Our House alumni decide it’s time for society to take a fresh look at who homeless people really are. Cover photo: On one of F.R.E.S.H.’s monthly dinner service nights at Our House, Trish High prepares peppers for stuffing and baking. The peppers were donated by University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
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Our House currently has 55 team members. Meet two of them in this issue.
302 E Roosevelt Rd; Little Rock, AR
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Read about a few of our volunteers & in-kind donors.
December & January
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newsletter design & all photos by Amanda Woods, an Our House VISTA except page 5 photo by Wendy Dwyer © 2013 & 2014
by Amanda Woods, Communications Specialist ( VISTA)
“Anyone can find themselves without a place to lay their head,” Brenda Anthony says. She and other members of Our House’s alumni group, known as F.R.E.S.H., spread this message when they’re invited to speak to groups about homelessness. Like the Our House staff, our former clients want the community to understand the incorrectness of stereotypes about homelessness. The Hollywood portrayal of homeless people as being by definition unemployed, dirty, illiterate, unloved & unwanted, mentally ill, alcoholic, drug-using criminals is not the reality. Our House alumni decided it was time for society to take a fresh look at what homelessness really is.
Some homeless people may need help with education. Some may need to attend AA meetings. Some may have no family. However, these traits don’t describe all homeless people, as the stereotype wants us to believe. As we see in celebrity pictures splattering our Facebook news feeds every day, anyone, whether homeless or housed in a mansion, can have any one or more of the problems that are inaccurately known as traits of homelessness. And anyone can suddenly find themselves homeless. Including families with children. Family It was for this reason that Dave Hoffpauir invited F.R.E.S.H. members Mary Shue and Brenda Anthony to his class of future social workers, students who will need to understand homelessness in their future careers. Both Mary and Brenda are mothers. “I invited Mary and Brenda to my Practice II class in the UALR BSW program to talk to my students about the experience of raising their family in a homeless shelter,” Dave says,
Part of the F.R.E.S.H. (Former Residents Educating Society about Homelessness, named by Our House alumni) program is community service. In 2013, the group reached 100 hours of volunteer service. For one of their community service projects, the group adopted a street. The section of 28th Street between Scott & Commerce. They visit the street regularly to pick up trash. They do the same for the part of Roosevelt Road that is directly in front of Our House, though they haven't officially adopted Roosevelt.
Mary speaks to Dave Hoffpauir’s class in UALR’s BSW program. Mary & other Our House alumni are available to speak in classes or group meetings.
“This class focuses on families and groups, so Our House provides a microcosm for discussion of both families and groups.� Mary is the mother of two teenage boys, and Brenda has a nine-year-old boy. They talked about the constant interference of the other 80 people in the dorms, each one believing they knew better than Mary and Brenda how to raise their sons. They explained that moving from Our House’s Shelter to our Family House gave each family its own private space so each parent could care for her family in her own way. They remembered the friends their kids made in the Shelter and Family House, including some who seemed more like brothers and sisters than friends. Traditional Notions of Homelessness As Brenda and Mary spoke, they made sure it was clear that their stories are their own stories only, not meant to represent every homeless person. During their time at Our House they met and lived with people whose stories were very different from their own.
On November 23, 2013 F.R.E.S.H. had a donut, cocoa, and scarf sale in front of My Favorite Thrift Store on Van Buren Street. People stopped to buy a hot breakfast and warm scarf on their way to War Memorial stadium for a football game. Despite one of our excited child alumni accidentally giving away items instead of selling them, the group raised $300. The money from the monthly fundraisers is used to buy food for their once-a-month night of serving dinner in The Shelter at Our House.
F.R.E.S.H. member Jason Otis gets the broccoli & corn ready for dinner. The alumni group serves dinner in the Shelter at Our House once a month.
