts. So many hardworking staff members and yet still so many more people at risk for homelessness. How do we stay engaged, hopeful, and focused on the importance of our efforts? I am currently reading, Twenty Years at Hull-House by Jane Addams. In the late 1880's she started the Hull House Settlement which sought to reach out to the impoverished residents living in a neighborhood on Halsted Street in Chicago (now the location of the University of Illinois campus). She said clearly, "The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life." Jane Addams was also a social activist, advocating for everything from basic street sanitation to public playgrounds. She knew that in one breath she needed to ask her friends to support her work at Hull House and with the next breath she needed to speak out to the government for what was necessary for a healthy society. It is still the same today. We need both democratic institutions and individual citizens to work for the community in which we want to live. Even when we are discouraged, our commitments and choices show the larger community, government and corporations what is important and what standard of living we want for our own families and our neighbors. One of my goals this year was to have more of our volunteers become financial donors. Here's my challenge to all of you. Make a donation today, of any amount, to Connections for the Homeless. If everyone who receives this newsletter as a volunteer donated just $5, we could raise enough to keep 2 families from becoming homeless through our Prevention grants! Thank you for a year of bearing witness to commitment and generosity. Thank you for reminding me that there are others who hope for more and invest themselves in the change. We help each other keep the faith. Peace to you,
Lisa Todd
Volunteer & Events Coordinator |
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Program Update
While we continue to be challenged by the lack of housing options for our most vulnerable clients, Hilda's Place Transitional Shelter has experienced an increase in the number of shelter clients approved for housing support, in the late winter and early spring, by the City of Evanston. As a result of our team's hard work and collaboration with city representatives, 16 cases were recently approved for support. Additionally,
- EntryPoint engaged 138 total homeless clients with 19 new to the drop-in program (in our shortest month, February).
- Hilda's Place Transitional Shelter continues to serve 20 adults at a time with individuals staying for approximately 3 months while they stabilize.
- Permanent supportive housing for individuals served 14 clients,.
- Prevention: During February alone, Emergency Fund provided assistance to 12 households. Federal Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) funds were distributed to 16 households of 25 people in Evanston.
- Transitional housing: Evanston units houses 10 families of 27 individuals and Permanent supportive housing for families houses 5 families of 15 individuals in units in Glenview and Skokie. The families receive supportive services including a newly added Domestic Violence support group and tutoring group.
- Employment Program in collaboration with the YWCA and LIFT, has successfully launched this year's first Job Readiness Training Cohort. The week-long class convened daily at the YWCA and covered the fundamentals of employment search prep, interviewing skills and employment retention. The class culminates with students meeting with case managers from LIFT to refine resumes and finally with our employment team to develop individualized employment plans. Graduates then meet weekly for Job Club, to explore and take advantage of the employment opportunities offered by our Team. The JRT Cohort will convene every 6 weeks.
Connections works to end homelessness by preventing people from losing their homes, rehousing those who already have, and providing supportive services to help each person reach the greatest possible level of self-sufficiency. |
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We are excited to kick off the Connections Concert Series on Saturday, June 4, 2011 from 2-4pm at the Lake Street Church in Evanston. Admission, which is tax-deductible, is $25 with 100% of the proceeds benefitting Connections' programs to prevent homelessness. A reception to meet the artists and Connections' staff immediately follows the concert. Stay for the silent auction, raffle and light refreshments.
This first concert provides the opportunity to hear three classical pieces, performed by one of Chicago's finest chamber music groups, The Vermillion Trio. The performance, like most chamber music, takes place without a conductor and thus by design exemplifies the very idea of community and cooperation through the interplay of its musicians.
Connections in three movements for Clarinet, Piano and String Trio was originally composed for The Vermillion Trio by the well-known Chicago-based composer Robert Kritz in 2001. In addition, Vermillion will perform TRIO in B-Flat Major for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano, Opus 11 by Ludwig Beethoven and TRIO for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano by Nino Rota.
Tickets may be purchased at the event or online at: www.cfthinc.org. Lake Street Church is located at 607 Lake Street, on the northwest corner of Chicago Avenue and Lake Street. |
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Calling all line cooks, foodies and grillmasters!
During most parts of the year we have a very steady and loyal pool of volunteer cooks who serve dinner every month for Hilda's Place Transitional Shelter. Many of our groups (schools and youth groups)need to take the summer off. If you are someone who can't make a monthly commitment but have been wanting to help out - this is your moment. Check the dates below for your availability.
June 30th
July 6th, 13th, 14th, 29th and 30th
August 3rd, 27th, 30th and 31st
September 8th, 14th, 29th and 30th
Our volunteer cooks plan the menu (for 25-30 people), purchase the food, cook, serve the meal and then sit down and enjoy dinner with the residents. This is a great way to be of service AND spend time with your friends, family or colleagues. Groups come and cook with as few as 3 people and as many as 12 people. We are totally flexible.
We are also hoping to revive a summer tradition by hosting a couple of summer barbecues. If you are interested in helping donate food or in organizing a barbecue for our clients please contact Lisa Todd at lt@cfthinc.org or 847-424-0945 x.17 |
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During the month of May we have one of our regular volunteer cooks hosting a Top Chef competition in Hilda's Place kitchen. She's inviting her friends to have a good time, eat great food AND raise money for a cause that is important to her. We have board members and volunteers hosting dinner parties, game nights and barbecues in their homes to support our work to end homelessness. Can you join the effort? Remember, these Roof Raisers are our attempt to do fundraising in a more cost effective way and expand our base of support in the community.
We will offer lots of ideas and support, assist you with organizing and speak about Connections at your gathering to help people understand what their financial support will accomplish. Small book clubs hosting a tea or whole company pitching in -- what we need the most is more people (YOU) to help spread the message.
Learn More about Holding Your Own Roof-Raiser! |
Volunteer Orientations
In May, I will host two orientations for prospective volunteers or people who just want to know more about our programs. 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: Saturday, May 7 at noon and Friday, May 20 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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