Bits & Pieces

From the Director

I hope you received a personal letter from Doris Findlay, President of South Providence Neighborhood Ministries Board of Directors, updating you on what is happening at Neighborhood Ministries and telling you of my retirement as of May 31st.

Growth and transitions are always stressful. But you have a very strong, active Board whose members are personally committed to ministering to this neighborhood, especially to those who are poor. This is reflected in our new mission statement, our ambitious Annual Fund Goal, and program improvements in every area – from emergency services to Louie’s Place youth programs to health programs and self-help programs like Serve New England, English as a Second Language and Sewing.

You can help by maintaining or increasing your monetary and volunteer support and getting all your friends and relatives involved. Nothing can be more enjoyable and rewarding than making a positive difference in someone’s life while spending time with great people.

Thanks to all of you loyal supporters and volunteers, I can look forward to retirement with a clear conscience and complete faith that these wonderful ministries will continue to grow and serve God and our neighbors ever better in the months and years ahead.

Faithfully,
Wanda

Annual Fund Update
Goal: $70,000.00

The Annual Fund Drive began with the Fall Dinner October 15, 2004, and will continue through May 31, 2005.

As of January 21, Neighborhood Ministries has raised gifts and pledges of $52,000, over 69% of our goal.

Your help is needed to raise the final $18,000 needed to meet the goal and serve our neighbors.

You can donate a gift in honor of a friend, contribute to the Pat Halsall Scholarship Fund (see page 3) for Louie’s Place, use your charge card, sign up for automatic withdrawal, or choose another option.

Third Annual Spring Benefit Concert

This year Holy Apostles Catholic Church has agreed to host our Third Annual Spring Benefit Concert. It will be held on Friday, March 4th, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM at Holy Apostles Church, 800 Pippin Orchard Road, Cranston, RI (Scituate Ave. & Pippin Orchard Rd.)

The program includes

• The Calvin Presbyterian Jubellation Ringers
• The Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir
• The Greenville Ensemble
• The Gregorian Concert Choir from the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
• The Holy Apostles Church Adult Choir
• Mark Colozzi and the Life Teen Choir of the Holy Apostles Church

Please bring canned goods for the Neighborhood Ministries food pantry.
A free will offering will be received.

Join us for refreshments after the concert!!
For more information call 461-7509.

Louie’s Place

At Louie’s Place, we emphasize academic achievement, learning non-violent problem solving skills, and leadership development. These enable our youth to feel good about themselves and avoid getting involved in gangs and illegal activities.

This year Louie’s Place will run a full-day program during February and April public school vacations. Thanks to a grant from Ocean State Charities Trust, we are planning some great field trips.

Reading is Fundamental at Louie’s Place. With a grant from Reading is Fundamental RI we are enabling our youth to choose books to add to their own libraries.

In addition to this focus on reading, we have a homework club, with prizes for children who do all their homework every day and get it checked – without whining. Favorite prizes include gift coupons to Burger King or McDonalds, Blockbusters, Strawberry’s, etc. needed to help neighborhood children who want to come to Louie’s Place but whose parents cannot afford the cost, especially for full-days.

Direct Services

Neighborhood Ministries has received a 21 month grant from United Way RI to expand our Direct Services program with a part-time bi-lingual assistant and additional funds for emergency food, rent and heating assistance. The grant year begins in April.

In the meantime, our phone and doorbell are ringing constantly with neighbors who need such emergency help. We are helping as many as we can with the resources we have, thanks to the Adelaide Dawson Lynch Memorial Trust, Dexter Donation Fund, Feinstein Family Fund, Frank B. Hazard Charity Fund, Good Friday Walk, and Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island.
Food is again extremely tight. Food donations are down, requiring us to make more purchases at the retail level.

Partner in Philanthropy

Doris W. Findlay had her name in lights on the marquee of the Providence Performing Arts Center on November 23rd as Neighborhood Ministries Partner in Philanthropy.

