Moments of Clarity

New Year's Eve: Serving Dinner at the Iowa Shelter

After the generous donation from Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, I, along with a fantastic group of friends was able to serve a robust (and limitless) dinner to 120 of Iowa's hungry and homeless on New Year's Eve.  Of course mother nature planned to drop to her lowest temps of the year so the hot meal was welcome.

There was even enough food left over to have a full meal again the next day...even after some ate 5 servings.

It bothers me that this is the first time I've done such a thing.  It bothers me that my first reactions when moving through groups of homeless and disheveled people are nervousness and uneasiness.  It bothers me that many of these people are drunk and high  It bothers me that some of them are probably there by choice.  It bothers me that we don't treat veterans like heroes.  It bothers me that I didn't exactly know what to say to everyone and that what I think I should say would be different than to anyone else I meet.  In 2008 I will do my best to openly accept others outside my comfort zone more readily.

It took about 20 minutes to really break down some of the barriers and just "get in the groove" with everyone and you know what...it really turned out great.  There were genuinely appreciative people that told a story of thanks with their eyes. You can't help but wonder about their stories and how they ended up there.  Some looked like they just drove over after getting off of work from their manager position at Wells Fargo.  Some were obviously mentally ill and struggling to cope. 

We've all decided that this is an annual event (at the least).  Thanks again to all.  Please remember as we cozy up in our beautiful homes in the suburbs...that there are hungry and homeless people sleeping in bunks...in very large rooms with 50+ people..just trying to make it through to tomorrow. 

Update on New Year's Eve Party & Chili Cook Off Benefitting the Central Iowa Shelter

In my post from November 24 inviting the blogganostra and friends to a New Year's Eve party, I mentioned that attendees might donate some amount of chili toward the 120 person dinner we're serving at the Central Iowa Shelter on New Year's Eve.  Well guess what.  One of my favorite places to eat and drink, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery,

Has agreed to provide chili AND cornbread for ALL 120 people!

What a gracious gift!  Now, we can focus a bit more on making this dinner extra special for the shelter.  We'll coordinate that in a bit.

We'll still have our chili cook off as planned so bring your best offering...just don't bring enough to feed an army like before :)

Thanks again Rock Bottom and their gracious manager Vickie Wiskow.  The next time you're in Rock Bottom, say thanks to her for making December 31, 2007 a special one for quite a few people in the Des Moines Metro.

New Years Eve...Chili Cook Off Supporting the Central Iowa Shelter!

A while back, I thought it would be a fun gathering to get the greatest culinary talents...(and those with the ability to throw a bunch of stuff into a pot) together for a Chili Cook Off to crown Central Iowa's most prolific purveyor of the product.  Then my wife starts talking about a New Years party and the next thing you know, we're planning. 

Then it dawned on me...(Light bulb appears over head).

You know, we'll probably have enough chili left over to feed an army...so why don't we find a worthy cause that will benefit from this bounty of food?

Bingo!  I began the search and have found The Central Iowa Shelter & Services.  So we've planned a little shindig that will bring together friends for good times, spark a little friendly culinary competition, and provide a meal for those that may find New Years to simply be another cold night without food.  Are you ready to make difference this New Years Eve?  Let's get together and find a way to make it happen!

Here are the preliminary details.

• Party at the Mitchell House on December 31st.  Feel free to arrive anytime after 6PM.
• I'll provide my address and phone when I receive your RSVP if you don't already know where I live.
• Kid friendly and monitored space available for putting down some littler ones as needed upstairs.
• Chili Cook Off judged by a panel of novices with awards for best spicy and best mild chili...and an "open class" overall winner.  Winners will receive cheap and gaudy prizes.  Judging of the chili will happen at 9PM promptly.  Winners need not be present to win...but if not present (in bathroom or otherwise) your prizes will be distributed to other people that complain loudly.
• We'll be feeding 120 people.  That's a lot but think about how many people a big pot of chili can feed! I'll be coordinating a couple of large batch productions with a few folks that have the whole "Turkey Fryer with 7 gallon pot" set up so don't be scared.  Try a best guess on serving size for an adult (think big brimmin' bowl) then multiply to come up with your contribution size in "people servings"
• The shelter serves dinner between 6:30PM-7:30PM.  Some of you who'll volunteer to deliver and serve chili and fixins downtown will need to arrive at my house with your food...by 5:30PM or by 6PM at the shelter if heading down on your own (could possibly change based on amount of food that needs heating but close enough for now)...and will likely be done and heading back to my place by 7:45PM or so.  We'll need about 6 people to serve.  I'm doing it...so we really need 5 now but more will be appreciated.
• If you cannot come to the party and still want to provide food..PLEASE DO! You're welcome to bring cold chili over to our house and we'll warm it at the shelter!  If you want to make it in December and freeze it, please do! 
• We'll need bread, corn bread, crackers, butter, juice, and milk to go along with the meal.  Again, those details will be managed by clicking a link near the bottom of this page.

I'm sure I'm missing something, but the place where you'll RSVP, enter your details about coming to the party, assisting in some way, etc. can be accessed by clicking this link.

Please promote this as much as you can so we can make a big impact on quite a few people's lives...and kick off their 2008 with new hope and a full belly.

