Dignity News March 2024

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The Source’s Dignity Wellness Program Presents a Health & Wellness Fair

BY BEVERLY PARIS

The public is invited to attend the Dignity Wellness “Health & Wellness Fair,” to be held on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This family-oriented and community event is free and will be held at Pathway Church at 1105 58th Avenue in Vero Beach. The “Health & Wellness Fair” is an initiative presented by Dignity Wellness, a Mental Health component of The Source and sponsored by Impact 100.

CHARLENE MORRIS LMHC, MCAP AND DIRECTOR OF DIGNITY WELLNESS

Charlene Morris, LMHC, MCAP, and Director of The Source’s Mental Health Services/Dignity Wellness Program, said, “We are very pleased to offer a day such as this as a resource and educational benefit for our community. We have an opportunity to allow local organizations to have informational tables that could benefit anyone wanting or needing to promote a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families.”

Some vendors include Music Therapy by the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), Women’s Refuge of Vero Beach, Cleveland Clinic, Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River, Substance Awareness Center of Indian River County, Herbal Connect, 2·1·1 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast, The Source’s Dignity Wellness, Mental Health Collaborative, Indian River Bee Company, and the Vero Beach Police Department. The event will also include demonstrations and interactive activities such as Maximum Velocity, Free Face painting, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Indian River County Fire Department, a Live DJ, and, for refreshments, the Dignity Food Trucks.

Health and wellness vendors are invited to participate in the event by filling out a form and submitting it by March 31. Participation is free of charge. To request a form, please email Brenda.Sposato@IamTheSource.org.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to support and serve the community and lead individuals to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Dear Friends,

As we draw closer to the vibrant celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day, a day filled with the spirit of good fortune and communal joy, we at The Source are reminded of the values that bind us together - compassion, hope, and the belief in a brighter future for everyone. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, we extend our hand to you, hoping to share a bit of that luck with those who need it most.

This March our thoughts are with the less fortunate members of our community for whom finding a warm meal and a safe place to sleep is a daily challenge. This St. Patrick’s Day, we invite you to be a part of a meaningful tradition by helping us provide shelter, support, and hope to those in need.

Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today:

JONATHAN OROZCO DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s spread the luck and joy far and wide. Your support can be the rainbow that leads to a pot of gold for many - the gold of safety, dignity, and the opportunity for a new beginning.

How to Donate:

Please visit our website at iamthesource.org, email at jonathan.orozco@iamthesource.org, or send your donation to: The Source, P.O. Box 2458, Vero Beach, FL 32961. Remember, every leaf of the clover represents hope, faith, love, and luck. With your help, we can bring all four to our community’s most vulnerable.

Thank You:

Your generosity and kindness are the lifelines that allow us to continue our work. From the bottom of our hearts, and on behalf of those we serve, thank you. May the luck of the Irish be with you and your loved ones this St. Patrick’s Day and always.

Warmest regards,

Jonathan Orozco Director of Development 772-564-0202 ext 219

The Source’s Dignity Foods Wins the First Place Honor at the 12th Annual Florida Craft Brew and Wingfest

BY BEVERLY PARIS

The Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach hosted the 12th Annual Florida Craft Brew and Wingfest on Saturday, February 17 at Royal Palm Pointe in Vero Beach. Patrons purchased a tasting bracelet to sample hundreds of delicious craft brews and fill up on chicken wings prepared by local chefs and amateur competitors vying for glory in the wing competition while mingling with friends and family and listening to local bands.

The Judges for the Best Wings in Vero came from the City of Vero Beach and included Police Chief David Curry, Jason Jefferies, Jim O’Connell, Sean Collins, and Brandon Dambeck whose selection were based on the criteria featuring contestant presentation and taste based on a blind taste-test.

The Source’s Dignity Foods team, with their popular wing recipe entitled “Mo Wings,” won 1st place in the “Restaurant” category. The wings,

named in honor of the former Source Assistant Executive Director Maureen Archer (now deceased), who hailed from the Caribbean, are made with a sweet Jalapeno pineapple sauce and presented in a pineapple shell.

“In addition to The Source’s win, others included DaVilas Pizza as 2nd place and Bigshots as 3rd place winners in the same category. Outback Steakhouse won the Spirit Award and All Smoked UpKyle Simmons won Best Independent” according to Sunrise Rotary’s Publicist, Debbie Avery.

“Our mission is to change how the community sees our members. Winning the wing competition showed the community, and our students themselves, just how talented and capable they are. This victory is a source of pride for all of us,” stated Jonathan Orozco, Development Director of The Source.

The Source offers the Dining with Dignity Program to their homeless members, which includes a 6, 12 and 18-week professional training program, ultimately helping them find suitable employment within the food industry while cooking meals for in-house members as well as, local businesses and non-profit organizations.

