Bits & Pieces

From the Director

Bible readings for Ascension and Pentacost emphasize both "oneness" and "diversity." Jesus prays, "Keep them safe… so that they may be one just as you and I are one." John 17:11 At Pentacost the Apostles receive the gift of tongues to speak to people in every language, and Paul was sent out to the Greek and even Latin world to spread the good news.

South Providence Neighborhood Ministries struggles with this "oneness" and "diversity" on a daily basis. Our neighborhood is racially and ethnically diverse: 52% Hispanic, 21% Black, 12% White, 9% Asian, 4% two or more races, and 2% other. The median income is $21,616 - a decline of about 11% since 1989. Out of a total population of 38,718, 6,210 are children under age 18. We are diverse. Yet we all care about the health and welfare of our children, our families, our neighbors, and our neighborhood. We work together to spread love and peace and make life better for each one, regardless of our differences. This is not easy, but it is wonderfully fulfilling and enriching. Thank you for your support in all the infinite ways, large and small, that you support us.

Faithfully, Wanda

Happy Days Summer Camp, July 7 - August 15

What does summer mean to you? Lemonade? Going to the beach? Mosquitoes? Picnics? Volunteering at Happy Days? We would love to have you join our neighborhood youth in summer adventure. This year's program will run Monday-Friday from 8:30 - 12:30. Children join us daily for breakfast and lunch. We need volunteers (adults, teens, families, youth groups) to go with our youth to the swimming pool, soccer field, baseball field, Children's Museum, community garden and waterpark. Or you can stay with youth at SPNM, play on computers, do arts & crafts, cook and play games. Have fun! Come once, for a week, every week, whatever your schedule allows. We love to see you. Please call Maria to sign up, 401-461-7509.

Saturday, September 6, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
It's the Flea Market and Health Fair!

Please join us. Buy something for yourself. Pick up some health information. Have your blood pressure tested. It is a fun day for the whole family. There are games and prizes for children.

Rent a flea market table for $15 or a space for $10. Or donate to the Neighborhood Ministries flea market table - bed linens, blankets, furniture, dishes, small appliances, videos, toys, but no clothing, shoes or computers. Bring donations in during the first week of September.

Volunteers are needed to set up Friday, September 5, to set up and clean up on Saturday and to work at either the health fair or food or flea market tables on Saturday. Please call Maria for more information.

OT Interns Working Overtime

Kim Formby, a member of First Baptist Church in America and internship coordinator for Quinnipac College and New England Technical Institute made student occupational therapists available to Louie's Place. The students, working closely with Kim, created learning groups for elementary aged youth with attention difficulty. The groups helped the youth learn to regulate their attention span, and helped build cooperation and team work skills. We look forward to working with more occupational therapy interns.

Healthy Person - Healthy Family - Healthy Neighborhood

Friday, October 17, this year's Fall Dinner and Silent Auction returns to the Quonset O Club in North Kingstown. Hors d'oeuveres and silent auction begin at 6 p.m. and diner at 7 p.m. This year Amica Insurance, Juanita Bedard, retired sewing coordinator and all sewing volunteers will be honored for their long and generous support of Neighborhood Ministries. Patricia Nolan, MD, MPH, Director of Health for the state of Rhode Island will speak about individual and community health and well being. Barbara Morse will return as emcee and Stephen Martorella will be on the keyboard. There will be over a hundred silent auction items. Please join us. Tickets are just $35. Invitations will be mailed in September.

Highlights

• Presented free performance of Triple Decker by Marc Leavitt wth discussion
• Honored Johnson & Wales University, Gloria Turner & volunteer receptionists, Amy Snyder at fall dinner, "Weaving Connections"
• Held first Louie's Place Youth Leadership Conference
• Fall Health Fair, Flea Market & Carnival, over 420 attended
• Grace Wilcox received First Place Community Services Award from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
• Organized Louie's Place Advisory Committee
• Recognized as Model Volunteer Program

Statistics

• 5,705 emergency food bags
• 3,374 families received bread and produce
• 386 Thanksgiving food boxes
• Christmas for 1,140 children
• Rent/utility help for 342 households
• 387 layettes/diapers/formula
• 759 SERVE packages purchased
• Distributed 12,564 health ed pieces
• 4.226 attended 79 health workshops
• 438 received diagnostic health services
• 322 individuals referred for health care
• 20 walking clubs established
• 120 youth attended Happy Days
• 73 camperships obtained for youth

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.

Special Thanks

To Bryant College and Barry Dana for providing our youth with transportation, refreshments, and the opportunity to attend a basketball game this winter!

WORD Tobacco youth group performed for Annual Meeting!

Outside it was cold, but Thursdays were Hot!

This year Latin Dance classes heated up Thursday nights from January through May! Dozens of neighbors and volunteers attended classes. Dancers brought friends and family members as they had fun, learned new moves and danced their way to physical fitness. Now, we are all outside, walking, walking, walking. Join us, June 7, July 12, August 6!

What's Cooking?

May 14, six neighbors graduated from the latest cooking class term, "Eating Right" by Operation Frontline, RI Community Food Bank. Victoria Disla, Maria Jimenez, Mercedes Morales, Julia Suazo, Maria Tizol, and Luz Ulloa came together for six weeks and learned to prepare tofu lasagna, carrot soup and many other dishes. They were taught nutritional information and budgeting information as well. Congratulations, ladies!

May 21 was the last class for the after-school youth working with Johnson & Wales student chefs led by faculty chef, Linda Kane. For three months the students taught our youth cooking, cleanliness, and safety while preparing, among other things, stuffed potato skins, quesadillas, salsa and apple turnovers.

We look forward to the summer's Veggin' Out program, which will take place July 18 & 25 and August 1. Johnson & Wales chefs join us for Friday produce distribution and show neighbors how to use the items available that day to create tasty treats.

Welcome

New Staff Member: Cynthia Rwabahinga is our new Louie's Place Assistant. Cindy recently moved here from Lawrence, MA. She now lives in the neighborhood.

New Board Members: Richard Akinnusotu, Virginia Gomez Bernstein, Janet Essex, Dr. Margaret Munroe, Samuel Wowah. We anticipate great things to come from our new relationship.

Good Bye

Raquel Hernandez, Louie's Place Assistant, left in May for new employment We wish her all the best.

Board members Mercedes Monteiro (President), Maria Antonelli, Eunice Gardner, Ted Hallenbeck (Treasurer), and Doris Randall, retired this year. Thank you for your years of dedicated service.

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
@Peace Taylor, WORD 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.