Our hour-long, non-committal Orientation Sessions (Trainings) are a good time to come and find out what the Homeless Shelter is all about. Feel free to stop by and/or advertise these dates to others!
Tues, Sept 7, 6:30pm
Thurs, Sept 16, 6:30pm
Wed, Sept 22, 10am
Tues, Oct 5, 6:30pm
Thurs, Oct 14, 6:30pm
Wed, Oct 20, 10am
Tues, Nov 9, 6:30pm
Thurs, Nov 18, 6:30pm
Wed, Nov 24, 10am
Thurs, Dec 2, 6:30pm
Tues, Dec 14, 6:30pm
Wed, Dec 21, 10am
Call if you need directions (316) 283-7711
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.
The man slowly looked up.
This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.
His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....
To his amazement, the woman continued standing.
She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.
"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.
"Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it..."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business..."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled.... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."
"Oh."
The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I
saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said... "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for
you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus.... He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....
"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And...And thank you for the coffee."
The man slowly looked up.
This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.
His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....
To his amazement, the woman continued standing.
She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.
"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.
"Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it..."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business..."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled.... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."
"Oh."
The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I
saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said... "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for
you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus.... He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....
"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And...And thank you for the coffee."
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
HCHS on the Silver Screen
Check out a video that was put together for us:
http://sharing.theflip.com/session/e364544bc5f33f4db1d88e5fe8bc9f2b/video/15540197
Feel free to share!!
http://sharing.theflip.com/session/e364544bc5f33f4db1d88e5fe8bc9f2b/video/15540197
Feel free to share!!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Just to keep you on your toes (and to try to be more user-friendly and convenient) we have re-arranged AGAIN!
Here's how our office looks now:
The Intake desk is right in front of the door, first thing you come to, so It's very convenient. On the cabinets behind the desk are the intake files and other notes, inside are toiletries and necessities residents might ask for. Over-the-counter medications are still in the desk drawers. most other necessities are on the big shilves which are now in the volunteer bed room:
We have a cozy little spot to relax and hang out, mostly for our greatly loved overnight volunteers to be comfortable and still close enough to be involved with anything that may be happening in the shelter:
We now have a conference area to have meetings, trainings, or one-on-one ministry when needed:
And then, all of this made room for a designated office area, where all of the administrative and communication business of the shelter can be accomplished in a semi-professional manner:
We hope you like our "new" office. If you have any suggestions, please tell us, as making it better was the reason we changed it in the first place!
Here's how our office looks now:
The Intake desk is right in front of the door, first thing you come to, so It's very convenient. On the cabinets behind the desk are the intake files and other notes, inside are toiletries and necessities residents might ask for. Over-the-counter medications are still in the desk drawers. most other necessities are on the big shilves which are now in the volunteer bed room:
We have a cozy little spot to relax and hang out, mostly for our greatly loved overnight volunteers to be comfortable and still close enough to be involved with anything that may be happening in the shelter:
We now have a conference area to have meetings, trainings, or one-on-one ministry when needed:
And then, all of this made room for a designated office area, where all of the administrative and communication business of the shelter can be accomplished in a semi-professional manner:
We hope you like our "new" office. If you have any suggestions, please tell us, as making it better was the reason we changed it in the first place!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Summer Training Opportunities!
What better thing to do over the summer than to volunteer at a homeless shelter? Come to a training to see who we are, what we do, and how you could fit in :)
June 17 - 6:30 pm
June 22 - 6:30 pm
June 24 - 10 am
July 15 - 6:30 pm
July 20 - 6:30 pm
July 28 - 10 am
August 12 - 6:30 pm
August 17 - 6:30 pm
August 18 - 10 am
June 17 - 6:30 pm
June 22 - 6:30 pm
June 24 - 10 am
July 15 - 6:30 pm
July 20 - 6:30 pm
July 28 - 10 am
August 12 - 6:30 pm
August 17 - 6:30 pm
August 18 - 10 am
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
I realize it is hard to supply a home to go to when you are faced with a homeless person in need. Truly though we as a community are doing just that with our shelter and may not even realize the impact we have on the individuals who pass through these doors. Every kindness and every idle word is scrutinized here, every action and reaction is judged for its worthiness to be included as part of a home. I say part of a home because you and the community are a part of every ones home who live in and around Newton. That is why I stayed here in Newton, that is why I am proud to call Newton home. You see when I came here in 2007 I was the one passing through these doors fully expecting, and content, to meander in for my stay and out again when I was told my time was through.
