serving our community since 1997
If you received this issue of the Homeless Voice in your mailbox please go to pg 5 We have an Emergency! Part of the North American Street Newspaper Association
COSAC Foundation | PO Box 292-577 Davie, FL 33329 | 954-924-3571
The Sabo Spirit
Dear Homeless Voice Readers:
Written By Sean Cononie
Linda Sabo passed away the other day unexpectedly. We had no warning, no preparation, no signs of illness, so in other words we had no chance to say good bye. That, to me is the worst feeling in the world. Someone dies who you have known and loved for so many years and then to come into work the next day and hear they had died just takes everything out of you. Death is permanent. The jokes she told yesterday, the conversation you had just hours ago will never be experienced again. Where a beautiful human being once stood is now vacant. A memory. To most of you because you did not know her it was just another person here at the shelter who passed away, but to us she was one of the sweetest, kindest, friendliest women you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. I’m sure many of you are saying yeah, right, we say that about everyone, but that’s not true. This woman was extraordinary. Never, ever a bad word about anyone she would always try to give a side or comment that did not offend anyone. Even when that person was so wrong or when they wronged her she would still come up with alternatives so not one individual would have all fingers pointed at them. She cared about all people even if they caused a gigantic conflict. Every time we would end up in the elevator together she would say the same thing, “I should have married you when I had the chance.” We used to call each other “babycakes” because we had that kind of relationship; love for each other but without the true emotions. Love in our friendship was what it was all about. No matter what you asked her to do she did it, did it
well and without attitude. I’ve said this at least a hundred times already and I’ll keep saying it as long as I’m here. “I just cannot believe she’s gone.” There is no way anyone is ever going to be able to justify why this wonderful woman was taken from us. If we had a hundred Linda Sabos this place could have been utopia. Six years of “hey babycakes,” six years of “I love all of you” and now it’s done. It’s not fair but it’s done and I know as do most of the staff here, there will never be another like her. While staff bickered with each other from time to time Linda was our Switzerland. She was neutral just going about her business and flying under the radar if you will. She genuinely did love us all and it kills me to think she died the way she did. Although it was quietly it was still alone. You see, she lived off campus and was alone when she died; there were no first re-
(Continued on pg 6)
We are the small non-profit that runs the #1 emergency and response shelter in South Florida. We serve, house, and care for 500 homeless every day, and have costs like any other business: water, power, rent, programs, staff and legal help. The Homeless Voice is extremely effective. It is a place where anyone in need will get help. It is a safe place for people to go when they have nowhere else to turn. We take no government funds. We run on donations averaging about 33 cents. If everyone reading this paper gave the price of a cup of coffee, our fundraising would be done. If helping people is important to you as it is important for us, take one minute to go online to www.hvoice.org and become a monthly angel. $15 per month is what we need from You. Please help us forget fundraising and get back to Serving the Homeless. Thank you.
Deerfield Beach man tells cops he hunted down, killed homeless man Susannah Bryan and Charlie Grau Sun sentinel For two weeks, John Stabile told police, he had murder on his mind. Early Saturday morning, he saw the homeless man he intended to kill in an alley. He had nothing particularly against him, Stabile said later. He ran home for a butcher’s knife, returned to plunge the blade into his 42-year-old victim, then waited for the man to die before calling 911. That’s the story Stabile told homicide investigators with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. When detectives arrived, he was waiting for them, sitting on a curb with a knife in his waistband. He told them he had stabbed a homeless man and waited to be sure the wounds were fatal before calling authorities. Stabile, 23, was charged with firstdegree murder and booked into the Broward County Main Jail. He told police he wanted to go to jail for the rest of his life — and that if he didn’t, he would kill again, officials said. “I’m in shock,” his uncle, Angelo Saccente, said in a phone interview from Selden, N.Y. “He’s not a bad kid. There’s another side to the story of why Johnny did what he did.” Saccente said his nephew was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2009, shortly after his mother com-
mitted suicide. Stabile has been in and out of mental hospitals ever since, his uncle said. Two years ago, he left New York for Deerfield Beach to be near his father. “He imagines people are coming after him,” Saccente said of his nephew. “It’s a shame what he did. He just needs his medicine. We feel so bad — for the victim.” Authorities were withholding the victim’s name on Saturday until they notify next of kin. On Saturday, Stabile called deputies to the scene at 7:06 a.m. Officials said he told them he stabbed his victim in an alley behind Rattlesnake Jake’s restaurant and the Sea Girl clothing shop, in the 2000 block of Ocean Drive, just blocks from the beach. It was unclear Saturday how many times Stabile stabbed his victim. Stabile told deputies he had never had any problems with the man, known to some as “Brad,” but had been thinking of killing him for a couple of weeks. When Stabile saw the man again on Saturday, he raced back to his apartment for a knife and returned to carry out the attack, detectives said. The slaying left some in the neighborhood in shock. “This is like a little Mayberry,” said Donald Mooney, who works at a nearby motel. “It’s very safe here. You don’t even see fights down here.” Henry Deleon, a regular at Rattlesnake Jake’s, says the homeless man kept to himself and never bothered anyone.
