Shelter Participates in Help-Portrait

The Salvation Army’s Women and Children’s Shelter in downtown Indianapolis was abuzz with activity on Saturday as a team of photographers, hair stylists, and makeup artists converged on the site. Help Portrait Indy 2009, a one-day event meant to coincide with the worldwide launch on December 12, was a chance for those with artistic talents to give back to their community. Katie Moon, professional photographer, spearheaded the event with the help of 40 volunteers. 234 men, women and children were photographed, which included current and past clients, and residents of the Barton Center Apartments.

On Monday, “everyone is still talking about how awesome it was” said Julia Sipes, Special Projects Coordinator for the shelter. That is exactly the emotion that would’ve pleased Nashville photographer Jeremy Cowart, founder of Help Portrait. Mr. Cowart used the internet to generate interest in his idea which was birthed during the summer and exploded into a global movement to give disadvantaged people a chance to get professional photos taken. Nearly every state and 60 countries held their own Help Portrait event which included media coverage aired on CNN. Photo editor Joel Mills, who volunteered for the event in Virginia summed up the impact – “Giving a photo to a stranger gives you a unique opportunity to speak a kind word of encouragement, value, beauty, and truth that isn’t quite as tangible without the photo to give your words context.”

At the shelter in Indy, stylists and makeup artists pampered the women while the children were kept busy decorating cookies. Participants were presented with a framed family portrait, gift bags and children’s books. Afterwards, everyone was treated to pizza on behalf of the volunteers. Next year’s Help Portrait has already been slated for December 4th around the globe. For more information about how you can give or volunteer for events at The Women and Children’s Shelter contact Julia Sipes at (317)637-5551.

October Shelter Statistics

This October we served a total of 213 women and children in shelter – that’s 117 adults and 96 kids.

Of the 213 served, 181 were seeking shelter due to domestic violence, stalking sexual assault, isolation and forced prostitution.

We served 7,031 meals.

Want to help?  Call Julia Sipes at (317) 224-1067 to find out about volunteer opportunities or click here to see our wish list!

True Determination

Sam* came to the Salvation Army Women and Children’s Shelter in June after being laid off in April and having to move out of her house due to black mold.  She was determined to get back on her feet and provide her 3 beautiful girls with a home.  While Sam was at the shelter, she participated in Life Skills and Ladies Night, both in which encourage self-esteem and self-respect.  Sam searched endlessly for a job until she finally found one in early August.  She works full time while making sure her kids are doing well in school and getting everything they need.  Her oldest daughter was just approved for the Starfish Initiative Program.  Sam is also working with the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic against her previous landlord for health code violations.  Sam just moved into her new 3-bedroom apartment a few days ago, with a little help from the Salvation Army by means of utility and rental assistance.  Her determination to get back on her feet sets great example for everyone, especially to her girls. 

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

Christmas City Bureau

Looking for information on the Salvation Army’s Christmas Assistance Program?  Here’s everything you need to know!

You MUST be employed or in school to be eligible for this program!

Accepting Applications:   Tuesday, November 3, 2009- Thursday December 3, 2009
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00pm-8:00pm
Saturdays from 9:00am-12:00pm
Closed for Thanksgiving – Thursday and Saturday, November 26 and 28.

Application Sites:

The Salvation Army Fountain Square Corps, 1337 S. Shelby Street, 46203

The Salvation Army Eagle Creek Corps, 4400 N. High School Road, 46254

The Salvation Army Barton Center, 210 E. Michigan Street, 46204 (TUESDAY’S AND SATURDAY’S ONLY)

The following items are REQUIRED in order to apply for Christmas Assistance:

• Picture ID for all adults in the household
• Social Security Card (or passport, green card) for all adults in the household
• Social Security Card and Birth Certificate (or shot records, school records, or Medicaid card) for each child
• Combined household income statements
• Proof of employment or school status for head of household
• Proof of address

**Incomplete applications will not be considered!**

Eligible applicants will be invited to a “Toy Shop” where they can choose new gifts for each approved child in the household.