Orozco added, “The public can get a taste of our wings from our daily menu from one of our two Dignity Food Trucks in town. They are also available on our menu through our catering arm of The Source…Dignity Catering.”

For more information on The Source and their programs, contact Jonathan Orozco at 564-0202 or visit www.iamthesource.org.

Group Photo: Enjoying the winning announcement were the culinary team from The Source, from left: Jonathan, JR, Dana, Toni and culinary student Akia holding the winning plaque.

AWARD WINNING CHICKEN WINGS SERVED BY THE SOURCE FOOD TRUCKS

Impact Day: Feasting on grant recipients’ positive feedback

By Mary Schenkel, VERO NEWS

The ladies of Indian River Impact 100 gathered at the United Against Poverty UP Center, enjoying wine and assorted hors d’oeuvres before hearing from the five 2023 $100,000 grant recipients, each expressing gratitude before relating how the money they received has been utilized to date.

After welcoming everyone, Suzi McCoy Shriner, current president, reminded that Impact membership dues must be received by Feb. 29 in order to vote in April to determine which nonprofits will receive 2024 grants.

“I just love what these nonprofits are doing in the community,” said past president Mary Ellen McCarthy, who introduced each speaker.

Rev. Dr. Crystal Bujol, founder and artistic director of the Gifford Youth Orchestra, spoke of their project to build a Music Center with an Audio, Recording and Communications Studio in the heart of the Gifford community. To date, renderings have been made of the facility, and they have purchased two portable Bose

speaker systems with microphones. With a recording studio, she explained, they can capture performances that will last forever, adding, “It will spread as far as airwaves will take it. And that’s what your investment is going to do for not only our children, but for their children, and their children’s children.”

Debbi Arseneaux, learning and arts integration manager at the Learning Alliance, spoke about their Moonshot Lab School and Hub for Teacher Training initiative, which was launched in partnership with the school district. The focus is teachers’ professional development and building a culture of literacy and learning through creative and engaging K-2 classroom instruction.

“Children are engaging in literacy by using art and drama to build comprehension, knowledge, creativity skills and learning,” said Arseneaux, adding that as students progress, each level becomes a steppingstone to further learning.

Liz Bruner, vice president of philanthropy, said the Senior Resource Association grant enabled them to greatly reduce

the number of seniors on the Meals on Wheels wait list.

MOW provides meals and a human connection to eligible seniors via trained volunteers, who deliver hot meals each weekday and frozen meals on Friday for the weekend.

“We also purchased two institutional appliances,” said Bruner, explaining that the additional heating and cooling units were needed to keep food temperature safe.

Charlene Morris, a licensed mental health counselor at the Source, spoke about their new Dignity Wellness program. Over the past six months, they have taught 23 employees and 17 volunteers to recognize the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with mental health disorders.

“And the feedback has been really great,” said Morris, adding that mental health is just as important as physical health.

While people become homeless due to a wide variety of reasons, she said the single greatest reason is a profound catastrophic loss of family, so the Source provides what they yearn for: a sense of belonging, of community.

Marie Andress, CEO of the Whole Family Health Center founded by Dr. Gerald Pierone, said they were able to purchase and begin using a Mobile Medical Office, which is removing barriers to care, especially for those with limited mobility or transportation access.

“Essentially, our mission is to provide accessible, caring, healthcare services to everyone.

But of course, we want to get to the most vulnerable people,” said Andress. She said they can now take the MMO to areas with vulnerable populations, such as the homeless individuals assisted by the Salvation Army and agencies such as the Hope for Families Center.

Liz Bruner, Marie Andress, Tony Zorbaugh, Rev. Dr. Crystal Bujol and Liz Remington.

The Source holds 19th annual Night of Hope

Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger, who inspired movie, was guest speaker

By Chris Bonanno, HOMETOWN NEWS

VERO BEACH — The Source, a local organization that works to help the homeless and less fortunate in the community, hosted its 19th annual Night of Hope Fundraiser on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Magnolia Manor in Vero Beach, according to a release.

Almost 250 people attended the event, per the release, which featured a Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who was the inspiration for the movie “Rudy,” based on a former University of Notre Dame football player.

“His story, one so many members and community folk can relate to, was just a great way to tie it all together,” said Jonathan Orozco, development director with The Source.

The night also featured videos that were informative in nature, plus hors d’oeuvres and cupcakes prepared by The Source’s Dignity Catering. There was also a full bar

and an auction also was held.

“For us, we look at the Night of Hope and this year we call it the Night of Dreams as a celebration of everything we’ve been able to do all year long,” Orozco said. “It was an opportunity for us to celebrate our members and to share with the community. It’s really special for us to be able to do that.”

The event was held outside in cool, windy conditions, which perhaps made it even more clear to attendees the need to support the work that the The Source performs.

