Bits & Pieces

From the Director

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is here already. The new program year is off and running. As usual, we are facing many new challenges and many opportunities.

First, though, I want to thank all the churches, business and community groups and all the individuals who responded to our emergency plea for help to keep our food pantry stocked this summer. Thanks to you we were able to provide ample, balanced food boxes to all the neighborhood families who came to us for help during these critical months when all the children were home from school.

I also want to thank all the wonderful volunteers who helped out with our summer day camp program. This was the first year we ran the program for the full day, from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Everyone had a great time.

Now the after school program is back in session, exercise and health programs are underway and it is time to sign up to volunteer for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall rise up on wings as the eagles.” So with God’s help, we shall work together to meet the challenges and opportunities to minister to Jesus in our neighbors here in South Providence.

Faithfully,
Wanda

YOUth Create Change Neighborhood Ministries Fall Dinner A BIG SUCCESS!

Tomas Ramirez, Assistant Super-intendent of Providence Schools, told a packed room of over 250 people about his experiences growing up in Southside Providence. He gave credit for his success to his parents, church and community groups.

MetLife Auto & Home received the award for corporate sponsorship for their gifts of money, goods, services and many volunteers. MetLife prints the popular SPNM holiday cards (new designs available this year). Andre Howell, accepting the award, talked of the importance of establishing partnerships.

Marguerite Thomas was honored for her many years of leadership and continuing volunteer service to SPNM. Marguerite said, “Working with this organization …means so much to me because this manner of giving is comparable to sharing with a neighbor through tough times and respecting their right, their need to be able to make choices for some things on some days in their life.

The silent and live auctions raised over $11,000 for SPNM programs. Thanks to MC Barbara Morse Silva and to Stephen Martorella for lovely dinner music. Program book ads raised $7630. Thanks to Amica for printing the program book.

ANNUAL FUND DRIVE BEGINS
$$$$ GOAL IS $70,000 $$$

At the Fall Dinner, Janet Essex, Chair of Fund Development, announced the kick-off of SPNM’s 2004 Annual Fund Drive.
This is an exciting year of transition and growth for SPNM. The youth program is now licensed by the State. Our emergency and self-help programs are serving more people than ever. Our health promotion program is winning nationwide recognition as a model grassroots program effective in improving people’s lives. To meet these opportunities we have established a goal of $70,000, a 20% increase, for this drive.

Janet announced 100% of the Board of Directors has already pledged and surpassed their $ goal for this drive.
If we do not have your gift or pledge by November 29, volunteers will be calling you.

Remember, a gift by Dec. 31 will help us get more money from the Feinstein match.

Holiday Cards For Sale

New Christmas/holiday or blank note cards showcasing the artwork of Louie’s Place youth are now available.

Prices remain:

1 package (10 cards) for $8.00
3 packages (30 cards) for $21.00
5 packages (50 cards) for $30.00

Call 461-7509 today to place your order.

Louie’s Place – Day Camp

For the first time ever, SPNM offered a full-day program for school age youth. In addition to fun days at the pool & water park, going to a Pawsox game, attending IMAX theater, the Roger Williams ZOO and the beach, our youth had fun days making puppets, performing a play, reading, cooking and baking, having their own SPNM Olympics, a bike rodeo, Karate classes, playing computer games, singing and dancing, having funky hat day, backwards day, arts and crafts. They also learned problem solving skills and anger management. Also, they walked over 1,000 miles, accumulatively, as part of the mileage club.

This is a story by Camper Jason Pinargote, Age 9:
“ Put Attitude Aside & Don’t loose your temperature!”
“All kids have an attitude. They can be mean, annoying, rude, obnoxious or selfish. The important thing to know is that they need to put that attitude to the side. For example, before now, I used to get a really bad attitude with the staff. Then one day, things changed. I had just gotten into an argument with my friend from camp. I was upset and walked out of the basketball court, but not before tackling him for trying to choke me. Amy helped me to calm down and I felt a little better after. I decided to play with an older kid from the program and not go back on the court for a while.

While we were on the monkey bars, I spotted a boy from my old school that I used to get into a lot of trouble with. He came over to the monkey bars and started to call me mean things. That was when I knew I had a choice. I could have said something back to him and gotten in trouble again. Instead, I decided to put my attitude to the side, ignore him and go tell Amy. After I told her, she told me that she was SO proud of me. I knew I had done the right thing because I felt better about myself and happy that I did not make a decision that would get me into trouble. I felt so good, I decided to try it all the time. My junior counselor thought I did such a great job, that I even got a good sportsmanship award for my team during Olympic week. So remember that no matter what happens, “put your attitude aside & don’t loose your temperature”.

Volunteer Profile: Denise Thompson

Denise has won the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island’s “OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH” award. In addition to a brunch with her peers at SPNM, she will be the honored guest of BankNewport and VCRI at a dinner in November. She is one of twelve recipients, one of which will be chosen for volunteer of the year. She has also won the VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD” from Positive Promotions company AND she is a finalist in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI’s Community Heroes Award! How did she win all these accolades?

Denise is a volunteer at SPNM, primarily in the food program but, also in many health, youth and fundraising programs. This year, she put in more than 125 hours per month and assumed the responsibility of ordering supplies and distribution of food while Grace was on sick leave. Denise proved to be diligent, caring & creative. She called upon her life experiences to deal with difficult situations and kept the program running very smoothly in what could have been a very difficult time for SPNM. She did all this with a smile, pleasant personality, compassion and kind words and without regard to personal gain. We’re thankful for her dedication.

Thanks to Day Camp Volunteers!

