Spring 2016 Issue 28
DDB Mission: Feed the hungry & provide services for the homeless of Harrisburg. Inside This Issue: Heroic Efforts Client Story Save The Date Drop In Center Update Mother’s Day Certificate New Board Member Wish Lists
Downtown Daily Bread 310 N. Third Street Harrisburg PA 17101 www.downtowndailybread.org www.facebook.com/pages/ Downtown-Daily-Bread-DDB
717-238-4717
Elaine Strokoff Executive Director Kobie White Kitchen Manager Contega Part-Time Cook Christine Patrick Client Counselor Selma Sanders-West Career Counselor Cheryl Hawkins Career Counselor Cynthia Swanson Mental Health Outreach Counselor Linda McGuire Newsletter Editor
From The Director
It was a pair of shoes. Can a pair of shoes make such a difference in a person’s life? “George,” a DDB client would tell you that shoes make all the difference. I would agree. Have you ever worn shoes which were too large or too small; too wide or too narrow; too high, too low? If so, you know that the right shoes make all the difference in how you feel. Shoes certainly made a big difference to “George.” One day after lunch, George asked Chris, the DDB counselor, to drive him to Goodwill. He wanted to find a pair of sandals to wear. Chris questioned why he would want sandals in the winter. George showed her his feet. They were red, scaly, with peeling skin. George was a diabetic who was homeless. Chris offered to take him to some shoe stores, but, George felt more comfortable going to Goodwill. George did not find sandals there, but settled for a pair of sturdy shoes with some “breathing space” for his feet. Chris had worked with other diabetic clients and understood the importance of healthy feet and proper shoes to a diabetic who spends his days walking around the city. She also realized the importance of taking insulin and of securing shelter from the elements. Days after the shopping trip, Chris introduced George to a nurse who partners with DDB. From there, George was put on a list for an Assistant Living Facility where he now resides able to collect social security disability. Could it be that a hearty lunch and a sturdy pair of shoes helped George move to a better place in his life? That is the beauty of Downtown Daily Bread. People are helped from the “top to the bottom and from the bottom to the top.” Either way, DDB meets people where they are and helps them grow from there. Happy Spring and Happy Growing, to all!! Best Regards, Elaine
Ma ny tha nk s fo r th e do nat ion t o Downto wn Da ily Br ead g iven in h ono r of M ot her ’s Da y
R ECIPIENT’S N AME
This ge ne rou s g ift re flects the lov ing support and care that you as a mothe r have prov ide d, and w hich DD B s trive s to s hare w ith its clie nts all ye ar ‘rou nd w ith hot, nu tritious me als! Signature
Date
DDB Advisory Board
Chris Baldrige Elaine Blass Carlyn Chulick Georgia Lee Coffman Marianne Fischer Jonathon Freeman Lee Freeman Kate Harner John Jewett Lisa Landis David Saurman John Van Allen
Celebrate Mother’s Day by honoring your mother or the special woman in your life with a donation to Downtown Daily Bread. Certificate as shown above will be mailed when you submit a minimum donation of $20. Send your information along with a check to Downtown Daily Bread, 310 N. Third St., Harrisburg, PA 17101. Please be sure to submit your donation before April 29, 2016, to ensure that your gift arrives before Mother’s Day. Thank you for your generosity and caring for those in need with this meaningful holiday gift.
DDB Drop-In Center…The First Six Months The Drop-In Center of Downtown Daily Bread opened on September 8, 2015 on the third floor of the Boyd Memorial Building. Its hours are Mondays through Fridays (except holidays), from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the first three months of its operation, most of the local homeless shelters were filled. This meant that men and women were turned away from shelters because there were no beds—forcing folks to find shelter of their own somewhere in the city. During the winter months, however, seasonal emergency overnight shelters were made available by other agencies, providing some beds during the cold weather. Those winter shelters closed on March 1, 2016. Since the Drop-In Center opened, it has been a place where the homeless could go during the afternoons to find a warm, dry, friendly, peaceful, gathering place—rather than remain out of doors with no where to go and nothing to do. The Drop-In Center has already provided 147 homeless individuals (one hundred sixteen males and thirty-one females) a safe place to take a nap, charge a cell phone, read a paper, or do a crossword puzzle. Many clients, after walking the streets most of the night and morning, come to the Drop In Center just to sleep on a cot in a warm, safe place. This is especially important to those who travel with their belongings, keeping one eye open when they sleep outside. One young female client, unable to get into a shelter, thanked us for “just watching me as I slept, after staying awake all night trying to protect myself.” Men who work the night shift at various places of employment also appreciate the opportunity to sleep in a protected environment during the day. Other homeless men and women “drop in” to use the restrooms or to work on one of the laptop computers to check emails, conduct job searches, or to apply for jobs and housing. Some folks enjoy a game of chess, checkers, and various board games. Soon, they will be able to watch educational programs on TV or on a DVD player. Homeless men and women also come to the Center just to see a friendly face or to have a conversation with a caring individual. They may come from outside or from the DDB dining room just after lunch. “It sure beats walking the streets,” they report. Two experienced counselors, assisted by several Activity Aides and volunteers, provide the daily staffing of the Center. These Counselors assist clients with case management services and provide a listening ear, hopefully, help guide the homeless on a path to self-sufficiency. The Drop In Center at Pine Street is the first of its kind in the city. It is providing a much needed service to the community and with everyone’s help, it will continue to grow in the future.