This place was different and I was more than intrigued to stick around and find out why. I found, here at the shelter, neighbors who were neighborly. Guidance was offered without an underlying tone of, ' this is my job that I need to do, and then I go home until I have to be here again'. Here and only here I was treated as a man with a need not only a number to fill a bed, not a dollar sign for the books. Food at this shelter was a blessing from people who truly cared that we ate good home cooked meals. Here in Newton I saw Jesus living not just preached. These are the Qualities that make up the basis of a home and these are what we here in Newton have. Every community is the home offered. The shelter is a step in building or even rebuilding a relationship that is needed to make where we stay, home.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Several months ago, I made contact with one of our team leaders to get the story on the beautiful acts of God and nature blooming in the front yard of the homeless shelter, and here is her reply:"Last year we thinned our ever growing mess of perennials and that is what became of it. We had been outdone by a group from out of state the year before with cute and expensive annuals. So, we know that landscaping is done on a five year plan, and used free flowers thinned from local beds and donated mulch!
It was the Newton Christian Youth Group: Room 5
These lillies will spread and eventually cover the area with blooms. We also attempted iris and lilly of the valley around the tree...but some were plucked out when freshly planted last year...so not many survived! Just means there is more opportunity for others to donate from their yards/beds!"
Thank you, Newton Christian Church. Your work has and will have impact for years. May God bless you as you have blessed us.
Thank you, Newton Christian Church. Your work has and will have impact for years. May God bless you as you have blessed us.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Harvey County Homeless Shelter, Inc. (HCHS) Board of Directors I invite you to become part of theHomeless Ministry in Harvey County. Since March, 2005, HCHS has housed, fed, and cared for over 700 residents dependant on the hundreds of faithful volunteers and the churches which provide support on a regular basis through gifts of:
• Prayer for the missionaries, staff, board, volunteers, and residents of HCHS.
• Time: two volunteers minimum serve daily from 5p-8a, all year round. The shelter has not been closed, even for one
night since, November 1, 2005.
• Finances: it costs approximately $6,000.00/month to run the shelter; these finances are donated through individual,
corporate and congregational monetary donations.
• Meals: Volunteers provide an evening meal each night and serve 25 residents/staff/volunteers on average.
Occasionally other meals including breakfast and special Holiday lunches are provided at the shelter.
• Consumable items: many groups, individuals, and churches provide paper goods, cleaning supplies, groceries, and
other items needed to support the residents of the shelter.
• Service: HCHS is blessed by individuals, youth groups, school classes, churches and many others doing service-oriented projects to help make modifications to or maintain the facility.
