Yes! I'm excited. After a long meeting this evening the board of directors of the Strawberry Plains Community Alliance in conjunction with the Strawberry Festival Planning Committee voted to hold a Strawberry Festival on May 19.
For those who don't know, last year the Strawberry Plains Community Alliance came out of Hope for Healing.Org. They formed to help address issues that we can't - such a lobbying for a new library, promoting the history of the area and such. One of the first tasks is to revive an extinct local event and it looks like they are doing just that! Tonight we had to vote on housekeeping and paperwork issues. Now that's done so we can roll up our sleeves and get to work!
There will be crafts booths, a car show and plenty of other vendors. It should be a great time for the whole family. There is no admission charge. We're hoping that some of the clients we serve will be able to come out and have a good time. Be sure to look for our booth. I'm not sure what we'll have (besides domestic violence information) but I'm sure it will be fun.
Of course, if you want to volunteer to work in our booth that would be even better! :)
See ya online,
Gayle
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Feeding a family on food stamps.
One of our most frequent requests is for help with food.
Fortunately, we have an arrangement with a local church that allows us to get a food box for our clients when needed. Victims getting reestablished often have a hard time feeding their children. Those in minimum wage jobs have chronic need. Many are on food stamps. We've all heard stories of people who bought steaks or expensive items. Some of us are convinced that if poor people would only spend properly they would have no problems in getting the food stamps to last through the month.
But is that really the case? To find answers I started digging online at the FNS Food Stamp Website. The answers surprised me and may surprise you.
First, I want you to think about the amount you spend feeding your family each month. Be honest. Include snacks and soft drinks you pick up when you get gas. The money has to come from somewhere. For a family living in poverty food stamps is how they might pay for those gas station sodas.
For me, we spent just over $80.00 this week for groceries and there wasn't a steak in the cart. We ate out twice as a family for $64.00, 2 times individually (including meetings) another $32.00 and spent $10.50 on school lunches plus $5.00 so my daughter can get a bottle of water after school. That's about $191.00 this week. Earlier this month we spent $59.00 on Angel Food boxes to stretch our food budget. (Buying the Angel Food is a large savings for our family!) I buy generics, markdowns and sale items whenever possible. The total spent works out to about $890 for the month for the 3 of us.
A food stamp family of 3 must survive on less than half of that each month.
According to the FNS Food Stamp Eligibility website mentioned above a family of 3 with no income in Tennessee only qualifies for between $398 and $408 in food stamps each month. That works out to about $94.22 per week. At 3 meals daily that breaks down to about $4.48 per meal or less than $1.50 per person per meal without snacks or gas station sodas.
The good news is that the child will also qualify for free lunch at school. The bad news is that the parents still have to each lunch and will probably absorb the extra $1.50 in food stamps that they saved by sending their child to school.
How did your family compare?
Fortunately, we have an arrangement with a local church that allows us to get a food box for our clients when needed. Victims getting reestablished often have a hard time feeding their children. Those in minimum wage jobs have chronic need. Many are on food stamps. We've all heard stories of people who bought steaks or expensive items. Some of us are convinced that if poor people would only spend properly they would have no problems in getting the food stamps to last through the month.
But is that really the case? To find answers I started digging online at the FNS Food Stamp Website. The answers surprised me and may surprise you.
First, I want you to think about the amount you spend feeding your family each month. Be honest. Include snacks and soft drinks you pick up when you get gas. The money has to come from somewhere. For a family living in poverty food stamps is how they might pay for those gas station sodas.
For me, we spent just over $80.00 this week for groceries and there wasn't a steak in the cart. We ate out twice as a family for $64.00, 2 times individually (including meetings) another $32.00 and spent $10.50 on school lunches plus $5.00 so my daughter can get a bottle of water after school. That's about $191.00 this week. Earlier this month we spent $59.00 on Angel Food boxes to stretch our food budget. (Buying the Angel Food is a large savings for our family!) I buy generics, markdowns and sale items whenever possible. The total spent works out to about $890 for the month for the 3 of us.
A food stamp family of 3 must survive on less than half of that each month.
According to the FNS Food Stamp Eligibility website mentioned above a family of 3 with no income in Tennessee only qualifies for between $398 and $408 in food stamps each month. That works out to about $94.22 per week. At 3 meals daily that breaks down to about $4.48 per meal or less than $1.50 per person per meal without snacks or gas station sodas.
