Nashville Rescue Mission August 2017 Newsletter

AUGUST 2017

IN PLAIN SIGHT How you are helping kids cope with the trauma of homelessness

Through Their Eyes Your gifts give them a new view

C

urrently, there are 48 children living at Nashville Rescue Mission. As they look at the world, I wonder what they see. Do they see darkness and despair, or do they see hope for a brighter tomorrow?

REV. GLENN CRANFIELD President and CEO

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT. Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

At the Mission, we know that as a result of their chaotic life experiences, these children are the innocent victims of homelessness. They often face many disadvantages including social and mental obstacles, and are twice as likely to have a learning disability or repeat a grade.

Preparing these young children for school and providing basic school supplies helps to lay the foundation for future development and growth.

From the school system making school bus allowances so children at the Mission are picked up first in the morning and dropped off last in the

WHAT WAYS ARE YOU HELPING THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY?

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2 HEART of the MISSION / August 2017

evening to avoid any bullying from other children … to volunteers coming in to help with homework and supporters providing the children with new school uniforms.

All of these things will help children struggling with loneliness and isolation to fit in with their peers.

There’s still so much we want to do.

But we need your help to do it. We as a community cannot continue to overlook these children whom are in dire need of our assistance. Providing them with the necessary tools to fuel their growth is pertinent to their future success. The children living at Nashville Rescue Mission are counting on you, on us, to give them hope, and I know we won’t let them down. Thank you for your support of this ministry.

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DR. TRAVIS STORK MISSION IN MY WORDS

I didn’t set out to be a doctor, much less host the daytime show The Doctors.

I grew up in the Midwest, graduated from Duke University with a degree in Math, and then moved to Washington D.C. where I took a job as an actuarial scientist. While I have always loved numbers (insert nerd joke here), I longed for face time with regular people.

In my spare time I started volunteering at a free clinic.

It was an eye-opening experience that showed me I could use science and also connect with people on a personal level. It was that experience that ultimately led me back to school to become a doctor.

Nashville became my home in 2003 when I arrived at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to complete my residency as an emergency medicine physician. I fell in love with the city, and with the people, and it’s why I continue to call Nashville home.

W E C A N T R E AT A L O T O F P R O B L E M S I N THE ER BUT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO D I S C H A R G E A PAT I E N T … W H AT I F T H E Y H AV E N O P L A C E T O G O ?

As an ER doctor, I have witnessed many people in their most vulnerable moments—hurt, injured, sick. I have treated people of all ages, and from all walks of life, and have learned so much about humanity along the way. Any individual who has spent time working in the ER, especially in an urban setting such as Nashville, will tell you that once you spend time in that environment, it colors your perspective on everything in life. In addition to dealing with health issues, you also see a multitude

of social problems and a lot of physical and emotional suffering. We can treat a lot of problems in the ER but when it comes time to discharge a patient … what if they have no place to go? For example, when you treat someone in the ER with a foot wound, you can offer help. But when it comes time for discharge, what if they are homeless and their only pair of socks are dirty and ripped? Or their shoes are falling apart and they have no place to properly treat the wound? It is disconcerting to know that you are discharging someone without a home.

That’s why I’m thankful that here in Nashville there is a place for someone like that to go—Nashville Rescue Mission. I know for those who are down on their luck, the Mission offers a safe, reliable place. If a person doesn’t have a home, the Mission tries to make it feel like home.

I know that if someone is hungry, there is a place where they can get a hot meal. If someone is in need of shelter, the Mission has a bed waiting for them. If a person needs clean socks and shoes, there is a place where they can get them for free. People always ask me why I fly to and from Los Angeles (where we tape The Doctors) rather than just stay in California full-time. It’s because there is something special about the city of Nashville … it has a soul and the people have a lot of heart. The Mission is a great example of that heart and reflects the willingness of the good people of Nashville to help each other out when someone is in need.

ABOUT TRAVIS

Dr. Travis Stork is an Emmy®-nominated host of the award-winning, syndicated daytime talk show The Doctors, and a board-certified emergency medicine physician. He makes his home in Nashville, TN, when he’s not filming his show in Los Angeles. The show kicks off their 10th season in September.

August 2017 / HEART of the MISSION 3

FEATURED

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

How you are helping kids cope with the trauma of homelessness

H

omelessness—the topic may conjure up images of cardboard boxes, sleeping bags, and heating grates— probably not of mothers pushing babies in strollers or kids carrying backpacks. But the realities of homelessness are more complex than any stereotype.

