Empowering the Participants

HUGS

This year 2008, we hosted two HUGS events at which participants received Hats, Underwear, Gloves and Socks.  We chose to do them at a different time of the year than the traditional holiday seasons knowing that people need these items throughout the year.  The first one was on February 14th and was a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  The November 15th event was well attended and as many as 70 new  faces were welcomed into the Friendship Center.

Outings:  February 20-   Tour of Churches – 1st United Methodist,                              1st Presbyterian, and 1st Congregational.  8 attended.

April 23 –  Seven participants and staff toured Vancouver Heights United Methodist,            East Woods Presbyterian, and St. Andrew Lutheran Church

May 21 – Nine participants and volunteers explored the Lord’s Gym

July 16 – Multnomah Falls

Movies:

January 23 – Amazing Grace

April 16 – Jesus Christ Super Star

Court Ordered Community Service

Working through the Homeless Court and Clark County Court system, Friends of the Carpenter now assists those needing to complete Community Service Work Hours in lieu of court fines.  Eight individuals logged in 512 hours at our facility in 2008.

Homeless Court Advocates – Under the leadership of Bill Jennings, Rodger & Ruth Stevens, Dean Hummel, Judy Enders, Dave Slocum, and Donald Prickett, these volunteers work with Susan Arnie of Volunteer Lawyers Association.  Homeless court is held monthly, and representatives from Friends of the Carpenter are in attendance each month.  Seven people have been assigned community service.

Bible Study – Lenten Virtues

Held on Fridays, February 8 – March 14, this study was lead by Bill Lehmann and focused on the “Lenten Virtues” of courage, hope, justice, faith, humility, charity and wisdom..

Duplex and Yard Residency

Friends of the Carpenter owns and manages a duplex transitional shared living complex, located near the Friendship Center.  This year, 3 individuals and one family of 4 have lived in the duplex.  Residents are expected to be involved in FOC activities (at least 10 hours monthly), become active in a local faith community, and maintain “clean and sober” of illegal substances. Special thanks Dave Akers, for volunteering as a Case Manager to work with Duplex residents.  Over the past year, 12 people have stayed on the yard at one time or another.

Events & Activities

Meal and Woodworking events were held once a month at SHARE House Men’s shelter (the 3rd Saturday brunch), and on the 4th Monday dinner, a worship service concludes the meal.  Woodworking events were also held at the Friendship Center on the 1st and 4th Wednesdays of each month in the afternoon, following the midweek Worship.  The 2nd Wednesday activity is the Newsletter mailing preparation, and the 3rd Wednesday is usually a movie or an outing (see below). We were very pleased to be able to offer 13 Free Haircuts at the July 19th Share Brunch meal, curtsey of Terri Own.

Tuesday Morning Devotions – Every Tuesday (like clockwork) Friends of the Carpenter is blessed by local pastoral leadership for our 9:30 prayer circle.  We give thanks for Geri Hiller, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (1st Tuesday), Mark Randal, Salmon Creek UMC (2nd Tuesdays) Shirley Knight, retired UMC (3rd Tuesdays) and Tim Westerberg, Hillcrest Nazarene (4th Tuesdays) and Chris Johnson, First Presbyterian Church, Bob Webber, St. John’s Lutheran, Tom Iberle, St. John’s the Evangelist Roman Catholic, Mike Brasure, St. Paul’s Lutheran (for the 5th Tuesdays that occurred).

Gifts & Benevolences - $32,000 was distributed during the 2008 year

At the close of our woodworking events, each participant receives a $5 value “Love Gift” – gasoline voucher, grocery store certificate, or C-Tran bus tickets. Events generally involve 10 to 30 participants and 4 to 10 volunteers.     For regular participants who have made or are making a “connection” with a local church, special benevolence assistance is sometimes given as emergency needs or potential opportunities which require funds arise.  These are typically emergency lodging or rent/deposit assistance, auto repair, tool purchase for employment, medical assistance or travel, and range from $50 to $200.  Birthday gifts and Christmas gifts are generally given to “friends” (of the Carpenter) but not so much as benevolence but rather the benefit of a sincere relationship. 

Thoughts from Julie…..Starting my 3rd year as the “official” Product and Activity Coordinator, I can see a real difference in the activities around the Center.  Daily, the morning circle and devotion is filled with persons ready to spend their day (or part of it) at the Center.  Regular times are set for the activities like Tuesday mornings and Wednesday afternoons.  But we are now welcoming persons – volunteers and participants – everyday, Monday through Friday.  Men come from Share after their chores to spend time in our space, a place of welcome, a hot cup of coffee, snacks and friendly conversations.  Community service workers come to work off their court assigned hours.  They join in with us during prayer circles and leave with a blessing they didn’t expect.  We appreciate what they do for us, but it’s a two-way street in that they appreciate us also.

I find myself very busy making sure there are tasks to work on.  Consequently, it feeds back to Dan and the woodworkers to keep the projects coming.  We are busier than ever and loving it, and it takes more of us to accomplish it.  We need and want more volunteers.  Please come and get your blessing any day at the Center.

Thank you for the opportunity to do this work.  It is a blessing to me.

Your Product and Activity Coordinator,                    Julie Sich