The good news is that the child will also qualify for free lunch at school. The bad news is that the parents still have to each lunch and will probably absorb the extra $1.50 in food stamps that they saved by sending their child to school.
How did your family compare?
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Angel Food Reminder
Don't forget to pick up your Angel Food boxes on Saturday!
It's ok if you don't bring a laundry basket. We'll be using the system that we used last month where we handed you the full box. It worked well. The system enabled us to give out more than 100 boxes in record time. Many people commented favorably on it so we'll try it again.
See you from 10:30 am - 11:30 am!
PS Volunteers are still welcome! Here's a photo from one of our last distributions. The volunteers are getting everything ready to go. See you Saturday! :-)
See you from 10:30 am - 11:30 am!
PS Volunteers are still welcome! Here's a photo from one of our last distributions. The volunteers are getting everything ready to go. See you Saturday! :-)
Friday, February 16, 2007
There's a new face and tail around the office.
Yup. You read that right. We have acquired a new puppy. Tomlin is a German Shepherd/Malamute mix who was born 12-15-2006. He's fuzzy, cute, has LOADS of energy and a great personality! When he's a little older and more trained we have plans to bring him to the office on clothing closet days to help cheer up anyone who's down. In the meantime, here's a photo. Isn't he adorable?
Monday, February 12, 2007
Salem Baptist Church Youth Made Hope Happen!
Is that our clothing closet? You can see the floor. Everything is neatly folded or placed on hangers.
No, it wasn't a dream. It was the result of some TLC from the youth of Salem Baptist Church. Twenty-one students plus chaperones converged on our ministry Saturday. We appreciate the Knoxville Leadership Foundation for sending them our way. They whisked the clothing closet into shape, sorted out the fall/winter clothes and put out the spring items.
In record time the kids sorted the ink jet cartridges & cell phones, repackaged the Mardi Gras decorations, folded a few hundred brochures and helped out in the food pantry of Strawberry Plains United Methodist Church.
What an impressive group of teens!
As a suprise appreciation, each person received a free mini-golf pass from Zuma Fun Center in Knoxville. They instantly started making plans on when to put these to use.
Many thanks to the youth group of Salem Baptist Church for making hope happen in Strawberry Plains. We hope you have a great time using those passes! Thank you also to Zuma Fun Center for allowing us to have those incentives.
No, it wasn't a dream. It was the result of some TLC from the youth of Salem Baptist Church. Twenty-one students plus chaperones converged on our ministry Saturday. We appreciate the Knoxville Leadership Foundation for sending them our way. They whisked the clothing closet into shape, sorted out the fall/winter clothes and put out the spring items.
In record time the kids sorted the ink jet cartridges & cell phones, repackaged the Mardi Gras decorations, folded a few hundred brochures and helped out in the food pantry of Strawberry Plains United Methodist Church.
What an impressive group of teens!
As a suprise appreciation, each person received a free mini-golf pass from Zuma Fun Center in Knoxville. They instantly started making plans on when to put these to use.
Many thanks to the youth group of Salem Baptist Church for making hope happen in Strawberry Plains. We hope you have a great time using those passes! Thank you also to Zuma Fun Center for allowing us to have those incentives.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Hope Quilt Displays at Carson Newman College
The Hope Quilt will be at the counseling center of Carson Newman College for a few days. Last night, I had the honor of speaking to a terrific group of students who are taking a RAD class. Everyone seemed great! It was encouraging to get to see so many people who are interested in learning about domestic and sexual assault and what to do about it. That's impressive!
After the class, the Hope Quilt was taken to the Counseling Center. It will be there for the next few days. Please do take the time to read the squares. Be prepared to be moved. There are squares available if you would like to add one. Don't forget to ask.
It's always a treat to get to share about Hope for Healing.Org. Thank you all so much for inviting me over. I'll be back in April and can't wait to see you then! :-)
After the class, the Hope Quilt was taken to the Counseling Center. It will be there for the next few days. Please do take the time to read the squares. Be prepared to be moved. There are squares available if you would like to add one. Don't forget to ask.
