When one person plays cymbals in isolation, it sounds harsh and chaotic. However, when you hear those same cymbals played at the beginning or on cue anywhere in an orchestral piece, it adds drama and excitement and becomes an integral part of the musical piece.

When I walk down the halls of The Family Place, I hear many sounds. If you could isolate them, one might sound like the wail of a trombone, the tinkling of chimes or quick notes from an oboe. What are the sounds? They are the children’s laughter, the parents’ and staff voices, doors open and closing, etc. Together the sounds are like a musical piece – The Family Place’s music of life. As a collective group, we are a cacophony of joy, tears, laughter and moans.

Your contributions to The Family Place keep the music going. Your donations keep the doors open, keep food on the table, and keep the weary showered. Your donations pay the bills. Your donations make it possible for the children to go to school.

Last year, after a series of weather catastrophes, we watched donations leaving the local area to help those who were in dire need. I reminded everyone then that the local needs had not decreased. It is true again this year. We are helping more families in need of immediate and long-term assistance and we are counting on your continued support.

The First Edition of The Family Place Newsletter

We would like to welcome you to the first edition of our quarterly newsletter. You are receiving the newsletter either by email or through regular US mail. Let us know what you think!

Contest – Name the Newsletter!

The newsletter needs a name and we know that one of you reading this will come up with a perfect one. So, get those creative juices going and send us the name you think fits. The prize...Well, we can’t promise you will appear in the TV news or local papers or receive a round-the-world trip. But, you will be held in the highest regard by the clients, staff and Board of Directors!

Paul Wellstone said, “We all do better when we all do better.”

On a cold morning in October, a single woman came to The Family Place seeking shelter. She wore a thin jacket and sandals and was obviously cold. The Family Place does not have extra clothing, so we suggested she look at the free clothing store. Just at that moment, a client interceded and responded by literally giving her the coat off her back. Daily, we are blessed to see acts of kindness and miracles happen here. Your donation will help keep the blessings flowing.

The First Five Years

In late October 2001, after the confusion and heartbreak of 9/11, The Family Place opened its doors to provide day center services for families who were spending their nights in emergency shelters. It was my hope and desire that we would be able to close our doors after five years because our services would no longer be needed – homelessness would be obsolete. As we all know, that is not the case. This fall we submitted a proposal to Ramsey County Human Services for another 5-year contract.

Instead of closing our doors, we have expanded to meet the need. In five years, we have moved to a new, larger space and have increased our services to accommodate a growing number of families who need our help.

The Parent Enrichment Center

The Family Place, in collaboration with the Greater Twin Cities United Way, Payne-Lake Community Partners, St. Paul Early Language Literacy (SPELL), and the St. Paul Title One program, is setting up and supporting an enrichment center for the parents who are utilizing our services. The Parent Enrichment Center will house a computer lab, an early childhood education specialist and a housing resource library.

Our expectation is that through the efforts and learning activities at the Parent Enrichment Center, parents will learn the importance of utilizing community resources and will be able to build their skills to provide a stable environment for the entire family.

Children’s Summer Program

This past summer was the fifth year for the children’s program and each year the activities get better. This year included field trips to:

· Science Museum

· Minnesota History Center

· Area beaches and pools

· St. Paul Library & Minneapolis Library

· Twins and Saints games

· Local movie theatres

· Roller skating rinks

The staff faced extreme weather conditions and rambunctious children of all ages, yet still had enough time and energy for creative art activities, snacks and naps. 154 children and parents participated this past summer.

Volunteers

Volunteers are our greatest asset. Last year volunteer in-kind service was valued at $6,000. Through caring acts, respect and casual conversation with the clients, volunteers contribute to the feeling of community. Jobs such as serving meals, answering telephones, reading to the children, and doing general handyperson activities are available and waiting just for you!

Call Bob at (952) 938-3903 to sign up!

Fundraising 2006 – Your dollars never stop working!

In 2001, the year The Family Place opened, we had a preview open house. Walls were not up and construction had not started. Spaces were marked by paper display boards. The Family Place was waiting to be born.

