More Mardi Gras...

Even on Sunday we're busy getting things together. More items are:
Starbuck's Mugs and Coffee
Red Lobster Gift Certificates

Lots more still coming in!

In between picking these up I worked with the couple who is staying with us. We're not a shelter but sometimes people sleep on our office couch. It's December. It's cold and it's better than sleeping in the truck - even if barely.

They are great people though and we have high hopes.

C-ya online,
Gayle

Mardi Gras Items In So Far...

We've got some cool things already. The list so far is:

Dollywood - pass for 2
Comedy Barn - Pass for 2 adults & 2 kids
Puleo's Grill - Multiple cards for Fried Green Tomato Appetizers
Texas Roadhouse - 2 cards for free appetizers and 1 certificate for a free entree
Burger King @ Exit 398 - 4 cards for free Whoppers
Wal-Mart (donated by anonymous) Large Ladies Bath Basket
Wal-Mart (donated by anonymous) a second Large Ladies Bath Basket

And more will be coming so check back often. :-)

Hope Activities today...

We're going to take a thrift shop break from January through mid-February to concentrate on client services and Mardi Gras. This will also allow us to pack away the winter items and spiff everything up for spring. The shop will reopen March 1 with a grand re-opening spectacular. Look for lots of new stock, specials and a spiffy looking store.

Today has been a very busy day. To help close up shop for the month of January we had to have help. Fortunately, a a juvenile offender, two teen volunteers and another couple helped us pack up the shop. It's time for a seasonal changeover and cleaning up. It's looking terrific.

But don't worry. If you need services PLEASE stop on in. Today a couple came by looking for baby items. They're in a tight spot and with the baby coming can't afford much. We were (as always) glad to help by vouchering items for them.

While a team was helping the couple, cleaning and packing, answering the phone and working with a couple who's staying here, another team was contacting local businesses for Mardi Gras. They had a productive day. Wait til you see the list. I think you'll be impressed.

Well, there's the phone again. I'll talk with you soon.

4th Annual Mardi Gras Strawberry Plains 2008

Christmas is behind us. New Year's Day is approaching soon. What's the next thing to look forward to? Mardi Gras! Our 4th annual non-alcoholic Mardi Gras Party happens in Strawberry Plains on Friday evening, February 1. Dinner kicks off at 7:00 pm. Festivities include a silent and live auction, free pinata breaking for the kids, DJ music, King Cake, the crowning of the king and queen of the party, games, beads, door prizes and more!

The menu includes
1. Appetizers
2. Gumbo
3. Chicken
4. Rice
5. Seasoned Green Beans
6. King Cake or cookies for dessert.
7. Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (for Strawberry Plains of course!)

Beverages include iced tea, fake champagne and drinks for the kids.

It's the signature event of Hope for Healing.Org. Last year, almost 30% of our budget was raised on this one event! Proceeds support all of the great work we do. Auction items include tickets to the Comedy Barn and Dollywood. More items are arriving daily.

It's a fun filled evening you won't want to miss!

Christmas, Kids and our Clients

The last food box is being delivered even as I type. The last bag of joy should be arriving at the final stop in just a few minutes. This year, Santa didn't arrive in a sleigh and suit. Instead, he came wearing blue jeans and driving a red (we got lucky on the color) pick up truck or came in the form of one of our volunteers in a mini-van or small car. But come Santa did. Tomorrow, 32 kids from 16 families are going to have presents for Christmas. I can’t help but smile as I picture the kids excitedly ripping wrapping paper and squealing with surprise.

True to our tradition of helping the most in our society each these families fell through the cracks in the existing system. They either could not drive the distance to other help agencies or did not know about them in time for the cutoff dates. None of these families are strangers to domestic violence and all are local (except two children who are no longer living with mom or dad.)

Also, we took active crisis calls, answered other calls, helped a homeless couple and a recently homeless couple, distributed Angel Food, worked with 5 juvenile offenders, provided ongoing support to 2 victims of sexual assault, sold raffle tickets and held an eBay sale to provide job skills and to try to pay rent (didn't make it, still trying) and meet expenses including the phone bill (that was close!) in addition to everything else.

We didn't do this alone. We couldn't have. It has been said "to heal a community it takes a community". That's what we had here. I couldn't be more grateful for the support and am in awe of how everyone chipped in to make hope happen.

Food boxes left from the distribution of another organization were brought to Hope for Healing.Org. We were able to partner with Strawberry Plains Presbyterian Church and with Strawberry Plains United Methodist Church to distribute food boxes to other families. Angel Food boxes were sponsored by people who care. The Straw Plains Market and Angie's Deli helped us make raffle tickets available. (Raffle ticket sales were doubly important since funds from the state are delayed making our bills overdue).

It was through the tickets that one of our new clients found us. She was badly in need of services when she came through the door. Now, she has support and knows she is not alone anymore. Plus, after a referral form was received, her child now has Christmas and they have food to eat.

