Unity Shoppe, Inc.
Started in 1919, Unity Shoppe provides basic necessities to low-income families, children and elderly, while encouraging self-sufficiency and independent living. The organization provides goods through their “shoppe,” where the needy come to pick out what they need from a selection of donated food and clothing, rather than being given a handout of what the organization determines they need. They also use the “shoppe” to teach valuable job skills to volunteers and needy clients as they learn office management, computer skills and merchandising. The organization is run by Barbara Tellefson, a former full-time volunteer for 20 years who was hired as Executive Director in 1994.
The Unity Shoppe assists families all year, acting as a central store where regional nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and hospitals can refer families in crisis. Eliminating the duplication of effort, goods, people and services allows for more funding and services to be available for people in need. More than 13,000 people are referred to the Unity Shoppe each year.
The organization is based out of a community house that also serves as the headquarters for two other charities, a retired senior program and a child abuse prevention program. The Unity Shoppe led the drive to purchase the community house.
One of the new programs that the Unity Shoppe offers is free computer skill training for youth and adults. Since June 1997, 140 people have used this program to upgrade their skills for existing jobs, to learn skills for future jobs, to increase school grades, to help the Unity Shoppe through community service and to improve self-esteem.
More than 4,000 people volunteer for the Unity Shoppe each year. Volunteers include senior citizens, youth, community leaders, businesses, service clubs, local celebrities and media representatives. Many others donate food and clothing as well. Two million dollars in merchandise is donated annually by the community.
The services provided by the Unity Shoppe work to prevent homelessness and welfare dependency. People are able to pay their rent and move their lives forward. More than half of those serviced by the organization were able to continue working in low paying jobs, while they worked themselves through crisis situations. Forty percent of those receiving help were single women living on one income.
Web site address: http://www.rain.org/~unityshp/
Sister Elizabeth Brown
In 1988, without money, local volunteers, youth volunteers from outside the state and Sister Elizabeth Brown joined together to establish EXCEL, a service learning program for children. During that first summer, more than 60 children registered for the program.
Over the past 10 years, Sister Brown has stayed in tune with the needs of the community. When parents came to her with concerns about the academic performance of their students, Sister Brown and the EXCEL Board formed a study group for the youth. Addressing the issue of parents in need of reading assistance, Sister Brown initiated an adult literacy program. When people came to her in need of clothing, Sister Brown worked with others to establish a second-hand clothing and household items store in the community.
Currently, Sister Brown is establishing a community center to provide a safe place for children’s recreational activities, a place for teen mothers and a fun social environment for senior citizens. Sister Brown has served as the Chicksaw County summit leader for the Mississippi Summit for Children. She is also a member of the school Community Relations Committee, a committee formed to combat racial tensions in the town of Okolona.
Can-Do Crew
Since 1987, the Davis Monthon Air Force Base “Can-Do Crew” has been dedicated to helping the surrounding community of Tucson, Arizona. Their efforts involve assisting elderly and disabled adults with home repair and construction projects. Referrals are received from social service agencies in Tucson and Pima County, as well as self-referrals.
The “Can Do Crew,” a non-profit organization that receives donations from the local churches, has 565 volunteers. In 1996, the organization received 162 requests for service. In that year alone, they put in 339,000 man-hours of labor. Even though the tasks could sometimes be overwhelming, the “Crew” was there to support the needy. Due to the large number of requests and the occasional lack of equipment or expertise, and to ensure quality service, some projects were delayed and rescheduled, but few were turned away.
Typically a “Crew” consists of 4 to 6 volunteers for small jobs, and 20 or more for larger ones. These volunteers are not skilled laborers; they are Air Force personnel and family members who care about the community.
The Young Leaders Academy
The Young Leaders’ Academy (YLA) was founded in November 1994, to provide young African-American males with strong role models, academic support and community service activities. The organization helps students avoid poor academic performance and crime in this low-income region.