“It’s vital that people see homelessness as a threat to everyone,” Brenda says, “It affects more than the uneducated and unemployed.” Dave’s students connected with Mary and Brenda in ways that he hadn’t expected. “Mary and Brenda also provide great examples to defy the traditional notions of homelessness. To my surprise, Mary’s and Brenda’s disclosures provided the impetus for some of my class members to very courageously discuss their own experiences being homeless and similarly, having to raise their families for a while in shelters like Our House. It was very cathartic for them.” Our Mission As An Alumni Group Mary, Brenda, and other members of F.R.E.S.H. are always ready for requests to speak in college classes, at community events, at public forums, and for any group that’s interested in these individuals’ own experiences with homelessness. Our House alumni are also available for interviews for articles and other media or materials about homelessness or about Our House. Mary describes the goal of the F.R.E.S.H. group. “Educating people about my experience leading to homelessness, and of course the help and support I got at Our House are part of our mission as an alumni group.”
hometown Little Rock education University of Central Arkansas; Grand Canyon University, Arizona Entrepreneurial Studies, Finance & Accounting family husband Robert, daughter Isabel Our House staff since November 18, 2013
The main focus is to assist the Executive Director in any capacity as well as support other departments as needed.
I think my biggest challenge is working with such a fast person like Georgia. She always has a lot on her plate, & my job is to find ways to make her work more efficient.
I love to spend time with my little girl & watch her learn new things. Cooking is also a passion of mine. Cooking can be very therapeutic.
I wanted to be an espionage spy for the CIA so I could travel the world & live in fabulous places.
I love science & had several chemistry sets. I spent most weekends doing science experiments.
Audrey Hepburn. She is a classic beauty with a tender heart for others & the epitome of femininity.
My mother is my hero. She is the most selfless person I know & is constantly doing for others.
hometown Kansas City, Kansas education Social Work BA, Harding University community involvement Open Door Outreach Our House staff since August 2013
I develop relationships with housing partners & create resources for current residents transitioning into housing. I facilitate the Alumni F.R.E.S.H. (Former Residents Educating Society on Homelessness) group.
I enjoy being able to give to residents who are moving out of Our House a house-warming gift for their new place & being able to guide them into good permanent housing with our Tenant Readiness class.
With the help of F.R.E.S.H. hopefully the community will have a nice new view of homeless families.
I’m happy to be a VISTA at Our House. I love being able to do substantial work that makes a difference.
I’m working on my Social Work license.
My parents are my heroes because they’ve taught me to do work that does the most good. They are both hard workers & value helping others reach their potential.
I play video games & hang out with friends. I am new to Little Rock but found the Tandy a nice dollar theater.
Aaron Grimm Operations Manager Our House
Jackson Bittner Community Engagement VISTA Our House
jackets $8.99-12.99, pants $4.50-9.99, ties $2.99-4.99, shirts $4.50-6.50 109 N. Van Buren St. Little Rock 353-0642
4606 JFK Blvd. North Little Rock 246-5741
Justin Sanders Director of Client Services Our House
Taylor Yokem Operations Support VISTA Our House
0, belts $2.99-5.99, suits $15.99-24.99 Pick-up is available for furniture donations. 501-772-5139
benefitting Our House
by Niki Hitt, In-Kind Donations VISTA & Ezell Breedlove, Volunteer Relations VISTA
The Agnew Family The Agnew family donated two holiday trees and ornaments. They decorated both trees and placed one in the Shelter and the other in the Family House. The Agnew family is also one of our meal servers. They provide dinner for our Shelter residents every third Thursday.
Troy McGhee Licensed cosmetologist Troy McGhee came to Our House to give free haircuts to residents and staff. McGhee did approximately 20 haircuts to men, women, and children. Shelter residents receive their holiday gifts. Gifts were donated by Stocking Stuffers & other holiday donors. Boxes were wrapped by the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Northwestern University Alternative Student Breaks A dozen Northwestern University students spent a week of winter break volunteering at Our House. They helped wrap gifts for Adopt-A-Family, organize & sort clothing donations, organize food donations, & tutor kids in Our Club.
