Hope Center Newsletter: August 2015

urban times V O L U M E

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our mission

contents Graduation Congratulations. . . . . . 2 Partner Agency Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Recipe Corner. . . . . . . . . . 2 Housing & Financial Fairs . . . . . . . 3 Community Day. . . . . . . . 3

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UPCOMING EVENTS National Night Out

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. Please join us for a community event celebrating diversity and safety at the Hope Center with giveaways, activities, a cookout, and more! All activities and content are family-friendly, so bring the kids!

National Day of Caring

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, ALL DAY THE HOPE CENTER WILL BE CLOSED.

Nights of Impact

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. Please join us for a night of dancing, singing, rapping, poetry, and more. All activities and content are family-friendly, so bring the kids! Thank you to DJ Henri Tee for leading these fun-filled nights!

Community Day and Back to School Celebration

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 3:00 – 5:00 P.M. Celebrate the end of summer and get ready for the new school year! Fun games, food, and giveaways for school-aged children and their parents!

Personal Essentials Pantry

EVERY LAST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, 1:30 P.M. TO 4:30 P.M. MATT URBAN HOPE CENTER 385 PADEREWSKI DRIVE 893-7222, EXT. 310 MAT T URBAN HOPE CENTER FUNDERS & PARTNERS

The Matt Urban Hope Center responds to the needs of the community by hosting family-focused events, informative workshops, free tax preparation, benefits screening, housing and job assistance. We assist individuals who are homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, families suffering from domestic violence, loss of income, no utilities, and eviction.

Additionally, we serve dinner five times per week which is open and free to the community.

info

MATT URBAN HOPE CENTER

385 Paderewski Drive Buffalo, NY 14212 (716) 893-7222 ext. 310 HOPE CENTER HOURS

Monday – Friday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

URBAN DINER

BY FRIENDS OF NIGHT PEOPLE

Dinner Hours: Monday – Friday 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

FOOD PANTRY

1st, 2nd & 3rd Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Last Saturday of every month 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Tasha’s Recipe Corner COOL AFFORDABLE SUMMER TREAT INGREDIENTS: • 3 cups of cold milk • 2 pkg. (3.4 oz each) Jell-O Vanilla Flavor • 30 vanilla wafers • 3 bananas, sliced • 1 tub (8 oz.)

Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed DIRECTIONS: • Beat the pudding mix with the milk for 2 minutes and then let it

stand for 5 minutes.

• Arrange half the wafers on the bottom and sides of a 2 qt. serving bowl.

• Top with layers of half of each, the wafers, banana slices, and pudding.

• Repeat all layers, then cover with Cool Whip.

• Refrigerate for 3 hours.

Congratulations to Jason Flores, Homeless Outreach Program Supervisor for being this year’s recipient of the Western New York Coalition for the Homeless Sister Jean Frank Award! It is much deserved.

Jason is a devoted advocate for those living on the streets, leading the charge on ending chronic homelessness in our community! Congrats and thank you for all you do!

PARTNER AGENCIES SCHEDULE

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HESE AGENCIES VISIT THE HOPE CENTER ON A regular basis and provide free services. Take advantage of these programs while they are in your neighborhood!

TEAM HOPE

Graduation Congratulations

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EAM HOPE WOULD LIKE TO SALUTE ITS members who have recently graduated from area colleges: Tasha Moore, Program Coordinator at the Hope Center, graduated from ECC, earning both an Associate’s Degree in Social Science and a Human Development Services Certificate. Tasha is applying to Buffalo State for the Fall Semester, where she will major in Community Social Work. She plans on continuing her mission to improve the lives of those in the community through counseling, advocacy, and the million other things she does every day to help those around her.

Sean Dougherty, who works in our Homeless Outreach department, earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work from UB. Sean also plans to continue to serve the community in any way he can.

Travis McNamara, an intern at the Hope Center, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bryant & Stratton as a member of the National Technical Honor Society, earning his Associate’s Degree in Business. Travis is applying to UB’s Economics Department for the Fall Semester, with plans on becoming a professor, author, and economic theorist.