...he had never had any problems with the man, but had been thinking of killing him for a couple of weeks
“I always saw him going through the garbage looking for food,” Deleon said. “The police officer told me he was killed while he was sleeping.” Several people described the victim as a friendly soul who frequently gave away bags of candy. “He would give anybody the shirt off his back,” said Joe Allman, a Deerfield Beach resident. “All he wanted to do was listen to his headphones and chill.” Molly McGee, a 10-year local resident, agreed. “He would not even hurt a fly.” The killing did not surprise homeless advocate Sean Cononie, who noted that Florida is one of the top states in the country for hate crimes against the homeless. Homeless people are especially vulnerable to attack because many of them sleep on the streets, said Cononie, who runs the Homeless Voice shelter in Hollywood. “People who live on the streets are naturally a target because they have no doors, alarms or windows to keep intruders out,” Cononie said.
Our Purpose: To Help the Homeless Learn How to Help Themselves
The Homeless Voice December 2012
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About the COSAC Foundation The COSAC Foundation was originally established in May 1997 to partner with other social service agencies, in the area, that provided help to the homeless population. COSAC also independently feeds the homeless. We have grown into a multifaceted agency that feeds, shelters, and arranges for each homeless person to receive the necessary access to social and noncompulsory religious services to enable a return to a self-reliant lifestyle. And for the small percentage of people incapable of living independent lives, we provide a caring and supportive environment for their long-term residency. Our Philosophy COSAC believes that to remain effective we must strive to remain flexible, and be ready to evolve to meet the needs of the homeless with equivalent services. Our Mission Statement To provide the homeless population access to shelter, food, employment opportunities or referrals, as well as access to social services all toward the aim of enabling their return, if possible, to self-reliance. To accomplish this COSAC is the hub organization. We developed the Homeless Voice newspaper, a COSAC funding tool, which has been responsible for employing homeless people and therefore giving them income to survive on the streets. Also, the “The Homeless Voice” is the means by which we advocate on behalf of the homeless population and to educate the public as to the true nature of homelessness and ways we can all work to eliminate the bias against this sector of our population and to help empower those affected by homelessness to regain or maintain their self-esteem and sense of self-worth during their transition through difficult times. The Homeless Voice became the official name of our homeless division, which operates four facilities in Broward County. We created the COSAC Quarters Hotel for the poor, a hotel with 21 rooms that serve the indigent or people with limited income. The clients receive three meals a day at Arnolds Café, named after the great homeless advocate Arnold Abbott. Another agency is the Day Labor Company, employees of which match an outside company labor request with a suitable shelter resident. Lastly, COSAC Foundation decided to become the South Florida County Food pantry. This service helps us provide food for those “nearly homeless” families. Our Vision To end discrimination against the homeless population and to develop such an effective network of services that we greatly reduce the time a person or family emerges out of homelessness back into self-reliance.
If you received this issue of the Homeless Voice in your mailbox please go to pg 5 We have an Emergency!