“I was going to apologize for the weather conditions today, but I can’t. We were actually hoping for lousy, miserable weather tonight,” said Emcee Marty Paris in remarks to the crowd, according to an e-mail sent to Hometown News by spokesperson Beverly Paris. “This way you can fully appreciate what The Source

has been doing for the past several years to make sure that everyone has a safe and secure place to sleep every night and a permanent roof over their heads. So enjoy this cold, windy, blustery evening and you will know the reason why you are all here tonight.”

Orozco added that the event is a highlight for those associated with The Source each year.

“This is something that we look forward to tremendously for months ahead of time,” he said. “There’s a lot of work that goes into it, but I know that all of our members, who are here year after year, really appreciate it and they look forward to it. It’s a big moment for them.”

Orozco added that those interested in supporting the organization can go to iamthesource.org and go to the “Ministry Support” tab.

Daniel “Rudy” Ruetiger, who was the inspiration for the movie “Rudy” was the keynote speaker for Night of Hope

Dana Davis, Sous Chef and Toni Moore, Kitchen Manager for The Source catered the event with Dining with Dignity Students

The firepit at Magnolia Manor offered warmth and beauty at Night of Hope

Dr. Thomas Balshi, Founder of Dignity Smiles and his wife Joanne Balshi, Dignity Smiles Liaison

Combatting Homelessness:

Partnership between city, local nonprofit helping community

by Dylan Huberman, CHANNEL 12 NEWS

VERO BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) —

Growing numbers of people in multiple south Florida cities are experiencing homelessness, creating problems for the communities. One of those cities was Vero Beach.

“From the downtown merchants and people in that area, it was probably the number one complaint that we had about what was going on downtown,” recalled John Cotugno, the city’s mayor.

However, the situation changed when ‘The Source Ministries’ presented a way to curb the issue: ‘Dignity Buses,’ which are repurposed buses with beds rather than seats.

Through the nonprofit’s ‘Community Works’ program, people in the city who do not have a place to stay are able to work - cleaning streets, parks and more - in exchange for food, and a bed on the buses.

“If people are working, contributing to their community and their economy, it’s a win-win for everybody,” explained Tony Zorbaugh, the Executive Director and CEO of The Source. “Nobody wants homelessness in their community. We wrap them with community, and we wrap them with hope that there is a better future for them.”

There are two Dignity Buses in Vero Beach. Artevin McNair lives on one of them and is helping build another. He says this idea gives people like him who do not have a home a chance to improve their lives, while also helping their community.

“Good chance, second chance of getting everything back together, get my life and everything back on track,” McNair said of his opportunity. “A step forward that you have to take yourself as a person and better yourself.”

The Dignity Buses are finding interest across Florida. Zorbaugh expects to meet with West Palm Beach officials next week. He also has a meeting scheduled in Orlando and plans to be in St. Augustine shortly after that. They are beginning to attract cities across the country, popping up in places like Rhode Island and Illinois.

For Vero Beach, it is helping solve homelessness every day in their community.

“From my point of view, couldn’t be any happier with the results,” Cotugno said. “With community support and spirit, and a nonprofit like the source, you can go ahead, and you can accomplish great things.”

There are two Dignity Buses in Vero Beach. Artevin McNair lives on one of them, and is helping build another. He says this idea gives homeless people like him a chance to improve their lives, while also helping their community. (WPEC)

We Won A Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency!

James Dotson

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

by Linda Cutler, Volunteer and Program Coordinator

Congratulation to James Dotson for being chosen as February Volunteer of the Month. James began his volunteer journey here at The Source in March 2022 by offering Substance Awareness every Wednesday and NARCAN Training every 3rd Thursday through his employment as a SAC Peer in Vero Beach. James has been married to his wife Para for 15 years and loves camping, hiking and listening to music in his free time. He made the decision to volunteer at The Source because he enjoys meeting new people and loves helping others on their journey to a new start. He enjoys giving of his time and truly has a heart for God’s people and is a blessing to The Source. We are very appreciative, blessed and proud to have chosen him as our “February Volunteer of the Month”.

We recently earned a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency! Check out our website at www.iamthesource.org to keep up to date with our impact. Keep this link handy, we want to make sure you always have the information you need to support our work with trust and confidence.

Emergency shelters on wheels to help the homeless

By Nathalie Pozo, Anchor, WPBF 25

The Source, an organization dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness, has two buses in Vero Beach, with a third on the way.

CEO and executive director Anthony Zorbaugh stopped by our studio to talk more about the effort.

After getting out of the IRC jail in January, 2024 I arrived at The Source, only to reazlie that I had found myself a place of home and dignity.

I was greeted by staff who assisted me in getting back on my feet. God has blessed The Source for those who really need help.

I would like to especially thank all of the staff. I have received my license, birth certificate and my job. -

Larry Grimes

Scan QR Code to see full interview

TANEKA HARRIS

Larry Grimes and Sylvia Montague

Commerce Corner