It's hard to believe it's already Halloween. For those experiencing homelessness, housing,
and food insecurity, little things mean a lot. To help those in our shelter, housing units, and the community, Serve City hosted a Trunk or Treat event the first weekend in October with food, fellowship, fun, and of course lots of candy! It’s a good thing we did this early in the month because it's been so busy, it would have been a challenge to do it today! Please read on to hear about our busyness – AKA blessings!
Our amazing Shelter Manager, Amber Johnson, is transitioning to a new position with another agency. We are so proud of her, pray blessings over her, and look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role. The remaining members of the Leadership Team and I will work on our organizational redesign during our upcoming Strategic Planning meeting early next month and will provide updates on the changes that will ensure the shelter continues to have the right leaders in the right seats on the Serve City bus.
SUCCESSES
On another note, you may have heard about Skyline Chili’s 75th birthday and their switch from Pepsi to Coke-Consolidated. In their new partnership, both companies considered deserving non-profits to receive a substantial grant award. Serve City feels so humbled and honored that they selected us, and we got to celebrate at the presentation on Fountain Square in Cincinnati. This grant and the many others we have received from the city of Hamilton. Butler County, and HUD will enable us to enhance our services and make capital improvements that beautify Serve City, including preparing one of our buildings to house youth, aged eighteen to twenty-four.
Collaborative relationships with the above and other community partners play an integral role in Serve City’s success. That being the case, attending the Hamilton State of the City meeting and learning about the efforts to focus on the Jefferson community, where Serve City is located, excites us. Also, our quarterly meeting with the Hamilton Police Department and the data on reduced incidents and lowered crime rates ensured us that our work with them continues to make a positive impact on the quality of life and safety of those in the shelter and apartments while doing the same for the surrounding community.
Along the same vein, Serve City has strengthened our partnership with the Hamilton Community Foundation and we recently attended their annual meeting. The HCF has stepped into the gaps with Serve City to address some critical financial needs, and that is in addition to opening our QOP Food Insecurity Fund this year. The fund received the donations generated from last weekend’s The Source Stomps Out Hunger Walk. With a wonderful turnout that included many from the fund’s namesake – Queen of Peace school, community members, Serve City board, staff, volunteers, our Miami intern, Claire Metzger (Kettle corn), and city leaders such as Mayor Pat Moeller, and City Councilwoman, Carla Fiehrer, we raised much of our $5,000 goal. Some of the funds raised through the event will go toward continuing to prepare The Source for pop-up pantries (currently the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, 10 am-12 pm) and other educational events – all with a meal associated. Our Miami intern, Morgan, is a true worker bee whose dedication has transformed the space in the short time at Serve. We look forward to kicking it off soon with the Redeemer Church lunch to celebrate their Fill-a-Truck win.
Initially, we planned to host our upcoming Intake to Impact Lunch and Learn in The Source. However, as we have not completed the space, it will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024, from 12 pm-1:30 pm at the Butler County Educational Service Center. The event will focus on best practices for community partners to refer individuals to our emergency shelter, our intake process, and what the expected impact as they transition to housing.
STRUGGLES
With all the busyness (and blessings), thanks to our intern and other volunteers who contribute their talents to Serve, we do not feel the pinch of being short-staffed as much as we could. Even so, we are a small team that has gotten smaller. The shelter staff works incredibly hard, and the Leadership Team members each do the work of multiple people. Self-care suffers and we risk burning out. We were not able to hold the second Rejuvenating Dignity gala this year with no one to head it.
SUPPORT NEEDED
Instead of the gala, we held the Stomp Out Hunger Walk. The immediate task is to consider helping us reach our $5,000 goal. Also, please consider blessing us with your time, talent, and/or treasures. We need administrative support, volunteers to teach classes such as Bible studies, meal sponsors, and financial gifts to impact other areas of the ministry.
Isaiah 58:7 admonishes us to “Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless.” That’s what we do at Serve City. Thank you for stepping into the gaps with us.
Blessings!
Serving Him at Serve City,
Dr. Tammi Ector
To make a general, unrestricted donation to support Serve City, please go to:
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