St. Vinnie's Voice
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Fall St. Vinnie’s Voice 2018 Good Works of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc., P.O. Box 24608, Eugene, OR 97402 The Annex: A Tool for Empowering Families Permanent Site Doubles Night Shelter Capacity and the Need for Food Following a neighborhood ice-cream social on Sept. 28 and grand opening festivities the morning of Oct. 1, the first occupants of the First Place Family Center Annex brought in items needed for the inaugural overnight stay. “The Annex,” as it’s called, is a permanent home for the Night Shelter program that has rotated families among host sites for more than a SVDP’s Safety Officer Dave Tussing does a walk-through prior to families’ arrival. quarter century. also relief from the temporary burden of being The location at compelling arguments for The Annex, and one homeless with children. that Night Shelter Coordinator Beckey Beck West Amazon “Overwhelming,” wrote the 38-year-old Pkwy. and Fox thinks families appreciate most. “The most single parent of children ages 9, 8 and 6. noticeable difference is that instead of moving Hollow Rd. is a The parent of a soon-to-be 5-year-old convenient yet to a new location every week, the families, and wrote, “I’m so thankful that we don’t have to especially the children, know where they are semi-secluded site sleep outside anymore.” Eugene Mayor Lucy that will be open to going to be each night.” A couple with a 7-year-old, who escaped For Eileen Chanti, SVDP Youth and Family Vinis snipped the families from early “gangs, drugs and heat” in California expecting ribbon for the official evening to early Services director, it’s all about providing the opening. to find employment and housing in Oregon, morning. With the wrote, “Thank you for the roof over our heads Annex comes the capacity to serve twice as instead of sleeping in the truck.” many families -- 20 total. From the time families start arriving at Initially, families were admitted a few at a the Annex each evening, the presence of time to avoid overwhelming any one aspect of the new routine. Faith community partners continue to provide meals and evening ‘I am so thankful that entertainment. Other groups -- work teams, we don’t have to sleep civic organizations, youth groups, etc.-- are welcome to participate. outside anymore. The Annex was made possible by an -- Mom with daughter, almost 5 anonymous donor who funded the property’s children is evident both outside on its spacious purchase on the condition it be used as a grounds, and inside where kids have their own family shelter. This was not lost on more play room in addition to community living than a dozen families who were first to move and dining rooms. Arriving each evening is in. They included couples, single parents, a reminiscent of arriving at Grandma’s house. SVDP’s Aurora Glass tiles acknowledge pregnant mom, a grandma, and several teens. A Night Shelter stay lasts up to 90 days. members of the Interfaith Night Shelter The families expressed joy and gratitude, and Such consistency was one of the most Community, many of whom will continue to serve in the new location. wraparound services necessary to stabilize families and get them moving forward – something that’s easier to accomplish with one Night Shelter location. “Family stability comes by way of a drop-in preschool, parenting education, case management and goal setting. It’s a multi- faceted approach to addressing families’ barriers and empowering them to move forward,” she said. More information is available by contacting SVDP Youth and Family Services Director Eileen Chanti at 541-342-7728 or by email at [email protected]. Donate to First Place Family The comfy living room gives adults a place to visit or watch TV while keeping an eye Center at www.svdp.us on kids in the adjacent play room. Page 2 St. Vinnie’s Voice Fall 2018 When We Alleviate Suffering, Everybody Wins Dear friends, is making sure our many social service rewarding to help the school that There was a funny synchronistic programs in the community have the provides an important educational moment this past summer when the revenue they need to operate. option for students in our community. attractive glass Innovation Award We also received accolades from the Who knew my love of the history of arrived in my office. St. Vincent de University of Oregon’s School concrete would be so Paul was recognized by the Association of Public Policy, Planning entertaining? As we of Oregon Recyclers for our efforts to and Management earlier this turn our attention to keep housewares, clothing, books and year. They recognized our the growing needs in other items in use as long as possible. Outstanding Service to Oregon our community, let’s I recognized that recycled glass