-Robert Ingersoll
“We rise by lifting others.”
The
Of
Summer 2016
La Puente
La Puente Home strives to provide support and resources to the residents of the Valley experiencing crisis. We could not accomplish what we do without your support and commitment. If you would like more information or would like to join our electronic mailing list, visit www.lapuente.net. La Puente endeavors to meet immediate needs and to empower people to live independently, with dignity. We provide 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.
Created and edited by MK McDonald, with much appreciation to contributors.
www.lapuente.net 911 State Ave 719.589.5909 This material is based upon work supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under AmeriCorps Grant No.15AC175057. Opinions or points of view expressed in this document/website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of, or a position that is endorsed by, CNCS or the AmeriCorps program.
Quote on front attributed to Robert Ingersoll Some names have been changed to protect individuals’ privacy.
Table of Contents Letter from the Editor....................................2 Family Dinner at the Shelter...........................3 More than Food.............................................4 Communications Made in Service..................6 Garden Night Kick-Off...................................8 Working Together.........................................10 Broken Zippers.............................................12 Memorial Weekend With “My Guys”.............14 The Little Things..........................................16 Public Policy on Food Insecurity...................18 Thoughts on Interconnectedness.................20 What’s the Bottom Line?.............................22 PALS Go on The Road...................................23 La Puente Needs List...................................24 Want to Volunteer?......................................26 Leave a Lasting Legacy................................28
Letter from the Editor BY MK MCDONALD AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER, COMMUNICATIONS
How did I get here? Within the last year, my life has shifted from studying at the University of Georgia to working for a multinational nonprofit in Washington D.C. to most recently, serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA for La Puente in this small town of Alamosa, Colorado. Like every person’s life story, my story is complicated with many influences that have shifted my direction. There is the tour of the United Nations headquarters, where I first dreamt of working for the UN one day and helping to resolve issues of global hunger or lack of proper education in developing countries. There is my experience as an English teacher in China for 5 months, where I saw a sharp contrast between the abject poverty in rural areas and the severe environmental issues in urban areas as a consequence of rapid development. Then there is my experience with a neighborhood revitalization project in rural Elberton, Georgia, where I was exposed to the neglect of the poorest neighborhoods and unequal access to community resources, which shifted my focus to rural poverty. Since I have been here, I have learned about the San Luis Valley and the role La Puente serves in providing resources to the most vulnerable people across the region. I’ve learned how one in five families are food insecure and don’t know where tomorrow’s food will come from, how last year, the shelter served nearly 50,000 meals. But perhaps the most important thing I have learned, which I hope to have highlighted in this newsletter, is how interconnected each individual is with one another – how each experience, each interaction with another person, shapes the people that we are. This understanding is what is at the core of service. And when we dedicate our lives to serving others rather than following our own selfish desires, separateness begins to fall away as we develop a heightened sense of compassion, a shared sense of being with other people. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Ghandi 2
Family Dinner at the Shelter BY AARON PRESTRUD FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER, FOOD BANK AND SHELTER
When I was growing up, my parents made it a point to emphasize family dinner. Seven days a week, we would sit down together for an hour to eat and catch up. We shared all the chores, and my mother cooked. We would argue, crack jokes, and generally have a loud, energetic conversation. We learned a lot about each other and it brought us all closer together. When I started working at the shelter, one of the first things I learned was the mantra, “lunch at noon, dinner at 6.” It seemed simple enough. Hunger is a big problem in The Valley, where 1 in 5 families have to utilize the food bank at some point in the year, and the shelter serves anywhere from 40 to 70 folks per meal (and sometimes much more). However, dinner at the shelter is much more than that. I see it as a large scale re-creation of family dinner. The shelter and it’s guests and frequent visitors are very much a family. One of the first core groups who bonded at the shelter when I got there called each other brother, sister and mother. One of the younger men would push the “mom” around in a wheelchair all across town, taking her wherever she needed to go. They supported each other emotionally and physically through their struggle with homelessness. Dinner was the main time that they spent time together after spending the day going to appointments or job hunting. Like any family, they had their differences and arguments, but they always supported each other. Dinner at the shelter is a lot like my family dinner growing up. The energy is higher, moods are boosted (especially when we are able to serve something special), and everyone is content. It’s like I’m back home for a minute, arguing with my mother and cracking jokes with my dad about the day’s events. Dinner at the shelter is when the La Puente family comes together. No matter the day’s events, sharing a wholesome meal with the community will always be a success. 3