Members of the YLA participate in the program for 10 years. During the elementary and junior high school years, the boys are involved in five different programs: Summer Academy, Saturday Academy, After-School Tutorial, Mentor Program and Community Service Program.
The Summer Academy integrates academics into field trips, team building and problem solving. The Saturday Academy reinforces these skills. The After-School Tutorial provides academic instruction that is tailored to each member’s needs.
In addition, the Mentor Program provides YLA members with professional, African-American mentors for social development. Once a month through the Community Service Program, each member works with a local nonprofit organization to promote civic responsibility and moral leadership.
While in high school, the boys give back to the program by serving as tutors and junior mentors to the younger members, again promoting civic responsibility. They are also eligible for internships offered by local corporations. At this age, YLA programs focus on preparing participants to enter the workforce.
Each year, the YLA adds a class of 40 boys. With each new class, the YLA mobilizes more young people to assist in solving community problems.
Sister Alice Marie Quinn
St. Vincent Meals on Wheels is the largest privately-funded meals program in the country. From January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997, the program served a total of 821,226 meals—an average of 2,250 meals per day. In order to deliver meals to their many clients, they drive hundreds of miles each day, adding up to 189,315 miles in 1997 alone. Meals on Wheels has a paid staff of 90, but they rely heavily on their 175+ volunteers. These volunteers help to prepare and deliver meals seven days a week.
Sister Alice Marie Quinn founded this program in 1973. Approximately 25 years ago, Sister Alice Marie and a handful of volunteers dished the first batch of beef stew dinners for 100 seniors in the parish hall of a church located in downtown Los Angeles. Today she oversees the largest and most successful, privately funded meals program in the United States. In February 1997, Sister Alice Marie and her Meals on Wheels program served its eight-millionth meal.
After earning a bachelor’s degree and certification as a dietitian, Sister Quinn worked in food services in hospitals in New Orleans and San Francisco. She took a post as an assistant dietitian at St. Vincent Medical Center. Those years of experience helped her tremendously. Now out of the 2,000 home-delivery clients, more than 400 receive meals specially prepared for their medical needs or personal preferences. Two hundred clients prefer to receive a week’s worth of frozen meals instead of daily delivery. Eight hundred clients also receive cold suppers to eat later in the day. Two hundred of the neediest clients, who depend on meals on wheels for everything they eat, also receive a breakfast.
Sister Alice Marie has recently started a new program that recruits volunteers who are willing to help senior citizens clean their homes.
Sister Alice Marie is a full-time volunteer. She is at her desk by 7 a.m. every morning. Every day, she plans menus, supervises food purchases, wheedles donations and oversees food preparation and delivery. On weekends, she delivers meals herself, stopping to chat with clients who are lonely and crave companionship.
For her dedication to the needy, the 800-member National Association of Meal Programs in Alexandria, VA, awarded Sister Quinn with its Distinguished Executive Award in 1995. Sister Alice Marie is an extraordinary woman that has truly dedicated her life to helping others.
Ed Baumgart
Desert Heights Elementary School, located in Reno, NV, is a high-risk school that qualifies for Title One funding. Title One is a federally funded program with the purpose of raising academic progress and involving parents and the community. More than 60% of its students live at or below the poverty line. There are many students enduring problems such as neglect, abuse, emotional trauma and financial difficulty.
One of the most valuable assets at Desert Heights is Ed Baumgart, affectionately known as “Mr. Ed.” Since Mr. Baumgart lives with an illness that prevents him from working, he volunteers at Desert Heights Elementary School. He works as a volunteer in the Learning Center, a classroom that is dedicated to addressing the individual needs of students who are having difficulty in the regular classroom or on the playground.
When assignments are too difficult for the students, Mr. Baumgart coaches the students through them. He utilizes encyclopedias, Time/Life books or other reference materials (usually obtained from garage sales) to pique their interest by illustrating concepts and giving students more perspective on the reason for the assignment. He brings information about obscure television programs pertinent to assignments or topics of interest. In addition, he answers the phone, escorts students, supervises playground activity and leads reading groups.