New Toy Drives & Donations
Kim Christ, Arkansas DemocratGazette Arkansas Art Center Arkansas Children’s Hospital Arkansas Wholesale Auto Salvage Episcopal Collegiate School 8th Grade Pat Salmon Company
Gifts for Residents & Holiday Wish List Items Steve Chason City of Little Rock Human Resource Meredith & Christ Johnson Karen Skarda Angie Spencer
Holiday Gift Card Donations Robert Hall Tad Philips
Arkansas Children’s Hospital Rehab Department Toni Agnew Tina Albright Jan Alman American Data Network Arkansas Surgical Hospital Arkansas Surgical Hospital Radiology Arkansas Surgical Hospital Recovery Room Baptist Health Respiratory Dpt. Jay Brainard J. Lynn Brock Douglas Buford Sarah Burns Carolyn Caig Lacy Caldwell Stephanie Caruthers Meredith & Chad Causey Central AR Transit Authority Stephen Chaffen Joann & Jim Colebank Cooperative Extension Service Financial Services Dpt. JPMS Cox Amy Dougherty Faith Lutheran Church Garver Finance Team Anne Geddings Hamid Habibi Mary Haltom Elizabeth & Rick Henry
Alan Hickman Emily Johnson Linda Jones Lisa Jones Margaret & Ray Koone Katina Leland James Mainard Leann Mansell Caroline Martin Monica & Donald Massey Pat & Jim McClelland Elizabeth & Kevin McCormack Kennetha Mcgruder Cindi Morrison Open Door Outreach Denise Palmer Trish Partridge Judith Pickering Nancy Qualls Rosann Quilty Jennifer Reed Nina Reiss Felton Rhodes Dana Rodriguez St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Jennifer & Patrick Schueck Stacy Sells Florence Sims Rebecca Sims Suzanne & Barry Sims Ashley Smith Ellie Smith Rebecca & Gary Smith
Adopt-A-Family, continued Systemedic Tim Tennant Transamerica Employee Benefits Travel Nurse Across America Lori Treat Trinity United Methodist Church UAMS Academic Administration UAMS Emergency Department UAMS F8 ValueOptions Ramona Walker Melody Wassell Jana & Jason White Rita White Yolanda Williams Latia Young
Tyler Arnold Axciom Sandra Baker Banana Republic Jessica & Todd Brogdon Elizabeth Browning Mary Burmeister Nikki Burrow Allison & Jon Callahan Joe Carter Joei Cherry Ryan Chmielewski The Container Store Dillards Angela Duran Rita Fagan
Bonnie Foreman Dianne Foreman Lisa Hall Gay Hathaway Penny & John Hitt Dr. Katherine Irby Megan & Brian Jones Aleece & Zak Kelley Laura Kelty Jo Lawton Amy Logan Jo Luck Lynn Luther Katie McKnight Lynn Murray Alyce Parker Treva Phelps Taylor Pinch Patty & Floyd Rine Cathy Rushing Donna Rutland Valerie & Jonathan Shively Christy Smith Janie Tucker Jane & Bob Wayland Kelsey White & Justin Avery Rebecca & Jimmy Wilson Jennifer Wilson-Harvey Cindy & Mackey Yokem Passing out the donated Socking Stuffers holiday gifts to the adult Shelter residents were five of Our House’s staff: Housing & Alumni VISTA Malissa Taber, Community Engagement VISTA Jackson Bittner, In-Kind Donations VISTA Niki Hitt, Volunteer Relations VISTA Ezell Breedlove, & Shelter Manager Michelle Barnes.