Save The Date Sunday, October 23, 2016 PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
Downtown Daily Bread Soup Showdown Place: Country Club of Harrisburg Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Program: Harrisburg Dueling Chefs
Thank You To…
The Whiffenpoofs of Yale University for an outstanding performance during Share The Love—Valentine Concert & Fundraiser for DDB! Pinestreet Presbyterian for hosting the Rise & Shine Breakfast fundraiser. All the volunteers who planned, organized and helped with both events. We appreciate everyone coming together to promote, sponsor, volunteer, and contribute to the fundraising events benefitting DDB.
Feeding Harrisburg’s hungry since 1983! “A tiny change today brings a dramatically different tomorrow.” Richard Bach, Author
Heroic Efforts of The DDB Cooks
The snow fell quickly over the weekend of January 22- 24, 2016. Local events, schools, churches, restaurants, and entertainment were cancelled. The mayor implored people to stay out of the city so that roads could be plowed. On Saturday, Jan. 23, with 30 inches of snow on the streets and highways, Downtown Daily Bread closed for the second time in twenty years. The decision to close the kitchen was not made lightly. It smacked in face of our motto, “We never close!” However, due to the heroic efforts of the DDB cooks, DDB opened its doors the following day, Sunday, January 24. Kobie, the DDB cook picked up the part time cook, Contega, and delivered her safely to DDB. Kobie’s truck became stuck in the snow two times on the trip, but, he made it! On that day, 50 hungry people enjoyed a hot, nutritious meal. For many, it was their only meal since Friday lunch. Some young man told me later, “We knew you’d open up. You always do and we really appreciate it.” On Monday, several dedicated volunteers arrived at DDB to serve lunch to 96 guests. During that week, with the snow thigh high, Downtown Daily Bread served 754 meals. Downtown Daily Bread was privileged to welcome Gov. Tom Wolfe. Gov. Wolfe served food recently and spoke with clients, staff and volunteers. Pictured with Gov. Wolfe is DDB Bread Executive Director, Elaine Strokoff.
Comcast Newsmakers Interview
Candace Kelley spoke to Elaine shortly after the opening of the DDB Drop In Center. If you missed the interview, click on the link below to watch it: http://comcastnewsmakers.com/2015/11/19/ downtown-daily-bread-harrisburg-drop-incenter/ Thanks to ACS (Art Communication Systems), for printing this newsletter. We are pleased to have a partnership with ACS! Harrisburg’s Premier Commercial Printing Service offers printing, graphic design, sales/marketing, and web development. Call Park Cook, ACS, @ 717-232-0144. We welcome your suggestions, comments, and feedback. Stay connected with us on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/DowntownDailyBread
Did You Know? DDB served ???? meals last year?
Meet A New Board Member
Kate Harner hails from Hanover, PA. She spent nearly a decade working in non-profit operations, marketing and fundraising. Kate now resides in Harrisburg with her soon-to-be-husband and two dogs. She became interested in DDB during a chance meeting with Elaine. As Kate learned more about the mission of Downtown Daily Bread, she decided to become an active participant in the DDB Advisory Board. “I want to see that DDB serves as many people as possible and continues to grow,” Kate explained. In her free time, Kate is involved with HYP (Harrisburg Young Professionals), Friends of Midtown and the Central PA Womyn's Chorus. Welcome, Kate, to many years on the DDB Advisory Board!!
DDB Wish List
Suggested Food Items: Ham, Turkeys, #10 Cans Fruits, Vegetables, and Soups, Spices, Coffee, Creamer, Sugar, Salt, and Pepper Non-Food Items: Styrofoam cups and bowls, Plastic forks and spoons, Napkins, deoturizers (solid & spray) Kitchen towels and Steel wool pads Lunch Plus: Laundry soap pods, Soap, Wash cloths, razors, Bath towels, Men’s socks and underwear (boxers) Drop In Center—rolling TV cart
All donations are tax deductible.
Pine Street Presbyterian Church
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID HARRISBURG PA PERMIT NO. 293
310 North Third Street Harrisburg PA 17101 Forwarding Address Requested