2014 Fall Photojournal

The Voice of La Puente

Saguache Alamosa

Mineral Rio Grande Conejos

Costilla

Fall 2014 Photo Journal

La Puente

is a non-profit organization in Colorado’s San Luis Valley providing emergency shelter, food assistance, transitional housing, self-sufficiency services, homeless prevention, community outreach services and job training for the homeless and other community members in crisis.

Our Mission

We endeavor to meet immediate needs and empower people to live independently, with dignity.

Table of Contents

Meaning of Hope ........................3 Poverty in the San Luis Valley ....4 Hope in Our Community..............5 Emergency Shelter Services .....6 Outreach Services .. ..................8 Adelante ................................ ..10 PALS Children’s Program ...........12

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Food Bank Network ........14 Community Education ...17 Enterprises ...................18 Giving ............ ................20 Program Needs...............21 Volunteering ..................22 Prayer.............................23

911 State Avenue Alamosa, CO 81101 www.lapuente.net 719.589.5909 Join our E-News list! info.lapuente@gmail.com

The Meaning of Hope

When someone isn’t sure where their next meal is coming from, or how they will heat their home during the frigid winter months, hope takes on a whole new meaning. We live in one of the poorest areas economically in the state of Colorado. We have the fourth highest child maltreatment rate in the state and we routinely see those who have lost their homes, their jobs, and oftentimes, their dignity. We are, however, rich in agricultural resources, a slower pace of life, and community members who care. Our partnerships within our community and with organizations throughout the state allow La Puente to serve the most urgent needs.

La Puente’s programs and services all exist to meet the needs of our communities in the San Luis Valley and to provide...hope.

2,924

individuals were served in our Homeless Prevention Program during the past twelve months.

Colorado has 64 total counties.

The San Luis Valley is made up of six of these counties. Of these six, four are considered “persistently poor” - defined as a county that has at least 20% of the population living at or below poverty level for 30 years or more.

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Poverty in the San Luis Valley

Historically, the San Luis Valley has always struggled with poverty. Decades of economic instability have exacerbated the issues of hunger and homelessness for all parts of the population, especially our children.

“Hunger is not an issue of charity.

It is an issue of justice.”

~Pablo Neruda

Colorado Kids Count Survey % of Kids under 18 in Poverty Rio Grande Mineral Conejos

Saguache Costilla

Clients wait outside the Alamosa Food Bank.

Conejos Alamosa Colorado 10

20

30

40

50

Food Insecurity & Hunger

Each year over 2,500 seasonal and migrant farm workers come through the San Luis Valley to harvest produce on local farms, earning money to send home.

Many of these individuals will come through La Puente Home in search of a safe place to stay, a few warm meals, and the opportunity to shower.

Hunger is a daily reality for many poverty-stricken people. The irony is that people are food insecure in the very rural and farming regions whose productivity feeds the rest of the country. Food insecurity is the lack of access to fresh food such as milk, eggs, meat, and vegetables, or the inability to know when the next meal might be. With 8,000 square miles of Valley and only a few major grocery stores- food insecurity is a very real and very immediate concern for many.

15.5% of rural households are food insecure.

That’s 3.1 million households.

174

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migrant families were served at the shelter during the past twelve months.

Villa Grove’s only grocery store provides basic necessities but is located at least 40 miles from the nearest major retailer.

Hope in Our Community Without the support of our many partners, La Puente couldn’t do what we do every day. We depend on the many people from our community and from communities around the country who participate in our events, volunteer their time in our programs, giving of themselves so wholeheartedly. We are grateful and proud to count them as part of our organization!

AmeriCorps

La Puente’s Support

Foundations & Businesses

Local/State/ Federal Government A work group from Estes Park builds plant beds for VEGI. Church/ Individual

Volunteers drop off a donation to the Antonito Food Bank.

A community volunteer listens closely to her PALS buddy.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

- Galatians 6:9

What Our Clients are Saying: “We would starve some days without the Food Bank.”

- Alamosa Co. “The Food Bank is very good for the San Luis Valley.” - Rio Grande Co. “It’s a very needed service.”

- Costilla Co.