In addition to the hundreds of volunteers who currently support the HCHS Ministry, we need two additional teams to manage the shelter on a day to day basis. Currently we have over 20 congregations which create eleven teams that man, feed, and care for the shelter one week a quarter; each team is comprised of 1-3 churches. The goal is to have 13 teams which each take one week per quarter to serve at HCHS. In addition to creating two new teams, there is also a desire to strengthen and provide additional volunteer support within a few of our current teams. The HCHS Ministry is seeking additional congregations to become involved by volunteering at the shelter. History shows, each team that has ever supported the ministry has started with one or a few individuals within the congregation gaining knowledge of the ministry, understanding the need, and individually making a commitment to volunteer. Then, once knowledge is gained and there is an understanding of the ministry and what is provided to the residents of the shelter, this one individual (or sometimes 2-3 individuals) also called “team leader”, then goes to their congregation and start the process of creating a team. This process must start with the Church Board approval, once the board approves, the teams almost always start to blossom and grow into the teams we know, love, and appreciate today. This process does not go forth without an individual commitment, a heart for reaching out to the lost and those in need in our community, and a devotion of time to spread the word and grow a team. The Lunch & Learn will provide a no strings attached opportunity for someone from your congregation or church board to enjoy a complimentary lunch, and listen to a presentation from the HCHS ministry team of why the homeless shelter is needed in our community, what we provide to the residents, how we are supported, the HCHS mission, etc. We hope to answer all of your questions and give you an opportunity to see the shelter and engage with the ministry team asking questions or concerns you may have.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly on my cell phone at 316.284.4205 or call Bethany Mace or Dee Spicer, Office Managers at the shelter at 316.283.7711.
Thank you for your time, we look forward to hearing from you.
Christa Jahay
Harvey County Homeless Shelter, Inc.
christa@hchs-ks.com
316.284.4205 (cell)
www.hchs-ks.com
Lunch &Learn Harvey County
Homeless Shelter, Inc.
Have you ever considered volunteering at the Harvey County Homeless Shelter (HCHS) but didn’t feel you knew quite enough
about the ministry to make a commitment or become involved? If so, the HCHS Lunch & Learn is a perfect opportunity for you to
become acquainted with the ministry’s mission and staff!
Please join the Ministry Team at the Harvey County Homeless Shelter for a complimentary lunch on either Thursday, June 18 or
Tuesday, June 30, at 12:00 noon to find out more about how you can become a part of this vital outreach in the Harvey County
Community.
The HCHS Lunch & Learn is not a training session; instead we will provide you with an opportunity to see the shelter, visit with
some of the staff and board members, and acquire a better understanding of the ministry operations. It has been encouraging to
see the greater Harvey County Community join together to aid the down-trodden of the family of God. Yet, there is an imperative
need for additional believers and churches to support the homeless ministry by creating new teams.
One of the ministry’s goals is to provide each HCHS volunteer with the understanding and proper training needed to make each
opportunity to serve at HCHS as comfortable as possible. We want every volunteer to enjoy their time serving at the shelter; to be
confident and have the knowledge to manage the shelter with ease. We want you to feel welcome, be appreciated, and leave
knowing the time you volunteered was well spent and you contributed to making a difference in someone's life. We do understand
the thought of working in a homeless shelter may be frightening. We also know schedules are hectic and merely the thought of
adding one more activity to an already overloaded agenda can be exhausting. The HCHS Lunch & Learn will provide an
opportunity for you to learn the ministries needs and see how simple it is to be come involved by physically supporting the
ministry as an individual or starting the process to create a HCHS team within your congregation.
Make plans today to join us for the upcoming HCHS Lunch and Learn!
Seats are limited; please RSVP at your earliest convenience!
For reservations or questions, please call 316.283.7711 or email at info@hchs-ks.com
RSVP by June 16th to attend the Thursday, June 18th Lunch &Learn
RSVP by June 26th to attend the Tuesday, June 30th Lunch &Learn
The Harvey County Homeless Shelter is located at 209 East Broadway in Newton
On behalf of the Harvey County Homeless Shelter, Inc. (HCHS) Board of Directors I invite you to become part of theHomeless Ministry in Harvey County. Since March, 2005, HCHS has housed, fed, and cared for over 700 residents dependant on the hundreds of faithful volunteers and the churches which provide support on a regular basis through gifts of:
• Prayer for the missionaries, staff, board, volunteers, and residents of HCHS.
• Time: two volunteers minimum serve daily from 5p-8a, all year round. The shelter has not been closed, even for one
night since, November 1, 2005.
• Finances: it costs approximately $6,000.00/month to run the shelter; these finances are donated through individual,
corporate and congregational monetary donations.
• Meals: Volunteers provide an evening meal each night and serve 25 residents/staff/volunteers on average.