More than Food BY LANCE CHESLOCK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
One of our AmeriCorps members, Lyndsey had gone to get a manicure to spoil herself after a hard work week. During her conversation with the cosmetologist, it surfaced that Lyndsey worked at the Food Bank. The woman smiled with delight, and exclaimed, “That place was a God-send!” She continued, “There was a period of time when my husband and I were working on putting our lives back together and needed to go there frequently. It helped so much while we were in transition and I was getting my cosmetology license and finding this job!” Elizabeth at Adelante was working with a family whose life was constantly in a place of desperation. She expressed, “They lived job to job, house to house, car to car, meal to meal, and paycheck to paycheck.” Each day was completely focused on survival, getting their basic needs met. When they reached a tipping point where everything unraveled, they hit rock-bottom and turned to Adelante for support. The program started by providing them a foundation of housing, food, clothing and support for other basic needs. The reprieve from constant struggle gave way to stability. Not having to worry about their “survival,” they began to heal their wounds and gain perspective. Finally, they reached a place where they could dream about what the future of their family could hold. Now they are taking fresh steps forward, launching towards a new, beautiful landscape. Living in “survival mode” is often where people get stuck. Sometimes a person just needs time to focus and renew in order to mend what is broken, strengthen what is weakened, and initiate something new to invigorate and re-direct the course of their life. This could be healing from a painful life event, dealing with addiction, or building new skills. Certainly, much of what
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La Puente provides is about meeting basic needs. Yet, as Lyndsey learned, sometimes a can of food is providing more than just nutrition. Receiving that food as a gift, at times, can bring relief to the continuous stresses that come day to day. If you have helped a food pantry in the past, recognize this! The can or food item you brought likely provided something more than just physical sustenance. It may have been part of short-term reprieve that created a tiny space or opportunity for someone. Often times, simply helping someone get space to decompress from living crisis to crisis by providing for their basic needs leads to stabilization. Once someone is free from worrying about how to survive through the day it opens a new kind of freedom and motivation to dream and prepare for a brighter future. Henry Nouwen speaks of this as hospitality: “Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place.�
In 2015, La Puente sheltered 1,044 individuals. Over 47,000 meals were served to guests and the community. 30 families that stayed at the shelter were migrant families. 112 of our guests were below the age of 18.
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Strong Communications Made in Service BY CHELSEA GRAY VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS
Many of us who came to La Puente last August as AmeriCorps members and full-time volunteers are finishing up our time in this program, getting ready to move on to the next chapter in our lives. This is my second year of service, and I have to say that the emphasis on community in this volunteer program has lead to strong bonds that have developed quickly among the volunteers. The attitude that volunteers have when going into the service is a huge factor in how impactful it will be, and the willingness to work hard to get done whatever needs doing has lead to more trust and collaboration among this group than one would think was possible, after knowing each other for less than a year. I knew that connections made with fellow volunteers could be hugely impactful from my own previous experiences. I was counting down much of this year until late May, when I knew I would be leading a work group from my alma mater, Fordham University, on their service trip to La Puente. This meant a lot to me, because a group from Fordham comes to La Puente every spring, and four springs ago, in 2012, I was on that trip. Coming to La Puente back then absolutely changed the course of my life. I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but it’s true! At the time, I was interested in helping people but I had no idea what that would mean for me in my life. It was the first time I spent an extended period of time working at a nonprofit. It was the first time I was able to talk and connect with people receiving The Fordham University work services, and the first time I group prepares lunch at spent a period of time being the shelter.
