Regarding my licensing

Many of you know that as part of a process that began in 2000, I recently attended 3 weekends of Local Pastors Licensing School. This was in hopes/anticipation of being appointed to serve Hope for Healing.Org as an Extension Ministry.

Today, I find out this will not happen. While this saddens me I do remain convinced that God's divine providence is supreme. It does not dampen my enthusiasm for the future of Hope for Healing.Org. Please do not let it dampen yours.

Reportedly, there were several factors involved in the decision, one of which that was told to me is my lack of salary. This has never been important to me or to our board of directors serving victims has been our focus. It suprises me that this came up.

Out of Hope for Healing.Org, several things have happened. Type in "rape Recovery" on Google or Yahoo, our Rape Recovery Help and Info. Page has been #1 for years. We have celebrated 10 years online, surviving both the .com boom, .com bust and everything in between.

Our groups have also been number 1 their categories for years. We have 5 of them and I daresay we have best volunteer moderators that can be found anywhere!

Since arriving in Strawberry Plains we have established an office, helped victims, begun a clothing closet (19 people were served last month), held prayer journaling workshops and serve as the only social service agency in Strawberry Plains -in addition to working through the website and online services we offer.

From our ministry, other organizations have been born. The Strawberry Plains Community Alliance is actively tackling issues faced by the residents of Strawberry Plains. A community awareness day was an overwhelming success with volunteers from 2 counties working together! Hope for Healing.Org just hosted the second meeting of the formation of a ministerial association to boost church involvement in the community. We are about to host the community's first crafts show on June 3 which will highlight jewelry and crafts items made by former victims and volunteers.

This is the second little sting from the church. The first was in 1999. My husband and I gave money to underwrite a class to better train clery on how to deal with sexual and domestic violence in the church. Despite professed "interest" and "excitement" this never happened. A few years later, we asked for the funds back and used them to found Hope for Healing.Org in the spring of 2002.

The good news is this may well be God's way of telling me to focus on victims. We are looking at many exciting options for the future. Hopefully this will entail a manager for the thrift shop so that I can pursue speaking and publication options. My life seems to be heading in this direction more so each day. Ultimately, I believe  that is where Hope for Healing.Org will lead. I envision training events and motivational events for the future.

As long as funds are available we will pursue these in conjunction with the ministry center that this area needs.

eBay Giving Works Helps Hope for Healing.Org raise funds.

In actions reminiscent of last Sunday, we are here again in the office.

Besides looking for grants we are going to be listing more items on eBay. You'll find more of our famous purple ribbon necklaces, bracelets and other items. All jewelry items are either created by volunteers and former victims or donated to help us raise funds.

We also have a few straight-from-the store books, a Bible and some other odds and ends.

To keep everyone happy, I'd better get back to listing. Check our auctions out at http://stores.ebay.com/hopeforhealing Don't forget, if you sell on eBay you can designate a percentage of your item to benefit Hope for Healing.Org. Visit http://www.missionfish.org for more info and details.

Oops. They're hollering for me. Time to get back to work...

Craft Show Applications are Coming In

We received another crafter's application for the big show. Hope for Healing.Org is playing host to the first craft show in Strawberry Plains - or at least the first one that anyone can remember. It's June 3 beginning at 10:00am. Sonny's BBQ plates will be ready beginning at 11:30 am. It's free admission and should be lots of fun.

Call or email us to reserve your spot soon!

Meetings today...

We'll be out of the office most of today for meetings.
Tomorrow we'll be checking messages and returning calls.

Talk to you then,

Gayle

Computer Issues

The computer is having issues. I'm going to be nice and get off of here as quickly as possible. It's 4 years old. Actually, most of the tech equip here is developing issues. With luck, if the craft show is successful we may be able to fix them.

Talk to you soon,

Gayle

We're getting a duplicator!

I am so excited I can't stand it. A local church is offering to give us a duplicator. With all the printing we do this will help a lot! The first thing we plan to run is flyers for the crafts show benefit that's coming up. Next, who knows. :)

For lunch today I'm meeting with a great volunteer. She's been helping us get the word out to other places and organizations.

See you later,
Gayle

Board Meeting Tonight

If you are a board member and reading this don't forget to come! We have a LOT to discuss with the upcoming crafts show and Sonny's BBQ plate sale. (YUM!)
Hope to see you then!

Also, we just found out that an article I submitted for "Your Hub" in the knoxnews.com website will be in print tomorrow. Look for "Carter High Student Wins District Poetry Contest" in the "North" instert. In it she credits volunteering here with helping her English skills.

A good thing to remember with the Junior Vol orientation coming up...

Clothing Closet stats

In the past 30 days 19 people have visited the clothing closet. I found some more signs from the soft drink company. They're not permanent but they are free. We can afford free. I'm looking forward to getting them up.

There will be some changes to the schedule. This will last at least through summer. Namely, we're cutting the evening hours in favor of expanding the Saturday hours. Hopefully, this will be convenient to more people. Those who want to come in the evenings can still do so by appointment only. The spanish translator will be available on most Saturdays.

This sould allow people to come without having to rush from or take off from work. See you then!