It's always a treat to get to share about Hope for Healing.Org. Thank you all so much for inviting me over. I'll be back in April and can't wait to see you then! :-)
Monday, February 05, 2007
Hope for Healing.Org Mardi Gras Night Raises $6000
Undaunted by the threat of bad weather, almost $6,000 was raised to help Hope for Healing.Org during Mardi Gras Night on February 2, 2007. The crowd of over 200 came from as far away as Morristown, Athens and Dunlap to gather at Strawberry Plains Presbyterian Church in support of this important organization.
As the only social service agency in Strawberry Plains, Hope for Healing.Org offers a free community clothing closet, gives referrals to victims of domestic violence, serves as a Restorative Justice worksite for teens performing court ordered community service, distributes Angel Food and more!
The clients are the big winners of the night. In 2006 alone over 1000 local clients came to Hope for Healing.Org for help. (This is equal to the enrollment of Carter High School and more than the enrollment at Rush Strong School.)
Music for the night was provided again by the outstanding DJ Express. They are much sought after and loved by youngsters, senior citizens and everyone in between. If you are looking for a great DJ call them. You won't be disappointed.
The Mardi Gras Night menu consisted of seafood gumbo, fried chicken, green beans, potatoes, drinks and dessert followed by luscious chocolate dipped strawberries. Dinner was served by the impressive senior high youth group from Marbledale Baptist Church.
Adorning the tables for party goers to take home were Mardi Gras beads. All beads were actually caught on the offical New Orleans Mardi Gras parade routes and shipped to Strawberry Plains just for Mardi Gras Night. For the first time, attendees were served fake champagne in official souvenir cups as another take home reminder of the fun evening.
A meal highlight was the traditional New Orleans King Cake. This is a rich cinnamon pastry that is a requirement at all Mardi Gras parties. Hidden inside the King Cake is a coin (called a doubloon). The person who finds the coin is crowned king or queen of the Mardi Gras Night and gets to help plan the next party. This year's winner was Rev. Richard Patterson and his wife Martha. Richard is the United Methodist Church District Superintendent serving the Morristown District.
More than a dozen kids scrambled for candy when the pinata was broken. Games, grab bags and balloon animals also kept the youngsters entertained.
Altogether, a dedicated team of over 50 volunteers helped make Mardi Gras a success. The official program was created by students from the Art Department of Jefferson County High School. The senior high youth group from Marbledale Baptist Church served the meal. A host of individuals gave time and expertise to cook, decorate, take tickets and work to make the event happen. Other volunteers included students from Rush Strong School, Carter High School and individual community members.
The 2007 Hope for Healing.Org Mardi Gras Night sponsors were:
Sam's Wholesale Club
Bridges Funeral Home
Auctioned off were items from:
Zuma's Family Fun Center
Eastview Memorial Gardens
John Coker Antiques
Bailey's Sports Pub & Grill
David's Carpets
Cracker Barrel
Jefferson City Parks & Recreation
Ramada Inn Four Seasons
Black Bear Jamboree
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Aztec Fuel Center
Dollywood
Ruby Falls
Dixie Stampede
Tennessee Theater
More Than Plants
Sunshine Hands
Galloway's
Cash Saver
Advance Auto Parts, Jefferson City
Auto Zone, Jefferson City
Advance Auto Parts, Asheville Hwy.
Auto Zone, Asheville Hwy.
Ritchie Tractor
Stormer's True Value Hardware
Tom E. Solomon Furniture Company
Country Cottage Hair & Nail Salon
Donna's Boutique
Billie Parrot Jewelry
Tole Painting by Barbara Wright
River Islands Golf Club
Ocoee Outdoors
The Comedy Barn
The Edgewater Hotel
Knoxville Zoo
Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga
Knoxville Symphony Society
Betty Hart Insurance
Applebee's Restaurant, Kingston Pike
Food City, Asheville Hwy.
Heritage Crafts Mall
We would also like to thank the following for their support of Mardi Gras Night 2007:
Strawberry Plains Presbyterian Church
Strawberry Plains United Methodist Church
First Baptist Church of Strawberry Plains
The Hope for Healing.Org Mardi Gras Night 2008 is already being planned. Mark your calendars now for Friday, February 1, 2008.
For more information about this or the work we do please visit us online at http://www.hopeforhealing.org or call 933.8769.