Individuals Dorothy S. Aldridge Twylla & Drew Alexander Sonya & Arthur Anderson Ann & Joel Anderson Anonymous Donor Dr. James Aronson Amy & Hamlin Au Miranda Burchfield Baker Jane & James Beachboard John Beaton Janna & Jerry Bishop Steven Reynolds Patsy Booth Jane & Douglas Bown Robbie Bradford Anita & John Brint C. Douglas Buford Jr. Susan Bujol Margo Bushmiaer & Grace Nowak Mary & David Canada Mary & W. Dabbs Cavin Ryan Chmielewski Cathy Christian Ginger Crews Patty & Harry Criner Pam & Byron Custer Janet & Glenn Davis Sharon & John Denery Edna & Fred Edick Audrey & Don Evans Elizabeth & Frank Fowlkes Kate & Robert Frazier Lenlie Freeman Gary Gault Trust Genevieve Girard Good Family Foundation
Virginia Goodman A.J. Gornatti Diane & Gregory Graham Marsha & James Guffey Barry Hansen Haas Carol & Ralph Hamner Jeffrey Hanson Janet & Gregory Hartz Julia & Lyle Heim Kimberly & David Henning Elizabeth & Richard Henry Nicki & Joe Hilliard Lisa & Alan Hope Allan Horne Hussman Foundation Trudy & Jerry Jacobson Meredith & Christopher Johnson Gail Reede Jones MD & Jesse Mason Glenda Josephson A. John Kelly Cindy & John King Lance King Dr. Whit Knapple Holli & Robert Knight Janna Knight Margaret & Ray Koone Rachel Lang Paul Langston Carolyn & Paul Lasseigne Robin Lawrence Lisa & Paul Lawson Larry Lichty Glenda Lovett Ann Marshall & Anthony Grisby Vera Massey Lee Ann & R.H. Matson
Michael McCarty Joanie McCaskill Joanie McCaskill George McLeod Julie McSpadden Jo & Presley Melton Michael Moore & Mark Rowe Kay Motsinger Uchenna A Onyia Murphy Betsy & John Murray Elaine & Joe Neal Virginia Digie & Gary Neaville Judy & David Nelson Marian & Charles Nichols Sam Nickol Annie & Alan Norris Kent Oots Debbie Perkins Linda & Gene Pfeifer Nancy Qualls Felton Rhodes Shana Ricks Precious Rife Jack Robertson Rebecca Roetzel Evelyn Rose-Jones Cindy & Roger Rowe Lou Smauel Molly Satterfield Chris Schaffhauser Mary Schlatterer Susan & Michael Schmitz Carol & Wade Scott Judy & John Selig Laurie Shelton Edward Shively
Harryette Shue Laurie Smith & David Prud’Homme Rebecca & Gary Smith Bettina Steele Margaret & James Stooker Tammy & Bradley Tebrugge Barbara & Bruce Thalheimer Anna Thomas Jan Thomas Kerry Thompson-McCoy Linda Turner Bridget & Andrew Upchurch Lorraine & Jack Wagoner Amelia Walters Allan Ward Barbara Waterman Julia Henderson & Michael Watts Angel & Drew Weber Nancy Weir & Dr. J. Randall Rhea Ann West Heidi & James Williams Robert M. Winter Rebecca & John Womack Theresa Wrape & Dennis Lee Christa & Raymond Zawislak Congregations Cathedral of St. Andrew Christ the King Catholic Church Church of the Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church St. Anne Cahtolic Church Trinity Episcopal Church Trinity United Methodist Church
Corporations Ally Financial Anonymous Donor Brainard Partnership Frotz, LLC GE Foundation Herron Horton Architects The Janet Jones Company Kanis Dental Lax, Vaughan, Fortson, Jones, & Rowe, P.A. Pat Salmon & Sons, Inc. Proposals Rasco Winter Abston Moore U.S. Pizza Co. Wright, Lindsey, & Jennings, LLP Government AR Special Nutrition Program City of Little Rock: Re-Entry Program City of Little Rock: Youth Program DHS—AmeriCorps DHS—ESG
December Capital Donations Anonymous Donor Debi Barnes Amy Bressinck Bratcher Kevin Bratcher Sharon & John Denery Susan & Dave Hoffpauir Lighthouse Group, LLC Amanda & John Moore Melissa & James Cooper Riley, Jr. Billie & Skip Rutherford Jessica & Blake Rutherford Valerie & Jonathan Shively Lareda & Danny Smith St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Angel & Drew Weber Mike White Elizabeth & William Woodyard
January Capital Donations Anonymous Donor Amy Bressinck Bratcher Kevin Bratcher Non-Government Grants Susan & Nick Brown Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, Inc. Sharon & John Denery Heart of Arkansas United Way Linda & Stephen Grimm Heartland Foundation Susan & Dave Hoffpauir Marion & Miriam Rose Charitable Trust Lighthouse Group, LLC United Way—CAFSI Georgia & Dominik Mjartan Marita & Sarkis Nazarian Organizations Melissa & James Cooper Riley Jr. AFP Arkansas Chapter Jessica & Blake Rutherford AR Center for Public Affairs Billie & Skip Rutherford Lareda & Danny Smith Angel & Drew Weber Elizabeth & William Woodyard