Clothing Giveaway

We need a new clothing closet sign. No one came today. Our sign is down and the canvas is ripped. It was one of those DIY jobs from a soft drink company. I keep hoping we'll be able to get a more permanent sign but there's been no funds to allow it. Two people phoned for directions. One person may come on Monday. A volunteer asked how many people we've helped this quarter (because of the sign) so we looked it up. Since April 1 we've given 19 people clothes. More people will come when we get the sign issue worked out.

Next, I went by the Heritage Crafts Mall. Our booth is #213. They're having a yard sale on the 20th and 21st so I signed us up. They were kind enough to waive the booth fee for this event. I hope it goes well! Besides "stuff", look for us to have handmade jewelry and maybe munchies.

It'll be fun. Come see us!

Sunday catch-up

For those who think that ED's of a nonprofit only work during the week and get weekends off to lounge by the pool, you're wrong. I'm here today to look for grants and try to make sense of it all. With a little luck, it will be quiet. Shhhh.

Free Clothing and Food Tomorrow (Saturday)

Saturday from 10AM - 12PM. Some nice clothes have been donated. I've been doing pickups most of this week. Our volunteers have things sorted and arranged. If you need a dress or suit for graduation feel free to come. There are some nice dresses and some suites.

We can also arrange an appointment if you can't make it during these hours. There are no income qualifications. We just ask that you use what you take. It's not for sale. There are no strings.

The food pantry will be open during the same time. If you know someone who can use these things but speaks Spanish bring them. We have a student translator available during the 10am-12pm time slot.

See you tomorrow.
Gayle

My daughter..

Sorry. I didn't expect anyone to ask about her from my blog. Those who come to Hope for Healing.Org events know her as "The Flute Girl". She is very good and often solos at our prayer services.

Allie was the only female recognized for her band achievements last night. All other band awards went to the guys.

She is an All USA Band Semi-Finalist (we're awaiting final results now). This year alone she performed with the All East Tennesee District Band and the All Knox County Band. When we lived in NC she played with the Triangle Youth Orchestra. This year she made the choice not to audition for a spot in the youth symphony. She decided instead to dedicate her time freely teaching flute lessons to underpriviledged youth through a local non-profit music school - all this despite being told by a neuroligist that she'd never be able to achieve in music because of her epilepsy!

When people tell you that you might not achieve don't listen to them. My daughter and every survivor I talk with is proof otherwise.
Thanks to you all for asking about her.

National Domestic Violence Hotline to air on Oprah

NDVH Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) TTY Number: 1-800-787-3224

Watch Oprah today to see an interview with Sheryl Cates, the executive director of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. According to Ms. Cates "the show includes an interview with a woman who was burned by her husband at a T-mobile store in Maryland. She had filed for a protective order, and the legal system basically failed her."

Nationwide, domestic violence programs are expecting an increased demand for services. We are letting our volunteers know in the groups, forums and locally on our hotline.

Volunteers and staff across the US are willing to help and we care. If you've thought of getting information about domestic violence go ahead and call or email. We're always glad to help.

Restorative Justice comes to Hope for Healing.Org

Great news. We'll be serving as a host site for community service workers who are kids. The meeting went well. I'm honored to have met with the folks today and look forward to getting started. This is a wonderful window of opportunity for us all. The kids will be helping in the closet, making jewelry and all sorts of things. First on the agenda is getting ready for annual conference in June. We're delighted to have the extra hands and look forward to working together.

I'm out of the office before nightfall today. My daughter just called. Her band director informed her today that she needs to be at the awards ceremony tonight. So, I'm outta here for now but will be back.

C-ya online,

Gayle

Thank You Saturday Volunteers!

I want to send a big thank you to the volunteers from First Baptist Church! Your help in our community clothing closet is invaluable. The sorting, hanging and unpacking you do makes it easier for people who need clothing to be able to find it. Our regular volunteer who was there with you says the banner looks great! I am at licensing school right now and can't wait to see it (this blog entry will be uploaded on Monday).

Thanks for the work you are doing to help others. It really makes a difference. We'll be distributing on Thursday. Don't forget to tell anyone you know who may need the help that we have free clothing available - thanks to your help. :)

Strawberry Plains Alliance Banner Parade Includes Hope for Healing.Org

Sponsored by the new Strawberry Plains Community Alliance,the schoolchildren proudly carried banners in a parade. 100% of the classes at the school participated. Three volunteers from Hope for Healing.Org were there with our banner - including a teenager from the next county. She is a regular volunteer and worked with Saturday's group to create our banner. Her assistant principal granted special permission for her to come. It was an amazing event.

The Strawberry Plains Community Alliance was formed out of meetings that came about because of Hope for Healing.Org. We were contacted last fall by a woman putting together a resource list of organizations needing adult volunteers. When we told her what we do she asked about setting up a meeting. A follow up meeting resulted in a group of people who saw the needs we are working to meet and noted other community needs. To address all the needs and work to raise the standard of living in this rural area a group was formed. They now make up the Alliance.

It's exciting to know we are making such a difference in the community. I can't wait to see what the future will bring!