Bits & Pieces

 

From the Director

South Providence Neighborhood Ministries is a "faith-based" neighborhood center. This means Board, staff and volunteers are motivated by their faith to serve our neighbors who are currently suffering through difficult times.

We are not the most glamorous organization in the city. We are down here in the trenches providing the daily help disadvantaged families need--food, help with rent or heating bills, youth programs, health promotion and advocacy and adult education. We work to stay attuned to the needs of our neighbors and how best to help them.

We are not called to make headlines or even to be famous. We are called to love our neighbors and to share our bounty (through donations large and small) with those in need. Thank you for helping to make this important ministry possible day after day, month after month, year after year.

Faithfully, Wanda

Holiday Cards Are Coming

This summer Joyce Smith volunteered with the Happy Days youth to assist in the creation of the 2003 Neighborhood Ministries holiday card. We are happy to report that this year we will have two designs to choose from and a new inside message. Prices remain the same:

1 package (10 cards) - $8
3 packages (30 cards) - $21
5 packages (50 cards) - $30

Check out our website to see the designs or stop by the office. Call now to reserve your cards. Cards will be printed this year courtesy of Met-Life Auto & Home. Cards are appropriate for personal, business or church greetings. A small number of designs from previous years are also available. Please call to learn more

Send holiday greetings and support SPNM.

Is the holiday season on your mind? It's on ours.

We will soon begin registering families for our Christmas distributions. There are many families in need, and when our neighborhood turns to us to help them, we turn to you to help us. This year's holiday distribution is no different. Following, you will find schedules for volunteers. There are some notable weekend differences this year, look carefully. We are tight on time and space for both distributions, please call Maria 461-7509 to sign up when you can volunteer as soon as possible. Don't forget to talk to your family or youth group!

2003 Santa's Workshop December 20 - 24

Saturday, Dec. 20
9:30 - 11 a.m. Carry boxes from 4th floor, sort.

Sunday, Dec. 21
12:30-3:30 p.m. Unpack and sort items.
5:30-7:30 p.m. Set up tables, and sort items

Monday, Dec. 22
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Set up
1 - 4 p.m. Distribution, re-stock
4 - 5 p.m. Re-stock
5:30 - 8:30 Distribution, re-stock

Tuesday, Dec. 23
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Re-stock
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Distribution, re-stock
1 - 3 p.m. Re-stock
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Distribution, re-stock

Wednesday, Dec. 24
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Pack up
12 - 1 p.m. Carry boxes to fourth floor

Gifts Needed for Santa's Workshop

Hats, mittens, gloves, basketballs, footballs, baby dolls, toy trucks, watches, videos, blankets/sleeping bags, electronic games, calculators, backpacks, pocketbooks. Please NO weapons or toy guns.

A Southside Success Story

One of the things we strive to do at Neighborhood Ministries is to bring together individuals from wherever they can be found to ensure the success of our neighbors. This past year we worked to help one young boy, who at the age of nine was unable to read. In January we were blessed with a volunteer from First Baptist, Hope Valley, who had great literacy background, determination, hope and love. Diana came to meet this child and found he possessed not even the most rudimentary of reading skills. Since she is experienced in Orten-Gillingham, a specialized reading program, she began to work with him weekly. Though improvement was slow; it was exciting. Diana kept in close contact with us and his mother to track his progress and to help us to understand better ways to help him. This past spring, Diana was able to speak with his teacher and was able to coordinate work between the two of them to help this child. Through Diana we learned that his teacher was spending this summer being trained in Orten-Gillingham so that in the fall his reading program will be more comprehensive. The collaboration of parents, volunteers, and teachers brought together through Neighborhood Ministries has improved the chances of this child's success. Thank you, Diana for your efforts. Thank you donors, for making it possible for us to bring these individuals together.

Do you have a Southside Success Story to share? Call Maria, she'd like to hear it.

What did you do this summer?

For six weeks this summer 77 youth came to Happy Days. Youth took part in wonderful art projects making piñatas, doll houses, decoupaged vases, tissue paper hats and bouquets. Junior counselors taught dance classes and organized relay races for the younger children. Children discovered the joy of Monopoly and various other board games as weather turned attention indoors. We also walked to the pool, community gardens and water park, covering 782 miles collectively.

Junior counselors also participated in a day long leadership conference held at Johnson & Wales University. They took part in team building games, listened to high school aged, neighborhood leaders, and took an interest inventory to help them think about life goals. The day ended with a rhythm workshop. We plan to follow this up with some college tours this fall. The conference was possible due to a grant from Ocean State Charities Trust and JJDPA.

Thanks to Happy Days Volunteers!

It takes many hands, hearts and heads to keep Happy Days fun and running smoothly. This year's fantastic volunteers were: Groups : Fellowship of Christians at Universities and Schools (FOCUS) and Jamestown Central Baptist Church. Youth Groups: First Baptist Church, Nashua, New Hampshire; St. John's Episcopal, Barrington, RI. Individuals: Dick Munroe, Marilyn Gustafson, Amy Ammar, Elise Galbo, Resean Lighty, Tina Creamer, Chelsea Creamer, Jay Creamer, Cynthia Resch, Kayla Resch, Phil Kazlauskas. Many thanks Barry and Rosanne Dana for donating and grilling up a wonderful cook out on August 11!