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The Homeless Voice December 2012
Our Homeless Voice readers:
The Homeless Voice December 2012
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Work from Home ...securing Names for our Friends Column. We’ve found a way to secure funds for the shelter while providing new jobs. Every time they pay their fee to have their name in our friend’s column, you get paid! We are setting up Networking Marketing for this Friends column because we need your help. We need it bad. With the cities trying to remove our street vendors from the street and then the rain we must now think differently, said Sean Cononie. All you need to do is get your friends to sign up and become our friends. Better yet, if you get them to do the same thing where they start to sign up their friends you will also get $2.00 per month off of their sales. According to Cononie that means that 77 percent of actual fees for the friend’s column go to the actual homeless. Cononie added that big charities sometimes pay professionals to raise funds and the charity only gets about 5%. He said, “this plan not only brings money in to the homeless shelter but it also creates a job for those who may be a little disabled and can work from home or a little part time job. Over time the income will increase where if you signed up 100 people you would bring in about $400 a month. Usually the people who sign up for the friend’s column do it for life. According to John Peterson volunteer for the Homeless Voice, as long as they keep having their name in the friend’s column the network marketer will have income each time they send in their check. Cononie is also considering adding some benefits in a few years. He believes that this will create jobs and with jobs, benefits can come. People can call 954-924-3571 and ask for Ginny in Operations.
The Paradoxical Commandments If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind. Think big anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People really need help but may attack if you help them. Help people anyway. Give the world the best you have and you might get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you've got anyway.
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We Have Been Removed From The Streets...
On Spirituality...Christmas
Many folks in the Northeast are still reeling in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two from the effects of superstorm Sandy. Whersmall coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to ever I go and visit with people the conversahimself he said to them, “amen I say to you, this poor tion inevitably turns to the storm and what it widow put in more than all the other contributors to the has done to peoples' lives. One such story was treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus about a single mom who was displaced from wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she her home and was staying in a local motel. The had, her whole livelihood." This is the great lesson that motel is not very nice and has a reputation, but God teaches us as He gives us His only son. Everything all the motels and hotels in the area are pressed God treasured and needed was in Jesus. Yet God gives into service because of the large Him to you and I and all who will ever number of people who cannot relive, on that first Christmas morning. How For they have all turn to their homes. This woman moved were the poor folks in that hotel to contributed from their was so grateful that her and her surplus wealth, but she, from have one who was suffering the same fate son had a room with an effiher poverty, has contributed reach out with such generosity. Moved to ciency kitchen, while most of her tears for sure but also moved to look outall she had, her whole neighbors only had a room and side of their own lives to see into the lives livelihood. a bath, she hosted Thanksgivof those less fortunate. As the Christmas ing dinner for anyone who was season draws near I pray with people of living there and wanted to come. This heartgood will around the world that the spirit of giving goes warming story reminded me of the gospel pasbeyond the material worth, and we all realize that even sage from Luke 12: 41 "he sat down opposite a smile can be a great gift. May the peace and joy of the the treasury and observed how the crowd put newborn child fill your hearts this Christmas. money into the treasury. Many rich people put Deacon Bob
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The Homeless Voice December 2012
For any new readers to our paper, I’d like to explain a little on how we support ourselves. We run on 100 % generosity of our readers. We are not funded through the government and depend solely on the communities we serve. Distributing the free Homeless Voice newspaper has been our way over the last ten years to collect donations while providing a job and money to the transients of South Florida. By not accepting government funding we are able to accept people of every age, race, criminal and mental background with no limitations on how long they can stay or how much we can help them. It is very important for us to bring the news to you as well so we can reduce the number of homeless people in the community. The more people who read our newspaper, the more we can educate and then help fix the problem of homelessness. However we are in serious danger of losing that freedom. More and more cities are taking our vending rights away while sending more people to our shelters. Our supplies are running low and our bills are piling up. If you have received this free issue in your mailbox, thank you for taking the time to read about us and the people who live here. We are a full service shelter and offer three meals a day, a bed to sleep in and the opportunity for counseling and assistance in applying for benefits and jobs. We offer much more and when the opportunity allows we often provide emergency assistance and aid in the surrounding area.We are in desperate need of people who can donate every month. We love vistors to come by and see what we are all about. Please see below on ways to donate, thank you!
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Preparing for the King Prepare for the King He doesn’t need a crown, he doesn’t need a ring. For He is Christ King to be. He will be nice you will see. Of how I see Jesus Well, it’s very simple it’s how He sees us if He loves me I can see That’s how I want to be Lillian , Age 9
This tile mosaic of Jesus can be found at Our Saviour’s Catholic Church in Cape Canaveral.
