January 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009

For June 26, 2009 ~ Question of the Day: If You Had One Wish...

On Wednesday during the busy Bridge Program (where people can see a case manager, nurse, lawyer, and go to an art group) we posed a Question of the Day to our homeless guests. The question was:  If you could have one wish, what would you wish for? The answers were:

    - Be self sufficient (Rick)

    - Be at home. Stay cool. (Henry)

    - Have my kids stay (Janina)

    - Win daily lottery (Terry)

    - Peace (anonymous)

    - A new apartment (A. Nichols)

    - To have a dog (K. Jackson)

    - To have a good rapport with people (A. Page)

    - Money (Henry)

    - A job (V. Fargin)

    - A job (Sharon)

    - Better education (Leonard)

    - That I can prosper (William)

    - Good Things (anonymous

    - God (anonymous)

    - Self Efficient (anonymous)

    - Be back in Florida (anonymous)

    - That the White Sox would win and the Cubs lose all their games (Jack)

    - Get my lawsuit today (Timothy)

    - Keep healthy and have peace (Robert)

Please keep our guests and their wishes in your prayers and continue your support for our programs. Your participation in our ministry, in whatever way works for you, helps our case managers help our guests realize as many of these dreams as possible. Well, at least Jack didn't wish that the Cubs would win.

We posed a second question on our Facebook page (the one with our logo as the Profile picture) on a discussion page http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=11329&uid=70504120612 and post your comments on either of these questions/ Were the answers what you expected? While you're on the Facebook page, become a fan of Franciscan Outreach.

We also have a few wishes of our own for things that would help us help our guests. See our updated Wish List at www.franoutreach.org/wishlist.htm. Tops on the list are a used auto in good condition, a washing machine, a big capacity commercial coffee maker, security cameras, used but in good condition couches, printer cartridges, and money to buy a compressor for a freezer and toilets at the shelter.  More details are on the Wish List page.

We also have several new volunteer opportunities!  We are looking for volunteers who can help us during July at the Marquard Center as our full-time volunteers leave and others arrive. despite our best efforts, we will have some gaps in our staffing schedule. So we are looking for two extra volunteers per night. One would run the dishwasher while the other would do food prep for the next day. See the calendar and the details at www.franoutreach.org/parttime.htm 

We also are starting a new volunteer position for men's and women's dorm monitors at the shelter. Dorm Monitors will need training and must be able to work one or two nights per month on a regular basis to stay current. For details, see www.franoutreach.org/volatshelter.htm

For June 11, 1009 - From Panhandling to Housing

We are happy to announce that this month, three of our guests in the Streets to Home program have moved out of their fully subsidized housing and into housing in which they pay 30% of their income.

Melinda - Our case managers reached out to her when they noticed her panhandling on the streets downtown. She entered our Streets to Home program in 2006. In our Streets to Home program she received fully subsidized rent through the Chicago Department of Family and support Services that sponsors the Streets to Home program. We helped he get social security benefits for some physical disabilities. This month, she just moved out of the fully subsidized room and into a studio apartment for which she must pay 30% of her income. Her new studio apartment has a refrigerator, stove, and her own bathroom.

Steven - Like Melinda, our case managers talked to him as he panhandled on the streets near St. Peter's Church downtown. He enrolled in the Streets to Home program in 2007. He also was eligible for Social Security benefits so we helped him apply. He just moved into his own studio apartment and that costs him only 30% of his income.

Joy - was not a panhandler but was "hit by tough economic times." We enrolled her in our program last January. She moved out to her own studio apartment after only 5 months in our program.

All of these participants will continue to have contact with our case managers so that we can help them with any issues or conflicts that arise. Now that they have ended their homelessness, we want to help them stay housed. Other guests who have graduated from our Streets to Home program remain housed after two years and counting. The spaces that they are leaving in our Streets to Home program have been made available to new participants.

Volunteers Needed!  We need volunteers this week and next to help serve dinner and do intake at both of our sites. Access our on-line calendars through the links at... www.franoutreach.org/parttime.htm for the Marquard Center kitchen and www.franoutreach.org/volatshelter.htm for Franciscan House shelter. See what day you can volunteer and use the form at the bottom of the page to sign up or contact Chris.

We also announce two new staff members:

Christine Curran is our new Director of Mission and Volunteers.

David Erickson is our new Program Director at the Marquard Center.

We are happy to have them on board. They can be contacted through our Contact Us page.

May 12, 2009 - 3 Positions Available; Marquard Dinner Volunteer Calendar Now Online

Announcing - three paid, full-time positions available at Franciscan Outreach. Have you always wanted to work for a homeless service organization? Are you qualified for any of the following positions? Do you know anyone who is? The three positions are...

