SPIRIT KEY, INC.

SPIRIT KEY, INC.

13617 Kaltenbrun Rd.

Houston, TX  77086-1517

December 18, 2009

Dear Spirit Key friends,

Because you are one of our valued friends and supporters, Spirit Key is pleased to share with you a summary of what has been accomplished in 2009.  Within this communication, you will find highlights of our successes as we strive to provide educational and spiritual direction to ex-offenders to successfully transition from prison to private citizenship.

We have come a long way together since 2005, but our work is far from over this year.  We must do more to reach more ex-offenders who need a spiritual and educational environment in which to become self-sufficient and contributing members in our community.  We need more volunteers to provide office support, complete repairs and maintenance, participate in work days, and serve as mentors to our residents.  We need donors to give monetarily on a monthly basis to support our outreach efforts to churches and other organizations for support, to respond to inmate/ex-offender inquiries and needs, to financially operate Spirit Key's program and feed, cloth, and house a minimum of 13 residents every 3-6 months.  It costs about $475/month to feed, cloth and house one resident for a month. It costs another $8000 to operate Spirit Key's programs to include paying salaries for 2 full-time and 1 part-time staff and its non-personnel expenses.

We greatly appreciate your volunteer support and financial contributions to this worthwhile restorative justice ministry.  Your urgently needed year-end gift will continue Spirit Key's mission:  a re-entry program and transitional housing facility for ex-offenders, designed to provide educational and spiritual direction from prison to private citizenship.  With God's blessing and your continued support and generosity, we can partner together to do more!!

Empowerment comes with a Key: 

Spirit Key!

Empowerment comes with a Key: 

• Spirit Key located 3.6 acres of land which included 6 buildings to consider purchasing/leasing.  Through the generosity of major contributors, Spirit Key partnered with Kaltenbrun Property, LLC to lease this acreage located at 13617 Kaltenbrun Rd.
• Spirit Key moved its operations to the property and held its first Board meeting of the year in the office space.
• The first group work day was held March 14 with 12 volunteers painting and completing repairs; this was in addition to painting and repairs made by Allen Rice and Jim Elliott
• The bunk house is ready for its first residents to live on the property.
• Various office documents and procedures were established with the help of volunteers

• Kaltenbrun Property purchased an additional 1.3 acres adjacent to the current Spirit Key property, which include a house and three manufactured homes.
• Continued office documents and procedures were established, including the tracking of finances, donors, resident inquiries, etc.
• We received and responded written and phone inquiries from inmates and ex-offenders requesting to reside at the facility
• Another formal work day was held on April 18 with painting and repairs of the main house, in addition to continuous repairs and upgrades made throughout the period.
• The open house and dedication service was held on May 3 with over 70 people in attendance
• First ex-offender was approved to live in the bunk house in May; within 5 weeks, he secured and job and was able to become independent with 3 months

• Continued upgrades and repairs to the property were completed by residents and staff
• Cypress United Methodist Church's mission team sponsored a work day on July 18 with over 20 church volunteers to replace the roof on the main house; the mission team made a financial contribution to this project.  Men from Memorial Drive United Methodist Church also worked on this day and provided financial support.
• Continued verbal and written requests from inmates were received and answered
• Two additional ex-offenders were approved to live at Spirit Key; they are terminated from the program before the end of the quarter
• Introductory letters or grant applications were submitted to 75-80 foundations for possible funding
• Partnering letters were sent to 19 neighboring churches within 15 miles of Spirit Key's property; several churches have toured the facility and support our programs.  Our strategic plan calls to partner with 20 churches.  We need more churches.

• Spirit Key was approved as an alternate housing facility by Texas Department of Criminal Justice
• Five new ex-offenders were approved to live at Spirit Key; four are involved in the program and making strides to find employment
• To show appreciation to donors/volunteers, a Spirit Rally was held in October with a barbeque, band, and games.
• Work days allowed larger projects to be completed.  In November, the roofing on the bunk house was completed by 8 volunteers and 3 residents, financially supported by CUMC Missions Committee.

• Every day of the week, staff and volunteers made upgrades on-site to make the property inhabitable and up to code
• 60-65 written inquiries were received from inmates/ex-offenders; 9 residents were approved to live at Spirit Key; 2 were approved pending release and interviews; 20 were disapproved for various reasons, and the remaining inquiries are pending applications
• 350+ telephone inquiries were received from ex-offenders
• 245 volunteers (many repeating) worked over 1305 hours to benefit Spirit Key
• 9 residents have lived at the Spirit Key, working to become self-sufficient and independent
• We have provided financial assistance and food to tenant families of 22  (including 8 children) that live on the 1.3 acres
• Spirit Key applied for and received a grant from United Way Greater Houston, that will be used to fix up the building identified as the "food pantry", and stock it with 2 freezers, 1 refrigerator, a window air conditioner, and $500 in food for residents, tenants that live in the rental property managed by Spirit Key, and neighbors in need.  We are also asking for food donations from Spirit Key supporters.

• Jim Elliott, Assistant Executive Director, handled the following duties:  managed the property Jim Elliott, Assistant Executive Director, handled the following duties:  managed the property and handled numerous repairs; tracked facility repair work; reviewed letters and applications from inmates seeking Spirit Key's help and approved/disapproved them for services; attended board meetings; handled technology problems, and is planning to talk to church groups for financial help and volunteersand handled numerous repairs; tracked facility repair work; reviewed letters and applications from inmates seeking Spirit Key's help and approved/disapproved them for services; atoard meetings; handled technology problems, and is planning to talk to church groups for financial help and volunteers.
• Pat Nayle, a Board member and office volunteer, handled the duties of the Budget Coordinator as follows:  created documents and forms for administration of the office and tracking residents; established the system to track financial data including the budget; produced introductory letters and grant requests to churches and foundations; and served as Secretary to the Board of Directors

• Bob Atkinson, a Board member and volunteer, served as the Plant Services Coordinator, handling many facility repairs and maintenance as requested.

• One of the residents, Tony, serves as the Facilities Manager; he worked as the after hours caretaker to monitor the security of the Spirit Key facility, ensured other residents abide by our rules, provided spiritual mentoring, and served a Resident Liaison to the Board of Directors.

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  Dave Noethlich, President of the Board of Directors, continued to seek funding support for Spirit Key.

   
  

  Jim Gillham, Vice President on the Board, continued to seek funding support and property/furniture donations.

   
  

  Aleta Hansen, Board member, served as Communications Coordinator updating the Spirit Key website and addressing technology issues.
  • • Dave Noethlich, President of the Board of Directors, continued to seek funding support for Spirit Key.

• Jim Gillham, Vic 
• Aleta Hansen, Board member, served as Communications Coordinator updating the Spirit Key webs