IUPUI Partners With Touring Comedians And Salvation Army To Help Central Indiana’s Homeless Children

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – IUPUI students and the Indianapolis community will be laughing for a good cause next week. The Department of Communication Studies along with the Department’s Communication Club in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI have partnered with the Salvation Army to present Comics That Care, a charity event to benefit Central Indiana’s Homeless Children. The show will be held on Monday, March 8^th at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center at IUPUI. Some of the area’s funniest professional stand-up comedians are donating their time, including the headliner, a Bob and Tom Show favorite, Auggie Smith. Smith is original and very hysterical. He’s been doing comedy for over 15 years visiting clubs and colleges all over the nation. Other comedians performing are some if Indy’s funniest folks including: Troy Davis, Mel Fine, Marques Bunn, and Mike Polites.

In addition to performing stand-up comedy, Polites is also a Lecturer in Communication Studies at IUPUI. Polites says that “as faculty members at IUPUI, we pride ourselves on getting our students to realize the importance of helping out the community. With all of the comedians graciously donating their time, proceeds from the comedy show will assist in bringing much-needed resources to the growing homeless population in Indianapolis. I’m so proud of the efforts that my students have put forth in coordinating this very special and very funny event. In these tough times, everyone can use a laugh, so we hope to pack the house!” Tickets can be purchased by visiting the JagTag office in the IUPUI Campus Center, or at the door. The event organizers invite the entire Indianapolis community to join them for a night of fun and laughs!

For more information about this event, please contact Mike Polites, Comedian and Project Manager, at 317-417-3246 or mpolites@iupui.edu.

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Valentine’s Party for Shelter Residents

The stories of residents at The Salvation Army Women and Children’s Shelter are usually sad ones. Most of the residents – many are mothers and their children – come to the shelter as a last resort because they are homelessness or fleeing abusive domestic situations. To celebrate Valentine’s Day may be especially hard for some of these mothers.

Residents sat excitedly in the lobby of The Salvation Army’s Social Services Center Feb. 13, 2010 to await a Valentine’s Day party. In the room down the hall, 12 members of the Indian Creek Christian Church were setting up the last minute preparations to make this a day that would brighten the spirits of those who have endeared so much. In the room were tables for making cards and picture frames, a table for icing cookies and a gift table.

Different groups throughout the year put on such events as this one. It’s a way for residents to be able to get out of their rooms and associate with other residents.

“I think it shows clients that people care”, said Julia Sipes, special projects coordinator for the shelter. “It gives them something to look forward to.”

Indian Creek Christian Church member Lesa Caldwell has helped with events for the shelter before. Her bible study group thought of the idea of a Valentine’s Day party for the shelter. They wanted to make this a positive day for the residents.

Caldwell’s 8 year old son was helping at the party by wrapping the gifts at the gift table, where kids could select a Valentine’s Day present for their moms. The church members realized that some mothers didn’t currently have photos of their children to be put in their decorated frames, so they were taking photos at the party for the frames as well. The church also brought several bags of clothing and supplies for the shelter.

Caldwell said that this event has been a way for the group to “move outside the walls of the church to serve God.”

The party was successful with about twenty residents attending. *Sharron and her grandchildren are residents at the shelter escaping a bad situation. “I love it,” Sharron said about the party. “We are so grateful.”

*Susan, another shelter resident, also came to the party. She’s staying at the shelter because she has nowhere else to go and has no other family with her. She calls the events like the Valentine’s Day party as a way to distract her from the situation that she’s in. “When you’re here [at the party] you don’t think of where you are,” said Susan.

For further information on how you can put on an event for the shelter, contact Julia Sipes at 317-224-1067.

 *Names have been changed to conceal the identity of the residents.

Harriett* has been struggling with depression for most of her life. When she came to The Salvation Army four years ago, she had left a domestic violence situation with her husband and had overcome a drug addiction. However even though she was past the violence and the drugs, she still struggled with her mental health. During her first stay at The Salvation Army, Harriett rarely left her room and did not take any actions to improve her own life.

Harriett recently came back to the shelter for a second time, and she made great progress! She started to take control of her depression, and has been working on her independence and self confidence. She no longer stayed in her room, but made efforts to look for a part time job while applying for SSD and participating in the Shelter Plus Care program. Harriett also sees a counselor twice a month, which she would have never done before.

We am so proud of Harriett and the progress she has made. Even though she was nervous about moving out on her own, she knew that was the step in the right direction and that The Salvation Army was there still to support her. She has been clean for over 20 years and now has much better coping skills. She is part of our Continuing Support Program and continues to meet with her case manager once a week.

*Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the client.

The Door Swings Two Ways

I remember November the fourth.  That was the day that I walked into The Salvation Army.  That day could have been a bright, sunny day, but at that moment everything around me was dark.

I remember the lady at the front desk asked how she could help me.  I remember trying to talk to her as I broke down into tears while explaining that I had no place to stay and I needed shelter.  I was immediately given a roof over my head, food to eat and a bed to lay my weary body.  During my stay at Salvation Army I met other ladies who were going through similar situations.  After going through a depression, I began to deal with my sadness and anger and began attending programs, classes and bible studies.  I began to start feeling more uplifted and realized that God had a real plan for me.

The shelter staff and my case manager encouraged me all through my trip to a new beginning.  I want to tell you that having caring people behind you really means a lot.  I am now working and recently started going to school.  I even found my own apartment!

I believe with God’s blessings and the Salvation Army’s help I am now on my way.  Like I said, the door swings two ways, you may walk in down, but you can walk out with your head held high knowing that you are blessed and not having to look back at the garbage you left behind.

Thank you Salvation Army.  God is good all the time!

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