According to the McKinney-Vento Act, the term “homeless child and youth” includes minors living in shelters with or without family, doubling up with friends or extended family, settling into motels, campgrounds, trailer parks, or using vehicles for overnight shelter.

However, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has their own definition, which is much more narrow and states that anyone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence is considered homeless.

“In 2016, Nashville Rescue Mission provided shelter to over 700 unique children under the age of 18. Of those 57 percent were of school age,” said Rev. Glenn Cranfield, president and CEO of the Mission. “A record-breaking number of 106 children slept safely at the Mission back in September 2016, but we typically average 52 children each night. Unfortunately, these numbers continue to climb with each passing year.”

4 HEART of the MISSION / August 2017

52

In 2016, we sheltered an average of

52 children each night.

ACCORDING TO CATHERINE KNOWLES, homeless

education program supervisor for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, “The total number of homeless students in the district during the 2016-2017 school year was 3,407 (based upon McKinney-Vento definition).”

“School is the one place where I feel normal,” said Robert,* age 10. “We’ve bounced around from place to place. School is about the only stable thing in my life. I like summer, but I’m looking forward to going back to school.”

For kids, the impact of homelessness or frequent moves is nothing less than traumatic, says Carolyn Grossley, director of Women’s Guest Services Ministry for the Mission. “People who are traumatized, or are under stress … they are not thinking with the cognitive part of their brains, but are thinking more with the survival part: fight, flight, or freeze,” she says.

These instincts may aid survival in a life of hard knocks, but they are counterproductive in the classroom and schoolyard. Homeless kids may think about hunger, old clothes, lack of school supplies, or constant anxiety about their family’s security. “It’s hard for a kid to concentrate when they’re more concerned about where they are going to sleep or if they’re going to eat that night,” said Grossley.

“We want to try and eliminate as many of these worries as we can for the kids who stay with us.”

Studies indicate that children whose address has been in flux for more than a year are subject to developmental delays at four times the rate of their peers, are twice as likely to repeat a grade, and are identified with learning disabilities twice as often. According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, they end up missing days, repeating grades, or dropping out entirely, and up to 40 percent have mental health problems.

“The stresses of homelessness typically begin well before a family arrives at the Mission and linger long after they leave,” said Holly Cowherd, children’s coordinator at the Mission. “There are usually years of people going from family member to family member or resource to friend before they become homeless. By the time they end up at the Mission, they are not just in a housing crisis, they are in a family crisis.”

“

“We have also worked with the school district so that buses pick up here first and drop off here last, to avoid any bullying kids might face for staying in a shelter.”

Volunteers come in regularly to assist kids with homework. There are additional opportunities to conduct special activities and projects for the kids while the mothers attend chapel services. “It’s pretty busy here and can get very loud, which makes it harder for me to focus and get my work done,” said Wendy,* age 14. “So having someone to assist me with my homework is a big help.”

“THE CHILDREN ARE SILENT VICTIMS IN THIS SITUATION,” said Cranfield. “While we have come a long

way in terms of doing different things to help care for the children who stay with us, there is still much more we want to do. It’s just a matter of time, money, and resources.

But with the help of generous donors, we can continue to increase the programs and services for children. We could also use more volunteers with a background in child development or child care—or retired school teachers who might have an hour or two each week to help with homework or read to the children. There are so many ways for the community to get involved and help these kids cope with the trauma they are facing. We invite you to join us in these efforts.”

We’ve bounced around from place to place.

School is about the only stable thing in my life.

“THE NEED TO SUPPORT THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF THE MOTHERS AND CHILDREN we serve while they stay

with us remains intense,” said Cranfield. “It’s a chance to meaningfully touch the lives of some of our city’s most vulnerable children and could prevent the need for more costly interventions later on.”

With your help, the Mission addresses many of these issues head on. With 24-hour cameras and around-theclock security, the Mission provides a safe and secure environment for mothers and their children. The Mission works with a local health provider to make sure guests have transportation and access to medical care and to mental health care.

Each child starts the school year off with new school uniforms thanks to a generous supporter who sponsors this each year. “We make sure each child receives a brand new backpack, filled with school supplies,” said Cowherd.

Thank you for continued support in making help and hope possible for the children we serve.

If you’d like to learn about ways you can get involved and help support the women and children who stay at the Mission, please visit nashvillerescuemission.org. *Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our guests.

August 2017 / HEART of the MISSION 5

moving

INTO THE

NEIGHBORHOOD

HOW ONE W O R K ING MOM F OUND A WAY TO GIVE B A CK “Between my career and my husband’s we have moved numerous times. I have personally found that volunteering is a great way to connect with the community in a new city,” said Julie. “So when we moved to Germantown, I quickly discovered the Women’s Campus of Nashville Rescue Mission.”