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Left: Chelsea with PALS in 2012 Above: PALS and Chelsea enjoy a fieldtrip to Fairy Hills.
totally present with the group of people I was with. The program that sends groups on service trips at Fordham is called Global Outreach, and before a group departs on their trip they commit to the Four Pillars; community, simple living, social justice, and spirituality. The combination of these pillars makes for a truly meaningful experience, and make for meaningful bonds between team members that develop through the months before the trip and during the days or week of the trip itself. I’ve tried to carry those pillars with me to all of the service I’ve done, and I think that they have helped me have more significant experiences as I’ve gone forward. Revisiting these values of service with the group from Fordham really made me grateful that the legacy of service in my life started with that trip in 2012. Even though I wasn’t a participant on the trip this year, I felt the connection between all of us, and I saw that passion in many of their eyes as they saw what could be accomplished when people come together and work to improve their community. I hope the bonds they formed on their trip, with each other and with the individuals they encountered here at La Puente, stay with them and lead to more involvement in service throughout their lives. It is not only beneficial to the entire community to devote your time to do service and work in solidarity with others to meet a need. It impacts the individuals who do the service, in their self-development and their relationships. Hopefully, it can lead to a meaningful life full of empathy, love, and community.
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Garden Night Kick-Off BY AUTUMN SETZLER AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER, VALLEY EDUCATIONAL GARDEN INITIATIVE (VEGI)
On a cool, windy April evening in Alamosa, one might expect to find community members huddled up indoors, escaping the unpredictable spring weather. If on this particular Tuesday evening, however, you found yourself wandering around near Boyd Park, you would have seen a couple dozen community members, hoes and rakes in hand, working together to prepare the community garden for the coming growing season. The VEGI Community Garden Night Kick-off was part of the Alamosa Food Bank’s Hunger Education Week, an effort to bring awareness to the issue of hunger in the Valley. In the Valley and across the United States, the issue of hunger cannot be described as a simple lack of calories, but includes a lack of access to fresh, healthy foods. VEGI’s Boyd Community Garden exists to empower the members of the community to grow and to eat vegetables, and to improve community access to fresh, healthy foods. One way VEGI reaches out into the community is through Community Garden Nights – a weekly invitation to the community to come work in the soil, learn from one another about growing food, and share in the harvest. When planning the kick-off garden night, we were aware that the San Luis Valley has unpredictable weather patterns, and sure enough, we ended up needing to have the potluck indoors. As everyone came together to share the meal, though, I found that these community members were more than willing to go outside in the sprinkling rain and dusty winds to prepare the garden for the growing season. Garden nights are scheduled to take place from 5-7 PM, but on this night, we stayed outside working until 7:30. As the sun began to set and winds began to calm. I looked around at the garden I had come to know throughout the year and at the community I had become a part of. The garden beds were
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weeded, smoothed and ready for the seeds we would be planting in the coming weeks. Colorful images of carrots, beets, kale, chard, and cilantro bounced around in my head, and I felt excitement thinking about sharing the harvest with these community members in the coming months, as we would continue to work in the soil and fight hunger with vegetables.
Top: Community members prepare for the new growing season. Bottom left: Share the Work, Share the Harvest. A little girl enjoys the new vegetables and nice weather! Bottom Right: V.E.G.I harvests plenty of spinach, providing fresh organic nutrients for community members in Alamosa.
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Working Together BY SHELLY TERSOLO & KELSEY BALLARD AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS, PALS
“Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. PALS strives to help children develop socially, emotionally mentally, and academically. During the school year, PALS provides school liasons to keep track of our students’ academic goals and progress. School is often a major struggle for most of the PALS because of food insecurity, neglect, homelessness, or home instability. I served as one such liason, and spent many mornings at the back of elementary school classrooms - sharpening pencils, making copies, reading with kids, and helping with various projects and assignments. I worked with one particular child this past year, who really struggled with school. Zack was constantly lashing out at the teachers and adults in his life for what seemed like any reason at all. At the drop of a hat, Zack would become upset and take off running. He would often become violent towards himself and completely disregard his personal safety and the safety of others. It was obvious after working with him that he was a very sweet and intelligent boy who has experienced a lot of trauma in his short life. As time went by, Zack and I read books about a time-travelling cat, built a model volcano, and drew comic books about the adventures of his dog. At least once a month, I check in with teachers at Alamosa Elementary to ask about their goals and priorities for their students enrolled in PALS. Teachers report their kids need to work on reading literacy and fluency, staying on task, and building academic confidence. But when I sat down with Zack’s teacher at the end of the school year and asked what we could work on with him at PALS, she said something that stuck with me: “I just want him to learn that it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to be different. He needs to know it’s okay to be weird.”
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Above: The PALS and volunteers have fun pretending to be unicorns.