Bryant Brown, Afterschool Counselor at the Hope Center, also graduated from Bryant & Stratton, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business-General Management. Bryant plans on serving the community by providing legal services to youth who have become entangled in the justice system.

Congratulations to all four of our graduates! And thank you for striving to improve not only your own lives, but the lives of others as well! – Travis McNamara

AG E N CY N A M E

SC H E DU LE

Belmont Housing Buffalo Board of Ed. Consumer Credit Counseling Services Cornell University Initiative GBUAHN Kaleida Health Planned Parenthood Wellcare

2ND TUESDAY, 3:00-5:00

Housing Opportunities and Programs

WEDNESDAYS, 2:00-4:00

GED Preparation Programs

2ND WEDNESDAY, 3:00-5:00

Credit Information

2ND WEDNESDAY, 3:00-5:00

Nutritional Awareness (Upstairs)

TUESDAYS, 2:00-3:30

Health Insurance and Services

3RD THURSDAY, 2:00-4:00

Health Insurance

LAST THURSDAY, 3:00-5:00

Women’s Health Information

LAST THURSDAY, 3:00-4:30

Health Insurance

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HE LP T HE H OPE C E N T E R: VOLU N T E E R OR DON AT E TODAY ! 893 -7222 E X T. 310

Housing and Financial Fairs

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AY AND JUNE SAW THE MATT URBAN HOPE Center hold two informational vendor fairs for members of the community. The annual Housing Fair, held on May 28th, and the Financial Wellness Fair, held on June 23rd. The fairs are designed to promote community awareness of the different programs and organizations that are available in WNY that can potentially assist those in need. Vendor attendees for the Housing Fair included; Matt Urban Housing, Belmont Housing, People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH), Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS), the Buffalo Mental Health Association, and Leonard Williams (Erie County Constituent Services Assistant, from the County Executive’s office); all of whom were there to provide clients with information that could assist them with issues regarding discrimination, evictions, funding resources and other housing related concerns.

The Financial Wellness Fair, organized in partnership with the United Way, hosted representatives from many organizations as well, they included; Consumer Credit Counseling; Belmont Housing; Citizens Bank, the Buffalo School System’s Adult Education Department, Native American Community Services, Key Bank, The Kidney Foundation, SEFCU, Child Care Resource Network, Community Action Organization, Neighborhood Legal Services, WNY Law Center, Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CASH); and WNY Independent Living.

Three lucky members of the community who attended the fair and visited various vendors came away with a $25 gift card after the drawings that were held.

Many members of the community took advantage of the opportunities at both fairs and we thank all of the vendors who took the time to participate and share their expertise in various housing, health, financial, and legal fields. – Travis McNamara

LE ARN MORE AT U RBANC T R .ORG AND

Community Day

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N APRIL 25TH, THE MATT URBAN HOPE CENTER held its annual Spring Community Day. Hope Center staff and volunteers came together with residents of the community to do some neighborhood spring cleaning. In addition, Hope Center staff provided refreshments – hot dogs and soda – for all who participated as well as several tables piled with free clothing and food items for community residents to select from. Community Days are a perfect way to get out and build bonds with the neighbors along Paderewski Drive by making it both cleaner and safer (much broken glass was swept up).

When the piles of snow from the brutal winter that we had finally melted much of it accumulated litter, broken tree branches, leaves, and other waste became exposed, revealing quite a mess. Bag after bag was filled until finally the supplies ran out; but the work was well worth it as the improvement was immediately noticeable. Several residents stopped to thank the volunteers, a few saying that they will be participating in the next Community Day. For those who were unable to make it to the Spring event, another opportunity to participate will be the Summer Community Day on August 26th. There will be free refreshments and giveaways; please come out and show everyone the love you have for this wonderful community by working to make it a better, cleaner, and safer place to live. – Travis McNamara

FOLLOW US

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Help the Hope Center: volunteer or donate today!

Call 893-7222 ext. 310

Most Wanted:

Sun Lotion Soap Blankets Toilet Paper

rant Deodo Dishes

Underwear

Sheets Blankets Small Appliances Gift Cards

ing Warm-weather Cloth

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