families volunteering together

It’s been another busy month at St. Vincent de Paul, and we’ve put together a little recap of some of the activities you can learn more about online. Below you’ll find links to lovely photo albums, moving videos, and informative blog posts, and other things you can learn more about via our blog, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

Let me know if I’ve missed anything – we can always add more. If you’d like to save this digest to…um…digest later, or to forward it to friends (hint, hint) its permanent URL is http://www.helpingthepoor.org/digests/digest06-11. By the way, all of the events and activities below have happened in the last 30 days.

Homelessness

Making the Transition from Transitional Shelter blog post.

One Expense Away From Homelessness, blog post.

Feeding the Hungry

Food-services manager oversees 3,200 meals daily at St. Vincent de Paul

What’s new in our Family Dining Room for June?

• Blog post
• June calendar

Fry’s executive team serving meals in our dining room.

Poppy’s Cup.  Kids honor their grandpa by raising money and food for St. Vincent de Paul at an ice skating event.

Volunteerism

SVdP Volunteer Profile series. Videos produced and narrated by Mary Jo West. Featured below are on Facebook page, others will be moving over soon, so that we can all write and read comments about these wonderful volunteers. For a sneak peak at others, see our YouTube channel.

• Terri
• Ryan
• Joanie
• Bill
• Blessed Sacrament Conference
• Alec
• Ana

A Personnel Perspective, a series of short videos of staff members and volunteers telling little stories about their work at St. Vincent:

• Mary Jo West

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Fry’s executive team serving meals in our dining room.

City of Phoenix Aviation Department serves meals in the dining room it paid to remodel.

Blog post and video about our new volunteer-run thrift store in Cottonwood.

Home Makeovers

Showered with Love A disabled vet gets a bathroom makeover that was years overdue.

Sewing them Together A tiny house gets a top to bottom transformation.

Charlie’s Tricycle for Freedom Charlie, an elderly veteran, gets his wheels back.

Go Dad! A single dad with four kids had his whole home made over by volunteers from various groups, including an Eagle Scout project.

Amazing before and after transformations. Pairs of photos, same rooms, same angles, before and after Vincentian Fresh Perspectives home makeover projects.

Thought Provoking

St Vincent de Paul is so dependent upon and grateful for the volunteers who help us help others. What area/type of volunteering are you drawn to personally?

Can you share a story about a veteran in your life?

Who serves as an inspiration to you?

Do you think a credit score reflects one’s character accurately?

What are your thoughts on giving cash or spare change to panhandlers?

Do you feel that it is better to assist a few people with their whole needs or several people with their basic needs?

Event & Visitors

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Third Annual Burrito Project

Bank of America Literacy Campaign and Book Drive to benefit St. Vincent de Paul

Engaging our Supporters

Dena’s Birthday Wish

Poppy’s Cup.  Kids honor their grandpa by raising money and food for St. Vincent de Paul at an ice skating event.

Testimonials

• Sarah Fey The company that I work for just did a bottled water drive for SVdP. We received 43 CASES of water! I encourage everyone to try to coordinate drives at their place of work or worship. They are so easy, put boxes out, send out emails, hang some signs and that’s it! It is a great way to give back without spending a lot of time. The results of drives though can help so many people! You can contact SVdP for what is needed …. sugar, non-perishable foods, water, etc. !!
• Kim Hatch: Great time volunteering this morning at St. Vincent de Paul…You should do it!
• Catholic Charities Community Services We had a great time volunteering serving the evening dinner last night. Thanks for the opportunity!
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix Another great outreach event partnering with St. Vincent de Paul for NeighborWorks Week! Where else can we reach new homeowners or those struggling with their mortgage payments with our programs and services? Neighborhood Fairs? Housing workshops? Vendor fairs? Neighborhood festivals? Let us know!
• Sue Fricke Thank you for the warm welcome this morning!!! All of the staff was wonderful! Thank you Blase
• Aldo Gonzalez Support the youth group at St. Vincent De Paul Church by enjoying a meal at Panda Express today before 8pm. Print and present this flyer at one of the 3 panda express restaurants listed in the flyer. Thanks for all of your support.
• La Tolteca It’s set! Our Third Annual Burrito Project, which benefits St. Vincent de Paul of Phoenix is scheduled for Thursday, July 21st here at La Tolteca. More exciting details on the Project to follow!

Hungry for more? There’s lots more great news, photos, and videos on St. Vincent de Paul’s website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, blog, and YouTube channel.