Her words hung in my ears. Her advice seemed relevant not just to Zack, but to many of the children I’ve worked with. We tend to place such high expectations on kids in school. Every year, more homework is assigned, recess is cut shorter, and new standards are put in place that both kids and teachers must achieve. Children put an incredible amount of pressure on themselves to get a math problem right the first time, to fit in, to be academically and socially successful. Sometimes, however, it is important to step back and realize that there is more to life than getting a number on a piece of paper. By making mistakes, adults and children develop themselves and their sense of individual identity. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from a year with PALS, it’s not to take myself too seriously. It has also forced me to live in the moment - young children think on a short-term basis, so focusing on the present is really the only option. I watch our PALS make mistakes everyday. Some are bigger than others, but it’s great to see how they adapt and overcome the consequences from their mistakes. It helps me to remember that life is short and to let go of the feeling that everything has to be perfect all the time. Learning from our mistakes and realizing how we can make things better is really all that counts.
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Broken Zippers BY KEN MALDONADO DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
I met Aaron, one of our Shelter guests in early April when I was dropping off a donation of new hooded sweatshirts at the Shelter. When he overheard me telling the staff what was in the black bags I was carrying he approached me and asked if he could have one. “Unfortunately,” I told him, “I know that the sizes and colors in this bag are all XXL and bright yellow and orange, but catch me tomorrow and I’ll bring one that I know will fit you”. We were about the same size and I knew that I had a blue one at home that I never used because the zipper always jammed. The next morning, I grabbed the blue hoodie and was about to walk out the door when I remembered what Father Steven had said in his homily at church recently. The reading was from Luke’s Gospel, and the passage was: “The person who has two coats must share with the one who doesn’t have any.” But Father Steven took it further and said, “Don’t just give your extra coat, or your old coat to the person who needs it. Give them your best coat, or your favorite coat.” With the blue hoodie still in my hand I looked at my favorite black hoodie hanging there. The one with the special cell phone pocket on the breast and with the zipper that worked. I debated the decision in my head more than I care to admit, but I did put the blue one back and grabbed the nice black one. When I got to the Shelter, not knowing if Aaron would be there, or if he would even remember that I was bringing him the hoodie, I left the black hoodie in my car. I went into the office, took care of business and as I was walking out the door Aaron was coming up the walk. “Hey, I’m glad I caught you before I left. Wait one second while I go to my car” I said. I retrieved the black hoodie and handed it to him. He immediately took off his backpack and the thin nylon jacket he was wearing, put on the black hoodie, and zipped it right up.
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The minute I heard that zipper go up I realized that I had just been taught a valuable lesson by Aaron and Father Steven. A lesson in line with one of the major tenets of La Puente’s mission. Dignity. Even though Aaron may have wanted and accepted my blue hoodie with the broken zipper, he deserved to be treated with dignity and worth, and that meant the black hoodie with zipper that worked. I’ve always believed that people come in and out of our lives for reasons. There are no such things as accidents or coincidence. We either teach or are taught by others, and, when one is able to recognize this in others we find value, and purpose, and friendship. Aaron isn’t at the shelter anymore. He is a few blocks away in his own place, has a stable job, and working really h ard at stabilizing his life. Aaron is still in my life. We’ve become friends, and each time I try to zip up my blue hoodie with the broken zipper I smile knowing that it taught me a valuable lesson and brought me a new friendship.
“The person who has two coats must share with the one who doesn’t have any, and the person who has food should do the same.”
-Luke 3:11
622 out of 1044 of our guests (60%) were employed when they checked out of the shelter. 13
Memorial Weekend with “My Guys.” BY JEWELS PHILLIPS
AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER, VETERANS PROGRAM AND SHELTER SPLIT
As the Veteran’s advocate for La Puente’s GPD Program, the majority of the time, my duties consist of making sure the veterans who are enrolled in our program are receiving the resources and support needed to help them reach their self-sustainable living goals. This is all while our veterans stay at the La Puente Home shelter, following the culture and guidelines there, while interacting and living with the other guests who find their way to our doors. Now, while all of the veterans would tell you they are very thankful and grateful for La Puente and the Veteran’s program, living at a shelter for months or years at a time and working on your own self-improvement can at times be an incredibly heavy weight. This past Memorial Day weekend, thanks to a generous donation by community members and a team effort from several La Puente Programs, we were able to show our appreciation to our Veterans for all they do and continue to do. On Friday May 27th, the veterans (my guys) and I were able to take the weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the shelter, and enjoy some relaxing and immensely fun times in the beautiful foothills of San Luis, Colorado. We stayed at one the most beautiful and scenic homes that the three of us had ever seen, thanks to an immensely generous donation. Our short time there felt like it would never be enough, and yet ended up being just enough time to lift our spirits and rejuvenate our minds. From the first time we walked through the doors, we watched sunrises over Mount Blanca and A Veteran enjoys fishing the valley view in front of us from the on a lake in San Luis, CO amazing sunroon.