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Emergency Shelter Services Everyone who enteres our shelter is treated as a guest finding safety, stability, and new hope. Warm beds, hot, regular meals, and shower services meet physical needs while supportive services and case management help guests with a second chance at a better life. Through our veterans program, homeless veterans have the opportunity to call our shelter “home” for up to two years.

Regardless of situation, hundreds of guests each year find shelter with La Puente.

714 Individuals were sheltered in the past year

123 Families Sheltered

In twelve months, La Puente Home has seen an increase in the number of guests who leave our facility with employment or benefits!

Out of 658 adults:

227 Adults Exited the Shelter with Employment

158 Exited with Benefits *National estimates say that 57,849 veterans are homeless on any

49 Disabled Veterans Sheltered

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given night. La Puente works with veterans with the help of the Grant Per Diem program, which allows our veterans to find supportive housing and services to achieve employment and residential stability. La Puente’s programs want to extend hope to those men and women who served our country and now need a little extra support. *The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)

Children are affected by poverty even more than adults as they are completely dependent on their parents’ earnings.

PALS kids cuddle a pet belonging to a shelter guest.

A Year at the Shelter...

46,310

Meals Served

With meals at 6:00 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m., community members and guests are assured of something to eat.

1,173

Hygiene Kits Given

Families often stay at the shelter in one of the family rooms available. Children are able to participate in the PALS after school program.

Our shelter director, Tona, shows the chart that tracks bed assignments for the shelter.

“...the only cure for for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is LOVE.”

~ Mother Theresa 7

Outreach Services

A mother and her girls talk with AmeriCorps member Lindsey about their options.

Thousands of people in the Valley struggle to pay necessary bills such as electricity, gas, or rent even if they are employed full-time. This struggle often results in eviction and homelessness. At Outreach Services, individuals and family regain their dignity and hopes for a brighter future when they receive rental assistance, utility grant funds, gas vouchers, and referrals for medical services. Through our partnerships, our clients receive the support and encouragement they need to meet needs and stay secure.

In a Twelve Month Period Outreach Helped: Rent/Mortgage Assistance 72 households Utility Assistance 964 households A wood splitter helps us process donated wood. Over 1,000 Valley households use wood to heat their homes.

Medical Assistance 186 households

In the Valley, winter temperatures can drop to below zero for days at a time.

Clients receive firewood when utility assistance runs out, which often happens with the high heating bills typical of rental homes. Outreach Services is partnering with Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) in order to better utilize energy in La Puente’s buildings and our clients’ homes.

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School children happily hold their brand new backpacks and school supplies.

Outreach Client Assistance

3000 2500 2000 1500 1000

200 students Alamosa Co. 135 students Rio Grande Co.

109 students Saguache Co.

104 students Conejos Co.

83 students Costilla Co.

Total Served

Non-Alamosa County Residents

Veterans

Elderly

0-8th Grade Education

College Education

No Private/Public Health Ins

This year at the annual Backpack Drive, over 640 kids received school supplies.

That’s up from 250 at the last drive!

Disabled

500

Serving all six counties of the San Luis Valley, La Puente Outreach provided homeless prevention services to 2,924 people last year - primarily Valley residents.

The annual Outreach Christmas party treats hundreds of guests to cookies & cocoa while handing out gifts.

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Adelante

Transitioning Families Out of Homelessness

Adelante provides a home and stability for their families on the way to selfsufficiency. Through weekly case management and attending Life Skills classes, which include budgeting, “green living” home care, parenting classes, and nutritious meal planning, Adelante families are better able to achieve independence. We encourage families to find their dream and go for it!

“I think togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life.” ~ Barbara Bush

Did You Know?

Adelante was the first rural homeless transitional housing program in the state of Colorado.

An Adelante family celebrates packing their car to move to their new home!

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Adelante means forward in Spanish. The goal of our program is to keep our clients moving forward to accomplish THEIR goals!

Walk into almost any living room in America and you’ll find the same thing over and over - a family photo resting on a bookshelf or displayed prominently on a wall. Parents are proud of their children, and Adelante families are no different as one of our work groups recently learned. While painting stripes onto concrete near one of the Adelante houses, the group leader snapped photos of a young Adelante boy who eagerly helped the group. His mom told the leader that they had never had a family photo taken.