Occasionally other meals including breakfast and special Holiday lunches are provided at the shelter.
• Consumable items: many groups, individuals, and churches provide paper goods, cleaning supplies, groceries, and
other items needed to support the residents of the shelter.
• Service: HCHS is blessed by individuals, youth groups, school classes, churches and many others doing service-oriented projects to help make modifications to or maintain the facility.
In addition to the hundreds of volunteers who currently support the HCHS Ministry, we need two additional teams to manage the shelter on a day to day basis. Currently we have over 20 congregations which create eleven teams that man, feed, and care for the shelter one week a quarter; each team is comprised of 1-3 churches. The goal is to have 13 teams which each take one week per quarter to serve at HCHS. In addition to creating two new teams, there is also a desire to strengthen and provide additional volunteer support within a few of our current teams. The HCHS Ministry is seeking additional congregations to become involved by volunteering at the shelter. History shows, each team that has ever supported the ministry has started with one or a few individuals within the congregation gaining knowledge of the ministry, understanding the need, and individually making a commitment to volunteer. Then, once knowledge is gained and there is an understanding of the ministry and what is provided to the residents of the shelter, this one individual (or sometimes 2-3 individuals) also called “team leader”, then goes to their congregation and start the process of creating a team. This process must start with the Church Board approval, once the board approves, the teams almost always start to blossom and grow into the teams we know, love, and appreciate today. This process does not go forth without an individual commitment, a heart for reaching out to the lost and those in need in our community, and a devotion of time to spread the word and grow a team. The Lunch & Learn will provide a no strings attached opportunity for someone from your congregation or church board to enjoy a complimentary lunch, and listen to a presentation from the HCHS ministry team of why the homeless shelter is needed in our community, what we provide to the residents, how we are supported, the HCHS mission, etc. We hope to answer all of your questions and give you an opportunity to see the shelter and engage with the ministry team asking questions or concerns you may have.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly on my cell phone at 316.284.4205 or call Bethany Mace or Dee Spicer, Office Managers at the shelter at 316.283.7711.
Thank you for your time, we look forward to hearing from you.
Christa Jahay
Harvey County Homeless Shelter, Inc.
christa@hchs-ks.com
316.284.4205 (cell)
www.hchs-ks.com
Lunch &Learn Harvey CountyHomeless Shelter, Inc.
Have you ever considered volunteering at the Harvey County Homeless Shelter (HCHS) but didn’t feel you knew quite enough
about the ministry to make a commitment or become involved? If so, the HCHS Lunch & Learn is a perfect opportunity for you to
become acquainted with the ministry’s mission and staff!
Please join the Ministry Team at the Harvey County Homeless Shelter for a complimentary lunch on either Thursday, June 18 or
Tuesday, June 30, at 12:00 noon to find out more about how you can become a part of this vital outreach in the Harvey County
Community.
The HCHS Lunch & Learn is not a training session; instead we will provide you with an opportunity to see the shelter, visit with
some of the staff and board members, and acquire a better understanding of the ministry operations. It has been encouraging to
see the greater Harvey County Community join together to aid the down-trodden of the family of God. Yet, there is an imperative
need for additional believers and churches to support the homeless ministry by creating new teams.
One of the ministry’s goals is to provide each HCHS volunteer with the understanding and proper training needed to make each
opportunity to serve at HCHS as comfortable as possible. We want every volunteer to enjoy their time serving at the shelter; to be
confident and have the knowledge to manage the shelter with ease. We want you to feel welcome, be appreciated, and leave
knowing the time you volunteered was well spent and you contributed to making a difference in someone's life. We do understand
the thought of working in a homeless shelter may be frightening. We also know schedules are hectic and merely the thought of
adding one more activity to an already overloaded agenda can be exhausting. The HCHS Lunch & Learn will provide an
opportunity for you to learn the ministries needs and see how simple it is to be come involved by physically supporting the
ministry as an individual or starting the process to create a HCHS team within your congregation.