Thank you for making hope happen in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee!
As the only social service agency in Strawberry Plains, Hope for Healing.Org offers a free community clothing closet, gives referrals to victims of domestic violence, serves as a Restorative Justice worksite for teens performing court ordered community service, distributes Angel Food and more!
The clients are the big winners of the night. In 2006 alone over 1000 local clients came to Hope for Healing.Org for help. (This is equal to the enrollment of Carter High School and more than the enrollment at Rush Strong School.)
Music for the night was provided again by the outstanding DJ Express. They are much sought after and loved by youngsters, senior citizens and everyone in between. If you are looking for a great DJ call them. You won't be disappointed.
The Mardi Gras Night menu consisted of seafood gumbo, fried chicken, green beans, potatoes, drinks and dessert followed by luscious chocolate dipped strawberries. Dinner was served by the impressive senior high youth group from Marbledale Baptist Church.
Adorning the tables for party goers to take home were Mardi Gras beads. All beads were actually caught on the offical New Orleans Mardi Gras parade routes and shipped to Strawberry Plains just for Mardi Gras Night. For the first time, attendees were served fake champagne in official souvenir cups as another take home reminder of the fun evening.
A meal highlight was the traditional New Orleans King Cake. This is a rich cinnamon pastry that is a requirement at all Mardi Gras parties. Hidden inside the King Cake is a coin (called a doubloon). The person who finds the coin is crowned king or queen of the Mardi Gras Night and gets to help plan the next party. This year's winner was Rev. Richard Patterson and his wife Martha. Richard is the United Methodist Church District Superintendent serving the Morristown District.
More than a dozen kids scrambled for candy when the pinata was broken. Games, grab bags and balloon animals also kept the youngsters entertained.
Altogether, a dedicated team of over 50 volunteers helped make Mardi Gras a success. The official program was created by students from the Art Department of Jefferson County High School. The senior high youth group from Marbledale Baptist Church served the meal. A host of individuals gave time and expertise to cook, decorate, take tickets and work to make the event happen. Other volunteers included students from Rush Strong School, Carter High School and individual community members.
The 2007 Hope for Healing.Org Mardi Gras Night sponsors were:
Sam's Wholesale Club
Bridges Funeral Home
Auctioned off were items from:
Zuma's Family Fun Center
Eastview Memorial Gardens
John Coker Antiques
Bailey's Sports Pub & Grill
David's Carpets
Cracker Barrel
Jefferson City Parks & Recreation
Ramada Inn Four Seasons
Black Bear Jamboree
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Aztec Fuel Center
Dollywood
Ruby Falls
Dixie Stampede
Tennessee Theater
More Than Plants
Sunshine Hands
Galloway's
Cash Saver
Advance Auto Parts, Jefferson City
Auto Zone, Jefferson City
Advance Auto Parts, Asheville Hwy.
Auto Zone, Asheville Hwy.
Ritchie Tractor
Stormer's True Value Hardware
Tom E. Solomon Furniture Company
Country Cottage Hair & Nail Salon
Donna's Boutique
Billie Parrot Jewelry
Tole Painting by Barbara Wright
River Islands Golf Club
Ocoee Outdoors
The Comedy Barn
The Edgewater Hotel
Knoxville Zoo
Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga
Knoxville Symphony Society
Betty Hart Insurance
Applebee's Restaurant, Kingston Pike
Food City, Asheville Hwy.
Heritage Crafts Mall
We would also like to thank the following for their support of Mardi Gras Night 2007:
Strawberry Plains Presbyterian Church
Strawberry Plains United Methodist Church
First Baptist Church of Strawberry Plains
The Hope for Healing.Org Mardi Gras Night 2008 is already being planned. Mark your calendars now for Friday, February 1, 2008.
For more information about this or the work we do please visit us online at http://www.hopeforhealing.org or call 933.8769.
Thank you for making hope happen in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee!
Friday, February 02, 2007
Mardi Gras was a HIT!
Over 200 people came. The volunteers were all top-notch. We had a super time! Tomorrow, we'll posting a full list of all sponsors and items that were donated.Mardi Gras 2008 will be here before you know it. See you February 1, 2008!
Mardi Gras Strawberry Plains is TONIGHT!
