|
Our next host week:
March 30 - April 5
Our
next host week is Mar 30 through Apr 5. Please mark this week on
your calendars and whenever you know which day/time would be
best for you, just let me know; you don't have to wait for
me to contact you.
If you know of anyone who
would like to become a volunteer, please let me know or have
them call me (673-8409).
Hi Group ~
On Monday afternoon, March 3, when Amy (mom), 3 year old
Hannah & 20-month old Brenden move in, Anne-Marie House will
reach its capacity of 24 guests. This will be our 8th family
living here, totaling 10 adults and 14 children. Of the 14
children, 10 of them are under the age of 5! If there is
anyone who could pick up a package of diapers and/or wipes
when you're at the store, please do so - you can only
imagine how many differently-sized diapers we now need to
stock our shelves.
I'm always grateful for all you do to support our program. I
only wish you could have been in my office yesterday to hear
first hand from a social service provider who toured AMH for
the first time and remarked several times how she could just
feel the love in this house and how surprised she was that
this place "wasn't institutional at all" - and I agree!
Thanks to all of you who are ending homelessness one family
at a time,
Laurie
Anne-Marie House in 2007 hosted more guests than ever: the
number of families grew from 13 in 2006 to 25 in 2007, and
the number of guests increased by 68 percent: from 15 adults
and 29 children to 31 adults and 43 children.
The goal is to help families achieve independence as soon as
possible. The average length of stay lessened from 160 days
in 2006 to 90 days, due in part to hiring a second staff
member, June St. Lawrence, who is the family support
coordinator.
Of
the 13 families that graduated from AMH in 2007, ten
families (77 percent) attained housing independence. We
provided 20,736 meals and 6,912 bed nights of shelter in
2007. Both represent a 47 percent increase from the previous
year. And with the exception of the two paid staff, the
hospitality at Anne-Marie House came from volunteers, who
put in over 15,000 hours.
The numbers are important, but they don’t tell the whole
story. They can’t capture the atmosphere at Anne-Marie
House, where children are happy once again, feeling secure
and at home as their parents face their challenges with the
support and encouragement of Laurie, June and the
volunteers.
Parents help each other out with childcare and in other
ways. Birthdays and holidays are celebrated. Former guests
stop by to visit. And the littlest ones provide their own
special magic every day for guests and volunteers.
Our church and Messiah Lutheran hosted during Christmas
week. Volunteers from both churches worked around their own
holiday plans and found time to serve. Our Mothers’ Faith
Group donated gift cards that helped parents to purchase
Christmas gifts for their children.
We had a Christmas party on the 23rd, complete with a visit
from Santa Claus (courtesy of a St. Kathryn’s volunteer).
Ninette White and her family came with gingerbread houses
and everything needed to decorate them, which proved to be a
very popular activity. Party platters made dinner a festive
event.
Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua helped us with volunteer
coverage on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our Jane
Heineke and Kallie Phelps helped Christmas Day.
Thank you, one and all!
During this year, please keep our families at Anne-Marie
House in your prayers. And to Church Council, World Service
Committee, Woman’s Association and the many individuals who
support this vital program, thank you on behalf of the
families who can once again look to the future with hope.
Carolyn Caprioglio
673-8409 or cpapyrusp@aol.com
|