Make plans today to join us for the upcoming HCHS Lunch and Learn!
Seats are limited; please RSVP at your earliest convenience!
For reservations or questions, please call 316.283.7711 or email at info@hchs-ks.com
RSVP by June 16th to attend the Thursday, June 18th Lunch &Learn
RSVP by June 26th to attend the Tuesday, June 30th Lunch &Learn
The Harvey County Homeless Shelter is located at 209 East Broadway in Newton
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Blessings!
On June 1 we were blessed to have a work group come to the shelter and Wow! What a great work group! From Bethel College Mennonite church....these are the things that they did for us:
1. Scrubbed the showers!!
2. Folded all the Blankets and re-stacked!!
3. Organized and cleaned all the pantry shelves in the hallway!!
4. Ran the weedeater outside and sprayed weed killing stuff!!
5. Swept off the 1/2 roof area where trash had been left!!
6. Cleaned and swept out the ramp that had collected trash!!
7. Scrubbed out ALL our trash cans!!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
news blurb
This has been a month of fluctuations. Our resident count has gone from above twenty to below twelve and back again. We have had children staying, which brings a whole different dynamic and all new concerns.
We have also gotten many improvements to the building, including a brand-new water heater. With this glorious invention we will never run out of hot water for showers, even with over twenty residents! Our ceiling in the resident area is getting finished and makes the place look so much more inviting! Over and over, our volunteers walk in and say, "Whoa - it looks so good in here! Wow, it’s changed so much since I was last here." So if anyone has not been down to the shelter for several months, we would invite you to come and see just how good it looks.
We have also gotten many improvements to the building, including a brand-new water heater. With this glorious invention we will never run out of hot water for showers, even with over twenty residents! Our ceiling in the resident area is getting finished and makes the place look so much more inviting! Over and over, our volunteers walk in and say, "Whoa - it looks so good in here! Wow, it’s changed so much since I was last here." So if anyone has not been down to the shelter for several months, we would invite you to come and see just how good it looks.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Dollar a Day * $1.00 * Dollar a Day
The Harvey County Homeless Shelter, Inc. is seeking 100 people to pledge one dollar a day for one year. The goal is to raise $3,000.00 per month in committed individual financial support. These monetary pledges will provide added financial security to the ministry of Harvey County Homeless Shelter, Inc. Currently the ministry expenditures average $6,000.00 per month. The receipt of $3,000.00 per month in committed individual pledges, will allow the ministry to focus more on the needs of our residents and less on fundraising. Your financial commitment will provided increased financial security in paying our monthly expenditures. Additionally, your financial commitment will assist the ministry in meeting the needs of our residents with sustained quality of life. Daily, we are faced with requests for extremely basic resident needs including mental and physical health issues such as medication needs and medical exam fees; fuel to get to work or to another destination; eye examinations; tooth extractions; bus/train tickets; etc. As much as we desire to assist, the limited funding does not allow the ministry to meet every need of every resident.
We currently receive tremendous support from the Harvey County Community including gifts of time, donations, monetary gifts, and prayer. Our goal is to make each of these gifts more consistent. Our prayer: if you are financially able or willing to make a sacrifice, will you commit to supporting HCHS on a regular monthly financial basis, in turn providing assurance to the Board, Staff, and Teams of HCHS that you believe in the Homeless Ministry taking place right here in Harvey County!
To make a one year commitment to this exciting Dollar a Day endeavor, click on the image below, print off the information form, complete the bottom portion of the form and return to at your earliest convenience to:
HCHS, Inc.
P.O. Box 978
Newton, KS 67114
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The theme for me this past week has been, "Where are these people's parents!?" So many of the homeless people at the shelter are from this area, if not this town. They have family here. So why are they living in a shelter?
We have young men trying to get off drugs, who need relational encouragement and familial support.
We have young women with babies who have no idea how to care for their child and need the help and guidance of an experienced mother.