Steven is a hard working father of four children who works cleaning carpets for a living. With the help of St. Vincent de Paul’s Family Evening Meal, he makes just enough money to pay bills and keep his children fed.

Then one day his carpet cleaning machine broke unexpectedly. And because the machine was vital to his work, he was forced to repair it right away. He used his rent money to pay for the repairs, but he was eager to return to work, hoping to pick up extra jobs to make up the money.

Then, a few weeks later his car broke down and the family had nowhere to turn. Steven was unable to get to his jobs, the rent was late and they were going to be forced out of their home.

Steven did not have family who could help and eventually talked to St Vincent de Paul Phoenix staff about his family’s situation. SVdP provided rent assistance so that Steven can fix his car and go back to work. In these times, so many families are just one major expense away from homelessness.

The generosity of donations to St Vincent de Paul are able to keep families together in their homes.

Transitioning Out

St. Vincent de Paul operates a transitional shelter for elderly and disabled adults, called Ozanam Manor. It’s nice to hear stories of how the residents of the shelter can achieve a new level of success in their lives, from their own hard work as well as that of our caring staff and volunteers. Laura’s story is just one of many.

Laura was referred by an Outreach Specialist at the VA Medical Center in January 2010.  She is a veteran, was in the Army, and was honorably discharged.  She had become homeless due to lacking financial resources and mental and physical disabilities.  Laura came from an abusive background which led to her addictions to drugs and alcohol.  However, through extensive counseling and working her programs, she has maintained sobriety for over two years and eventually overcome her trauma.

As a result of her commitment to her programs and successfully achieving her goals, all previous criminal convictions have been expunged from her record.  After many months working with her therapist and medical doctors, Laura is now stable on her medication and was recently awarded Social Security Disability income.

During her tenure at Ozanam Manor, Laura met weekly with her case manager and the VA Outreach Specialist, and was active in daily peer group meetings and recreational therapy at the VA.  She will soon have new teeth from the VA and CASS dental clinic.  Laura successfully moved out of Ozanam Manor and into Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH).  She also found a kitten wandering the grounds of the shelter and adopted her when she moved out.  

Click the image to see a video of Laura

Finally, Laura participated in the Ozanam Manor/VFW Post 3513 Veteran Oral History Project.  When asked how Ozanam Manor has affected her situation and life today, she stated, “Ozanam Manor has helped me in my recovery.  I’ve got two years clean of all drugs and alcohol, and they are instrumental in me growing more in my recovery.  I know I’m on the right path so Ozanam Manor has really helped me grow up more, and I love it there.”

Laura was recently featured in a video about a group of volunteers who create special parties at Ozanam Manor. She’s the resident quoted at the end of this two minute video.

Vincentian Fresh Perspectives

A lot has been happening at St. Vincent de Paul, even in our supposedly “slow” season.

New programs, noteworthy visitors, great new relationships, and new ways of engaging with our supporters. We’ve been posting lovely photo albums, producing moving videos, and writing informative blog posts. But you may have missed something in an area that interests you, so I’ve compiled a little digest, by subject area, of things you can learn more about via our blog, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

Let me know if I’ve missed anything – we can always add more. If you’d like to save this digest to…um…digest later, or to forward it to friends (hint, hint) its permanent URL is http://www.helpingthepoor.org/digests/digest05-11-fb-yt-bl. By the way, all of the events and activities below have happened in the last 30 days.

Feeding the Hungry

Blog post about a volunteer who is giving our homeless dining room guests (all 800 of them) a name tag on the day he volunteers.

Flowers that Feed Why give cut flowers when your loved one can have Flowers that Feed?

Easter Party in the Family Dining Room thanks to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sodexo.

Health Care

Banner Health teaches kids about healthy eating

Homelessness

What are your thoughts about homeless individuals owning pets?

Homeless guest at main St. Vincent de Paul dining room sings the national anthem at an Arizona Diamondbacks game.

Open House at Ozanam Manor transitional shelter.

Volunteerism

SVdP Volunteer Profile series. Videos produced and narrated by Mary Jo West. Featured below are on Facebook page, others will be moving over soon, so that we can all write and read comments about these wonderful volunteers. For a sneak peak at others, see our YouTube channel.