Soup Kitchen Manager - See job posting  We regret to announce that Manny Borg is no longer with us. This is the position that he held.

Case Management Assistant at Shelter - See job posting. This is a new position

Mission Effectiveness/Volunteer Coordinator - See job posting.  Fr Vaughn is concluding his one-year term. This is the position that he now holds.

Announcing - the Marquard Center Dinner Volunteer Calendar is now online! You can now access our on-line calendar through the link at www.franoutreach.org/parttime.htm.  Use the form to sign up for open dates. We are in the process of making our calendar more exact, so if you...

   ---- are in an group that's already signed up and your name is on a date without the number of people you'll be bringing, or if the number is not correct

   ---- if your first name is on the calendar but not your last

   ---- think you are scheduled but are not on the calendar

   ---- have any questions about volunteering

then contact Diana so we can make your volunteering experience as smooth as possible.

The Intake Volunteer calendar for the Marquard Center is already online through the link at www.franoutreach.org/parttime.htm.

The shelter volunteer calendar is online through the link at www.franoutreach.org/volatshelter.htm

April 27 - Number of Different Persons at the Soup Kitchen and Great Food & Prizes at Spring Dinner!

On March 30 we started taking names of our dinner guests at the Marquard Center soup kitchen. Each new guest has to fill out a brief demographic survey. From March 30 until April 19, we served 524 different persons! We'll finally get an accurate count of how many persons we serve over the course of a year. I think it will be higher than we estimated in the past! 

What better way to raise money for the good work we do than to enjoy a beautiful evening at our Spring Benefit Dinner this Thursday, April 30, at a beautiful lakefront location. One lucky winner at every table will win a beautiful replica of the Chicago Lighthouse 

(see http://www.harbourlights.com/catalog/2007/chicago_harbor_oe.htm). We still have room, so buy your ticket now by phone at (773) 278-6724 or online at www.franoutreach.org/dinner.htm

The dinner there is always a culinary delight. Here is the menu for the appetizer, dinner, and dessert buffet...

Appetizer buffet including International cheeses, dried fruit and nuts, Assorted crackers and flatbread, Iced crudites and dip

Salad

Uniformed Chef carving honey roasted turkey breast with cranberry-orange marmalade

Uniformed Chef carving double-smoked and glazed country ham with honey mustard

Atlantic salmon with herb butter

Pasta primavera with basil tomato sauce

Chicken breast with fresh tarragon

Seasonal vegetable medley

Whipped herb potatoes

Dessert: a selection of cakes, tortes, and fruit pies.

Regular and decaffinated coffee, gourmet teas, and iced tea

We also have a multitude of prizes, including silent auction prizes, ticket-in-the-bag raffle prizes, and our need-not-be-present raffle prizes. Prizes include...

roundtrip airlines tickets for two on Southwest Airlines

$50 gift cards to 9 different national stores

4 VIP tickets to the Shedd Aquarium including Wild Reef exhibit

Wine Tasting Gift Certificate for up to 8 people (PRP Wine International)

An evening of Sailing on a private sailboat and dinner at the Chicago Yacht Club

Chicago History Museum Package

2 Tickets to 2 Performances at the Red Twist Theatre

Silkscreen Print “Pandemonium”

Tapas dinner for 2 at 1776 Tapas Restaurant

4 Walking Tour Passes at the Chicago Architecture Foundation

A Garden Plus 1-Year membership to the Chicago Botanic Garden

Bocce Ball Set

An autographed Matt Walker Puck and picture of the 2009 Chicago Blackhawks

Wine Package # 1

2 tickets to the Porchlight Music Theatre

$100 gift certificate to the “Blackbird” restaurant

2-Person Pass for Chicago’s Gangster Tour Piano and Stool

Gulbransen Minuet model, Mahogany finish

Steppenwolf Theatre tickets package

“Lighthouse Print” of the Chicago Lighthouse by Jim Harris

“Dessert package” artistic serving set including $30 dollars in gift certificates to Baskin Robbins

Museum Package Museum of Science and Industry, Kohl’s Children’s Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art 

An afternoon cruise for two aboard the Tall Ship Windy

2 One Day Family Passes to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL

Chicago Cubs Package includes an autographed baseball, 2 tickets to a game, and an authentic warm up jacket

Dinner at any of the three restaurants at Italian Village

Lighthouse Basket

$75 Gift Certificate to John Fluevog Shoes

2 Nautical Baskets

3 month membership to Cheetah Gym

Royal George Theatre Package

Autographed picture by Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls

A one-year Family Membership to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Class at the “Old Town School of Folk Music”