and specifically our efforts to remember that we are because our crew at the Aurora Glass build community coalitions stronger together, that foundry had created it, one of many that put a floor under people in when we alleviate products they make turning old crisis and provide them with suffering, everybody windows into new awards, architectural tools to find work, affordable wins. art, glass bowls and garden art. What housing and the simple dignity By the way, you goes around sometimes really does of self-sufficiency. know you’re a real come around. We were humbled to be My talented staff had Oregonian when honored by a state-wide group known the last laugh this fall when you’ve been sketched globally for innovative recycling Wellsprings Friends School by James Cloutier! efforts. It’s a tribute to our hard- roasted me at their annual working and creative staff whose goal Toast‘N’Roast fundraiser. It was Coming Full Circle: Back to Family Roots, Service to Others Eileen Sigler joined St. Vincent de Paul transitional housing program for single for homelessness and creates a paradigm Society of Lane County as its first Chief homeless men sleeping on the patio of for enormous success in entrepreneurial Development Officer in mid-September. a church in San Diego. She feels joining endeavors. “SVDP goes way beyond A Certified Fund Raising Executive SVDP to work on behalf of the homeless our well-known thrift stores. Our reuse, (CFRE), she brings with her two decades and our community’s most vulnerable recycle, and upcycling businesses have of nonprofit fundraising experience and people has brought her full circle back to gained support from prominent national is excited to continue her life mission to that first inspiring event. organizations that allow us to train other promote philanthropy in the community In meetings with new Eugene friends, nonprofits to create social enterprises.” where she lives and works. colleagues, and community leaders, Eileen Over her tenure, Eileen has fundraised Eileen, alongside her husband and two witnessed a tremendous passion and for agencies that provide child abuse labs, relocated to beautiful Eugene from determination to address homelessness treatment and prevention, family self- San Diego, Calif. on April 1st (no joke). here in Eugene. When she met with Terry sufficiency services, support wild and “We had daffodils and tulips galore in McDonald, Pete Kerns, and staff at SVDP, humane animal welfare and, most recently, our yard when we moved here. There is she realized the opportunity presented a scientific marine research. She has been an now a carpet of red fall leaves throughout tremendous platform for working with instructor with the University of California our neighborhood. Leaving hot and dry donors and funders to ensure a legacy of San Diego Extension program and The southern California for seasonal treats like hope for families living in poverty. Sanford Institute for Philanthropy in this? I couldn’t be more thrilled!” Sigler says that in the 22 years she has La Jolla. “I am grateful for the time and Eileen grew up in a family that modeled been engaged in the nonprofit industry, treasures shared with me by mentors. stewardship by reaching out to help the less she never saw an organization quite I enjoy giving back by promoting best fortunate in San Diego. Coincidentally, her like SVDP – one that works with caring practices, ethics, and by sharing my grandfather was a Klamath Falls circuit community members to carve out solutions successes and failures, which help others preacher who traveled from home achieve success in fundraising.” to home in the early 1900s to serve Eileen has a unique past. Her the people in his parish; Eileen’s childhood was full of singing, Dad served as the minister of music dancing, and artistic endeavors. She for San Diego churches over a span led the entertainment programs for of 30 years. “Reaching out to care two resort hotels in Greece over for others was something our family seven years, has a degree in visual always did together,” said Sigler. arts and biology at UCSD, and as a “My mom and dad were always single mom raised her daughter to saying, ‘we have been blessed with become a rocket scientist (really!). a lot and to s/he whom much is Stated Sigler, “I am looking given, much is expected!’ A career forward to working alongside our in fundraising would have seemed a community members and partners likely choice but honestly, I kind of who know the fulfillment of sharing simply fell into it.” their gifts to bless others. Please reach Her fundraising career began out - I would love to meet you and with a HUD grant to establish a Streaming live from the First Place Annex with Rick hear your ideas about creating an even Dancer, Chief Development Officer Eileen Sigler.