Individuals Twylla & Drew Alexander Charles Alman Anonymous Donor Kate Askew Linda & Donald Bacon Patsy Bardwell Suzann & John Barr Kathy & Dr. David Bauman Sheila Bittner Catherine & Antoni Bozynski Charlotte & Judge Robert Brown Gio Bruno Abigail Buchanan Emily & Jim Burrow Pierson Callahan Judith & Edward Cecil Robert Clark Scott Cromer Samantha & David Curran Samuel Derby Madalyn Dortch Jill & Matthew Dozier J. Ryan Dunn Katie & Scott Dupslaff Katie Eisenhart Judith Elane Nancy & Dr. J. Rex Enoch Rita Carr Fagan Birdye & Jim Farmer Pierre Ferrari Lenlie Freeman Charles Friedman Randy Gangluff Lou Ann & Wally Gieringer Julianne Grundfest Kevin Hamman
Debra & Dr. William T. Harris Helen & Fred Harrison Larry Keith Harvey Julia & Lyle Heim Sarah & J.C. Henry Dale Hetzel Gwenn Higginbotham Natalie Hill William Hill William Holden Anita Darlene Johnson Linda & Dr. James Landers Angela Lasiter Lia Lent & Joseph C. Fox Pat & John Lile Jordan Little Morgan Magness Susan & Kenneth Martin Linda McFall Jennifer & Sam Medford Jo & Presley Melton Bharath Mohan Cathy & Michael Moran Anne & Steven Mourning Jackie Murphy Pansy & Kenneth Nelson Steve Nicholson Mary Orellano Russell Passafiume Susan Payne & Barry Coplin Bonnie & Richard Peek Elizabeth Pierre Kyleen Prewett Caroline Puddephatt Judith Rickard Jeannie & Larry Roberts
Individuals, continued Evelyn Rose-Jones Anita Sacrey Lucy Sauer John Schmedeman Lee Schoonover Laurie Shelton Jean & Doyle Shook Elizabeth & Thomas Small Nicolette Smith Sarah Spencer & Frederick Oswald Athena Starlard-Davenport Gale Stewart & Walter Nunn Justin Strecker Anna & Aaron Strong Karen & Bill Taylor Julia & Mallory Taylor Elizabeth & Van Tilbury Dorothy & R.F. Toll Annabelle C Imber & Henry Tuck Dianne Turley Susan Underwood Bridget & Andrew Upchurch Cynthia Van Veckhoven Kathy Watson Andrew Watt Jane Wayland Angel & Drew Weber Kathy Wells John Williams Emily & Jeremiah Wood Kenny Wright Randy Wright Sherri Wright Tanya Wright Lisa Yocum Dorothy & Paul Young
Congregations Cathedral of St. Andrew Church of the Immaculate Conception First Presbyterian Church of NLR Harmony Presbyterian Church Jewish Federation Park Hill Christian Church Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church St. Anne Catholic Church St. James United Methodist Church St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Corporations Drennan Insurance Marketing, Inc. Green Corner Store IBM Employee Services Center Loblolly Creamery LLC Mangan Holcomb Partners USAble Life Government AR Special Nutrution Program City of Little Rock: Youth Program DHS—AmeriCorps Emergency Food & Shelter Grant Non-Government Grants Heart of Arkansas United Way Renaissance Charitable Foundation, Inc. United Way—CAFSI Organizations AR Society of Freethinkers
You can now use your Kroger card each time you shop at Kroger to give to Our House without spending an extra dime. The donation costs you nothing, and you still receive the normal savings and Kroger rewards points that you would normally get, but every time you make a purchase with your card Kroger will donate to Our House. Click here to register for a Kroger account. Once you have created an account with your card, click here to access the enrollment page. Then follow these steps: 1. Click under the list that includes Arkansas. 2. On the next screen, use the term “Our House.” 3. Select the bubble next to “Our House 302 East Roosevelt, Little Rock, AR Organization Number 81246” from the search results. Click . You have successfully helped us give hope to the working homeless and their families. Please share this and invite your friends to help us get more people signed up.
Join our e-mail list to receive our newsletter, event invitations, wish lists, job openings, and volunteer opportunities. www.ourhouseshelter.org