Wine Package # 2

Notre Dame Basket

Manicure and Pedicure at Blueberry Moon

Signed picture of AJ Pierzynski from the Chicago Whitesox

Six Tickets to Zanies Comedy Club

Two $25 Gift Certificates to Shaw’s Crab House

Starbucks packages

$25 dollar gift certificate to Costco

Panera Bread gift certificate

$25 dollar Kohl’s gift certificate

Potbelly sandwiches gift certificate

Lou Malnati’s Pizza gift certificate

Steak Knives

Sterling Silver Pendant

 SS Graduated 18” faceted Rolo necklace

Net proceeds fund our programs for the homeless. Your support is very important to us!  Join us at the dinner for a great time!  Buy your tickets at www.franoutreach.or/dinner.htm or call (773) 278-6724.

For April 15, 2009 - New Volunteer Opportunities!

We have new volunteer opportunities at the soup kitchen and the shelter. These are...

 --- Intake Volunteers at the Marquard Center soup kitchen - in order to know more about our guests and be better able to communicate what we do here, we have started an intake process at the end of March. We need one or two volunteers each evening to check in the guests, complete a brief survey of new guests, and/or hand out mail. See the online calendar at www.franoutreach.org/parttime.htm

--- lots of room in our summer calendar for Dinner Volunteers at the Marquard Center. Haven't been able to get a time to volunteer? We need you this summer - starting in mid-may when the school groups are out. We welcome individual adults, workplace volunteers, and church groups. Sign up through the form at  www.franoutreach.org/parttime.htm. The online calendar is coming soon.

--- Intake volunteers at the shelter - in order to keep up with the intakes on new guests at the shelter, we created a new volunteer position for a male volunteer. This volunteer would sit near our staff member in the men's dorm. When a new guest comes in, the volunteer would complete a brief intake form. Hours are from 7:45 to 9:30. See www.franoutreach.org/volatshelter.htm for the on-line calendar and more info.

--- a few slots for "Something Different for Dinner" volunteers at the shelter. Does your group want to make/buy and bring something for dinner for the shelter that's not soup and sandwiches? See www.franoutreach.org/volatshelter.htm for more details.

March 11 - Spring Benefit Dinner, Corned Beef Eating Contest, Trivia Contest

We have several great events coming up soon...

Our Spring Benefit Dinner: 

A Beacon of Hope

Thursday, April 30, 2009 at a beautiful location on Chicago's lakefront.  For the invitation follow this link to www.franoutreach.org/dinner.htm

Buy tickets on-line now!

For St Patrick's Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2009, a Corned Beef Eating Contest at Boardman's Urban Kitchen in the NBC Tower at  455 N City Front Plaza Drive, Chicago (Between Michigan & Columbus on the North side of the Chicago River). The time will be around 11:30 - with more details to follow. Come and cheer on contestants Art Norman, Chris Pena, and Mike O'Reily from NBC Channel 5 News and others and make your pledge for your favorite. Pledges will be donated to Franciscan Outreach. We thank Taste America Catering and Boardman's Urban Kitchen for hosting this and Windy City Deli Provisions for donating 200 pounds of corned beef for dinner our guests at the Marquard Center. For the flyer go to http://www.tasteamerica.net/broadcast/cornedbeef/beef.html 

And every Thursday - a Pub Quiz trivia contest, with proceeds going to Franciscan Outreach, at Ginger's Ale House, 3801 N. Ashland, Chicago. http://www.gingersalehouse.com/  As they say on their website:

Come and join us on Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm for an evening of challenging your trivia knowledge with Pub Quiz. This is one of the many other things we do here at Ginger's and for a good cause too! All proceeds benefit The Franciscan Outreach Association. We hope to see you there.

Stop by for an informal night of fun, beverages, and food while raise money for the homeless. Ask for Rich, the owner, and tell him that you heard about it on our website. 

For February 25 - 3:30 on Ash Wednesday at the Marquard Center

At 3:30 on Ash Wednesday in the case management offices, there were 15 people wrapping up the day. Seven were guests, 3 were medical personnel from a collaborating agency, and 5 were our case managers. They were laughing and talking and happy.   

The guests were Cynthia, Terry Spencer, David, Maurice, LaToya, Cornelius Washington, and Charles Whittaker. Here's what they had to say:

Charles:   "Sure, I'll take a picture. You helped me. I want to help you."

David:    "You guys helped me a lot. Medication. Food. A place to get out of the cold."

Charles:   " I like the services you provide for me. Case managers and medicine."