Candle 1 Candle 2 Candle 3 How many candles do I see 4! I am glad there is no more because he is coming! 3 purple, 1 pink, I think I saw them wink. Happy Advent to all and to all a good night! Lillian, Age 9
Once there was a little girl. Her name was Gianna. She loved Advent, she thought it was fun. Each Sunday her family read a prayer and lit a candle. On the 4th Sunday, they rejoiced because they were so happy! On Christmas Eve they went to church. At the church they had a big party. On Christmas morning they opened presents to celebrate Jesus’ birthday! Autumn, Age 8
Happy Birthday to the baby of Mary We love to celebrate Give thanks and be Merry God bless us everyone! Sage, Age 6
The Sabo Spirit (Continued from pg 1)
sponders there because there were not that many clients living there. The only first responder was Linda herself. After she had passed we said to ourselves that these off campus places are not what we like because maybe she would be alive if she was on the main campus. We could have worked the heart attack and Linda may still be with us. However, Linda is with us no matter what because of her faith. She believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. She was also a prayer warrior. When our Lois was sick with Cancer it was up and down for a few days. We did not know if Lois was going to make it. It was pretty scary but every time Linda saw me in the hallway she would say she was praying for Lois and she loved Lois. Some people say they pray but some people say they pray and mean it. She meant it for she really loved people. When she found out Lois’ surgery was a success she said “I told you so.” She had faith in her prayers. Linda, I say these words today, as CEO of our shelter system, I now change the name of your “Dania House” where you lived and where you finally met the Lord to the “Linda Sabo Campus” in honor of your life of coming to us homeless and then working your way up helping the homeless. Your name and most important your spirit will remind us to always take care of the people who need us the most and when we are stressed we can remember your friendly smile and start the day over again because of the “Sabo Spirit” of always having a big and bright smile on that beautiful face of yours. I love you Linda Sabo, for we all loved you Linda.
Dear Homeless Voice Supporter: issue of hate crimes to the homeless has been fully exposed I have been writing stories about us needing help and I still by our newspaper. All this has been so great over the years, have to do this because as most of you know we are losing but soon to be all gone. cities where we cannot sell the paper in or they only allow We are losing cities. The cities that once allowed us to us to do very few non busy streets. I am sorry this is a long distribute our papers at street corners are now making it a letter but it is an EMERGENCY. crime. Yet, in some cities they allow their firemen to collect I truly say “Thank You” for giving to us in these buckets money but arrest our vendors. They claim it is about safety, all these years and you have contributed millions over the yet when they make these laws they allow their own VOTE 15 years, but now we must think a little bit different. Your FOR ME SIGNS to be held at street corners when they run bucket contributions have paid for over four million dolfor local office. They claim selling a paper is dangerous, lars in property allowing us to own all our property with no yet more kids are hurt or killed in high loans. We have beds in three different school sports than selling a newspaper. countries and we (meaning you and I) They do not make it a crime to play have dewormed essentially almost the football nor should they because I too entire worst part of Haiti where the kids played dangerous sports, and it is a perdrink sewer water. In addition we were sonal decision. In fact, they encourage one of the first not for profits that South these sports and spend lots of tax dollars Com (our military) let fly a commercial getting their teams to win. Trust me, as jet into Haiti as aid from the earthquake, we get copies of their internal emails we with 70 surgeons on board and antibiotsee it is about the word “homeless” not ics for 30,000 people. We have done all “safety.” The fact that the people who this because you buy our paper. Now are doing the complaining could rewe need you the most because I cannot ally use a copy of our Homeless Voice hold on much longer. People, I need 2003-Sean and Lois in Haiti taking a very sick Newspaper so they know the homeless you now. baby to the hospital. are Vets from wars, our heroes, or peoBecause of the cities like Pembroke ple who have a hard time keeping a job because of depresPines and Miramar we already had to close our main office sion. Lately, it has been a lot of people who lost everything down. Also let me tell you the main office was converted to because of the economy. an emergency family dorm when the police bring in homeThe reason we have been so good at helping the homeless is less families. The same dorm that these cities bring their because of this Homeless Voice Newspaper that is soon to be homeless families to is now closed because the same cities all gone. It is because people like you have helped us by givoutlawed our paper from being distributed. ing us a donation for the newspaper. We did sue the last city. I am sure you have seen the faces of our homeless