• Andy Andreano
• Anita Tabcharani
• Ellen Lagerman

A Personnel Perspective, a series of short videos of staff members and volunteers telling little stories about their work at St. Vincent:

• Ed Dubiel
• Patricia Metrick
• Cassidy Zoellner

Blog post about a volunteer who is giving our homeless dining room guests (all 800 of them) a name tag on the day he volunteers.

Angels who make Curtains for Vincentian Fresh Perspectives home makeovers.

Corporate volunteers love making SVdP Tees, which raise money to fund our homeless programs.

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

SVdP volunteer Dick Warren wins Governor’s volunteerism award.

Home Makeovers

A Collection of Vincentian Fresh Perspectives Home Makeovers

Cesar’s New Bed Six year old gets his own bunk to recover from kidney surgery.

The Lemon Tree Mayo Clinic paints the house a disabled vet and his wife have lived in for over 50 years.

The Ice Cream Truck and the Girls Four girls who share a small room get their own beds.

Angels who make Curtains for Vincentian Fresh Perspectives home makeovers.

Thank You Nana A grandmother caring for her four granddaughters gets her house painted by a team of volunteers.

Events & Visitors

SVdP International President visits Phoenix for Western Regional Meeting

• Story
• Photos

Golf for Charity event, organized by the Our Lady of Joy Knights of Columbus, raises money for St. Vincent de Paul and has become one of the top charity events in the area.

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

Land of Ahhs honors new SVdP program, Vincentian Fresh Perspectives.

A Shred-A-Thon for Earth Day.

SVdP volunteer Dick Warren wins Governor’s volunteerism award.

Open House at Ozanam Manor transitional shelter.

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Video honoring a group of fabulous volunteers is in two parts:

• Part One
• Part Two

Thrift Stores

Video describes new Volunteer-run thrift store in Cottonwood, AZ.

A Shred-A-Thon for Earth Day.

Ozzie’s Furnishings grand re-opening.

Thought Provoking

Should a food box be handed to anyone who asks for it?

What are your thoughts on restricting restroom access to “customers only,” in public establishments?

What are your thoughts about homeless individuals owning pets?

Who from your childhood has had the greatest positive effect on the kind of person you are today?

Activities for Needy Families

Family Evening Meal calendar – May

Banner Health teaches kids about healthy eating

Easter Party in the Family Dining Room thanks to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sodexo.

Engaging our Supporters

SVdP “Friend-Raising” Campaign to meet new Facebook Fans

Liliana’s Birthday Wish

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

Flowers that Feed Why give cut flowers when your loved one can have Flowers that Feed?

Hungry for more? There’s lots more great news, photos, and videos on St. Vincent de Paul’s website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, blog, and YouTube channel.

Phillip Tirone, who writes a blog on personal growth, volunteered last Monday in one of the St. Vincent dining rooms. He brought an idea we’ve never tried before — name tags for our homeless guests. Phillip writes about his experience, excerpted below, in his blog.

call me by my name

Remember to call me by my name

by Phillip Tirone

On Monday, I had an experience that changed my life.

I’ve been volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul homeless shelter, which serves thousands of homeless people per week. On the first day I volunteered, I went home feeling really haunted. Homeless people don’t feel like they have dignity. They feel invisible.

And the hard-to-admit truth is …

When I see homeless people on the street, I ignore them. I don’t think I’m alone in this. We ignore homeless people. We try not to look at them. We certainly don’t ask them their names.

It’s almost too sad to think about.

But The Checklist Manifesto inspired me to do something really simple. On Monday, I brought a big bag of nametags to St. Vincent de Paul. As people arrived for their meal, I asked them their names so I could give them nametags.

I handed out 427 nametags last Monday.

Some people didn’t want them, but about 80 percent did. In fact, at times people waited in line for a nametag, even though the food line was empty!

When I spelled a name wrong, some would say, “Don’t worry about it.”

I responded the same way every time: “No, I’m going to get it right; your name is important to me.”

Tears welled up in two people’s eyes. Both times, as these people walked away, my eyes filled with tears as well.

We instructed all the volunteers to start calling people by their first name, and afterward, the executive director, Steve Zabilski, said to me: “I’ve called more people by their first name today than I have in the last 10 years of working here.”

The badges gave them back their names. It gave them an identity, and it gave them some dignity.

And the nametags served as a checklist: Remember, these are people with hearts that feel the pain of life, just like I do.

asking for spare change

First, do no harm

Dealing with panhandlers across the Valley may be a daily dilemma for some of us.  You want to show compassion and empathy for the plight of the homeless, but you’re just not sure that those two extra dollars in your wallet will fill the bill and make a significant difference in someone’s life, or that they’ll be used for a productive purpose.

