Spring News Letter 2023

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Message from the CEO

Dear Interfaith Supporters, Spring is a time of renewal and recommitment, and as you’ll read in the pages that follow, through Interfaith you are a part of a movement that helps others and improves our community. And that includes both the families we together assist as well as your family who benefits from giving time, dedicating expertise, and demonstrating compassion in your service to others.

The mission of Interfaith Community Services is to empower people in need to stabilize and improve their lives through comprehensive programs, in partnership with diverse faith communities and people of compassion.

Building on more than 40 years of empowering homeless and low-income community members, Interfaith has become the most comprehensive social services agency in North County, providing both immediate safety net services and long-term, lifechanging services for the most poor and vulnerable residents.

Greg Anglea Chief Executive Officer Cohn Family CEO Chair Interfaith Community Services

As you read this newsletter, I invite you to consider your own commitment and your own impact through Interfaith. If you’ve never volunteered or if you haven’t done so recently, now is a great time to commit your time to helping others. If you’re fortunate enough to be in a position to give financially, our new Family Shelter urgently needs support, and all gifts to any of our programs (“Give Where You Live!”) will be matched 100% through the end of June. You can help even more by sharing this newsletter and sharing the amazing outcomes of your generosity with others. The more people who are involved with Interfaith Community Services, the more people we can together help in our local community. The needs are great, but our ability to meet those needs is greater, thanks to your support.

Thank you for being a part of making this world a better place, one life and one family at a time!

Greg Anglea

Give Where You Live: All gifts to any of our programs will be matched 100% through the end of June.

A Place for Hope and Healing

A once-dilapidated motel on Centre City Parkway has undergone the ultimate facelift and is now officially the Abraham & Lillian Turk Recuperative Care Center, providing unsheltered people discharged from local hospitals with comprehensive clinical and behavioral healthcare.

Homeless in San Diego Podcast

Real People, Real Stories

Each

A REY OF SUNSHINE

Sunny Rey was born into homelessness and dropped off in San Diego by her birth mother. She has spent 15 years working in the social work field while writing books on the side, raising two children as a single mom and starting her own nonprofit.

Partner organizations including hospitals, the VA Medical Center, and managed health care plans can refer eligible patients. Since the RCP program was established in 2010, 75% of residents have successfully stabilized their condition and moved into secure housing.

To all who have contributed to this monumental undertaking in every way –through monetary donations, volunteering for our assembly and spruce-up extravaganza to prepare for the opening, or attending the grand opening, we thank you!

TINY HOMES, BIG DREAMS

Ellen Stone, Founder and Managing Director of Tiny Home Central Consulting and Renee Seevers, CEO of the TinyFest Home Show, join the podcast to explain how Tiny Homes can provide a big solution for the housing crisis.

episode of Homeless in San Diego: Real People, Real Stories shares the experience of an individual or family who has experienced homelessness in San Diego County and is hosted by Interfaith CEO Greg Anglea.

Sunny Rey

Ellen and Renee

Above left: Volunteer Tim makes Turk Center inviting by trimming back overgrown bushes. Right: Volunteer Marcus (center) instructs his dad Brian on proper furniture assembly.

Above: Volunteers Luke (left) and Patrick keep things tidy as they work.

Thanks to the Forgotten Barrel Winery in Escondido for donating your beautiful space and allowing us to raise a glass to these hardworking supporters, who show up rain or shine to make the lives of our clients (and staff too!) a little easier.

(Top) Shannon Morel and LaTora Nixon; Paula and Bob Traber; (Bottom) Pat Flynn, Amanda Roth, and Patrick O’Sullivan; Josh and Ally Kriegshauer; and Annie and Lou George.

Events and partnerships are vital to the success of any non-profit, and Interfaith is grateful to all of the people in the community who support us in countless ways.

Taste of Interfaith

Tax deadlines have been extended! Free tax return preparation is available to any member of the community who qualifies.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, dial 211.

Above: Faith members at our latest General Membership Meeting listen to a high school senior speak about the impact Interfaith’s Transitional Youth Academy has had on her life and share her plans to attend college in the fall.

Above: Members of Cause San Diego, an organization that connects local business professionals to nonprofit areas of need, mobilized to put together more than 200 sack lunches for community members.

Above: Love Esco, in partnership with Emmanuel Faith Community Church, turned a formerly blank wall of our Escondido Headquarters into a beautiful message of inspiration and hope. Pictured are Mike and Cindy Peters.