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The trip was special. Not a day went by without laughter and comradery at the house or at the lake where we went fishing or during our mini road trip to Taos, New Mexico for their Memorial Weekend festivities. Words cannot describe our appreciation. On behalf of the veterans enrolled at the GPD program at La Puente Home, and the veterans all around the San Luis Valley area, THANK YOU. Thank you for your open hearts and kind words. Thank you for your donations and all the hard work you do. Thank you for seeing or hearing the impossible, and not giving up until you make it possible. Thank you for the honored memories of our fallen, and for the friendship and love shown to the ones still here. And personally, from just a guy who came to help just a few months ago and is humbled and blessed every day doing so, thank you for allowing me to serve those who served us. Left: AmeriCorps Volunteer, Porsche and a Veteran celebrate his birthday before the Veteran memorial trip. The trip served also as a sort of birthday celebration. Right: A Veteran explores the Fort Garland Museum.
In 2015, the shelter housed 49 Veterans, who can stay for up to two years. In the Valley, Veterans make up 26% of the chronically homeless. 15
The Little Things that Make a Big Difference BY SHANAE DIAZ ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES
It’s the little things that make the world go ‘round. Working in the Volunteer Coordination office means that I am constantly learning about old, new and proposed projects at La Puente. The time, the dedication, and the shear will power people put into accomplishing these projects is astounding. Walls have been painted, demolished, spackled and shortened. Yards have been shoveled, tilled, planted, cleared and weeded. Since I started in November, I’ve seen: the coordination center’s completion; the purchasing of a wood lot; Milagro’s has been modernized with new floors, chairs, painted walls and an updated menu; buildings and cars have been acquired; and the PALS space has been repaired, painted and carpeted. And these are only the projects I personally knew about. Every one of these larger projects is vital to the continued work La Puente does. What is increasingly apparent yet not always noticed, is the fact that all of these bigger projects would not happen if it weren’t for the daily details that diligently get deliberated on and followed through with. Seeing the work and collaboration that goes into a project is just as gratifying as seeing the end result. La Puente truly is a community within a community. “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” –Mother Teresa Many preach goodness, and assume it gets practiced. What I’ve observed in my years before La Puente was decency delegated, instead of propriety promoted. But, this is far from true within our volunteer community who really epitomize what it means to give one’s self to the service of others. Service is what most of society recognizes as a past time. It’s something to fill the hours after work, or a short time slot on a weekend. For La Puente’s volunteers service is spending hours sorting through
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vegetables, throwing out the nearly rotten ones. It is days, weeks and months of felling and bucking trees, then splitting the wood into usable pieces. It’s moving the shelves and furniture ahead of time so the work group can build and paint; then, putting the shelves and furniture back in the early hours of the morning before their program opens. Service is dealing with the person who is angry, upset, inebriated, depressed, confused or frustrated. It is also getting to know a client who is meant to be someone you work closely with for the next year; then walking in to work one day to find out that client has passed away, moved away, or has simply moved on with very little communication as to where they can be contacted. Service is digging on your knees in the sun, planting in Colorado climate and weeding when no one else wants to. It is building relationships with someone, without the intention of getting anything from them in return. Service is more than recreation, it is a lifetime commitment that many learn and continue on after they spend time with La Puente. The hard daily tasks are often made easier by the fulfilling progress a person or Above: La Puente receives a tremendous amount of help from workgroups from around a program make. For the country. Here, the Holy Cross work group example: seeing a brand bonds over a team building exercise. new reception counter at the food bank, witnessing Milagro’s grow into a community space with a cool coffee house atmosphere, congratulating a friend who was able to move in to his first apartment, viewing a child’s ability to open up to someone and smile ear to ear because they’re truly are proud of themself, and learning with a family as they deeply get to know each as they progress on to a stable and independent life. Projects and volunteering go hand in hand. They involve profound commitment and love that continually live on and get passed. Personally, I want to say thank you to all of the full time volunteers, AmeriCorps members, work groups, mission groups, and community members who keep La Puente going.