We have young couples who have children and court dates in Denver but travel for a week in the elements to come stay here just because it's a safe place.
I am currently living with my parents, and appreciate the love, support, encouragement, and food they give me. And I keep asking everyone I work with, "Where are these people's parents!?"
And then I find out.
Their mother's house is a crack house, and probably the reason they got addicted in the first place.
Their mother complains that the child she raised is too lazy and does nothing to help around the house.
Their father takes a shovel to their heads just to get them out of the house.
Their parents call secretly and tell their daughters to leave their husbands and hop the first bus "home."
This is where their parents are.
And then the children come here.
For my Board and I to parent.
The problem is
We have 22 children.
And only 2 or 3 of us are here consistently.
And these children are thirty years old
And have never learned to live successfully on their own -
These children are 19,
And have never yet needed to learn.
And I am stuck in the middle.
Wanting to help these people -
But knowing there's not much I can do.
Now,
Physically grown up,
Emotionally stunted,
Hardened by hatred and hard times,
These people must help themselves.
...
And some do.
All by the grace of God.
...
Here, in this job -
In this ministry
I have for the second and most poignant time in my life
Realized the merit and desperate need of prayer.
It always sounds trite -
"Well, I suppose, if you can't give us money, you can pray..."
But then you meet prayer warriors
Like Dr. Andrew Nachtigall,
Who disregarded his age to physically helped build this place,
And now that he can hardly walk
Helps hold up the walls
And the lives
That live inside them
By praying.
Oh, that I could leave such a legacy,
That others would say
"I remember Bethany, she prayed."
Or even better,
If no one came to my funeral
And I was forgotten.
And the lives I touched
Went on
And were remembered
Because I prayed.
...
I did not write this to make you feel sad
or guilty
or bad.
I wrote this because I feel sad.
And it turned into a poem.
'Cause that's what poetry is -
The expression of emotion.
And a glimpse
Into the life
Of someone else.
We have young men trying to get off drugs, who need relational encouragement and familial support.
We have young women with babies who have no idea how to care for their child and need the help and guidance of an experienced mother.
We have young couples who have children and court dates in Denver but travel for a week in the elements to come stay here just because it's a safe place.
I am currently living with my parents, and appreciate the love, support, encouragement, and food they give me. And I keep asking everyone I work with, "Where are these people's parents!?"
And then I find out.
Their mother's house is a crack house, and probably the reason they got addicted in the first place.
Their mother complains that the child she raised is too lazy and does nothing to help around the house.
Their father takes a shovel to their heads just to get them out of the house.
Their parents call secretly and tell their daughters to leave their husbands and hop the first bus "home."
This is where their parents are.
And then the children come here.
For my Board and I to parent.
The problem is
We have 22 children.
And only 2 or 3 of us are here consistently.
And these children are thirty years old
And have never learned to live successfully on their own -
These children are 19,
And have never yet needed to learn.
And I am stuck in the middle.
Wanting to help these people -
But knowing there's not much I can do.
Now,
Physically grown up,
Emotionally stunted,
Hardened by hatred and hard times,
These people must help themselves.
...
And some do.
All by the grace of God.
...
Here, in this job -
In this ministry
I have for the second and most poignant time in my life
Realized the merit and desperate need of prayer.
It always sounds trite -
"Well, I suppose, if you can't give us money, you can pray..."
But then you meet prayer warriors
Like Dr. Andrew Nachtigall,
Who disregarded his age to physically helped build this place,
And now that he can hardly walk
Helps hold up the walls
And the lives
That live inside them
By praying.
Oh, that I could leave such a legacy,
That others would say
"I remember Bethany, she prayed."
Or even better,
If no one came to my funeral
And I was forgotten.
And the lives I touched
Went on
And were remembered
Because I prayed.
...
I did not write this to make you feel sad
or guilty
or bad.
I wrote this because I feel sad.
And it turned into a poem.
'Cause that's what poetry is -
The expression of emotion.
And a glimpse
Into the life
Of someone else.
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