The Need a Hand card is a better way to help a homeless person who is asking you for cash.   Instead of handing out cash, this wallet-sized card lists the addresses and serving times of our five Phoenix Metro-area dining rooms. The reverse of the card lists the services available to the homeless through St. Vincent de Paul’s Special Works Ministries located at our main Watkins Campus.

A local bus day pass is attached to the card to help the individual make the trip to St. Vincent de Paul for assistance, return to where they were staying and make any other bus trips needed that day. Cards are sold in packs of four for $10. This amount covers the cost of the bus tickets, and what remains can help defray some of the costs of providing the services being accessed.

The idea is that, instead of giving someone cash, you can help them get to the assistance they may really need to change their lives.

Need A Hand? Come See Us.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers meaningful help for the homeless and working poor of central and northern Arizona. With more than 90 cents of every donated dollar going directly to fund food programs and other services for the poor, St. Vincent de Paul provides a hopeful alternative to those who need it most. With a powerhouse food bank and one of the largest industrial kitchens in the state, St. Vincent de Paul provides more than 1.1 million hot meals to the homeless and working poor each year; and the need continues to grow.

With the help of skilled and caring volunteers, St. Vincent de Paul serves 110 homeless individuals each day, providing showers, clothing and haircuts, bikes and bus tickets, job leads, mentoring, post-incarceration assistance, and case management to inspire our clients to make real change in their lives.

Through these professionally-run programs, St. Vincent de Paul helps the homeless work their way back to self-sufficiency by providing a hand up and not just a handout.

call (602) 261-6808 to order a packet of four Need A Hand cards to carry in your wallet, purse, or glove compartment.

You can also donate online today.

Stay in touch. Sign up to receive the SVdP monlthy e_Newsletter.

A recent article in the Times Publications, which publishes several newspapers in the East Valley, featured one of St. Vincent de Paul’s hardest-working employees, Jackie Solares. Jackie is one of just three full time employees who work with hundreds of St. Vincent’s homeless clients, and with dozens of volunteers who help them, in the dynamic environment of the Special Works Ministries.

I’ve been involved with this program for 13 years, so Jackie and her coworkers are near and dear to my heart. Their energy, passion, and knowledge are amazing, as is their dedication to serving the poor and allowing others the opportunity to serve.

The Times article is reprinted below. The original article, by Shanna Hogan, with photographer Ross Martin, is available at http://www.timespublications.com/odd-jobs/odd-job-give-back.asp.

Refuse to do nothing -- Volunteer! (Photo by Ross Martin)

Giving Back

Hanging on the wall of Jackie Gill-Solares’ cramped office in the hallway of St. Vincent de Paul’s Phoenix ministry, is a painting that reads, “Refuse to do Nothing… Volunteer.”

It’s the motto by which Gill-Solares lives. For 20 years she worked as a barber, volunteering in her spare time for various charitable organizations. It was during one charitable endeavor, three years ago, while providing haircuts for the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul, that she decided to change her life and make giving back her full-time job.

“When I came here, I loved this ministry and what they do. I decided I’d be happier working here,” she says with a smile. “I haven’t regretted it since. It’s been wonderful.”

Each weekday hundreds of the Valley’s homeless and poverty-stricken arrive at the St. Vincent de Paul facility for a sack lunch, shower or a change of clothes. It’s Gill-Solares’ job to help them get back on their feet. As one of just three full-time employees, she wears a lot of hats, assisting in every department.

It’s a very busy and demanding job. And in this current economic downturn, an increasing number of people are finding themselves in need.

“I’m seeing more families and singles who have never been in this situation before, and they just look shell-shocked,” she says. “It’s very scary.”

Jackie Gill-Solares:

Age: 49

Years on the Job: Three

Job: Gill-Solares assists in several different departments including admissions, family services and job placement. “Each client is seen. We try to provide as much service as we can one-on-one.”

Training: “The training is really ongoing. It’s mainly on-the-job training… They didn’t hire me fore my administrative skills; they hired me for my people skills.”

Hours: St. Vincent de Paul provides services to the Valley’s homeless and working poor each weekday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gill-Solares spends the rest of her workday preparing for the following day’s crowd.

Best Part: “Knowing that I made a difference every day.”