The following year – 2002 – we had a REAL open house. The Family Place was in business, still in the infant stages, but clients were being served and the gap in services for homeless families was closing.

In both 2003 and 2004, you were invited to Fhima’s for hors d’oeuvres, cheese, fruit, wine and a silent auction. We had a great time!

Then in 2005, you came back to The Family Place to see the new space – the showers, washer/dryer, newly painted and scrubbed walls, carpets, etc.

Each year you have been generous and the donations have increased to keep pace with the rising costs of the programs and services.

This year we are going to try something different. We would like to invite you to drop in for a brief visit on December 12^th or 13^th from 10:00-2:00. You’ll get a better idea of how the program runs and will be able to meet the staff who keep the programs focused on meeting the needs of the clients. And, YES, we still need your donations!

In the past, the fall fundraising events have netted The Family Place from $5,000 in 2002 to $15,000 in 2005. This year our goal is $25,000.

Our Federal grant money was reduced $14,000 for 2007 and we really need your help to make up the difference. The cut comes during hard economic times when more people are falling into homelessness. This past year we experienced a 19% increase in the number of families we served.

Why is your donation so important?

It is becoming a greater challenge for small non-profit organizations to attract large donations, even though we do an enormous amount of work for the clients we serve. City, state and federal dollars are shrinking. We depend on individual gifts and donations from faith based communities to keep our doors open.

Please give this year as if you had attended a fundraiser – paid for a glass of wine, parked downtown, and bought several items from the silent auction. Add that amount to the donation you would have made that evening. The Family Place needs your financial support this year just as we have needed and appreciated your support for the five years we have been operating.

Please send your donation to:

The Family Place

244 10^th Street East

St. Paul, MN 55101

What will your donation buy?

Last year, 782 children and 476 adults participated in The Family Place programs and services. In that 12-month period, there were over 7,800 visits to The Family Place. Each visit costs approximately $58 per person. What does a visit include?

§ Transportation to appointments

§ Safe storage for belongings

§ Parenting meetings/workshops

§ Three meals and a snack

§ School enrollment liaison

§ Clothes washing and drying facilities

§ Access to the Housing Coordinator

§ Enrichment programs for the children

§ A shower

§ 12 hours of safety in a supportive, child friendly environment

§ Contact with a Ramsey County Financial worker

§ Weekly visits from a health care professional

§ Access to computers and Internet services for housing and employment resources

§ Creative arts and play toys for the children

Why is your donation so important?

It is becoming a greater challenge for all non-profit organizations to attract donations, even though we do an enormous amount of work for the clients we serve. City, state and federal dollars are shrinking. We depend on individual gifts and donations from faith based communities to keep our doors open.

Staff News

We would like to welcome a new staff member to the Intake team: Che Clark. She joins our existing staff:

-Margaret Lovejoy, Executive Director

-Barbara Hunt, Intake Supervisor

-Alfreda McCray, On-Call Staff

-Rosalyn Smaller, Children’s Program Coordinator

-Gloria Talbert, Weekend Staff

-Cheryl Smith, Housing Coordinator

-Wayne Bragg, Cook and Dining Room Manager

-Bob Fallat, Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Development

-Jerad Rasmussen, Accountant

Board of Directors News

This past Spring, Stephanie Battle and Mitch Gordon completed their terms on the Board of Directors. We are grateful for their leadership and dedication over the past three years.

New Board members are Annette Blount, Rick Johnson and Terrie Brandt. They join Gloria Roach Thomas, John Booth and Jeanette Lieberman to guide The Family Place into the next years of offering services and programs to families offering services and programs to families living without housing.

Final Thoughts

Given the desperate situations that most of our clients are in, it is not unusual for a volunteer or a visitor to ask us how we keep our spirits up and face each situation with hope. Here’s how we do it:

· When we see children playing, laughing and having fun in a safe place, we are happy

· When we see that our clients are consoled by our words, we are satisfied

· When we see miracles happening everyday, we are grateful to God for the road we are walking, and

· When bowls of good food are offered to the families, the cook smiles!

Every dollar and every hour you give to The Family Place helps families and for that, we are incredibly grateful!