While a large number of volunteers serve in the Mission’s kitchen, Julie was focused on finding a spot where there was the greatest need. “I met with Holly, the children’s coordinator at the Mission, and through our conversation, I quickly realized the kids were in desperate need of help with homework. I am an engineer and felt like I could make the greatest impact by working with the children.”

For the last year, Julie has been giving an hour or more each week to help homeless kids with their homework.

She’s recruited a few others to join her along the way. One being her daughter Alex. “One of the biggest blessings of volunteering with my daughter is that it’s brought us much closer to each other. We’ve also discovered that these kids need so much more than help with their homework.”

6 HEART of the MISSION / August 2017

WHEN ASKED WHAT SURPRISED JULIE MOST about

volunteering at the Women’s Campus, she said, “I realized that even though thousands of people drive by the Mission every day, not enough people know about the women and children who are homeless and stay at the Mission. Now I’m making it my personal mission to make sure more people know about the need and hopefully we can gather the right people and resources to make an even bigger difference in the lives of these children.”

“WE’VE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT

THESE KIDS NEED SO MUCH MORE T H A N H E L P W I T H T H E I R H O M E W O R K .”

For Julie, one of the highlights has been the opportunity to love on the kids one-on-one. “Over time you can see that being a regular volunteer has a huge impact on these kids,” said Julie. “In their world, where there is so much change, having a consistent person who is there for them really seems to go a long way in building their confidence.”

“I will never forget this one young girl who was struggling to read,” Julie recalled. “Each time we would ask her to read out loud, she would become very angry. But I’m oldschool, and I don’t put up with disrespect or sass and told her so. Soon she came to see that I was a ‘judgement-free zone.’ Once she saw me as a safe person to share with, she started to enjoy reading to me. I saw a huge difference in this young girl in a very short period of time.”

AFTER NOTICING THE NEED FOR AN IMPROVED WORK SPACE, Julie took on the challenge of rallying

troops to make drastic improvements to the kid’s computer lab. Between a personal donation, a matching gift from her employer, and the generosity of singers Matty and Tae, the room got a complete makeover. “Once the ball got rolling, everything seemed to come together,” said Julie. “The room got a facelift, we were able to get new computers and printers … it created a bright, happy place for the kids to study and do homework.”

“I challenge anyone who thinks they can’t make an impact to commit just one hour of their time each week to helping a child at the Mission,” said Julie. “Whether it’s reading a book, helping with homework, planning activities for the kids while their moms attend chapel … that one hour a week can make a world of difference in the life of a child.”

Supporter Spotlight While some people enjoy acknowledgement and accolades, there are others who are quietly making a difference, in the background, never seeking praise or attention for their good deeds. But those deeds are still valuable and make a huge impact on those the Mission serves. Which is why the Mission gratefully acknowledges an Anonymous Benefactor, who for the last 18 years, has provided all the children who stay at the Mission with new school uniforms.

Julie and her daughter Alex have found joy in serving together

If you’d like to find out how one hour of your week can make a difference in the life of a child, visit nashvillerescuemission.org/get-involved.

ANONYMOUS

“While this benefactor doesn’t want to receive any attention for their gift, the Mission still thankfully acknowledges their long-lasting commitment to helping the children ‘fit in’,” said Cheryl Noe, senior director of development. “We are grateful for their faithful support, which has been a huge blessing to thousands of children who have stayed at the Mission in the past 18 years.”

“We’ve been actively supporting the children at the Mission since 1999. Our intent was that we wanted to make sure the children looked like all the other kids in school, and that they would ‘fit in.’” —Anonymous August 2017 / HEART of the MISSION 7

CELEBRATION OF HOPE luncheon

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

11:00 a . m . - 1:00 p . m . | Music City Center

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

visit: nashvillerescuemission.org/celebration-of-hope

MATCHING CHALLENGE

Check

With your financial support we can put TWICE as much to work helping our neighbors in need. Please return the enclosed Matching Challenge Check with your gift by September 30th and DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT!

L I V E S Y O U H AV E T O U C H E D JUNE 2017 Daily Avg.

Monthly

1,609

48,284

Bible Class Attendance

30

913

Nights of Lodging

736

22,076

Volunteer Hours

176

5,272

Chapel Attendance

507

15,218

Travel Assistance

n/a

65

92

2,774

Program Graduates

n/a

9

Meals Served

Education Hours

Daily Avg.

Monthly

IS A PROUD MEMBER OF

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