The leader offered to come back later for a more formal session. After the mom, grandmother, and children had a chance to “gussy up,� they took photos which they now cherish.

This year, Adelante families all posed for portaits!

Adelante currently has

17 families enrolled

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Gleaning

The Gleaning Program partners with local farmers to gather thousands of pounds of produce which are then distributed to the Food Bank Network, the shelter, and community members in need.

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you.� ~ Leviticus 23:22

Gleaning a good sized field takes hours. Work groups keep tools and good spirits in hand!

V E G I

Carrots are gleaned almost as much as potatoes.

4,000 plus

pounds of produce were gleaned in the past year.

Valley Educational Gardens Initiave believes in introducing everyone to the joys of gardening.

During the school year, staff teach elementary school classes about the importance of local foods and nutrition in their daily lives.

Each summer, VEGI hosts a garden camp for community kids.

Through planting, weeding, and harvesting, VEGI helps our community to love food in all its forms!

2,574 pounds

of produce were harvested from the gardens.

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In one summer, over 80 kids attended garden camp!

Garden camp activities range from creating individual compost piles, planting seeds & caring for them, to meeting local farm animals.

Community Education “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning...” - Luke 12:35

The issues of homelessness, poverty, hunger, and food insecurity are stark realities faced by the San Luis Valley. Over 18% of the population live in poverty and 25% experience daily hunger . Community Education seeks to promote understanding of the issues of poverty, hunger, and homelessness by building relationships within our community and beyond. We hope that people might be inspired to action by compassion for those affected.

If you or your church, school, or even just a group of friends would like us to share La Puente’s story, please contact the Office of Community Education at 719.587.3499 A Candlelight Vigil honors the struggles of the homeless.

Talking with a work group to foster better understanding of rural homelessness and poverty.

Community members participated in CROP Walk - a worldwide effort to highlight hunger issues.

Did You Know?

The HEARTH Act of 2009 (Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transitional Housing) expanded the definition of homelessness to include those at imminent risk of homelessness, including those living doubled up or in substandard conditions.

People struggling with homelessness in rural areas often go more undetected than their urban counterparts.

Community Education staff often work behind the scenes to provide support to other programs and to tell La Puente’s story.

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PALS Children’s Program Positive Activities Lead to Success

Every child deserves a space to be loved and supported. Children who don’t often have this in their own homes find it after school and during the summer through PALS. Serving kids ages 5-9, PALS offers a safe, nurturing environment with healthy models of behavior for children with experiences of trauma.

In twelve months, the kids enjoyed daily learning experiences & over 25 field trips !

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Wildlife Hikes

Fiber Artist

Science Museum

Planetarium

Snuggling puppies at the Valley Humane League.

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pulling carrots at Garden Camp - the PALS have their own special section of garden to care for.

Painting at Ventero Open Press, one of PALS’ community partnerships.

PALS Pride is one way that the program gives

back to their community. Whether it’s picking up trash, planting trees for Arbor Day, handing out groceries for the Food Bank, or hoeing weeds in an alleyway, the PALS kids learn the important value of hard work.

PALS kids paint over graffiti (left) and help with the Food Bank’s commodities distribution (above).

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The Food Bank Network of the San Luis Valley The Food Bank focuses on feeding the body and soul of everyone walking through their doors. 1 in 4 people are currently experiencing hunger in the San Luis Valley.Through partnerships with local farmers as well as utilizing the produce from the VEGI gardens, the Food Bank addresses the immediacy of hunger and malnutrition in the San Luis Valley.

Saguache

Crestone Moffat

Creede Center Del Norte Monte Vista

Alamosa

La Jara

Blanca

San Luis

Capulin Antonito Clients in Antonito have the option of choosing frozen foods.

“The Food Bank has always helped in times we need it.� ~Alamosa County resident

Wyatt helped load 6,000 pounds of squash for the Alamosa Food Bank.

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Local school kids donated canned goods during their Fun Run in Alamosa.

A recipe of cabbage and kale is offered for people to try. Clients are encouraged to take as much fresh produce as they like.

“I never look at the masses as my responsibility. I look at the individual.

I can love only one person at a time.

I can feed only one person at a time.