friends. We are suing the City of Pembroke Pines and any other city These faces are the ones the governmental shelters turned that tries to stop us from selling our newspaper. We have away. Maybe they were full and could not figure out how no other choice at this time but to defend ourselves in court. to use their offices for beds in an emergency or perhaps the What makes the matter worse is that for every city that has homeless person was not going to be able to graduate their made it illegal to sell the paper we have served that city by programs. They get grants and must follow certain rules; taking their homeless. The city police department drops off whereas, we do not and that is why we can take just about their homeless to our doors and at the same time tells us if anyone who comes our way. you distribute the paper in our city we will take you to jail. I started this Agency 15 years ago and a lot of you became It is not the officers; it is the political leaders who make the familiar with us because of our “Homeless Voice Newslaw for the police to enforce. Sounds like we have been used paper,” for this is the only funding we get. We sell about for years and still are being used by the cities. That is ok, 80,000 papers a month and those funds have started about 14 they can use us as much as they agencies consisting of our Homeless Shelters, our Disaster want and we will continue to take Agency, our Agency that gets emergency medical supplies to their homeless even when they the children of Haiti, and our Agency that has beds for Haipass laws saying you cannot sell tian HIV orphans. We even have our own medical outreach the paper or give it out for free. division where we have an ambulance where we go out and I know you want to help, but treat the homeless. In the beginning, we had a lot of extra for now we must all think about funds so we put it to good use by opening up more programs keeping this place and all other and agencies to help those in need. programs and agencies we have in When we landed in Haiti for the earthquake in a joint venbusiness. If we cannot, there will ture with another agency, all I could do was thank the people be no volunteering in the future who bought our papers. I was so thankful that we had plenty for there will be no shelter whatof funds that we were actually able to save humans from dysoever. When I type these words ing. Again, all because we distribute our “Homeless Voice I am so sad. Advocates who have Newspaper.” been around for years have alI am reaching out to you now to tell you this all may be ways told me that there is a war on gone very soon. As stated we only get funds from us crethe poor and now I see it is true. ating the newspaper and distributing it to the public. Not So come and help us win this war. only do we sell the paper for a donation, but we bring the We need you to become a volunteer coordinator in which homeless to the people who buy it, therefore, educating the your position will set the future for this shelter. We have no general public about homeless issues and proving that the other option at this time. You will work when you want and stereo-type that homeless people do not want to work and you can work from wherever you want. You can be our PR are lazy is wrong. Homeless people are not lazy people. The
Monthly Angel Program Thomas Johnson
When she found out Lois’ surgery was a success she said “I told you so.” She had faith in her prayers.
The Homeless voice is in desperate need of your help, now more than ever. For more than ten years, the free Homeless Voice newspaper has been distributed on South Florida streets. As a result, we have been able to provide a job and money to the transients of South Florida, who distribute the newspaper and collect the donations. Unfortunately, many South Florida cities are taking away our vendor rights, which in the process drastically reduces our funding and ability to help the people who need it the most. In order for us to continue providing assistance, we need everyone to pitch in with a small monthly donation. We aren’t asking anyone for a lot, just many people for a little. You can join our Monthly Angel Program and for as little as 50 cents per day, you will be personally responsible for keeping a homeless family off the streets. With generous monthly donations from readers like you, we can continue to provide support to countless
homeless people on a daily basis. The only way we are able to keep our doors open and accept people of every race, age, and background is by not accepting government funding and instead relying entirely on donations. We are a full service shelter and offer three meals a day, a bed to sleep in and the opportunity for counseling and assistance in applying for benefits and jobs. We offer much more and when the opportunity allows we often provide emergency assistance and aid in the surrounding area. To sign up, visit www.homelessvoice.org/donate. You can also make one-time donations and as always, 100% of the proceeds go directly to the homeless. MONTHLY ANGEL BENEFITS •You or your business name will appear in the Homeless Voice Newspaper, which currently has over 100,000 copies in circulation. GIVE MORE •GIVE BACK by signing up for a Homeless Voice Newspaper monthly subscription! All proceeds are reinvested back into the Homeless Voices Project. •Advertise with The Homeless Voice Newspaper. With over 100,000 copies now in circulation!