For some students, Mr. Baumgart is the only consistent person in their lives. On days when Mr. Baumgart stays home sick, many children feel compelled to call and check on him. He has become a best friend to many of the children, providing access to free or inexpensive materials of interest to them, bringing in books, toys, games, or just discussing subjects of interest. When children are upset, he lends a nonjudgmental ear and is usually successful in turning their interest from the focus of their concern, to a focus of academic interest.
Mr. Baumgart and his wife act as chaperones for many of the after-school functions. At the Christmas craft show, he knitted hats that he sold to school families for an affordable price. He continues to encourage students and families to come to school activities.
Mr. Baumgart receives a bus ticket and one meal a day from the school, which he often declines as his health has recently made it necessary for him to have a more restricted diet. “Mr. Ed” is an inspiration to the students as well as the teachers at Desert Heights Elementary School.
Youth Options
Youth Options is a teen volunteer program of the Youth Services/Boys and Girls Club Fox Valley agency located in Appleton, WI. Youth Services/Boys and Girls Club Fox Valley is a 22-year-old agency that helps young people, ages 12-18, reconnect with their families, schools and neighborhoods through early prevention and intervention-based programming. Its Youth Options program, which now consists of three main components, was formed in 1991 when a small group of ten teenagers expressed interest in forming a peer-to-peer telephone hotline , called Tele-Teen Helpline, where pressing issues and problems could be discussed with youth, in confidence and without judgment.
Several of the teens who started this core group had experienced their own problems, and having received help through the Youth Services agency, wanted to deliver help to others. These teens went through extensive training on communication and peer-facilitating techniques, as well as a thorough education on issues likely to be addressed: alcohol and drug use, diversity training, dating relationships, teen pregnancy, suicide and depression, etc. This training still takes place for all new volunteers.
Today, as when the hotline started, each volunteer devotes weekend and evening time amounting to more than 40 hours per participant to learning more about themselves, their peers, and their stake in providing solutions to urgent social problems. They engage in several fund-raising tasks to raise money for training and material expenses. Over 200 young volunteers have successfully completed the training program and devoted an average of 14 months each toward making Tele-Teen a great success.
In 1993, some members of the helpline and other volunteers from area schools formed the Teen Drama Troupe, the second component of Youth Options, in order to take their prevention and other hotline messages on the road. This group of 30 high-energy teens performs for elementary, middle and high schools, churches, special community events and at conferences, reaching an average audience of 3,000 young people yearly. Teen Drama Troupe volunteers have perfected performances addressing teen issues, such as drinking and driving, date rape, and the impact of alcoholism on families. The performances are interactive and informative. At their conclusion, a specially trained facilitator involves audiences in lively discussions about the topic addressed. Following Teen Drama Troupe performances, many teen viewers inquire about how they can get involved.
The most recent addition to Youth Options is a television show for, and about teens, called FUTURES. It is scripted, acted and produced by about 35 teens, several of whom are also active in Tele-Teen and the Drama Troupe. FUTURES began in 1996, as a way to explore universal teen topics with the broader community — friendships and relationships, family stresses, the quest for popularity and independence. Thanks to the generous assistance of the University of Wisconsin – Fox Valley Media Department and their local ABC affiliate, WBAY TV 2, thirteen episodes and re-runs are aired annually, reaching more than 500,000 area households throughout Northeast Wisconsin.
Home B.A.S.E.
On February 2, Roger Beck, together with parents, community members, two fellow teachers and 10 students from Worthington Kilbourne High School began the Home B.A.S.E. program. Home B.A.S.E. is an experimental program that promotes the integration of academic disciplines through the construction of a house in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity.
