Winter 2014 Edition of Shelterworks

shelterworks News from the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter

Winter

2014

Rebecca’s

Reflections

“In war, there are no unwounded warriors.” – José Narosky

Soldiers not only depend on the support and encouragement from their community, but also the support and encouragement from their family. For one veteran who served not only one, but two tours of duty in Afghanistan, the toll of war bore down on him and his family. While this veteran did not sustain any physical injuries from his two deployments, he did not go unwounded and was diagnosed with having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During his transition from the military back to being a civilian, he discovered his wife was filing for divorce and taking their five children with her. Soon after his honorable discharge from the army, he found himself homeless with the stress of going through a nasty divorce and custody battle. Instead of giving up on himself, he fought this new battle, one that he did not foresee coming, and sought help through his county’s veteran’s service officer (VSO) who then referred him to the Operation Home Program. With the collaboration and support of the Operation Home Program, the Veteran’s Affairs (VA), and the VSO, this veteran was rapidly rehoused into a rental home, awarded assistance to pay the deposit for utilities to be turned on in his name, was given a brand new bed so he would no longer have to sleep on the floor, he begun treatment through the VA for his PTSD, and signed up for vocational rehabilitation services through the VA. Although the battle is not over, this veteran has the proper support and services lined up to continue to give him the strength and encouragement to fight on.

--Rebecca Egli, Veteran Advocate

Dady Doings 9th Annual Sleep Out for the Homeless November 8 - 9.

For more information, visit https://www.sleepoutforhomeless.org/

#GivingTuesday

Thanksgiving Thursday. Black Friday. Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday. This upcoming December 2, participate in the global day of giving back. Consider making a donation to or volunteering your time at Willis Dady this #GivingTuesday.

4th Annual Benefit Concert

Be on the lookout for an official announcement of the 4th Annual Benefit Concert for Willis Dady. The date has yet-to-be-confirmed, but will most likely be in early April.

Willis Dady Emergency Shelter Board of Directors James Locke, Treasurer Sam Jones Theresa Ann Trimble Janet Slimak, President Rebecca Jacobs, Vice President Tim Carson Clay McBride Jason Vestweber Melissa Cullum Bobette Ash, Secretary Dave McInally Charisma Wickham

Tim Wilson, Executive Director

stabilizing housing and income.

Willis Dady recently underwent some substantial changes in our staffing structure in order to serve our clients better and to be more effective in addressing area homelessness. It therefore seems appropriate to update our readers on staff members and roles. There are twelve of us all together. This might come as a surprise to anyone who has visited, since we don’t all work the same hours or even in the same place.

The changes have not been so much in personnel as responsibilities, as ten of us have been here for at least a year.

Operation Home Outreach Specialist: Mark Brown; Veteran Advocates: Denine Rushing, Rebecca Egli.

This team serves struggling veteran households in several counties as part of a partnership led

by HACAP that accesses a host of resources in providing short-term assistance to program participants who have served in our nation’s armed forces.

Administration Bookkeeper: Pat Ford, Administrative Assistant: Joseph Sorensen; Executive Director: Tim Wilson.

This team keeps Willis Dady connected to the community through fiscal management, volunteer engagement, donor relationships, and collaboration Here is a list of our staff and an indication of with a host of partners. responsibilities. Shelter and Administrative staff are located at Willis Dady. Case managers and The staff includes ten native Iowans, three U.S. Operation Home staff have offices off-site and office veterans, eight parents, five grandparents, one greatgrandparent, graduates of several different colleges, hours at locations throughout the area. and individuals born in most of the decades of the Shelter 20th Century.

-- Tim Wilson Resident Attendants: Osman Omar, Sue Wentz, Roger Wiest; Shelter Manager: Yolisa Gibson. This team is responsible for meeting clients’ needs at Special thanks to Kaplan University Cedar Rapids shelter from check-in to exit and for maintaining Campus’ leadership team for a wonderful job of the property. cleaning and organizing our various storage areas on Case Management Martha Carter, Shelter Case Manager; Kim Frazier, Prevention Case Manager. Case Managers connect those who are sheltered, recently-sheltered and seeking to avoid the need for shelter to access resources that assist with overcoming barriers and

October 24!​

Special thanks to employees of Transamerica for hanging o ​ ur new TVs, cleaning, and hanging new towel bars on September 29!