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Public Policy on Food Insecurity in the SLV BY JOHN REESOR FOOD BANK DIRECTOR
The Food Bank Network of the San Luis Valley (FBNSLV) is a program that heavily relies on the generosity of the community. We have only one full-time paid staff member in the network of 13 food pantries spread across the 6 counties of the San Luis Valley. Over 50 volunteers make up the living organism that is the FBNSLV. Churches and landlords offer up their spaces to our food pantries, mostly free of rent. Local schools, churches and civic groups offer up their resources so that the FBNSLV can operate with extremely low overhead cost. We love the spirit of generosity that exists in the Valley which made it possible for our network to serve over 11,000 individuals in need in 2015. While this spirit of generosity in the Valley remains constant, the FBNSLV over the years rides the ebbs and flows of the public policy which affects levels of hunger and food insecurity in our community. The current condition of the SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) program in the State of Colorado is not great. The State of Colorado ranks 45th in the nation in “access to SNAP benefits.� Only 57% of Colorado residents who are eligible for food stamps are actually receiving benefits, well below the national average of 75% enrollment. While some might argue this is a good thing; that Coloradans are resourceful, independent and able to fend for themselves, the reality is that food banks and food pantries often take the brunt of this lack of enrollment. A recent survey at the Alamosa Food Bank found that 42% of our clients do not receive food stamps. It is with this knowledge that we partnered this winter with Hunger Free Colorado in the advocacy of a bi-partisan piece of legislation aimed at fixing the problem of low SNAP enrollment. Senate Bill 16 -190, which passed unanimously through the Colorado House and Senate and was signed into
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law by Governor Hickenlooper on June 1st, is a step in the right direction. While the FBNSLV’s main focus is providing emergency food assistance for those in need and garnering support locally for our services, we understand that we do not operate in a vacuum in the San Luis Valley. Decisions made in the Denver Capitol affect our community and they affect our programs at La Puente. We hope that by engaging in this advocacy we have done a small part in helping reduce the enormous need that exists for the Food Bank Network of the San Luis Valley.
John Reesor and Bethany Howell met with Colorado State Senator Larry Crowder (R) on Feb. 2nd 2016 at the State Capitol to speak about food insecurity in the SLV and the need for SNAP improvements and asked for his support on Senate Bill 16-190.
20% of the population of the San Luis Valley utilized the Food Bank Network in 2015. 19
We Each Have a Story to Share BY ELISABETH TISSELL AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER, ADELANTE
Standing in line at the gas station, have you ever asked yourself, “I wonder what this cashier’s story is? Why does he work here?” So often we find ourselves too focused on our own worries to look up and see the other people around us. As a child, my curious eyes saw the poverty in my community, but I never knew how to help besides giving someone a few dollars or a sandwich. College equipped me with policy ideas, cultural literacy, and other tools to try and meet these needs. I realized, however, that if I truly desired to help struggling people, I needed to work with them side-by-side. Joining AmeriCorps and serving at La Puente’s Adelante Family Services Program has enabled me to build relationships with people from all walks of life. One family in particular has helped me personally grow even as they themselves have blossomed. Julio and Amelia, a young couple with a lively little boy, entered Adelante in a time of great instability. Although reliable and capable employees, they had held numerous jobs and struggled to maintain income stability. Holding onto vague dreams, Julio and Amelia were living week to week trying to make ends meet. Partnering with this family for just over a year, I witnessed firsthand how they slowly grew and took ownership of their dreams. Amelia discovered she had a talent for budgeting and saving. She enrolled at Trinidad State Junior College and is now halfway to obtaining her degree to be a Medical Assistant. Both Julio and Amelia obtained multiple, longer-term jobs above minimum wage, and learned how to better navigate their local resources. Moreover, Julio and Amelia achieved enough stability to start planning a year or more ahead. They are actively repairing their credit and looking towards ultimately buying their own home. Most importantly, however, Julio and Amelia learned their own strengths, and began using them with their family and greater community.