7 person. Do you believe there are still people in the community that do not even think we have a shelter? Do you believe there are still people in the community that think all we do is collect money in the street and that is it? I have been in the news at least 150 times, and people see us doing outreach or go to Haiti. Then there are others who just do not know we are the real deal. It will become your job to invite them in to see where the money goes. We will ask you to help us come up with ways to stay in business. There are several ways to do this, below is an example. Whatever we do it is most important to have people make their monthly pledges. We do need to know how much money will be coming in each month. This way we will not have to open and close beds each time there is a money issue. It costs a lot of money to keep opening and closing beds based on population. So we are asking that people pledge and send in their checks monthly or to make an auto payment out of their checking account each month. People can even text a donation. Our budget is anywhere from $90,000 to $120,000 per month based on population. So we will use the number $100,000 is what we need per month. Now how can this be done? It is simple! Start with yourself if you can afford it, and then spread the word to others. Look at the ways below and see how easy it could be to save this shelter system. If we had 25,000 people to send in their checks for $5.00 per month we would be fine. Or if we had 10,000 people to send in their checks for $10.00 per month we would be fine. See it is very easy for us together to do this. It can be done we just need to put our minds together. There are many ways to help, please go to www.homelessvoice.org I have tried writing stories in the paper asking for people to do this but it is very slow. They are giving us money on the streets and plenty of it, but we only have about 400 people who have made monthly pledges. Maybe because they still see our people on the corners, but that will only last a little longer. We do not know if we will lose all the cities, but we are losing the ones that we sell more papers in. Now is the time to convert to send in check donations for it is so important and critical! It is an emergency as you can read on the internet for cities have taken us off the streets like Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Oakland Park, Weston, and more to follow. We are joining other papers in this fight who have the same issues as us. We all have heard “you cannot fight city hall.” We will be fighting city hall for this is a war on the poor. Besides they have their nerve to do this to us since we have been there for them taking their homeless for all these years. We ask that you directly help us stay in business and we need you now more than ever. If you start by asking your friends and family to sign up for monthly pledges, we will make it! We want to make it just like Amway network marketing. As you sign up, then you get your friends and family to sign up, and then they go out and get their friends and family to sign up.
If you received this issue of the Homeless Voice in your mailbox please go to pg 5 We have an Emergency!
Please have them come by and see where their money goes. It does not matter if they are willing to donate 50 cents each month. Even 50 cents allows us to know we will get the 50 cents each and every month. Each month we get real small checks and I must tell you I ask God to bless those givers for I know it is a hard donation to give based on their fixed income and you must respect that giver as much as the person who sends in a few hundred dollars. The above recommendations are just suggested, but if you go to our web site you may want to do another option or even just a onetime donation for your friends and families. You can also go to www. homelessvoice.org To read about the cities such as Pembroke Pines please go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/01/homeless-voice-sues-pembr_n_2053433.html Also to see what we really do go to this story written about ten years ago. It is a three page story that was in the Sun-Sentinel. It is about Johnny McCormick. He was my first client at this shelter that I started. In fact, he died recently, and we renamed the main shelter “The John McCormick Homeless Shelter” for he is the reason this place has lasted so long. He was put here by God showing me the way to help his other homeless friends. Below is also a video about myself and my best friend Johnny. Story in the Sun-Sentinel http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-12-19/features/9912160802_1_shelter-shower-mugging-victim/3 Story of when my best friend died http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-09-20/news/ fl-homeless-funeral-mayocol-b092010-20100920_1_ sean-cononie-shelter-friend Remembering our John http://www.homelessvoice.org/podcast-episode-9/ I am sorry this is a little long, and I am sorry I have put some links in this letter but I think it is so important to see what we really do. I want you to understand just how important it is for this place to be here forever. Checks can be made payable to COSAC Homeless Shelters P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, Florida 33329 Thanks, Sean Cononie Founder
The reason we have been able to do so much is because of this newspaper- that may soon be gone
The Homeless Voice December 2012
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The Homeless Voice December 2012
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Prayer for Religious Liberty O GOD OUR CREATOR, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome — for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us — this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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COSAC’S CHURCH Come to the church that is a Church of Service and Charity Learn of Jesus & How to put God‛s words into action.
Sunday 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm 1203 N. Federal Highway Hollywood, FL 33020 954-924-3571 x316 * Free Weddings * Free Memorial Services * Alternatives to Abortion * Healing Services
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Sunday Noon - 1:00 pm 1109 N. Federal Highway Hollywood, FL 33020 954-924-3571 x316 * Free Weddings * Free Memorial Services * Alternatives to Abortion * Healing Services
The Homeless Voice December 2012
If you received this issue of the Homeless Voice in your mailbox please go to pg 5 We have an Emergency!
The Homeless Voice December 2012
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12 Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas By Sharon Boone
Retail therapy doesn’t have quite the same calming effect during the holiday season when you’re fighting your way through a crowd to snag a must-have iPad or wrestling for that last honey-glazed ham. But there are plenty of other super-quick ways to relax, right here, right now. Lower your shoulders, take a deep breath and let us help you rediscover the most wonderful time of the year. 1. Crunch your way to calm. Munching crisp foods is the oral equivalent of squeezing a stress ball. (Chewing releases built-up pressure.) But that doesn’t give you a free pass to chomp on candy canes all day. Snack on jicama slices, a few roasted nuts, celery sticks, baby carrots or an apple instead. 2. Distract yourself. If constant worries over your tween’s wish list and the awkward company party are cycling through your head, a mental distraction, like solving a puzzle, can derail the pressure-pumping train of thought. One study found playing a brainteaser video game could improve your mood and heart rhythms. Crossword puzzles, word searches and sudoku work just as well to counteract the stress response. 3. Tidy up. When you have so much happening, ordinary chores like sweeping or folding laundry can give you a much-needed sense of calm. “By narrowing your focus to completing simple tasks, you force whatever was overwhelming you to recede into the background,” says Jay Winner, M.D., author of Take the Stress Out of Your Life. So move washing dishes to the top of your to-do list and eliminate some tension. 4. Cry it out. Weeping makes you feel better by releasing tears, which contain large amounts of stress-related chemicals. If you can’t just turn on the waterworks, rent a tearjerker and blame your blubbering on The Notebook. 5. Say ohmmm. Meditation can slow a racing heart, decrease blood pressure, steady breathing and even stop checkout lines from driving you crazy. (Well, maybe.) “By eliminating all distractions save the sound of your breath, meditation transforms the body’s fight-or-flight response to relaxation,” says Dr. Winner. 6. B-calm. Head off trouble by getting your recommended dose of these vitamins. “B-complex helps relieve fatigue, improves mood and soothes nerves,” says Rashmi Gulati, M.D., medical director of Patients Medical, a holistic wellness center in New York City. Add B-vitamin-rich foods to your diet with a spinach breakfast omelet or three-bean salad lunch. 7. Rub the right way. No time for a spa trip? Debbie
Appeal to a higher power. People who prayed before performing a taxing task—say, preparing dinner for 30—had lower blood pressure and felt less anxious than those who did not. Mandel, stress management expert and author of Addicted to Stress, suggests this quick technique to unwind: Warm a small amount of olive or almond oil in a glass by partially submerging it in a bowl of hot water. When the oil is tepid, use your thumb and forefinger to massage it back and forth around your eyes. 8. Take a tea break. Leave it to the Brits to prove that drinking black tea reduces your level of the stress hormone cortisol by 47% on average. Create a calming ritual by pouring a cup every day at around the same time. Make it extra special with a gorgeous mug or a black seasonal blend. 9. Drink up. ‘Tis the season for eggnog and mulled wine. But don’t forget water. Alcohol is dehydrating, causing you to function at less than your best. The reverse is also true: Being under pressure can lead to dehydration. Always keep a glass or pitcher of water on your desk or kitchen counter. 10. Support yourself. Try this acclaimed pose that can head off insomnia by relaxing tight muscles all over your body. Micki Ramondt, a yoga instructor in London and Philadelphia, suggests that before bed you lie on your back with your butt as close to a wall as is comfortable, legs extended up, hip distance apart, and heels resting on wall. Place a folded blanket under your pelvis for support and comfort. Stay in place for 10 to 20 minutes, then sleep tight. 11. Go fish. Top your lunchtime salad with canned salmon or tuna. Both contain cortisol-regulating magnesium, which can get depleted during hectic moments, resulting in headaches and fatigue. These fish are also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which prevent surges in stress hormones. 12. Appeal to a higher power. People who prayed before performing a taxing task—say, preparing dinner for 30—had lower blood pressure and felt less anxious than those who did not. Researchers theorize that prayer creates the sense of having a nonjudgmental and powerful support network.
The Candy Cane allthingsChristmas.com
It was not long after Europeans began using Christmas trees that special decorations were used to adorn them. Food items, such as candies and cookies, were used predominately and straight white candy sticks were one of the confections used as ornamentation. Legend has it that during the 17th century, craftsmen created the white sticks of candy in the shape of shephreds' crooks at the suggestion of the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. The candy treats were given to children to keep them quiet during ceremonies at the living creche, or Nativity scene, and the custom of passing out the candy crooks at such ceremonies soon spread throughout Europe. According to the National Confectioner's Association, in 1847 German immigrant August Imgard used the candy cane to decorate a Christmas tree in Wooster, Ohio. More than 50 years later, Bob McCormack of Albany, Georgia supposedly made candy canes as treats for family, friends and local shopkeepers. McCormack's brother-in-law, Catholic priest Gregory Keller, invented a machine in the 1950s that automated the production of candy canes, thus eliminating the usual laborious process of creating the treats and the popularity of the candy cane grew. More recent explanations of the candy cane's symbolism hold that the color white represents Christ's purity, the red the blood he shed, and the presence of three red stripes the Holy Trinity. While factual evidence for these notions does not exist, they have become increasingly common and at times are even represented as fact. Regardless, the candy cane remains a favorite holiday treat and decoration. Candy Cane Swirl Cookies •1/2 cup shortening •1/2 cup butter •3 cups all-purpose flour •1 cup sugar •1 egg •2 tablespoons milk •1 teaspoon vanilla •1/2 teaspoon baking soda •1/4 teaspoon salt •3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract •1/2 teaspoon red food coloring 1.In a mixing bowl, beat the shortening and butter for 30 seconds. 2.Add about half of the flour, the sugar, egg, milk, vanilla, baking soda and salt to beaten mixture. Beat until thoroughly combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Then, beat or stir in the remaining flour. 3.Divide dough in half. Set one portion aside. To the remaining portion, knead in the peppermint extract and the food coloring. 4.To shape dough, roll out each portion of dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper to form a 12×11-inch rectangle. Remove top sheet of waxed paper from plain and pink doughs. Invert plain dough on top of pink dough. Peel off top sheet of paper. From the long side, roll up, jelly-roll style, removing bottom sheet of paper as you roll. Cut roll in half, crosswise. Wrap and chill for 4 to 24 hours. 5.Cut dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375° F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Remove cookies and cool on wire rack. Makes about 60 cookies (Better Homes & Gardens)
Hoping for a Gift Sara Targett
Sam could hear the Christmas carols from her room. The voices that sang along to them were mostly in tune. During the chorus the sound would crescendo and then fall away again as the lyrics became harder to recall. Normally, she would be on the piano banging out her favorite, Rockin around the Christmas Tree, and singing to the top of her lungs. Not that there was a piano here to play had she not been feeling sorry for herself. She continued to stare out her window listening to the carols and then drifting back into her own thoughts. Christmas had always been one of Sam’s favorite holiday seasons. Everything about it had delighted her. Even Black Friday had been something she looked forward to all year long. She had skipped that shopping day this year, and every day since. I haven’t bought one single present this year Sam thought incredulously. And I probably won’t receive any either, she thought, a new wave of self-pity washing over her. She thought of the lavish gifts she and her friends had once exchanged to one another. The holiday outfits and the feasts she had taken for granted. All of it gone now, even the friends. For a while after she lost
her job things had stayed fairly normal. But as the days turned into weeks and then months Sam had lost both her relationships and her belongings. Another holiday favorite started up down stairs and the boisterous voices brought Sam back from her depressing thoughts. She knew she should join them. She knew she would probably feel better if she did. At her own Christmas parties in the past Sam would make everyone sing, even when they heavily protested. This of course was nothing like her Christmas parties. This party was at a homeless shelter. A knock on her door made Sam jump. When she answered the door, she was surprised to see a little old lady standing there. “Come down and join the party,” the woman demanded. “Um, I don’t feel much like celebrating right now,” Sam told her. “We’re singing Christmas songs. It’s real fun…well, here’s a card anyway, Merry Christmas!” And with that the old lady shuffled off down the hall and out of sight. Sam went back to the spot near her window and looked at the card the old lady had given her. On the front was a bright star and inside the holy family in the stable. As Sam studied the picture of Jesus, Mary and Joseph she realized the irony of her self-pity. She had more in that shelter than that poor family did in that picture. They certainly weren’t pitying themselves.
(pic from anordinarymom.wordpress.com)
They had a precious new baby that symbolized love and hope for the future. All who knew of the birth were praising and rejoicing! Sam had received a gift after all …and from a total stranger-in a homeless shelter. She tucked the card into her pocket and headed towards the door. Her heart felt lighter than it had in months. Maybe I’ll get to sing my favorite Christmas song she thought hopefully.
11 The Homeless Voice December 2012
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