Worst Part: “Having to say ‘no,’ that’s the hardest part. Whether it’s tough love or there’s nothing we can do, saying no is always difficult. But we never send anyone away empty-handed.”

Helping: An average of 137 people a day come to St. Vincent de Paul’s special ministry in Phoenix for assistance. Gill-Solares says that number is increasing.

Needed: St. Vincent de Paul is always in need of clothes, non-perishable food items and monetary donations. This time of year, jeans, sweat pants, work boots and new socks and underwear are in short supply. For more information on how to donate: www.stvincentdepaul.net.

One of our favorite volunteers, Rozanne Hird, was written up in the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Magazine,  Impact, in the September 2010 issue, because of  the work she does for St. Vincent de Paul managing our largest dining room each weekend. (no, that’s not a typo, she’s a volunteer who manages our largest dining room each weekend!). Here’s what was printed in the interview with Rozanne:

I’ve been volunteering at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the last 15 years and have been managing their Henry Unger Dining Room on weekends for the last 13. We’ll serve breakfast to 400 to 500 people or so and lunch to another 800 or more on a given day.

I’m blessed to have a house and a car and nice clothes, while some of these people have nothing. To be able to help is really my passion. Every day, no matter what, when I come in here, I feel great. It justmakes me feel sogood togive back…

Contributing to your community is a win-win-win for business people. Most importantly, helping others makes you feel really good inside. You can help spread the word about the organization you volunteer for and help them grow. And you might get a little exposure for your own business while you’re at it.

The business community can’t be separate from the community at large. Those two will just naturally come together. For me, I help people in my business, and then on weekends I get to help people here.

I love it here at St. Vincent de Paul. Volunteering here makes me feel really, really good.

Rozanne Hird

Founder & President

RR Hird and Company

www.rrhird.com

Chamber Member Since 2008

Rozanne, it certainly makes us feel really, really good that you continue to give so much of your precious time and talent to help so many needy people in our valley. Thank you!

Time goes by quickly when you’re doing something that’s needed and feels personally rewarding. As the director of shelter services at St. Vincent de Paul, I’m amazed that on July 1st, Ozanam Manor, our transitional housing program, will celebrate its 25th anniversary here in Phoenix.

During the past 25 years, with generous support from the community and help from many fine volunteers and staff, Ozanam Manor has been a refuge for over 3,000 elderly and disabled homeless men and women and offered an opportunity to help stabilize their lives and move into permanent homes. Those of us who have supported and worked for Ozanam Manor can be proud of what the program has accomplished.

Since its beginning with St. Vincent de Paul in 1985, Ozanam Manor has come a long way, not in size, but in its connections with the community. What started out with a 45-percent success rate for our clients has now grown to 62 percent overall, and our clients continue to become stronger people. From day one, our primary responsibility has been to create an environment of physical safety, dignity and respect for the residents, without which, it would be very difficult for the residents to make the major changes needed in their lives.

Perhaps that’s what sets Ozanam Manor apart from other transitional shelters—we offer so much more than a bed and three meals a day. It’s about connection and one-on-one attention. Whether someone is given an individualized plan of goals or simply a hug if they’re having a particularly bad day, the quality and expertise of our case managers and mentors has been crucial to Ozanam Manor’s success.

Although many of our residents have held jobs and raised families prior to becoming homeless, most were not aware of the programs and services available to help them with their situation. The effort needed to overcome homelessness is overwhelming and Ozanam Manor provides a safe, constructive setting to do just that. The case managers and mentors help residents feel well-connected and confident, and act as agents in helping them get back on their feet. This hands-on approach truly helps break down barriers and empower these men and women to better their lives, develop skills and transition back to independent living.

Ozanam Manor has succeeded because of the dedication of the staff, our volunteers and the residents alike. Everyone’s duty has been to work together and to look out for his or her neighbor. It’s wondrous to see how it all comes together when formerly homeless people regain confidence and start their lives over. They contact estranged family members, talk about new job or volunteer opportunities with enthusiasm, and they express most sincere appreciation for St. Vincent de Paul and its work.

As for me, working at a homeless shelter for 25 years is something I had never envisioned. I have seen a lot of good in people and have witnessed truly heartwarming stories of recovery. I have had great fun developing and implementing programs along side the staff and residents of Ozanam Manor. As we continue bettering the lives of people who are living in transitional housing, it is our hope that one day people will no longer need our services.

Click here to learn more about Ozanam Manor or click here to donate to this program today!