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This family taught me as a case manager how to tailor my support and communication to each individual I serve, and how to empower someone in the long-term not just simply in a moment of crisis. Julio and Amelia showed me that people experience homelessness for more reasons that cyclical poverty, mental health issues, addiction, or chronic health problems. One can face homelessness from a lack of knowledge or skills, lack of family support, or even a lack of job stability. If given the chance, though, people can grow roots and shine in the hardest of places. I have now partnered individually with 14 families and assisted nearly 45 in all. Each family’s story has broadened my understanding of the needs and strengths of our community. I better comprehend how interconnected we all are, and how vital each of our knowledge is to the growth of one another. Moving forward, I hope to empower all people to contribute their story to our collective human experience. So‌what is your story? And how are you sharing it?
Adelante Families compete in field games.
In 2015, Adelante worked with 181 individuals. 108 had a history of domestic abuse. 21
What’s the Bottom Line? BY AMY SCAVEZZE DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES
A few days ago my husband was taking note of the hand-painted signs that identify the different offices of La Puente. He said if La Puente would hire someone to paint the sings they would look more professional, more consistent in color and design, more like a quality business. He’s not off his rocker, others (including myself) have made the same suggestion. In my response I was able to evaluate for myself the value of the hand-painted sign. Having volunteers paint our signs allows them an opportunity to participate in our mission. It lets them do something necessary and allows funds to be allocated elsewhere. It tells them as potential donors that we honor their gift and can really stretch a dollar. Having a professional image is a critical component in any service organization. It helps people feel welcome and comfortable, it’s part of being a good neighbor, it helps service providers feel confident and motivated, and it helps the community take the organization seriously. Sometimes though, it seems there is a give and take when it comes to maintaining the professional image and making space for people to get involved. In the world of philanthropy, we are not in the business of “customer service”. We don’t have something that you want and are willing to pay a pretty penny for. No, we are in the business of “client service”. We have resources you desperately need and you don’t have anything to offer as payment. Our resource bank comes from others who believe in and are willing to participate in our mission “To meet immediate needs and empower people to live independently with dignity”. Donors give time, money, clothes, houses, cars, skills, services, and words of encouragement. That’s our resource bank. In a company you are trying to sell your product to acquire business. In philanthropy you are trying to sell your mission to acquire resources so you can serve clients. The bottom line for a non-profit is its mission, not its revenue.
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PALS go on
The Road
Thanks to the many generous donations, the PALS were able to go on a trip of a lifetime to the Grand Canyon, the beach, Hoover Dam, Death Valley, and DisneyLand.
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La Puente
PALS -Donations for sensory kits -Dish soap -Hand sanitizer -Bathroom tissue -New children’s underwear & socks -Snacks
Rural Outreach
Food Bank Network -Plastic quart size bags -Canned protein -Eggs -Frozen meat -Baking needs -Kid-friendly food
-Used Truck -Aggressive tires 8-10ply (4X) -Cig lighter air compressor -Rechargeable spotlight -Emergency blanket -De-icer/Washer fluid -Tow rope/Tow chain Outreach Services -Gas can (2 gallon) -Camper shell -Donated firewood -Jumper cables/ -Labor to collect Battery booster free firewood w/lighter adapter -Labor to block & split -Tire snow chains firewood -Shovel -Beds -Small jack -Air tank -Tool kit -First aid kit -Cat litter -Motor Oil
Volunteer Coordination/ Communications & Engagement -Event tent canopy -Work gloves -Vehicle for full-time volunteers 24
Needs List Shelter
Adelante
-Coffee -Dairy products -Cooking oil -Diapers sizes 3-6 -Men’s and women’s socks -Work gloves -Cans of fruit & veggies -Hygiene kits -Small metal chairs & tables for backyard -Ground beef -Drink mixes -Firewood -Pasta, Rice -Sugar -Travel size shampoo -Underwear -Blankets -Folding chairs -Wood Splitters (2) -Pick-up Truck
-Permanent bike racks for houses -Life Skills Speakers -Toiletries for both genders and all ages -Cleaning products -Dishes, pots, pans -Silverware -Gently used furniture (couches, dressers, cribs, beds all sizes) -All sizes of diapers and pull-ups -Anything infant related
VEGI -Seed donations -Watering cans -Garden hoses -Hand tools (trowels, etc) -4-valve spiket attachment -Contributions toward a new Horno at Alamosa Elementary School -Hoophouse materials -Kids craft supplies -Benches for the garden -Produce donations for the Food Bank
Enterprises Rainbow’s End Alamosa: -XL trash bags -Rubber bands -Lumber for shelving -Quality gloves Rethreads: -Dish soap -Laundry detergent -Hygiene items -Men’s clothing -Silverware & dishware 25
Want to Volunteer? There are many volunteer opportunities at La Puente for individuals or groups looking to give back! Much of what La Puente does would not be possible without the support, love, and commitment of our volunteers. Get involved today!