LaToya:   " I like the services too, the case managers. They make me feel like I'm somebody."

Maurice:   " I got shoes today. Thank you."

Terry:   "You helped me with expungement. I mean the attorney who comes here did. Thank you dearly."

Cornelius:   "I'm grateful for Franciscan services and the shelter program. Without you there'd be no me. I'd be me but I'd be a lot worse off. I've been coming here off and on since the 90's. You've helped me with shelter, food, laundry, showers, the whole kit & kaboodle. Thank you so much!"

We're happy to be able to make a difference in the lives of these guests and the nearly 400 others we serve each day. Your support makes you part of this good work too!

We've updated our Wish List page. Can you help with something we need?

For February 16 - How Did Case Managers Help in 2008?

While our emergency food and shelter helps keep our guests alive, our case managers sit down with them one-on-one to help them improve their lives. We've just updated the page that shows how our case managers helped our guests during 2008. Some salient facts:

--- we placed 110 persons into permanent housing - got them off the streets!

--- RUSH University doctors or interns had 2,857 visits with guests at our shelter, nurses held another 377 visits, and 102 different persons had an HIV or STD test.

--- our case managers helped clients with 16,209 separate issues. Most clients receive help on more than one issue.

--- the most common topic that a case manager and a guest discussed was employment. It was discussed 2,300 different times.

--- we helped an estimated 2,287 different persons with our case management services

One client, Amy, for example, has been homeless for several years and had lost custody of her children. She worked with our case managers on medical attention, purchasing household items, rental assistance, and legal assistance that helped her regain custody of one of her daughters. Watch for Amy's story in our next newsletter which is in the mail now.  If you'd like to subscribe to our print newsletter, contact Carin. We don't duplicate what's on the website, but focus more on guest stories and things you won't see on the website. Subscribe today.

 See more interesting facts at www.franoutreach.org/CaseManagementStatistics.htm.

February 6, 2009 - Web Auction - Two Tickets for First Look for Charity   

A generous donor has given us two tickets to the Chicago Auto Show's "First Look for Charity" on Thursday, February 12, 2009.  These tickets are worth $225 each. This is a black tie event the night before the opening of the nation's largest auto show. See http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/firstlook/index.asp  Enjoy abundant hors d'oeuvres, champagne, wine, and soft drinks while you stroll the McCormick Place and see what's new in the auto world, including some autos seen for the first time in public. Black tie is required.

To bid on the tickets, contact Greg. The opening bid is $100 for the two tickets, with increases in the amount of $25.  The auction will be open until Tuesday, Feb 9 at 4:45 pm.

Current bid as of Feb 6 at 4:00 pm: No bid yet - opening bid of $100 needed.

Hours remaining in auction:   Auction closed

All proceeds of the silent auction will go towards the programs here at Franciscan Outreach. This is our first web auction - help make it a success!  If anyone knows anyone who can help us become a sponsored charity next year, let Greg know! 

January 28, 2009 - FOA on Facebook & Turning Point Appeal 80% Successful

Franciscan Outreach is now on Facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Franciscan-Outreach-Association/70504120612  We also have a group on LinkedIn. Let's get the word out about our much-needed programs. If you have any suggestions on other ways to connect with donors on the internet, contact Diana. Let's generate some excitement!

So ... the economy is in the tank, demand is up, and donations are down. How are we doing? Thanks to the generosity of many, many donors, we have been able to keep all of our programs open in this difficult economic time. Our donors helped us reach 80% of our first two goals in the Turning Point Appeal. Because of them, we have been able to meet our current expenses, didn't miss any payrolls, and haven't had to close or cut back any programs. We have also paid off our debt of $235,000 that's secured by our soup kitchen building.

However, after paying the bills we have in January and meeting the Jan 31 payroll, we'll have around $21,980 in the bank. Grants and donations will come in sooner or later, but at this time we don't know how much or when. It is likely that we'll have to borrow again.

At a board of directors' meeting last Monday, the board decided to keep all programs open and borrow if necessary, but to have a contingency plan if our efforts to increase donations and grants don't bear fruit. We plan to conduct a more in-depth survey of our Marquard Center guests to see what other options for food they have, if they're accessing all the benefits available to them, how to help them use our case managers, if there is a more efficient way of getting their needs met, and find out exactly how many of them there are.

We thank each of you for your donations and prayers. We ask for your continued support as we move forward into the future. You can donate on-line or by mail. You can also help us by spreading the word to your friends and family.  Feel free to send messages about us on Facebook or Linked in or other sites. Together, we can help those who are doing ok right now to help those who are not.  

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