Marilyn Gustafson, Deb Kitzing, Mike Simas, Chelsea Toder, Allison Miller, Dadri Lepore, Jenna Arruda, Bonnie Weeden, Vi & Paul Becker, Judy Ferrara, Liz & Joseph Cimini, Mary Beth Conway, Gina Turchetta, Mike Mancini, LaSalle Theatre Group & our Junior Counselors.

Planning for Holiday Programs

Thanksgiving

We anticipate 400 families will have happier holidays due to the work of Neighborhood Ministries. We can’t do that without you. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to get youth groups, community groups, families and co-workers to come together to do God’s work. Please consider having a food drive or coming here to volunteer your time. Help make our neighbors’ holiday better.

We need turkey, canned tuna, tomato sauce, canned pineapple, corn, peas, pasta, macaroni & cheese, rice, soups, peanut butter, powdered milk packets, cake and brownie mixes, fresh potatoes, apples and carrots. Food may be delivered to Neighborhood Ministries any weekdays, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m..

We are also asking for some time.
Volunteers are an essential part of the Thanksgiving process.

PLEASE CALL JUDY at 461-7509, TO SET APPOINTMENTS TO VOLUNTEER. It takes planning and scheduling to be sure that all of our days are covered and your valuable time is wisely utilized. Volunteers are needed on Sunday Nov. 21—Wednesday, November 24th. If you are making holiday cookies or other treats, send some in to keep our volunteers nourished and in good spirits.

Christmas

Last year, your very generous donations allowed 1200 neighborhood children to receive a present from their parents or guardians on Christmas morning. We expect equal need this year and would very much appreciate your help. We are thankful that White Cross groups keep us in mind throughout the year knitting hats and collecting gifts. Please join their efforts. When you are shopping or browsing the mall pick up a gift for a child in need, it may be the only gift they receive this year. You may deliver it unwrapped to Neighborhood Ministries for our Santa’s Workshop.

Parents select one gift for each child, newborn to eighteen years of age. Items needed are:

Sports Socks, hats & gloves, all sizes (especially needed are extra large ones for older teens). Team Logo Caps are very popular! Board games, videos, basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, handheld electronic games, Barbie dolls, baby dolls, toddler push toys, Tonka toys, legos, teen make-up kits, remote control cars, watches, pocket books, anything to brighten a child’s or teen’s day.

Volunteers make all this possible.

Please call Judy to arrange for a few volunteer hours from the following schedule:

• Sunday, Dec 19, 12:30 pm – 3:30 Carrying boxes downstairs from 4th floor.
• Monday, Dec 20, 9 am—4 pm Unpack, set up and sort gifts
• Tuesday, Dec 21, 9 am—8:30 pm, Unpack, set up distribute and restock gifts
• Wednesday, Dec 22, , 9:30 am—8:30 pm Distribution and restock,
• Thursday, Dec 23, 9 am—1 pm Pack up, carry boxes up to 4th floor, clean up.

Best Wishes For A Healthy New Year

At Neighborhood Ministries, we aren’t just wishing for a healthy new year. Bobbi Houllahan is working hard with an active Broad Street Path to Health Coalition and many faithful volunteers to promote healthier lifestyles.
On September 11, the annual Fall Health Fair and Flea Market filled all available space downstairs and the parking lot. The Family Van, Providence Fire Department, and other health providers provided information, and almost every one won a raffle prize.

This fall SPNM started two “Healthy Weight” support groups, one on Monday evenings and one on Wednesday mornings, to meet the expressed need for local, free groups where local people feel comfortable.

SPNM offers free exercise programs Monday evenings, Wednesdays at noon, and Friday mornings.
For our youth we provide a tobacco prevention through empowerment WORD program, a mileage club and daily physical exercise.

SPNM’s Broad Street Path to Health is cited as a “best practice” in the “Rails-to-Trails Physical Activity & Public Health, Best Practices for Improving a Community’s Activity Quotient” (www.railstrails.org).

Evaluators for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (which funded Path to Health grants) and FASTEN (The Faith and Service Technical Education Network) were both impressed with SPNM’s health programs.

For more information, call 461-7509, extension 109, or check out our web site at www.spnm.org.

Southside Success Stories

A neighbor who says she never really exercised at all came to SPNM for a nutrition program. She stayed for a free exercise program. She started coming to Latin Dancercize and Pilates and “Walk away the Pounds.” She liked the exercise, she says, and the comfortable atmos-phere. She’s been attending regularly for months, getting a number of her friends to attend as well.

Wish List

3 floor display easels
new computer with windows xp
laser printer printer cartridges for HP 5550
Epson Stylus Color 740 printer cartridges

cereal - hot or cold
peanut butter
tuna fish
canned beans
canned corn, peas or carrots
pasta
rice
tomatoes or tomato sauce

freezer bags (Qt/gallon size)
plastic gloves – large size

holiday presents for children
holiday presents for teens
socks for children & youth
hats and scarves
gloves, esp. large, waterproof

Volunteers

Special Thanks To Fall Dinner Committee:

Pat Jaehnig, Chair
Christine Cox
Charlotte Decker
Polly Erickson
Linda Mendillo

Auction Committee

Debby Anderson
Nancy Bancroft
Judy Brown
Maria Cimini
Winnie Hitchen
Linda Martin
Nancy Seavor
Donna Wolcott

Auction Assistants

Don Anderson
Whitney Bancroft
Andy Erickson
Jane Hendricks
Judy Ventura
John Wolcott
Singles in M’Ocean

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. Use them to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, Christmas and other special occasions.

Send your donation and let us know the name and address of the person you want remembered and for what occasion. Or come by and pick out the card yourself from our selection.

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.