Health Highlights

June 28, SPNM hosted a historic walking tour on the Broad Street Path to Health for the 3rd International Trails and Greenways Conference which was held in Providence. The purpose of the workshop/ walk was to highlight for participants the diverse coalition of agencies involved in the exciting economic, health, social, multicultural, and historical development taking place on and around Broad Street. The SPNM Health Program was honored with the 2003 RI Public Health Association Meritorious Award.

Fall Dinner

We hope to see you at the Quonset "O" Club in North Kingstown on Friday, October 17. The Silent Auction will begin at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. It is our fifth year of celebratory dinners and our major fundraiser of the year!

We will be honoring Amica Insurance. For many years they've supported our efforts through volunteers, grants, and donations. They have contributed office supplies, printing services, and much more. Juanita Bedard, long time sewing class coordinator, and all sewing volunteers will also be honored. For twelve years over a dozen sewing volunteers worked to educate and empower neighborhood residents. They not only helped women to make curtains, clothing and quilts for their families, but they also helped women acclimate to a new country through their leadership and love.

Our auction will prove to be exciting with over 100 items up for bid. On the list this year are three $50 gift certificates from Southwest Airlines, an overnight at a bed and breakfast in Watch Hill, RI, an original watercolor painting, many tasty baked goods, a great number of gift certificates, and glorious gift baskets. Maybe you'll find the perfect gift for the upcoming holidays.

Steve Martorella will play the keyboard as the evening's entertainment. Dr. Patricia Nolan, Director, RI Department of Health, will speak about the health of our community and our commitment to it. Rounding out the health theme, Barbara Morse, Healthwatch Reporter for WJAR NBC 10 NEWS has agreed to return as our master of ceremonies. Tickets are $35 a person

For more information, please call the office at (401) 461-7509

Volunteer Recognition

This spring a Volunteer of the Month program was initiated at Neighborhood Ministries. With so many volunteers touching so many lives we though it appropriate to give everyone the opportunity to recognize and be recognized. There is a nomination box in the reception area where you can place your ballots, or you could write us a note telling us of a voluteer you consider deserving. Then on the last Friday of the month one volunteer is chosen at random. The program has been very successful, and everyone nominated is honored with their name on the wall of fame in the reception area for the entire month. Volunteers have been nominated by staff, clients, youth, neighbors, and other volunteers. Please continue to nominate.

May	Denise Thompson		Food Volunteer
June	Barbara Brush		Receptionist / Board Member
July	Eric McKnight		Youth Volunteer
August	Bob Carter		Delivery Volunteer

Veggin' Out

Veggin' Out was a success again this summer! Chefs from Johnson & Wales University came to our Friday bread and vegetable distribution and made quick meals on the sport with foods available that day. Neighbors had pasta primavera with garlic bread, french toast with yogurt dressing, and tossed salad with a raspberry vinaigrette.

Flea Market and Health Fair Success

Saturday, September 6 was a beautiful, sunny day and brought out hundreds of neighbors to share in bargain hunting and health information sharing. Families were entertained by Y on Wheels. Everyone was able to get valuable information from local health agencies. Providers were on hand to provide blood pressure and sun damage screenings.

It was all a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. Dozens of volunteers helped to make the event enjoyable. Health agency representatives, hot dog grillers, flea market sellers all deserve our thanks. MAP helped to clean up and G-SEC coordinated youth games. Much of the day was set up the previous Friday with help from Liberty Mutual, an insurance company from Providence, RI. Eight employees spent the day with us as part of United Way's Day of caring.

Would you like to make a donation, but can never decide on an amount?

Here's an idea of what it takes to keep Neighborhood Ministries ministrering to the neighborhood

$20 makes 200 copies of letters to go home to parents, information to go out to neighbors.

$50 keeps the gas or electricity on in an apartment.

$75 buys healthy snacks for the youth program for a week.

$177 buys a case of toner for the copier.

$200 provides a scholarshiop for one child for ten weeks in the afterschool program.

$350 is most of our monthly food pantry budget (excluding food donations).

$5000 would buy us a new phone system.

Consider making a planned gift to Neighborhood Ministries. Call (401) 461-7509 for more information

Donations to Neighborhood Ministries can be made online!

Unique Gift

Neighborhood Ministries has special gift cards available if you want to send a monetary gift in memory of or in honor of a special friend or relative. Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, Christmas, any occasion. Send your donation, let us know the name and address of the person you want remembered and for what occasion.

Staff

Wanda S. Michaelson, Executive Director
Maria E. Cimini, Assistant Director
Grace M. Wilcox, Direct Services Coordinator
Bobbi Houllahan, Minority Health Coordinator
Jen Ward, Louie's Place Coordinator
Cynthia Rwabahinga, Louie's Place Assistant
Tina Maneca, WORD Program Coordinator

Our mission

Our mission is to meet essential needs, enhance the quality of life for children and adults, encourage self-worth and self-sufficiency and foster community pride in a neighborhood of diverse ethnic, racial and social backgrounds.

Neighborhood Ministries staff travels!

We would love to speak at your church service, coffee hour, youth group, women's or men's society, or civic organization. Call (401) 461-7509 to schedule a speaker.