It's finally here. I'm so exicited that I can't see straight. Mardi Gras is tonight @ 7:00 pm. It's our major fundraiser of the year. We've got a lot of really cool auction items! The seafood gumbo is being prepared. The King Cakes are ready to go. Volunteers are lined up. Balloons are ordered and the DJ finalized. All we need is you!
Come see us!
Gayle
PS We'll be posting photos later for those who can't come. If you are in there area though we really hope you can make it. Later today, we'll post the final list of donated items that are going to be auctioned. Because of the work we do, businesses and people have been very generous. We thank everyone for your support! See you tonight!
Come see us!
Gayle
PS We'll be posting photos later for those who can't come. If you are in there area though we really hope you can make it. Later today, we'll post the final list of donated items that are going to be auctioned. Because of the work we do, businesses and people have been very generous. We thank everyone for your support! See you tonight!
Red Cross Didn't Help, We Did.
Imagine this:
You travel a day's drive from home to another town for a job interview - which you get. Excitedly, you and your family start perusing the surrounding area for housing prospects. Then your wallet with all of your credit cards and all of your cash is stolen. You and your wife contact the police followed by the credit card companies. Don't worry they say. The credit card companies will have replacement cards to your house in no time! Then the reality hits. How do you get the two tanks of gas you need so you can get home? What about food? Even worse, what if the baby needs something?
This was reality for the gentleman visiting our office today. Desperate and upset he turned to the Red Cross for help. They didn't. The church across the street from the Red Cross didn't have a benevolence fund.
At the United Way office the sympathetic staff person was able to find an agency that could give one-way bus tickets home for the entire family - not gas. The bus leaves first thing in the morning. Maybe someone in town could keep your car and your things for you? This still leaves you without funds for food or baby items. What you really need is gas to get you home.
Someone tells you of a church that might help and gives you directions. You go but no one is there. It's getting late. You've been at this all day then you decide to try one more place - us. You are greeted by friends you've not met yet. They talk with you and give you a bag of snacks from the food pantry - even better, through an arrangement with a local church they'll help with gas so you can go home.
Relieved, you start to leave when your phone rings. It's your wife. She worked something out with one of your credit card companies. You now have gas money. The weight of the world falls from your shoulders. Glad for the news, you accept the snacks and turn down the other assistance. "After all," you tell the Hope for Healing.Org staff, "someone else may need it." Then you smile and head out the door.
"Good luck we say." And wished him well. Then we shook our heads and fussed about churches who won't help and agencies that offer one-size-fits-all solutions. We're really glad that we were able to potentially help and are even more grateful that you made it possible.
Thank you!
You travel a day's drive from home to another town for a job interview - which you get. Excitedly, you and your family start perusing the surrounding area for housing prospects. Then your wallet with all of your credit cards and all of your cash is stolen. You and your wife contact the police followed by the credit card companies. Don't worry they say. The credit card companies will have replacement cards to your house in no time! Then the reality hits. How do you get the two tanks of gas you need so you can get home? What about food? Even worse, what if the baby needs something?
This was reality for the gentleman visiting our office today. Desperate and upset he turned to the Red Cross for help. They didn't. The church across the street from the Red Cross didn't have a benevolence fund.
At the United Way office the sympathetic staff person was able to find an agency that could give one-way bus tickets home for the entire family - not gas. The bus leaves first thing in the morning. Maybe someone in town could keep your car and your things for you? This still leaves you without funds for food or baby items. What you really need is gas to get you home.
Someone tells you of a church that might help and gives you directions. You go but no one is there. It's getting late. You've been at this all day then you decide to try one more place - us. You are greeted by friends you've not met yet. They talk with you and give you a bag of snacks from the food pantry - even better, through an arrangement with a local church they'll help with gas so you can go home.
Relieved, you start to leave when your phone rings. It's your wife. She worked something out with one of your credit card companies. You now have gas money. The weight of the world falls from your shoulders. Glad for the news, you accept the snacks and turn down the other assistance. "After all," you tell the Hope for Healing.Org staff, "someone else may need it." Then you smile and head out the door.
"Good luck we say." And wished him well. Then we shook our heads and fussed about churches who won't help and agencies that offer one-size-fits-all solutions. We're really glad that we were able to potentially help and are even more grateful that you made it possible.
Thank you!
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