Community Volunteer
We utilize volunteers of all ages and abilities for one-time, weekly, or monthly intervals at many of our programs. -Create hygiene kits for the Shelter -Lead Life Skill classes for Adelante -Work at the front desk at Outreach -Read to or lead a craft for the PALS
Work Group Service Work groups come from all over the country to help La Puente complete projects and effectively serve our clients. -Chop wood for Outreach Services -Prepare meals at the Shelter -Glean produce for the Food Bank -Be a PALS Big Buddy for the day
Full-Time Volunteer
During a year of service, Full-Time Volunteers and AmeriCorps Members obtain firsthand experience serving at one of our programs.
To learn more about volunteering, contact our Office of Volunteer Coordination at 719.587.3499 or click on “Get Involved� at www.lapuente.net 26
We Need Your Support! Financial support is crucial for our efforts to address homelessness and hunger throughout the Valley. La Puente depends on individuals, churches, and businesses for much of our support. We are proud that 85% of our funding is non-governmental and 93% of every dollar goes to direct services! Please consider any size financial gift to help us in service to our community.
Let Generosity Reduce Your Taxes All donations are tax deductable. Cash donations of $100 or more are eligible for one of two Colorado tax credits: 1. The 25% “Enterprise Zone” (EZ) tax credit that supports all our programs. 2. The 50% “Colorado Childcare Tax Credit” (CCTC) that supports our PALS Children’s Program. Tax credits are direct payments towards the taxes you owe, whether or not you use deductions. For example, with a $1,000 donation you can: 1. Deduct $1000 off both your State & Federal Taxes 2. Receive a credit worth $250(EZ) or $500(CCTC) towards your Colorado Taxes.
Here’s How: 1. Donate $100 or more, payable to-“The Enterprise Zone” for a 25% tax credit -“PALS Program” for a 50% tax credit 2. Mail us your gift. 3. We’ll send you a certificate of tax credit.* It can be used like a check payable to Colorado’s Department of Revenue.
* Credits are only available to Colorado state taxpayers
Contact our Development Department at 719.589.5909 or e-mail development@lapuente.net 27
The Legacy Fund is an endowment, managed separately from other donations, that holds and invests its principle value and contributes only the earnings for the needs of La Puente’s work. Legacy investment proceeds will help La Puente serve our community. Please consider giving to the Legacy Fund on behalf of yourself or a loved one. A gift card acknowledgement will be sent to the family you are honoring with your remembrance gift. For Colorado taxpayers, gifts of $100 or more are also eligible for the 25% Enterprise Zone tax credit.
Consider These Options as You Plan: - Charitable Gift Annuities - Charitable Remainder Trusts - Memorial and Honorary Gifts
- Bequests - Appreciated Stock - Beneficiary Designations
To learn more contact our Development Department at 719.589.5909 or e-mail development@lapuente.net
Donate a Vehicle! Every La Puente program relies on vehicle donations. Donate your car or truck and earn a tax deduction for the market value of the vehicle. La Puente will handle the title transfer! We are in need of a pick up truck, as well as a car for our volunteers! To learn more contact Missy Bueltel at 719.589.5909 or e-mail administration@lapuente.net 28
“To change the world, we must be good to those who cannot repay us.� -Pope Francis
Change service requested.
P.O. Box 1235 Alamosa, CO 81101 719.589.5909 www.lapuente.net
La Puente
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Alamosa, CO 81101 Permit No. 27