Spring/ Summer Newsletter 2013

Spring | Summer Issue 2013

Inside: Shonta’s Story

of HOPE

T A S T E H O P E

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F R I D A Y ,

O C T .

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REGISTER NOW

E X E C U T I V E

D I R E C T O R ’ S

M E S S A G E

“Ma y the God of hop e fil l you with a l l t h e jo y a n d p ea ce a s y o u t r u st i n Hi m , s o t h a t y o u m a y o ve r f l ow w i t h h o p e b y t h e p ow e r o f t h e Ho l y S p i r i t. ” (ROMANS 15:13 - NIV)

I recently spent the day at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast and I left inspired and motivated to put some new tools into practice. Throughout the day, I got to hear from some of the best leaders/authors/speakers in the country and spend time with many great local leaders in our community.

While the day was filled with great lessons, John Maxwell shared something that I believe strikes a chord with HOPE South Florida. Maxwell cautioned the audience to never confuse simplicity with simplistic. He described the difference, as simplistic answers are shallow while simplicity speaks to a deep truth, and the process to move from simplistic to simplicity is through the complex.

When we look at the issue of homelessness and the many ways in which HOPE South Florida partners with churches to serve, we find ourselves right in the midst of complexity. But when we push through that complexity we can find some simple fundamentals to all our services: Live, Teach, Taste HOPE South Florida.

It's simple, we provide housing for families through LiveHOPE, child and youth development through TeachHOPE, and shared meals for the homeless through TasteHOPE. All very simple, but nowhere near simplistic.

Grace and Peace, Robin Martin, M. Div.

Executive Director

Join us as we share a meal and showcase our programs: Live, Teach, Shop, Taste HOPE!

Warehouse Gala! Friday, October 18th www.hopesouthflorida.org

The

6th Annual Golf Tournament was a sold out success!

24 teams teed up!

This year’s host, Guy Boros began the event with a shotgun start. The course was full of guests; PGA Pro Tour players, Mayor Jack Seiler and other special guests. For a full list of pros and tournament sponsors please visit www.hopesouthflorida.org/forehope

Tha n k you to a l l of ou r chu rch pa rtners, bu siness sup porters, a vid gol fers a nd fa ithful committee a nd volunteers for ma king th is yea rs’ tou r na ment trul y s p ecia l!

register or find sponsorship opportunities online

We want you to know who we are, how we help and why we do it.

Come and learn how people like you are Building HOPE as you help us meet our goal of raising $100,000 in benefit of the homeless children, families and individuals we serve.

“I hate the word homeless. When you hear the word homeless, images and stereotypes come to mind that just don’t describe who I am.

I am not defined by homelessness.”

– Shonta Taylor

Shonta’s life changed when she had her first child at the age of 18. She struggled to learn what motherhood meant while still and her story of HOPE began.

trying to find out who she was as an individual. Shonta started

In the 2 years that Shonta has

could openly discuss some of her parenting concerns and

attending vocational school and

been in our program, she has

share her learning experiences

soon became a Certified Dental

experienced a roller coaster of

with others. In addition to the

Assistant. But while her career

emotions. Beginning with her

personal progress Shonta was

was starting to come into focus,

time in our Faith-In-Action

making, she had also found

her relationship with her chil-

program, Shonta quickly pro-

employment and was starting

dren’s father turned unhealthy.

gressed to The Shepherd’s Way

to make long-term plans for her

She finally realized the best

Family Shelter, and with the

family. She was soon ready to

option for her and her children

help of the case management

take another step toward her

was separation.

team, Shonta began to look at

independence, moving from our

her life from a new angle and

Shepherd’s Way Family Shelter

her family’s needs, but suddenly

started to face some of her real

to the Rio House program.

lost her job, exhausted her so-

issues. She engaged with the

cial resources, and eventually

other families on the property

program that the first step in

found herself homeless and in

and started creating new

helping her reach self-sustain-

need of support. It was then

relationships that would help

ability was to get a job, which

that Shonta found HOPE South

rebuild her trust. She attended

she quickly did. But now she

Florida’s LiveHOPE programs

the weekly meetings where she

was at a point where she

Shonta worked hard to meet

L I V E H O P E

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H O U S E

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S H O N T A ’ S

Shonta learned early in the

S T O R Y

O F

H O P E

T E A C H H O P E

G O D ’ S

L I T T L E

L A M B S

Teach “My time at The Shepherds Way and the Rio House has made me a better person. Through the case management team at HOPE South Florida and Rio Vista Community Church team I have been able to boost my self-esteem, face my depression, and process my divorce. I’ve learned to trust people more and more, letting them into my life to help me change and develop as a person.