Just one, one, one.”

The Food Bank strives to provide healthy options and educate clients about nutrition.

~ Mother Theresa La Puente’s partnership with Care & Share, the Feeding America chapter in Colorado Springs, allows us to bring even more food resources to Valley residents.

AmeriCorps service member Alex counts points for a Food Bank client.

981 In just one month!

2,890

Individuals Served San Luis Valley residents wait in line for commodities distribution.

Households Served

1,149

Children Served

26,010

Meals Provided

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Social Enterprises Rainbow’s End Thrift Stores

Alamosa

“Shine your soul with the same egoless humility as the rainbow and no matter where you go in this world or the next, love will find you, attend you, and bless you.” ~ Aberjhani

Both store locations depend on the hard work of staff and volunteers to keep the doors open.

Thanks to numerous donations, Rainbow’s End thrift stores are able to support the programs of La Puente both financially and through their daily efforts.

Rainbow’s End Alamosa manager Rich Stepp always lends a hand to sort donations.

Tons of items are donated each week to both Rainbow’s End locations. The staff work diligently to sort, price, and display the generous contributions from our community members. Even the “unsellable” items have a purpose clothes are bundled into cubes which are then shipped to Arizona and recycled.

Monte Vista

Rainbow’s End Monte Vista staff are creative, cheerful, and love to help customers.

ReThreads ReThreads offers clients the opportunity to shop for clothing and household goods when they have no other resources. Being away from the mainstream clientele helps to maintain the dignity of those in need.

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Social Enterprises With the high poverty rates in the valley, our social enterprises provide meaningful vocational opportunities for dozens of people. Through profits generated by our two thrift stores and coffeehouse, social enterprises not only supports but also shares in the mission of La Puente to impact the hungry and homeless.

A family enjoys the outdoor cafe tables during the summer.

Milagros Coffee House

Alamosa’s Community Living Room Milagros is dedicated to supporting the mission & programs of La Puente and raising awareness of homelessness, hunger, and poverty in the San Luis Valley.

Games are a favorite way to pass the time.

Community members buying a cup of coffee is a daily way to engage in our miracle.

Why Milagros?

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When La Puente decided to open the location on Main Street, local health codes required restaurant quality appliances - a cost that we couldn’t afford. Luckily for us, however, the Colorado State Lottery soon held their annual non-profit drawing. A supporter sent in a lottery ticket with “La Puente” written on the back. As the

Almost any time of day finds local musicians enjoying their craft. announcer struggled to pronounce the unusual name, guests at the shelter watching the show realized that we’d won the $10,000 prize! It was enough to purchase the necessary appliances and gave our coffeehouse its distinctive name, “Milagros,” Spanish for “miracle.”

We Need Your Support!

Our work is made possible through your love and generosity. We rely on individuals like you, who share of their time, material, and financial resources.

By making a gift of support to our work, you mirror back a few of the values we hold most dear: compassion, generosity, and availability. We invite you to renew your financial partnership with us. Donations of every size have an immediate impact for those we serve.

Give a Gift Today

With your financial support, we are able to provide homes, offer renewed hope, and encourage families as they trek the road to self-sufficiency. The financial support you provide accounts for the greatest portion of our program’s funding. We are proud that 85% of our funding comes from non-governmental sources! Also, by choosing where your tax dollars are spent, you are eligible for tax credits and deduction.

Leave a Lasting Legacy

You can be a part of ensuring the financial strength and stability of La Puente for generations to come by donating to the Legacy Fund.

Formed in 2012, the Legacy Fund is our endowment. We manage it separately from other donations, so that it holds and invests its principle value and contributes only the earnings to our work with the hungry and homeless. For Colorado residents, gifts of $100 or more are also eligible for the 25% Enterprise Zone tax credit.

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Let Generosity Reduce Your Taxes 1. Donate $100 or more.

2. Make the donation payable to “The Enterprise Zone” for a 25% tax credit or “PALS Program” for a 50% tax credit.

3. Mail us your gift.

4. We’ll send you a certificate of tax credit.* *To be eligible, you must be a Colorado resident.

These tax credits can be carried forward to future tax years.