High school seniors who are interested in the program are enrolled in the English and History programs of those teachers who have agreed to participate in the program. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Columbus assigns the students to a family. From that point on, the students begin a year-long process that culminates in the completion of a home for a family in need. A home is completed every two years.
Unlike the traditional Habitat projects, Home B.A.S.E. involves the participants in all aspects of the building process. First, students develop a business proposal and then they present the plan to potential donors. Students then begin working on the design of the house, while trying to include the latest information on energy efficiency in their design strategy. Each student spends a minimum of 150 to 200 hours on the project.
“We put the kids in the leadership positions, we stand back and allow them to use creative thinking to make decisions,” said Roger Beck, co-founder of Home B.A.S.E. ” We try to include all the kids in the projects. We try not to schedule building events during major school events like games and concerts. We want the kids who are active in the band, orchestra or on sports teams to be able to participate too.”
Since the first house was built in 1993, two Home B.A.S.E classes have graduated. Out of the many students that have participated in the program, four have continued to work with Habitat for Humanity either through their college chapter or on their own. According to Mr. Beck, the project is more than a learning project for the students, it is a learning process as well. After completion of one home, Amanda Keene, one of the shyer students in Mr. Beck’s Class, approached him and declared “I’m not afraid anymore. If I want to do something, I have the confidence to do it.”
Home B.A.S.E. is currently working on their second home for Habitat. All funding is received through donations.
Dr. Samuel Hay
A retired physician who consistently undercharged his patients, Dr. Sam Hay participates in a large variety of medical, religious, social, and charitable endeavors.
Upon retiring in 1991, he established a free clinic in the local health center, where he donates two mornings a week to diagnose and treat. The health services he provides are free, with the exception of a $5 fee charged by the health center and a $2 fee for a prescription to cover operating costs.
14 years ago, Dr. Hay co-founded the Toccoa Soup Kitchen and has volunteered and served on the board ever since. The kitchen is open three times a week and provides free meals to an average of 76 people a day. Dr. Hay often volunteers as a crew captain. The kitchen is funded by private donations and grants from churches and the United Way.
When the Habitat for Humanity formed a chapter in Toccoa, Dr. Hay volunteered with them for several years and later became the chapter’s president. Currently, he is still on the board, as well as serving as an active volunteer.
Jodi Beldotti
For over three years, Jodi Beldotti, herself a victim of domestic violence, has been providing job skills and computer training to victims of domestic violence in the greater Boston area.
In 1986, after many years of emotional, psychological and physical abuse, Ms. Beldotti made the decision to get out. Over the next ten years, she spent a lot of time thinking about the thousands of women who were in abusive relationships and were unable to leave. Ms. Beldotti concluded that one thing distinguished her from some of her fellow victims was that she had a strong support system and the economic means to support herself. Once she had this realization, Ms. Beldotti decided to dedicate herself to helping other victims gain the skills that are necessary for success in the work force. She wanted to make sure that no more victims were held captive to abusive spouses due to a lack of economic resources.
In May of 1995, Ms. Beldotti founded The Yellow Brick Road Project. The goal of the program is to provide women with the comprehensive computer and job readiness skills that are needed to sustain their families and themselves without the assistance of their abusive partner. Over the past four years the program has successfully networked to gain donations of hardware, books and supplies, informed shelters of their existence, and taught five ten week courses in three Boston area shelters. Yellow Brick Road has also assisted in helping the graduates find employment.
Of the 34 graduates, 97% have remained free of their abusive relationships and 90% of those who have remained in the area have been placed in jobs, are currently employed or are going to college to further their education. One former student, Ms. ‘S’ is now a reporter for a newspaper in her area. She recently applied for an editorial position with the newspaper and she is looking forward to taking the steps towards fulfilling her career goals.
Ms. Beldotti conducts three sessions a week. She also travels all over the country giving seminars and workshops to shelters who are interested in starting similar programs in their areas.
The Yellow Brick Road Project receives full funding from corporate and private donations.