Below is a personal message from Jean Brown, the Director of the Central Iowa Shelter.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Central Iowa Shelter & Services is an overnight emergency shelter for adult men and women. 

 

Our mission is to "provide free shelter homeless adults

regardless of physical or emotional conditions, and to facilitate their move toward self-sufficiency".

 

Guests can stay for 30-60 days in 68 men's beds and 34 women's beds.

 

There are no pre-requisites to stay and we admit people in any condition that they may present.  There is never a charge to the guest to stay.

Meals are provided, as are laundry and shower facilities.

 

Once a week Medical Clinic is here to provide services on site.

 

We also have 14 beds of Veteran's Transitional housing and those Vets can stay up to 2 years.

 

I have been the Director for going on 8 years now and it is the most gratifying work I have done.  Educating the public to the facts of homelessness is one of our biggest challenges.  I still hear comments like "they just need to get a job".  The fact is most of our guests are experts at getting jobs and many of them work.  However, they are not experts at keeping jobs and for the most part are unable to make enough money to sustain themselves and pay rent.

 

Many (over 60%) suffer from mental illness and when their symptoms begin to manifest they lose everything they may have put together for themselves, and end up back in shelter. I admire their fortitude in the face of overwhelming odds, each time they pick themselves up and keep trying.

 

Life is difficult, wages are low, rent is high, affordable housing is lacking and the support systems that we all need are not available to the disenfranchised of our community.

 

I leave here grateful every day that we have been able to keep the doors open and be of some assistance to those who have no other means to make it. The folks who serve meals here 365 days a year for over 16 years are my heroes.  Without them we might not have been able to keep this effort up for as long as we have.

 

CISS has a special function in serving some very special people.  We continue to do that with the help of those who understand and share their wealth and time.

 

The Universe smiles on CISS.

Jean

 

Jean Brown

Executive Director

Central Iowa Shelter & Services

205-15th St.

Des Moines, Ia. 50309

515-284-5719

fax 515-883-1692

jeanbrown@qwest.net

Kiva.org update

I was just informed that my Kiva.org microloan has been fully repaid.  I had a small part in helping a businessman in Africa expand his enterprise.  Now my money is ready to be redistributed.  I really feel a sense of satisfaction KNOWING that the money went to a MAN trying to grow a SMALL BUSINESS and that it resulted in something tangible.  Now I can reloan the cash to another business in a very challenged area that wants to CREATE instead of simply GET.

A Promise Called Iowa (on IPTV)

All I can say is wow.  I put the kids to bed last night and decided to watch TV for an hour and accidentally came across, "A Promise Called Iowa".  (The link gets to you to the home page for the program and includes video clips, etc..).

I sat there mesmerized by Iowa's ex-governor Robert Ray as he help unfold the story of Iowa's lead role in stepping up to take refugees in the post-Vietnam war era.  Of most interest was the acceptance of an entire community of refugees at one time, the Tai Dam, that took a special exemption from President Ford. 

Maybe every Iowan walking around already knows tales of this era...but as a transplant I was completely ignorant. 

I'd highly recommend that you seek out and watch this program.  If I read things properly on the website, I believe it's on again June 21st, at 7PM.  It's an invigorating and humbling experience. 

I am a proud Iowan.

Kiva.org update

I got an email the other day that my loan recipient from Kiva.org has made his first repayment toward the $800 he received to grow his beauty shop in Africa.  I never intend to get the money back...but once it's returned to you, of course you can re-lend it and make a difference in someone's else's life.

Please explore this option in 2007 if you haven't already.  The Micro-Lending concept is so powerful...especially in places where $800 is like a VC home run.

Blessings to Kiva members, volunteers, and organizers.

Kiva Update - Joseph Is Funded!

Joseph Okia, the Ugandan hair salon entrepreneur's $800 micro-loan is fully funded and he's on his way!  I haven't checked back since I made my loan a few weeks ago to Kiva, the great organization that facilitates micro-lending in very economically challenged areas.  I'm very pleased and can't wait to see his progress.    

I feel like a million bucks...and it cost me $50

After reading about and understanding what Kiva.org does...I've just made a loan of $50 to Joseph Okia.
Please click on his name for a link to his business profile and what he's trying to accomplish.

Joseph is caring for his deceased sister's two kids, and trying to grow his barber shop and open a women's beauty salon in Mbale Uganda. 

Kiva has such a smooth process and it took me about 60 seconds to execute my loan.  At the publishing time of this post, Joseph needs about $625 more to reach his goal of $800.  Can you believe that $800 can help revolutionize a struggling father's life!  And, you're not just donating money and hoping that an agency buys him food and clothes...you're actually helping him to create and grow a thriving business that will hopefully lift he and his family out of their current state and into prosperity.  There is a FULL intention to pay the loan back.  I will likely just redistribute the money once repaid, but this concept is exactly what my "inner giver" is looking for.  Give a man a fish and he eats once...teach a man to fish...and he'll eat for life.  I feel like I just bought Joseph a fishing rod, reel, some Berkley trilene, and a big ol' tackle box full of spinner bates and rubber worms.

I'm very excited about this organization and will likely invest more as we go along.

Here's my Kiva Lender Profile.