@ the shelterCrisis Ministries E-News January 2008 |
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A Note of Thanks aJeff Yungman, our Clinical Director, recently received a thankful email from a former guest named Vivian. Vivian came to Crisis Ministries in 2005 after struggling with schizophrenia which eventually caused her to lose her job. Vivian stayed at Crisis Ministries close to a year as she worked on getting back on her feet. Jeff was able to help her apply for disability for her mental illness. After several months of waiting, she was approved and with the money she received she was able to return home. Now stabilized, Vivian has returned to the workforce. Letters of gratitude such as this one remind us of the impact we have on so many and the help we provide on the way to self-sufficiency. Hello Jeff— December 31, 2007 It’s Vivian. I don’t know if you remember me but I was a guest of Crisis Ministries for over a year. I would definitely understand if you don’t remember, given the many people that come in and out of the doors at Crisis Ministries. Well, I was just writing to say hello and to tell you that I am now working again. I started a new job at a homeless shelter for seniors, age 50 and above in NYC. I started in April 2007. The place is called Valley Lodge Shelter and is managed by the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing. It is a great place to work and I am really impressed with myself being able to work again and funny enough, at a shelter. I really learned a lot from all the people I came across there and I think of them every now and then. I still have my prayer book where I wrote the names of all the guest and staff I met along the way. It has been very helpful for my own reflections. I just want to say thank you for the support I had while I was at Crisis Ministries. I look forward to being more financially stable next year, so that I can donate something to Crisis Ministries. I remember what helped me and I will send something that others can appreciate. I wish you the best in the year to come. Take care! -Vivian
HUD funds all 5 grant applicationsThe Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on December 21, 2007, 9.3 million dollars has been granted to forty-nine homeless programs in South Carolina. The grants will support the "continuum of care" for homeless individuals and families. They will support a wide range of services such as street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, job training, child care, substance abuse treatment, and mental health counseling. Crisis Ministries received the most funding for the Lowcountry area. Crisis Ministries received in total $548,026, consisting of five grants. Three renewals and two others are newly funded. Transitional Housing for Chronically Homeless Women will help fund a new transitional dormitory and counseling for women in our Family Center. The other newly funded program is for our Transitional Living Center for Homeless Families. The funding will go to support operating expenses associated with running this new program. "These grants will fund solutions to ending homelessness. Grants such as these allow us to implement programs and services that are helping our clients regain their self-suffifiency." said Executive Director Stacey Denaux. |
Thank you for making our holiday season a success
Crisis Ministries was amazed by all volunteers who extended their generosity to our guests this Holiday Season! We express gratitude to everyone who gave their time, money and a combined effort of both by shopping for needed donations. There were so many individuals and groups who made this happen and we want to share a few of our memories that took place during the month of December and into 2008. By the first week of December, both shelters were beautifully decorated to help bring out the feeling of Christmas. The Christmas cheer went beyond our walls and was radiated outward by volunteers who spent their time organizing activities and parties for the children and women in our Family Center. Some of the exciting activities included making ginger bread houses, Christmas cookies, singing Christmas carols and creating holiday art projects with the kids. This December, as in years past, volunteers helped sponsor each child at our shelter. Every child woke up to the sight of presents on Christmas Day that included gifts requested on their wish list. Along with the children, each man and woman at our shelter was given a personal sweat suit and care package for Christmas. This was made possible by multiple volunteers who helped us reach our goal of 170 sweat suits! To cover the ongoing cold spurts into 2008, we had several groups organize donation drives for coats, socks, hats and gloves. One group in particular was made up of very thoughtful children who dropped off shoe boxes colorfully decorated on the outside and filled on the inside with needed personal care items that included gloves and socks. This effort resulted in 110 decorated packages for the men and 55 for the women and children. Let these stories remind you of the hope and love that remains alive in the Charleston community. May everyone continue to be blessed this season and we look forward to working with all of you in this New Year of 2008! Feed the Children
Crisis Ministries partnered with Feed the Children and the local chapter of Star Touring and Riding, a family oriented motorcyclist association, to give out boxes of hygiene items and assorted food to families in need on Saturday, December 8, 2007. Feed the Children has grown into one of the world's largest private organizations dedicated to helping end hunger. Last year, Feed the Children shipped 129 million pounds of food and other essential items to families in all 50 states and in 43 foreign countries. Crisis Ministries partnered with Feed the Children to organize the event and the Lowcountry Food Bank served as the distribution location. Crisis Ministries distributed event vouchers to agencies who support low-income families. The Local chapter of Star Touring and Riding raised $7,200 to fill and deliver the Feed the Children truck full of food and hygiene products to the Lowcountry for families in need. The truck was unloaded at the Lowcountry Food Bank and Star Touring and Riding members placed a box full of food and a box of hygiene items in every family's car that arrived. Some even came by foot and carried their boxes back to their home. Hundreds of boxes of food and hygiene items were distributed that day to families and local agencies helping those in need.
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Whole Foods Market helps Crisis Ministries and your New Year's Resolution
The time is here for many of us to make our new year's resolutions to get fit, get healthy and slim down. An important part of being successful in this endeavor is making a life style change and it begins with eating right. Whole Foods Market, the world's leading retailer of natural and organic foods, is a great place to begin your task to a healthier you and support Crisis Ministries. On January 15, Whole Foods Market will donate 5% of the day’s sales to Crisis Ministries. Whole Foods Market offers a variety of the highest quality, least processed, most flavorful and naturally preserved food which is the most nutritious food available. Whole Foods Market also offers natural body care products and wellness supplements. Please join us at Whole Foods Market located at 923 Houston Northcutt Blvd on January 15, staff from Crisis Ministries will be there from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please come out, shop for yummy, nutritious food and stop by our table to say hello. Be good to your body and help a good cause! For more information about Whole Foods Market visit their website at www.wholefoodsmarket.com. There you can find healthy recipes, a Nutrition Reference Library and many more helpful tips.
Remembering Those We Lost
On December 20, 2007 Crisis Ministries held the third annual Homeless Person’s Memorial Day service in Marion Square honoring men and women who died homeless in 2007. Over 60 people gathered in Marion Square to honor those who died homeless. Mayor Joseph P. Riley and Chairman W. Andrew Gowder made remarks and First Scots Presbyterian Church’s Associate Pastor Don Day gave an invocation. The Unitarian Church of Charleston sang two hymns and Board Members and staff of Crisis Ministries read names from a memorial litany. Similar services are held in over 100 cities each year. The litany is listed below. The names and ages listed were accumulated from several agencies and are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Philip Adams, 43 Linard Addison, 44 Stephen Barnes, 60 Gary Brown, 46 Leroy Brown, 45 Clarence Burgess, 55 William Coey, 53 Henry Johnson, 50 Sandra Magwood, 47 John McNeil, 57 Terry Melendez, 37 Clarence Myers, 60 Coll Parker, 53 Aaron Polite, 60 Louis Porcher, 49 James Presley, 69 Joseph Robinson, 52 Carlton Simmons, 44 Steven Tribuna, 38 Frank Walker, 48 Angel White, 41 Derrick Wigfall, 44
Contact usMailing address: Crisis Ministries Physical address: 573 Meeting Street Charleston, SC 29403 Click here to learn more about our programs and services. If you have feedback about this publication, please click here to email us.
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