Feline Newsmakers

Any visit to the Stewpot needs to include saying "Hello" to Precious, our 2nd floor feline resident. She's a "Working Cat" and keeps other four legged visitors and some two-legged ones as well in check. She's a great companion and is very well informed about the Fine Arts (a la the Stewpot's Open Art Studio) and knows the ins and outs of Food Pantry management. About three weeks ago Precious came face to face with another of her species in a surprise encounter.

On a Sunday morning the mournful sounds of a cat were heard on the Stewpot first floor. A search to locate the Meow-er found Precious safe and sound and suspicions that another cat was nearby. Two days later without benefit of séance several people were enveloped by the calling of a cat from "beyond".

As best we can figure a cat wandered into the 15feet of space above the suspended ceiling of the 1st floor and the floor-boards of the 2nd. Most of us thought only the likes of John Malcomvitch inhabited these inter-floor zones. "Cat" was spotted, fed and wooed. She was captured in a stunning "Have-a-Heart" adventure. With the hopes she would be a suitable companion for Precious.

"Cat", an 8 month true calico, was taken to a vet where she spayed and determined she was feral. We were advised the most humane thing was to release her back downtown. She was given a casework referral letter, several bus passes and the number of Judy's special hot-line.

Over the years the Stewpot has rescued many animals. "At risk" dogs, cats, birds and rabbits have gotten 2nd chances along with people. Food, water and respite have long been de facto Stewpot service. Many of us have taken home "just temporarily" an animal that became a long-time companion. Oh well, we also have a shelter for unwanted 8-track tapes.

Bruce

Precious the Cat

A Day of Celebration!

Last Thursday was truly a special day here at The Stewpot. We had our 24th Annual Stewpot Talent Show and a special lunch honoring Dr. and Mrs. Elgin Ware.

Dr. and Mrs. Elgin Ware were instrumental in bringing medical services here to The Stewpot in 1999. For 12 years, Elgin and Karen served our clients each Friday with the help of several volunteers. In June, Dr. Ware retired, and we were finally able to honor him! We invited past medical clinic volunteers and donors to a lunch. We enjoyed a great meal, great conversation, and a video of client/staff testimonies about the impact Dr. Ware and the medical clinic have had. The lunch ended with a special presentation to the Wares.

Parkland Hospital received a grant to expand our medical clinic. We are so excited about this new season. Construction should begin shortly. When it is complete the "Karen and Elgin Ware Stewpot Medical Clinic" will be open five days a week to serve our clients!

Following the lunch, we had our annual talent show. Clients are able to compete in five categories: performance, poetry, essay, art, and costume. There are cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The theme this year was "Stewpot Hospital: Reflections on Healing". We are always so impressed with the creativity and talent of our participants.

We had a great day celebrating the gifts of so many people here - the gift of writing, the gift of singing, and the gift of healing.

Holiday Project

Can you believe October is almost over? Thanksgiving is just 4 weeks away! Each holiday season we are blown away by the generosity of so many people in our community. Our holiday meal services are already full, however, we have a great opportunity for you and your families (or co-workers, church groups, book clubs, etc.) to serve our homeless friends. Every year we ask for people to donate a "Holiday Box for the Homeless". We collect thousands of these to hand out around the holidays. They make an incredible impact.

How to make a holiday box:

 

1. Use an empty shoe box (standard size). Please only use boxes that have a separate bottom and lid. Please wrap the lid and the box separately. The box should not be wrapped shut when finished.
2. Fill the box with a variety of small, inexpensive gifts. Use the gift ideas listed at the bottom of the page. Please fill boxes with ADULT, UNISEX items only.
3. Once filled, place a rubber band around each box.
4. In a separate envelope you may enclose a holiday card or note from you/your family or group. (Please do not include addresses or phone numbers.) Place your note inside the box.

Delivery:

Boxes may be delivered between Thursday, December 1 – Wednesday, December 14, 2011. Drop off at The Stewpot, 1822 Young Street, Dallas, 75201, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

 

PLEASE DO NOT DELIVER HOLIDAY BOXES TO THE BRIDGE

 

Gift Ideas

• knit hat
• small flashlight w/batteries
• pens, pencils
• knit gloves
• disposable stick razors
• stationary or cards w/stamps
• tube socks
• small umbrella
• phone calling cards
• plastic poncho
• fast food gift card ($5 or less)
• hard candy or gum
• chapstick
• small hand sanitizer
• travel size Kleenex
• small Bible or book of inspiration

DO NOT INCLUDE:

• used or damaged items
• knives or weapons
• chocolate or food
• liquids
• medications or vitamins
• breakable items or glass containers
• aerosol cans
• money

We've already had a great start to the holiday boxes! 160 associates from the Frito Lay Controller's team in Plano donated holiday box items this week!
Questions? Call 214-746-2785, ext. 320: Jean Jones, Stewpot Volunteer Director

The Value of Volunteers

It's no secret that the staff of The Stewpot is unable to accomplish everything we do on our own. Our volunteers play a vital role in all of our programs. Did you know we have 42 volunteers each day just for meal services?