Consider these options as you plan: vCharitable Gift Annuities vCharitable Remainder Trusts vMemorial and Honorary Gifts vBequests vAppreciated Stock vBeneficiary Designations

Learn More Contact Gena Akers at 719.588.5678 or email gena.lapuente@gmail.com Visit us online at www.lapuente.net/donate.

Our Program Needs Adelante ~ small tables for 4-5 people ~ cars for work/school ~ scholarships for TSJC and ASU students ~ Gas vouchers to attend work/ school ~ pro bono time for client legal issues ~ Bicycles with baby carriers ~ pro bono time for financial advice

Community Education/ Volunteer Coordination

For Volunteer Houses: ~ microwave ~ tire iron ~ car jack ~ lawn mower ~ weed whacker For Office: ~ mini fridge ~DSLR camera ~ painting supplies ~ New or used tools ~ event tent canopy

HELP!

We desperately need to purchase the following: ~ Replacing ALL the bunk beds at the shelter for metal ones ($400/bed) ~ Rainbow’s End Monte Vista has a roof that leaks badly & must be replaced according to experts.

We need a miracle!

PALS

~ Make a donation for PALS field trips ~ Sponsor new PALS T-shirts

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, Enterprises sympathetic with the striving and ~ Used Pick Up Truck For Milagros: tolerant of the weak and strong. ~ chafing dishes & dish sets Because someday in your life, ~ retail shelving you will have been all of these.”

ReThreads ~ George Washington Carver ~ dish soap & laundry detergent ~Hygiene Items ~ Men’s clothing (all sizes) ~ silverware & dishware

For a more complete list of needs, please visit us online at

www.lapuente.net/donate

Food Bank Network

~ Plastic quart sized bags (to separate bulk items) ~ Canned Protein (peanut butter, tuna, chicken, beans) ~ Thanksgiving turkeys ~ Thanksgiving items

Shelter

~ Hygiene kits shampoo/conditioner towels/soap toothpaste/toothbrush razors/shave cream deodorant/lotion feminine products ~ Diapers (sizes 4, 5, 6) ~ Basketball ~ new men’s underwear/socks ~ new U.S. flag for flagpole ~ flag case

V.E.G.I

~ organic soil/ organic compost ~ wood chips ~ volunteers

Outreach Services

~ donated firewood ~ Safeway gas voucher gift cards in $10 increments ~ Cleaning supplies (furniture polish, floor cleaner, bathroom cleaner, paper towels)

Admin Office

~Volunteer Receptionist for mornings or afternoons ~ Office Supplies for all programs (copy paper, ink pens, staples, pencils, post-its)

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Want to Volunteer?

The mission of Volunteer Coordination is to engage others in social justice issues and impart the value of service. Whether a church work group, a community volunteer, or AmeriCorps service members, Volunteer Coordination hopes to facilitate the experience of service for everyone.

Share in the mission of La Puente: vmowing lawns vStock food at Food Bank vDonate hygiene kits vBring a meal to the shelter vRead books to kids vOrganize a food drive vSort donations at thrift store vWeed/water gardens vBike maintenance vDecorate for events vWrap presents at Christmas vknit hats & scarves v Drive clients to appointments vchop firewood

A work group weeds in the VEGI garden.

In Just One Year...

- 201 AmeriCorps Service Members - 20 Part Time Community Volunteers - 387 Work Groups - 71 Work Group Participants - 597 Full Time Community Volunteers

That’s over 68,000 hours of service!

Gleaning potatoes from a local field.

To learn more about volunteering, contact our Office of Volunteer Coordination at 719.587.3499 or click on “Serve with Us” at www.lapuente.net

“In about the same degree as you are helpful, you will be happy.” ~ Karl Reiland

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AmeriCorps service member Stacey with a Food Bank client.

I will be generous with my love today.

I will sprinkle compliments and uplifting words everywhere I go.

I will do this knowing that my words are like seeds and when they fall on fertile soil, a reflection of those seeds will grow into something greater.

~ Steve Maraboli 23

P.O. Box 1235 Alamosa, CO 81101

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Alamosa, CO 81101 Permit No. 27

www.lapuente.net Change Service Requested

“I find the greatest thing in this world is, not so much where we STAND, as in what direction we are MOVING.”

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe