LAKESHORE AREA REGIONAL RECOVERY OF INDIANA Lake Business Center 9200 Calumet Avenue Suite N-510 Munster, IN 46321 Phone: 219.836.1325 Fax: 219.836.1546 E-mail: info@larri.info Inside this issue: Day in the life: Tim Sheaffer, Volunteer/ Construction Liaison
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Join us for these 2 great events! Mrs. Dornberg’s 3 24 Carrot Cuisine: providing a sense of home for volunteers How YOU can help this month
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Our monthly newsletter exists to further the mission of LARRI. We welcome suggestions that you would like to see featured in upcoming editions of the LARRI newsletter. Forward suggestions to Kasie Tenbarge at ktenbarge@larri.info
▪Restoring Homes ▪ Restoring Hope ▪ Volume I, Issue IV
August 2010
Here to help groups Lutheran HANDS and Southern Baptist World Changers, as well as AmeriCorps. During the week of July 12, "With hundreds of willing more than 400 youth and volunteers available in one adult volunteers with two week, LARRI has been able national faith-based groups to arrange opportunities for were in Northwest Indiana, these group to not only assist laboring to assist with flood some of the individual recovery efforts that homeowners affected by the continue nearly two years flood, but to impact entire after the floodwaters of communities," said Jane September 2008 receded. Delligatti, LARRI's Lakeshore Area Regional executive director. Recovery of Indiana, or The groups worked on LARRI, which formed to various urban and civil assist in the region's projects, including the Gary recovery from the Historical & Cultural widespread flooding of two Society, Exceptional years ago, coordinated the Equestrians Unlimited in work schedules for volunteer Hobart and Portage's
Excerpts from the article by Lu Ann Franklin - Times Correspondent
Photo provided
Volunteers from as far as away as Pennsylvania and Washington state work with LARRI at Imagination Glen in Portage.
Imagination Glen Park. When the Gary Historical Society received a donated building at 535 Ridge Road in 2008, floodwaters filled the basement and black mold covered many surfaces. See: ‘Help’ page 4
Volunteers lend ‘HANDS’ to help community by LeAnne Munoz
Communities all over Northwest Indiana are benefiting from a July visit by more than 400 youth and adult volunteers from two national faith-based groups. Lakeshore Area Regional Recovery of Indiana, or LARRI, coordinated the schedule for both Lutheran HANDS and Southern
Baptist World Changers, placing them throughout Northwest Indiana to help communities affected by the September 2008 flood. Gary Neighborhood Services, located at 300 W. 21st Ave. in Gary, houses LARRI’s satellite office. Lutheran HANDS, a ministry dedicated to helping Lutheran youth in
the Lower Susquehanna Synod faith community grow spiritually through service, worked at Gary Neighborhood Services. For more than 39 years, GNS has offered programs such as community workshops, energy and weatherization assistance and tobacco and drug prevention programs for teen residents of Gary. See: ‘HANDS’ Page 5
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▪ Restoring Homes ▪ Restoring Hope ▪
Day in the life: Tim Sheaffer, Volunteer/Construction Liaison LARRI,, working on September 2008 flood damage as a team leader for BDM, Tim was chosen for the position of Volunteer/Construction Photo by LeAnne Munoz Liaison. Tim Sheaffer, Volunteer/ Background: Tim said Construction Liaison he credits his interest in volunteerism to simple life by LeAnne Munoz experience. “Growing up, if something was broken, you fixed it; if you wanted Meet Tim Sheaffer, Volunteer/ Construction to build something, you Liaison. Before working built it,” he said. with LARRI, Tim was a Self-employed for most team leader for Brethren of his adult years, Tim has Disaster Ministries, a been involved with Boy faith-based organization Scouts and church camps, that helps restore homes as well as BDM, where he and lives affected by is an ordained minister. “I’m not the typical disaster-related events. In January 2010, after minister – I like to think his month-long stay with outside the box. Some
ministers stay and preach at the pulpit, but I feel like my calling is here.” A typical day on the job: “There is no such thing as a typical day on the job for me,” Tim said with a laugh. With a list of assignments and tasks to complete for the day, he starts his job around 7 a.m. and continues until the list is complete.
Some ministers stay and preach at the pulpit, but I feel my calling is here. - Tim Sheaffer
Join us for these great events! To R.S.V.P.., or to learn more about upcoming LARRI events, please call 219.836.1325 ex: 121 To stay connected with us, visit our Web site at http:// www.larri.info
However, according to Tim, he is rarely able to get to everything on his schedule. “At the beginning of the week, I’m on track. But come Wednesday, it gets pretty busy,” he said. With a seemingly disorganized office filled to the brim with dry erase boards and strewn-about paperwork, Tim said he likes to think of his typical day as something akin to organized chaos. “I like to have my fingers in everything I’m working on – I manage my duties better that way,” he said. See ’Day in the life’ on Page 4
Volume I, Issue IV
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Mrs. Dornberg’s 24 Carrot Cuisine: Providing a Sense of Home for Volunteers
Photo Provided
Mrs. Dornberg’s 24 Carrot Cuisine is located in the Porte De L'eau Plaza on 2130 45th St. in Highland, IN. For more information, call 219-922-4534
by Kasie Tenbarge Mrs. Dornberg’s 24 Carrot Cuisine, owned by Cheryl Dornberg and based in Highland, Ind., has been in business for the past 14 years providing fresh, healthy prepared meals weekly for individuals as well as personalized catering services for businesses and organizations. Dornberg had always wanted to find a way to help with the flood relief efforts. However, since she works full time as a business owner, and her husband works full time as well, she felt that she did not have any time to give to volunteer. Her mindset quickly changed
Photo by Donna George
Cheryl Dornberg prepares fresh and healthy meals for local volunteers.
when she heard a presentation by LARRI staff members at her local Kiwanis Club meeting in February of this year. She “didn’t realize how much there was still left to do.” LARRI staff members Tavetta Patterson and Tanya Massengill were there not only asking for volunteers to rebuild homes and make phone calls, they were also calling for help in preparing meals for volunteers that were already doing the work. Dornberg realized that because her business already works to provide meals to people in the community, she could easily volunteer her services and provide meals to volunteers. Dornberg responded and set up a partnership between her business and LARRI. Mrs. Dornberg’s 24 Carrot Cuisine now delivers one meal a week to groups of volunteers such as AmeriCorps NCCC. Volunteer Coordinator for LARRI, Rhonda Carlson said, “Our AmeriCorps volunteers are in LOVE with Cheryl. She has gone above and beyond when it comes to making meals
for them. Many of them have special dietary restrictions and are very grateful that she prepares things that they can eat. In addition, it gives them a home cooked meal, which is very important to a group who is away from home for the first time for an entire year.” LARRI Office Manager Tavetta Patterson reflects on the contributions of Cheryl Dornberg: “I believe the partnership that has been developed between LARRI and Mrs. Dornberg's 24 Carrot Cuisine displays the best of what can be accomplished when a business donates service and/or resources,” she said. “Sometimes people may think they can't contribute because they may not have a lot of available time or the finances to donate. However, with an organization like LARRI there is something that everyone can donate. I hope people will read the article about this partnership and allow it to help them answer the question, ‘What can I give to help?’"
To learn more about Mrs. Dornberg’s 24 Carrot Cuisine, visit its Web site at: http://www.mrsdornbergs.com
Photo by Donna George
Mrs. Dornberg’s 24 Carrot Cuisine delivers one meal a week to groups of volunteers associated with LARRI.
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▪ Restoring Homes ▪ Restoring Hope ▪
Day in the life His role at LARRI: Working as a liaison to the construction and volunteer departments, Tim organizes and and coordinates the volunteers schedules and needs with LARRI’s construction site supervisors. Once LARRI’s volunteer department secures volunteers for a particular date, it is Tim’s job to work with LARRI’s construction site supervisors to find them placement. After finding jobs for
volunteers, he stays in contact with the groups to make sure LARRI meets the needs of everyone involved. There’s no such thing as a typical day for me, Tim said with a laugh.. Tim works with the volunteer and construction departments to accommodate special requests from volunteer groups such as specific jobs for skilled volunteers or shifting the
schedule if volunteer groups cancel. “There are a lot of variables when working with volunteers, so you have to be flexible, and we always try to do just that,” he said. Aside from his role as liaison, Tim also conducts weekly safety orientations for everyone who is new to LARRI. Most memorable moment: According to Tim, it is hard to narrow it down to one.