When I first entered into the LiveHOPE programs, I found myself being so depressed that I was ready to give up, and even considered turning my children over to the state. Through my time here, my faith has grown, and I have found not only the space, but the community to process through my pain. My future as a person, and as a mother is bright. Before this program, HOPE meant surviving, now as I look to graduate, HOPE means happiness, stability and the excitement of a better life! I’m not the same person I used to be.” -Shonta Taylor

The restoration of HOPE must begin with our children and each child that passes through our TeachHOPE programs are a gift from the Lord.

The experience of homelessness and poverty can have a devastating effect on a child’s selfworth and educational success. HOPE South Florida’s Teach HOPE programs provide professional childcare and educational activities to children of homeless and low income families.

Your gift of $25 dollars per month ensures a week of subsidized childcare of a child living in our housing.

Please use the attached remittance envelope or donate online at

HOPEsouthflorida.org

wanted to return to her dental

determination paid off 4

career. She began working on

months later, when she re-

her resume and brushing up

ceived 3 different job offers

on her skills. She received assis-

from places she had contacted

tance from many areas (friends,

weeks earlier! She is now very

community resources, HSF case

happily employed as a full-

management team, HSF church

time Dental Assistant and

partners, etc)…all trying to

proud to have set that positive

help her find a way to return

example for her children. She

to her passion. All the while,

continues setting goals for her

Shonta continued to work long

future and we are sure that

and irregular hours as a cus-

she will meet them all!

tomer service representative at a local retail store and of course being a full-time mom. Her

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Q&A

Q&A

FYI

ividua rysalis ations nce Soc ls in ne that co Center iet or, dep e m u d s e c e a vou y, Broward a t o ending n shop ShopH f on the o O Live, T r P n E ecessit cher system will be presen each a ies sold in t need, nd Tas HOPE t he stor . u t e sed in progra e ms.

S H O P H O P E

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S T R E E T ,

W I L T O N

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g rea t with w I ca n’t you a l l a nd e n o u gh tha n k you you did fo r a l l t ha t of the fo r u s. On e ’ s rea l l y things that is that encou ra gi ng ts i n RU F t h e st u d e n t te d to h a ve c o m m i ekly on servi ng we i ghts w i t h Thu rsda y n m i n i st r y a h omeless pa . h e r e i n Ta m F

“ We ee kh awdo rak i n g

”

F :: US – Jeff, RU

USF Spring Break Service Most college students come to Fort Lauderdale to spend their spring break soaking up sun and sand but this year, the RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) group from University of South Florida had a different idea for their vacation.

Accompanied by their fearless leader, Jeff Lee, this group of 12 students arrived with their sleeping bags and enough energy to pull an all-nighter!

The plan was to serve at TasteHOPE Shared Meals and then empty out God’s Little Lambs childcare center to give it a thorough scrub, make minor repairs and repaint the bathroom. The group enthusiastically jumped in to serve meals to homeless guests and distribute clothing where needed.

After the guests left and the clock ticked toward

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9:00 pm the group turned to caffeine and dance tunes to keep their eyes open and bodies working.

Six hours later, at 3:00 a.m., the group packed up and headed back to their sleeping bags, leaving God’s Little Lambs spotless and ready to welcome its 90 + students the next morning.

Without missing a beat, the next day the group tackled the job of priming and prepping The Shepherd’s Way property, helping with lawn maintenance and preparing an off-site home for crisis shelter. The group was excited to learn how HOPE South Florida has united the faith and business communities to help homeless children, families and individuals and left with renewed compassion for those experiencing homelessness. We thank them for their hard work and servant hearts!

P A I N T I N G ,

R E P A I R I N G ,

C L E A N I N G

=

S E R V I N G

P.O. Box 14156, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33302

H O P E

Live

: :

B U I L D

H O P E

: :

B U I L D

H O U S I N G

Taste

: :

B U I L D

C O M M U N I T Y

Teach

Shop

HOPE South Florida is a Christian-based

Our 2012 Annual Report is hot off the press!

View, download and share with your friends at HOPEsouth florida.org

501(c)(3) non-profit organization, operating since 1995, with the mission to provide hope for the homeless and hurting through services and partnerships with the Christian community. Serving as the lead organization in a network of partner churches and organizations, we are working together to provide a holistic Christian response to homelessness in our community.

Over the years we have provided emergency shelter, housing assistance, and support services to thousands of homeless families throughout Broward County.

For a list of our partner churches and church affiliates please contact: HOPE South Florida Office: 954.566.2311 Fax: 954.566.2302

HOPESouthFlorida.org To learn more, please contact our office at 954.566.2311

help@HOPEsouthflorida.org