WDES is proud to be a Community Partner of the United Way of East Central Iowa.

Give to wdeS

How Can I Help?

OVERNIGHT VOLUNTEER

We have a hard time finding volunteers to staff overnights during the holiday season. If you can help, please contact Joseph at 319 362-7555 ext.

106 or services@willisdady.org.

Financial Support

Help Now To contribute to shelter operations and services:

Online 1. Go to http://willisdady.org/ 2. Click on “How to Help” 3. Click on the box near the bottom labeled “Donate Now through Network for Good” 4. Enter your donation and credit card number U.S. Mail 1. Return the envelope included in this mailing with your contribution

Invest In Our Future To help ensure that shelter and services continue into the future, make a donation to our Endowment at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

Online 1. Go to https://gcrcf.org.

2. Move cursor to “Donors” option near top of page 3. Click on “Giving Opportunities” 4. Click on “Search Giving Opportunities” 5. Scroll down to “Willis Dady Emergency Shelter” on alphabetical list and click on “Action” at far right Phone 1. 319 366-2862

Our Sunday Table Program

Willis Dady is looking for groups to prepare a Sunday lunch for approximately 25 people and bring it to the shelter; we provide tableware and the mouths to feed. Grants clients and staff enjoy the meal and conversation. All help clean up. There are still a few dates in 2014, including Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 and 28, as well as several dates in 2015.

Volunteer at Willis Dady

Willis Dady is always in need of volunteers for all kinds of tasks. Please contact Denine to let us know about your talents and interests at 319-362-7555 ext. 106 or email wdesra1@willisdady.org

Donate Items to Help the Shelter & Those We Serve

WDES has made arrangements with Stuff, Etc. to accept items on behalf of the shelter. Proceeds from sold items will be applied to our account. When dropping off at Stuff, Etc., 252 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE C.R. Please use account number 13519.

WDES has an agreement with Goodwill of the Heartland so that our clients can receive vouchers good at any local Goodwill retail stores for clothing and shoes. Please support Goodwill of the Heartland by donating acceptable items (goodwillheartland.orgdonors/acceptable-donations) at any of their drop off locations: goodwillheartland.org/ locations.

Thank

Special thanks to some of those who have recently given donations or awarded grants Adcraft Printing All Saints Church African Methodist Episcopal Church 4th District Annual Conference Ascension Lutheran Church of Marion Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Program Grant Organizational Development Grant Housing Fund for Linn County Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois St. Marks United Methodist Church Stuff, Etc. Westminster Presbyterian Church

Willis Dady Emergency Shelter, Inc. 1247 4th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 49 Cedar Rapids, IA

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Partner Profile Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc, better known as HACAP, is a key partner of Willis Dady in meeting the needs of local households struggling with housing and other issues. HACAP provides a wide range of services over many counties in Eastern Iowa, including a food reservoir, Head Start, energy conservation, and transitional housing.

HACAP is the lead agency on the Veterans Administration-funded Operation Home program of which Willis Dady is a partner. Last year, Operation Home served nearly 150 veteran-headed households in a seven-county area, which has recently been expanded to serve the Waterloo and Dubuque areas. Our staffs literally work side-by-side daily on this program, but we also refer clients to HACAP’s other resources such as transitional housing and the many area food banks supplied by HACAP’s Food Reservoir. It takes a lot of teamwork to meet the needs of struggling families and we are proud to collaborate on many levels with our fellow United Way Community Partner, HACAP!

Heather Harney, Regional Housing Director, and Dusty Noble, Operation Home Program Supervisor, are two of the many HACAP team members who work with Willis Dady staff to meet community needs.