Coats for Kids

It’s hard to believe that we are almost 2 weeks away from our 23nd Annual Coats for Kids campaign!   As winter approaches The Salvation Army, WTHR Channel 13 and Tuchman Cleaners are again asking generous people from the city of Indianapolis to donate new or gently used coats, hats, gloves and scarves to help us with our campaign. Donations can be dropped off at any Tuchman Cleaners where they will be cleaned before distribution day on October 10.

This year interested patrons can also donate money online. All funds collected will be used to purchase new coats for children in need this winter.

Click here to buy a coat for a kid.

Are you wondering how you can get one of our new or gently used coats for your child this October?  Simply come to the Northwest Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds between 8:00am and 4:00pm on October 10th.  The event is free and open to the public, but remember that your child must be present to receive a coat!

Questions?  Contact Julia Sipes at (317) 224 1067 or julia_sipes@usc.salvationarmy.org.

Shelter Receives $467,070

The Salvation Army’s Shelter for Women and Children received a major gift yesterday as the city of Indianapolis and the United Way of Central Indiana distributed $5.8 million to 20 local agencies. The shelter will receive $467,070 to address the ever growing need and request for assistance.

The funding was issued through the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program under Title XII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Theses funds will help an estimated 2,044 households, according to the United Way.

“These 20 grantees will help give more of our neighbors one of the most basic huan needs: a safe place to call home,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “We are excited to be able to award these funds to such deserving institutions who will work to provide a better quality of life for our neighbors in need.”

The 126 beds at The Salvation Army’s Shelter for Women and Children are filled every night and need is growing. Request for assistance is up over 14% over this same time period last year. Want to help? Click donate at the top of the page to see how!

Facebook

Do you have  a facebook account?  Click here to become a fan of The Salvation Army Women and Children’s Shelter on facebook!

August Update!

August has been a busy month for us here at the Women and Children’s Shelter.  We served 210 women and children, which is the highest number that we have seen this year.  Of these individuals, 174 were seeking shelter due to domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, isolation and forced prostitution.  We served 6,519 meals!

In addition to seeing an increase in our clients we have also seen an increase in volunteer activity!  So many doors have been opened to the shelter this summer and we are thankful for all of the people who came in and contributed to the shelter.  Carmel Lutheran Church came in and revamped the first floor of our Domestic Violence Unit with new, bright colors, curtains and decorations.  Second Presbyterian Church from Memphis, Tennesee brought a group of students to Indianapolis for their Vacation Bible School and painted a sunflower mural in our child care, made welcome bags for the children coming into shelter, cleaned and helped serve meals in our kitchen!  Calvary Temple’s Children’s Choir came in to perform for the ladies and stayed after the performance to pray with families who requested prayer.  These groups were in addition to our regular volunteers!

Last, staff and volunteers got a chance to hang out at the Indiana State Fair for a day and work at the Jaycees Cornbooth.  We soaked, grilled, shucked, buttered and sold corn as a fundraiser for the shelter.  Oh, and we of course had fun too

July Stats

In July of 2009…

• We assisted a total of 143 women and children
  
• Of those 143 served, 54 women and children sought shelter with The Salvation Army due to domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, isolation and forced prostitution
  
• We served 6,319 meals
• 3 additional families signed up for our Continuing Support Program which allows residents to continue to recieve support services after moving out of the shelter. To date, 97 families and 131 children have participated in this program this year.

Check Out Our New Digs!

This past Friday and Saturday staff and employees at the Salvation Army Women and Children’s Shelter were blessed to have Calvary Temple Church come in and serve us for their service project “I Love Indy.”  The group of young adults led by Pastor Glen Palmer transformed our lobby and two tv tooms, painted a mural in our hallway and even provided each woman and family with a new “bed in a bag.”   In addition to the renovations volunteers took our children our for a day at the Children’s Museum while the women stayed at the shelter for a “Spa Day” where they were given facials, manicures and pedicures, and pampered!

Words can not describe how much of a difference this group made so please check out our pictures!

And as one client wrote in a thank you letter to the church, “This past Sunday I came into the lobby as I waited for a ride and found the beautiful furnishings and otmosphere that just brought joy to my life. I could not help but priase God for people such as yourselves who cared enough to do this for us.  Thank you so much for bringing a little joy in one ladies heart.  May God continue to bless you and may he shower his abundant love on you.”

On behalf of all the shelter staff and clients, thank you Calvary Temple for fixing up our home!

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