Friday, our volunteers and I were looking at our inventory of donated stock. We wondered if we would be able to supply the Christmas demand. It didn’t look good but we hoped for the best. We need not have worried. A dad with a pick-up truck load of toys pulled onto our tiny lot that afternoon. His family was familiar with what we do and wanted to help. These toys were all gently loved but looked and felt new. All were heartily welcomed by our clients. Then another person from the community came bearing items and was followed by another. By the day’s end we felt better but were still a little nervous.

Again, people came through. As we were carefully eyeing our inventory guess who should appear? The kind people from Baileyton United Methodist Church came with toys and clothing. They were all previously owned but in excellent condition. Even after a church fire they still found the means to help us. Wow.

But there were other surprises in store for us too.

One of our Sevier County community members didn’t hesitate when she heard about children we were trying to help. She brought a tree and presents for two of our families who were most in need of help. We had never met her before and were thoroughly impressed with her kindness.
Juvenile offenders and teen volunteers distributed Angel Food. One of the moms of one of the offenders took me aside and told me their story. Falling on difficult times, she wanted to know about getting a box for her family next month and asked about her son staying on as a volunteer since it seemed to be good for him. We were glad to be able to help with the box and look forward to having him as a volunteer.

After the distribution, a teen volunteer stayed to help with another project. The Strawberry Plains Community Alliance Events Committee needed cookies. The teen said she had never made Christmas cookies before and eagerly dived in. We’re glad to have been able to give her the experience. They brought cheer to the committee and to the volunteers at the office.

All in all, it’s been a busy month. I’m still a little concerned about the bills but somehow, I just know it will all work out. After all, we’re not here alone and I thank you for all of your support.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Gayle Crabtree
Founder & Executive Director
Hope for Healing.Org

Board Meeting Tonight

Don't forget tonight's board meeting at 6:00 pm at SPUMC. Thanks.

Celebrating Christmas When You're Poor

It's Christmas time again. I see signs of the holiday every time I drive up the street or go to work. Lights are on houses. Trees decorate windows. Music is on the radio. Grocery stores have special aisles. The mall is packed. Heaven help us all if we have to go to Wal-mart! The ads all tell us how much fun we're having - or supposed to be having. But for many of the clients we serve who are poor Christmas isn't fun and I need your help.

Relax, this isn't a post asking for money. As a nonprofit you already know that Hope for Healing.Org lives off of donations. You all know that you can donate at any time and some of you do. (Which, by the way, we appreciate very much.)

But what I need most is your ideas. Your thoughts and experiences can help make Christmas better too. If we are honest with ourselves most of us can remember a Christmas when we had very little disposable income for gifts. How did we get through it? What kinds of things did you do to add fun to a bleak holiday? How can a victim of domestic violence find something to do with the kids this holiday?

When familes come to me for Christmas help I'd like to give them a list of very low cost ideas. Then, while we're working on getting Christmas for the kids maybe it will reassure them and give them some hope for the future.

After all, isn't that what the holiday is supposed to be about?

Thanks,

Gayle

1. My top 2 ideas:
   Turn the radio on a station that plays holiday music. Get the scissors, paper and glue and make Christmas decorations with the kids. Paper snowflakes can be cut from computer paper or white plastic trash bags. These can be glued to a dark piece of paper.
2. Get together with a friend and drive through a neighborhood that's decorated in Christmas lights. Split the gas and double the fun.
3. With holiday music on the radio make cookies with the kids. Even the store bought dough that you cut from the tube can be fun. Let the kids help.

Now it's your turn...

Plates, Dolls, Purses Oh My!

eBay sales help here!

How about a collector's plate made in West Germany? Or, maybe a denim purse made by a juvenile offender? Do you like fun holiday jewelry? These are just a few things up for bids on our eBay/Mission Fish site.

Stop in and try us. You might just find something you like...

Restorative Justice

We got another phone call from a parent today. She wanted to know if her son could come to us to put in community serice hours. I talked with her for several minutes. She seemed impressed and said she would bring him over on Saturday so he could get started. I said that sounded great. Then, I hung up and shook my head.

Don't get me wrong. I love it for kids to come here to help. We have had some of the neatest experiences from kids who come here to do community service! Furniture has been refinished. Purses have been made. Jewelry has been created and lots of good things have been accomplished.

But I have to wonder if there were more activities in the area if it would have kept some of the kids out of trouble. Most of these seem to be kids who are basically good but made bad choices. Many of those choices were made out of sheer boredom.

A church playground just opened a few months ago. It's a great place for youngsters but not for the kids we're seeing. The nearest recreation center is over 10 miles away or 20 miles round trip. The mall is in the next county as are the nearest fast food restaurants.

So I ponder the next questions...
What activities can we offer on an ongoing basis?
Who's going to do them?
How will we do them?

While I ponder, the phone rings...

Homeless Couple Moves Out

Some of you know about the homeless couple that was staying in my office. Good news! He got his first paycheck from his new job. With it they have gotten their camper trailer back and have moved out. A camper trailer may not be what some of us would choose for a home but she is thrilled. It's still an uphill battle for them and this is the first step. Now, they have to find an affordable place to park the trailer. They have to buy food etc. and get their phones turned back on. One paycheck won't get them out of homelessness. But for right now they are on their way and they are happy.

What more could we want for them?