On top of that volunteers help us:

• sign people up for services
• hand out toiletries
• sort mail
• teach computer classes
• manage budgets for Representative Payee clients
• teach art
• sort donations
• give eye exams
• teach Bible study
• tutor students
• teach ESL and so much more!

We really couldn't do it without you all! According to http://www.independentsector.org/ the estimated dollar value for volunteer time is $21.36/hour. According to that number, the estimated value of our meal service volunteers only for one month is over $54,000!

Thank you for helping us serve second chances each day here at The Stewpot!

phoneless. not hopeless.

Today we want to share some encouraging feedback from one of our Community Voice Mail clients. He receives a free voicemail number through our program.

“Good afternoon, this is Richard Sams.  Listen, I just can’t thank you enough to First Presbyterian Church and Community Voice Mail for providing me this number – it has helped me get into a veterans rehabilitation program, it’s also working right now as I’m on my journey for permanent employment for employers to contact me, and it’s also been a number for my family, by my family being out of town, to contact me and leave me a message if there is an emergency or if somebody gets sick such as my mother since she is in a nursing home now.  So I just want to thank you and I just pray that you continue this service – it helps get homeless people off the street and get employment.  It’s just been a blessing to me – it’s just been all positive.  I just thank you…”

It's hard to imagine that someone might not have access to a phone. So many of us are constantly connected to hundreds (maybe even thousands) of people through our phones - phone calls, texts, Facebook, e-mails. We forget what life was like before the never-ending stream of status updates and mass text messages. Thanks to programs like Community Voice Mail, people are able to stay in touch with family, employers, and health care!

Women's Tea

A few years ago I was reading a book about humanity and how we're wired - why we do what we do, why we want what we want. The book began with a story from the liberation of the concentration camp, Bergen-Belsen in Germany. The story came from the diary of Lieutenant Colonel Mervin Willett Gonin DSO who was one of the first British soldiers in the camp.

It was shortly after the British Red Cross arrived, though it may have no connection, that a very large quantity of lipstick arrived. This was not at all what we men wanted, we were screaming for hundreds and thousands of other things and I don't know who asked for lipstick. I wish so much that I could discover who did it, it was the action of genius, sheer unadulterated brilliance. I believe nothing did more for those internees than the lipstick. Women lay in bed with no sheets and no nightie but with scarlet red lips, you saw them wantering about with nothing but a blanket over their shoulders, but with scarlet red lips. I saw a woman dead on the post mortem table and clutched in her hand was a piece of lipstick. At last someone had done something to make them individuals again, they were someone, no longer merely the number tatooed on the arm. At last they could take an interest in their appearance. That lipstick started to give them back their humanity.

This story forever impacted the way I think about service and meeting the needs of people. We as humans want love. We want to be acknowledged. We don't want to be just another number.

The Stewpot, with the help of other agencies, does an incredible job of meeting the physical needs of people by making food, clothing, and medical treatment accessible. What I also love about The Stewpot is the emphasis on the humanity of the people it serves. Throughout the year there are concerts, birthday parties, talent shows, and movie days.

In December we will the annual Women's Holiday Tea. The tea began in 2000 to reach homeless women who were less likely to access services (the majority of people served are male). Low self-image affects many of the women experiencing homelessness. Each year there is a guest speaker and representatives from other social service agencies in the area. But the great part? A fashion show and gift bags filled with makeup, perfume, jewelry, and other items that become a luxury when you're on the street. If you're a lady reading this you know how great you feel when you get a new lipstick or a new necklace! You feel fresh and beautiful. You feel confident. You feel valuable.

We'll do it again this year! And, as always, could use your help to make this day extra special for the ladies we serve. Currently we are in need of:

            • Small perfumes/perfume samples
            • Hotel soaps and toiletries
            • Hotel sewing kits/small sewing kits
            • Hair ornaments and costume jewelry
            • Purse sized brushes and pocket mirrors

Donations are accepted Monday-Friday, 8AM-4PM. Just pull into our parking garage (1822 Young Street)!

*Quote from: http://www.saturation.org/saturationblog/archives/001186.html

Open House Art Show

These cooler temperatures have been great, haven't they? Fall is just around the corner which means the holiday season isn't too far off. Why not get a jump start on shopping this Saturday, September 24th?

The Stewpot 2nd Floor Art Gallery will be open from 3-7PM for all who want to enjoy several styles of art in one place.  Our "Open Art Studio" is open 5 days a week to artists to come and create works of art. Artists can choose to sell their work. They keep 90% of the profit. The other 10% goes straight back into the program for supplies.

Several artists have been commissioned to paint. One piece even had a home in the White House for a little bit. Each year the art program has several shows throughout the community. The Goodrich Gallery and The Dallas Public Library (downtown) have shows annually.

So come out this Saturday to take a stroll through our gallery. You might just find a painting you can't live without!

The Stewpot is located at 1822 Young Street, Dallas 75201. Free parking is available.

The show was on the Art and Seek blog: http://www.artandseek.org/event.php?id=31950

A little taste of what you'll find here. This painting, by Leon Pollard, has been sold, but lots more available!