We’re Not Crying, You’re Crying

We recently received the following emotional message from a former client who had received services from Interfaith when she was a child, regarding our soon-to-open Family Shelter:

“I have never shared this, but I will gladly be a testimony to the great work Interfaith does for homeless or struggling families. In my early teens, my family and I suddenly became homeless. For months we lived in our van, abandoned houses, or couch surfed...mind you, there were five of us. Interfaith saved our lives and kept our family together. Interfaith gave us a roof over our head when we lost everything, when we had no hope and saw no light at the end of the tunnel.

This family shelter hits home for me and my family. I cannot thank Interfaith enough for helping my family for the years we stayed in the family shelter and Interfaith housing until my single mom of four could get back on her feet and move into our own place. I don’t know where we would be or how our lives would have turned out if it wasn’t for Interfaith.”

Since its inception in August 2021, Interfaith’s Family Shelter program has housed 63 families, made up of 97 adults and 126 children. These families receive food, shelter, medical treatment, and access to case management services as part of Interfaith’s mission to support clients on their road to self-sufficiency.

Now, Interfaith is proud to open the doors to the largest permanent Family Shelter in North County. The Hawthorne Veteran and Family Resource Center will include a full commercial kitchen with meals prepared onsite by an Interfaith staff chef, private bathrooms for all families, expanded family-size rooms, and outdoor play areas for children.

To learn how you can help support area families, email getinvolved@interfaithservices.org.

“Interfaith saved our lives and kept our family together.”

- Ella, former client

MAKE AN IMPACT!

Interfaith helps people help themselves through long-term supportive services, with the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency. Your contribution provides transformative support and crucial access to services.

Please make a gift today!

WAYS TO GIVE

DONATE BY MAIL OR ONLINE

Mail your donation to 550 W. Washington Avenue Escondido, CA 92025 or visit interfaithservices.org/donate/

SUSTAINING SUPPORTER

Create a monthly or quarterly automatic donation from your credit card or debit card. You may cancel at any time.

FUNDRAISE VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

Enact social change on social media by creating a fundraiser on Facebook.

DONATE STOCK GIFTS

Interfaith accepts stock as donations! Help us help people in need while also making smart financial decisions. If you directly transfer your appreciated stock to Interfaith instead of selling it yourself first, you will not have to pay any capital gains tax and you may be entitled to a significant deduction.*

WILL INCLUSION

Work with your financial advisor to designate in your will or living trust a gift of a specific amount, percentage of your estate, and/or specific asset.*

IRA CONTRIBUTION

If you are 70 ½ or older, an IRA gift can be made up to $100,000 without incurring federal taxes.*

Make a difference in the local community

bit.ly/3ozHa7M

Scan for our Spring Needs List

Volunteer! Interfaith’s continued growth and expansion means there are more ways than ever to get involved! Visit interfaithservices.org/volunteer for current opportunities. interfaithservices.org/donate/

Sack Lunches Thank you to the members of National Charity League Del Sol for making sack lunches for our clients. We pass out about 350 per day to anyone who comes onsite and requests one, no questions asked. Sack lunches are an impactful group activity for all ages! Lunches generally include a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fruit or fruit cup, granola bar, crackers, and a small juice box or half-size water bottle. For more information, contact Sarah Cho scho@interfaithservices.org.

550 W. Washington Ave. Escondido, CA 92025

GET SOCIAL

GET SOCIAL

Stay up-to-date with us on social media: @interfaithcs

Stay up-to-date with us on social media: @interfaithcs

GOING GREEN

Housing 1000 – With Your Help, We Did It!

Interfaith Community Services exceeded its goal by housing 1,198 men, women, and children, including 167 veterans in the last 12 months. See

Scan this QR code with your phone to enter your email for electronic updates. We send one email a month and will not sell or share your information.

Meet Addison!

We value your contribution and assure you that it is used effectively. Please contact us for a tour of Interfaith.

SPRING 2021SPRING 2021

THAT’S A WRAP!

One of our youngest volunteers, Addison brightens the day of both clients and staff with her positive attitude, great work ethic, and look at that smile! Addison is the granddaughter of longtime Interfaith supporters and pantry volunteers Ross and Gloria Johnson, and accompanies them when after-school activities allow.

Want to keep Addison busy?

Drop off non-perishable food items between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 550 W. Washington Ave. in Escondido.

2,019 Interfaith pledges to house men, women, and children by next year!

Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers, exhibitors, and community members who helped make our 2nd Annual Change Your Mind Festival a huge success. From yoga to meditation to cultural dance to art (and don’t forget the food trucks!), attendees participated in experiences designed to promote wellness and de-stigmatize the conversation around mental health challenges.

Check out some of the highlights in our gallery: interfaithservices.org/gallery/cym2023 Email getinvolved@interfaithservices.org if you’d like to be part of the action next

For

please call Robert Adams, Chief