As President Doris has been indefatigable in increasing our fundraising capacity by bringing in new donors, playing a major role in every event and working hard with fund development and other board committees. A cheerful person who cares deeply and personally about the organization, she is good at getting everyone she knows (that’s a lot of people) involved in supporting it.

Doris is committed to continuing this partnership. Currently she is participating in a mentoring program, along with Judy Ventura, in fundraising through the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Health News

This fall Neighborhood Ministries began Healthy Weight Support Groups to address the national problem of overweight and obesity. The Wednesday format includes time for group support, stress management, nutrition education and walking exercise.

With support from the Providence In-town YMCA, we are providing on-site bilingual pilates every Friday plus a six-week Volunteer Fitness Leader Training. St. Joseph Hospital will provide CPR training for participants. Latin Dancercise with instructor Arlene Ayala is Mondays at 5:30 PM, with support from Neighborhood Health Plan RI.

This fall 62 adults participated in various exercise programs with 19 attending 6 or more sessions.

Spring Walking Conference, Saturday, April 30, will celebrate Minority Health Month. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Wellness Van will be on-site to conuct health screenings. Information, demonstrations, prizes and light refreshments will highlight the day.

Feinstein Challenge
March 15 – April 30, 2005

Alan Shawn Feinstein is donating $1 million to help fight hunger. Monetary and food donations during this period will help Neighborhood Ministries receive a bigger share of the $1 million equal to our proportion of the total raised by all participants.

Remember South Providence Neighborhood Ministries in your will. Call Wanda if you are interested in discussing the many options available.

Pat Halsall Memorial Scholarship Fund

This Scholarship Fund honors Pat Halsall, first Executive Director of South Providence Neighborhood Ministries, who died February 20, 2004. Pat had a special place in her heart for the neighborhood children and their struggles to succeed despite poverty and other barriers. Donations are being accepted. Note Halsall Scholarship Fund on your check or call 461-7509 for options.

3 Great Events in 2005
Save These Dates!

Friday, March 4, 7:00—8:30 PM
3rd Annual Benefit and Concert
Holy Apostles Catholic Church
800 Pippin Orchard Road, Cranston

Tuesday, May 3 , 6:30—8:30 pm
Annual Meeting & Volunteer Recognition
Covered Dish Dinner with Mini Auction and Door Prizes
Phillips Memorial Baptist Church
565 Pontiac Avenue , Cranston

Friday, October 14, 6:00 PM Auction, 7:00 PM Dinner
Quonset “O” Club

Save These Dates

Saturday, April 30—Walking Conference
10:00 AM—2:00 PM

Friday, May 13
Farewell Reception for Wanda
5:00—7:00 P.M.

Thank You!

We begin 2005 with a big thank you to all the individuals, churches, women’s groups, youth groups, civic groups, schools and businesses who helped make this past Thanksgiving and Christmas brighter for our neighbors. We provided Thanksgiving food for 387 families (1,465 individuals). Through Santa’s Workshop we helped 423 families provide presents for 1,304 children.

Special Thanks to All our 2004 Volunteers!

Special Volunteers Honored during 2004

While all our volunteers are special, four individuals and one group were given special recognition during 2004.

Barbara Brush, Doris Randall and Denise Thompson were honored for extraordinary service to the food program at Governor Carcieri’s “Unsung Hero Recognition Program” in February. Each received a medal and a bound citation.

Denise Thompson received a Volunteer of the Month award from Volunteer Center of RI for her work with the food program at an awards brunch in September and was honored at VCRI’s “Tribute to Volunteerism” in November.

Marguerite Thomas was the honoree at SPNM’s annual fall dinner for her work on the Board, as newsletter edition, with food pantry and Serve programs, and as a volunteer receptionist.

MetLife Auto & Home was also honored at the annual fall dinner for the teams of volunteers coming to SPNM since 1997 and for its many donations of inkind and monetary support.

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

Reflecting God’s Love and in response to our neighborhood’s diverse needs, South Providence Neighborhood Ministries provides services and opportunities that encourage self-worth and build a safe and just community of caring, respect and cooperation.

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.