Continued from Page 2 He said his favorite thing about working with LARRI would be the feeling he gets when he teaches a volunteer something new. Tim said he believes his unique understanding of the link between volunteerism and construction is the reason why he fits so well with LARRI. “I feel like God has given me these gifts of organization and leadership to help others and make a difference.”
Help
Continued from Page 1
With the assistance of LARRI and volunteer groups from all over the nation, the building has taken shape and 109 children, ages 6 to 14, now attend free five-week Summer Enrichment for Learning Programs there.
Photo provided
AmeriCorps member James Ruppert, left, and Southern Baptist World Changers volunteers Emily Kriechbaum and Kelly Tocket help build a fence at Imagination Glen Park in Portage.
Teenagers and adult
volunteers from the World Changers continued that effort by replacing ceilings and drywall inside the building. “We're also going to dig out and replace the drain tile around the building, and share Christ with a lot of people in the neighborhood," said Terry Pierce, an adult volunteer from First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tenn. Desmond Reeder, 18, of Springfield, Ohio, said he was eager to begin taking down the ceiling lights so fellow World Changers, including 15-year-old Dakota Mullins, of Evansville, could put up
new ceilings. "I went to trade school for two years to work with electricity," said Reeder, who is on his first mission trip. “I always wanted to go on a mission trip, but I couldn't afford it. I work a job at McDonald's and I saved a little each week so I could come. I'm very excited to be here." All the volunteers paid $250 plus transportation costs to come on the mission trip, said Kellen Hall, World Changers spokesperson. In addition to building horse shelters, the volunteers in Hobart also repaired and re-roofed three sheds and painted
fences. "This means so much to us," said Sue Goza, of Exceptional Equestrians, which provides educational and therapeutic riding
Photo provided
Luke Shattuck of Cleveland, Tenn., loads lumber to build a horse shelter at Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited in Hobart.
instruction for people with special needs. "We thank the good Lord that they are here."
Volume I, Issue IV
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‘HANDS’
Continued from Page 1
our Gary clients in this wonderful neighborhood facility,” she said. “It seemed only natural to have some of our visiting youth volunteers help us give back.” Co-Organizer of the Lutheran HANDS 2010 Mission Trip Jesse Woodrow Photo by Lou Roldan said he discovered LARRI GNS Executive Director after researching locations Jerome Flagg and Lutheran where his group of 175 HANDS volunteers. volunteers could provide assistance. GNS currently houses According to Woodrow, his LARRI’s satellite office, which experience with LARRI has according to Recovery been one of the best for his Specialist Coordinator Melanie group to date. Parker, has developed a client “In the past, [Lutheran base of about 1,096 people HANDS] have worked with since its opening in October high-profile organizations, but 2009. little known LARRI blows LARRI Director Jane Delligatti said the organization them out of the water with its structure and emphasis on is thrilled to have the building relationships, which is opportunity to return the what Lutheran HANDS is all kindness shown to them by about,” Woodrow said. GNS. Lutheran HANDS volunteers “We are so grateful for the hospitality GNS has shown our Sarah Fogg and Dylan Grim, both of Harrisburg, Pa., agree staff by allowing us to serve
that LARRI has allowed them not only to make a difference in a community such as Gary, but has also taught them skills for the future. GNS Executive Director Jerome Flagg said that LARRI’s placement of Lutheran HANDS volunteers at GNS has been a tremendous help in completing yearlong projects in just a few short weeks. “[LARRI and Lutheran HANDS volunteers] have done so much here in such a short amount of time – it really speaks to their dedication and commitment,” he said. Flagg expressed his hope for other people to get involved with volunteering in their community, and said he views volunteers as an example of people at their best. “The energy, enthusiasm and positive attitude from volunteers are tremendous. We see so much go wrong in the world, it’s so nice to see the good for a change.”
How YOU can help this month Volunteer Opportunities •
Cook meals at home to be brought to our volunteer houses (Everyday; Families)
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Clean homes occupied by volunteers (Weekends; Families)
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Construction at home sites, both skilled and unskilled workers welcome! We will train you! (Monday - Saturday; Adults)
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Yard work, cut grass and maintain flower beds at houses occupied by volunteers (Weekends; Families)
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Help out during events - volunteers with flexible hours preferred. (Everyday; Adults) Please call Rhonda Carlson, Volunteer Coordinator, at (219) 836-1325 or rcarlson@larri.info to sign up for these opportunities.