LAWRENCE
L AWRENCE J OURNAL -WORLD
Family CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
church volunteers from the 13 host churches and 21 other support congregations. The program, which started in 2008, requires families to look for full-time work or they won’t be able to stay. “Without Family Promise, I’m not sure how bright my future would be, because I’ve set goals and actually met them,” Bonecutter said. “I was really good at starting things and never finishing them.”
‘A safe place to go’ In 2010, 14 families were in the program in Lawrence, and every school in Lawrence had at least one homeless student. According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, 34 percent of the homeless population nationally are families. Valerie Miller-Coleman, executive director of Family Promise, recognized the problem in 2007 when she was an outreach specialist for the homeless, dealing specifically with families. In many cases, parents were wary of taking their children to a traditional shelter. So MillerColeman worked with Lawrence resident Joe Reitz to start the program. “It serves a vital need: the need to get those kids out of the back seats of cars and out of motel rooms,” she said. “At
HOW TO HELP Valerie Miller-Coleman said that often one of the biggest barriers to families in the program is the lack of affordable and reliable transportation. “We are happy to accept any and all cars that are reliable,” she said. The other need is volunteers to host families. Some volunteers will stay at churches overnight, for which Miller-Coleman requires training. The organization welcomes the same time, it does a lot to educate the community about the homeless population. It knits the community together.” Miller-Coleman said families must follow strict rules, including maintaining sobriety and passing a criminal background check for violent or sexual offenses. Families must be out of churches by 6:30 a.m., when they go to the day center. There they have access to computers for job searching, as well as shower and laundry facilities. They go back to the churches around 5:30 p.m., and everyone is expected to be on time to dinner. Most importantly, families should be comfortable, but not get too comfortable.
“My children and I have a safe place to go every night,” household supply donations, includ- she said. ing bath towels, sheet sets, personBonecutter’s son, Jeremy al hygiene items and coffee. Scott, 17, agrees with his To donate or volunteer, call Fami- mother, although once in a ly Promise at 764-9506 or contact while he said he gets embarthem through the site at rassed about not having a http://www.lawrencefamihome. But the high schooler lypromise.org/NEW/htdoc/aboudoesn’t worry about friends tUs/contact.php. gossiping about his situation. To give a tax-deductible financial “If they don’t want to talk gift, send a check to P.O. Box 266, to me or be friends with me Lawrence, KS 66044. because I’m homeless, then they weren’t worth being friends with in the f irst “It’s not home. This is not place,” he said. meant to be home,” she said. For Bonecutter, the pro“Ideally, they will get housed gram has provided her a base quickly.” level to work from. She’s paid Bonecutter understands off a $2,500 debt that she’s that concept and says staying had for years, and all that’s in a different church each left is finding reliable fullweek is a better option than time work. She’s learned accountability and culpabilibeing on the streets.
The Douglas County register of deeds recorded 57 mortgages in the weekly period ended Thursday. Breakdown by dollar value:
$50,000 and below.....................22 $50,001-$100,000..........................6 $100,001-$150,000 .....................13 $150,001-$200,000 .......................7 $200,001-$300,000........................5 $300,001-$400,000........................1 $400,001-$500,000........................2 More than $500,000 ....................1
she said. Bonecutter has been approved for a transitional housing voucher, but it won’t be available for a few more months. Once she finds fulltime work, she will be back on her feet, but she knows it wouldn’t have been possible without Family Promise urging her. “If you’re willing to make the work and ask for help and learn, it’s all there,” she said. — Reporter Brenna Hawley can be reached at 832-7217.
Smells like bacon.
715 MASSACHUSETTS
856-7150
LOCAL HANDMADE FOOD
Your Local City Market!
23RD & LOUISIANA, LAWRENCE, KS Locally Owned & Operated Since 1987
LOCAL • FRESH • SAVE $$
Your Local City Market!
Oscar Mayer Bacon Reg Price $2.89
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
1
89
RV0100
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
Kraft Cheese Reg Price $2.49
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
1
RV0100
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
Kraft BBQ Sauce Reg Price $1.29 ea.
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON COUPON VALID: VALID: 5/2 5/1 –– 5/8/10 5/7/11 IN-AD
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/2 5/1 – 5/8/10 5/7/11
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
99
¢
RV0100
Velveeta Reg Price $4.49
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
79ea ¢
RV0200
149ea RV0200
Kraft Dressing Reg Price $2.50
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
3
49
RV0100
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
1
50
RV0200
249 RV0200
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
200ea RV0100
A.1. Steak Sauce Reg Price $2.99
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
199 RV0100 RV0100
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
Oscar Mayer Bacon Reg Price $4.49
Oscar Mayer Lunch Meat Reg Price $2.50 ea.
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
Mac & Cheese Reg Price $1.99 ea.
Lunchables Reg Price $1.99
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
49
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
MORTGAGES
ty, and realizes she can’t always help everyone. “I’m a caretaker,” she said. “The first indication that you aren’t dealing with your own stuff and you’re not owning your own stuff is when you’re too busy taking care of somebody else’s.” And most of all, she’s showing her kids, whom she calls “amazing,” how to work hard and face adversity. “When I look in the mirror at the end of the day, I want to see a person that I would be proud of my children being,”
| 9A.
WEEKEND BRUNCH SAT & SUN | 9a-3p
AROUND & ABOUT IN LOCAL BUSINESS ● H. Rutherford “Rud” Turnbull III, Lawrence, received the 2011 J.E. Wallace Wallin Special Education Lifetime Achievement Award on April 25 from the Council for Exceptional Children at its 2011 Convention and Expo in National Harbor, Md. The award recognizes an individual who has made continued and sustained contributions to the education of children and youths with exceptionalities. Turnbull, professor of special education and codirector of the Beach Center on Disability at Kansas University, was also honored for his 40year career as an advocate for individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. ● Mike Chapman, a registered physical therapist employed by Jefferson County Public Health Department, received the Carolyn Bloom Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas Physical Therapy Association. Chapman was recognized for his distinguished leadership at the state and national level at the state PT meeting April 16 in Wichita. The award is presented annually to a Kansas physical therapist who has made significant contributions to the state association. ● Dee Bisel, owner of Minuteman Press, was the April 21 luncheon speaker for “Women in Print,” sponsored by Printing Industries of MidAmerica in Dallas. Bisel’s speech was titled “Our Journey toward Sustainability.” Minuteman Press was the first certified Sustainable Green Printer in Kansas and the 12th in the nation. ● The Lawrence Technology Association Business Showcase will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 18 at the Bioscience & Technology Business Center, 2029 Becker. Speakers include Deb Vignatelli, Donna Johnson, Rob Herrington, Abel Leon and John Ferguson. To register, contact Kerri Johnson at 832-2824 or events@lawrencetech.org by May 9. ● All Our Beautiful Children Daycare, doing business as ABChildren Daycare, opened March 28 at 2017 E. 17th St., Lawrence. The day care is now enrolling, and its hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
X Sunday, May 1, 2011
Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip Reg Price $2.75
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
150 RV0100 RV0200
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence
Ritz Crackers or Chips Ahoy! Reg Price $3.39 ea.
Your Final Price With Coupon IN-AD COUPON
VALID: 5/1 – 5/7/11
289ea RV0100 RV0200
Redeemable at Checkers _______________________________ - Lawrence