CompassionSC

Project Homeless Connect Santa Cruz

     CompassionSC is starting to coordinate this month with a number of churches and community organizers to assist with "Project Homeless Connect Santa Cruz," an initiative being brought to Santa Cruz by United Way of SC. This is a great way for the collective church to serve the homeless and community. Below is a description of the event which will be held in the Civic Auditorium on March, 30th.

"In 2001, the United States government adopted a national goal to end homelessness in ten years.  It is now 2010 and while our nation and our county have made great strides in reducing homelessness, the number of homeless individuals in our county is astounding.  It is estimated that Santa Cruz County is home to at least 4,624 homeless individuals.  Many of these individuals are homeless for the first time.  They are unfamiliar with the services this community has to offer and they are ashamed of their need. 

Project Homeless Connect originated in San Francisco California in 2004 to address the issue of homelessness.  Since that date, projects have been held in more than 220 communities across the nation.   

Project Homeless Connect changes the way homeless services are delivered to the community.  It is a one day community-wide event that provides housing, support, and quality of life resources to homeless individuals in the community.  The project is centered on the consumer, immediately providing them with the services they require and welcoming them back into the community."

   We are hopeful multiple churches will get involved in this opportunity to serve. There are a variety of ways to serve. Everyone should be able to find a way to utilize and leverage one of their skills or interests. Please spread the word and mobilize your church to get involved. 

For more specifics as to how you, your church,  or a group can get involved please click here.

There are also two key meetings for volunteers on Feb. 25 and March 11th from 4-6 pm at the United Way  office on 41st Ave. in the conference room. 

Below is a video from the Project Homeless Connect in San Francisco. Click on the image!

Beach Flats Community Center: Literacy Program Launch and Resource Drive

CompassionSC has assisted over the last three months with the development of an exciting new initiative in the Beach Flats community. We were approached by the volunteer coordinator at the Beach Flats Community Center to participate on a new "task force" team to tackle how to launch, develop, and support a literacy program for children. We helped recruit seasoned educators and the team met throughout the Fall. We are thrilled to announce the program is scheduled to start in February.

As we look to support the center as they kick of this new program, there is an immediate need for supplies. Please consider volunteering, donating supplies, and help spread the word about how others can get involved. Please let us know if you have any questions. Thanks for your support of this new initiative!

List of needed items:

• One inch binders with plastic view sheet on front / "one inch view binders" (Quantity 20)
• Folders with pockets / pocket Folders (cheap kind)  ( Quantity 20)
• Ream of 8 1/2 by 11 paper
• Colored paper (thin sheets, not construction paper)
• Pens / Markers (different colors and sizes / fine-point & large point)
• Crayons / Colored Pencils
• Pencils

Please drop off donations to:

Beach Flats Community Center

133 Leibrandt Ave.

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831.426.8232

"Beanies of Hope" Update

"Beanies of Hope"

 
 

Faith Community Church Outreach on the Ave. W/ Ronee Curry

Last Sunday, CompassionSC facilitated an outreach opportunity for Faith Community Churchh to distribute needed items to the homeless, many of them were young adults living on the streets without consistent shelter or a home. FCC accompanied and came alongside Ronee Curry on Pacific Ave and her weekly outreach in front of Border's Bookstore in Santa Cruz, CA. It was a significant time to continue to build relationships with those in need in SC as sleeping bags, socks, bottled water, "beanies of hope" and food was distributed. The homeless community was blessed, Ronee was supported in her ministry, and the church was challenged to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Santa Cruz.

A bit of Friday: SC Sentinel, Watching How the Rain impacts homeless, and some yarn

Ronee Curry and I had a good conversation and interview with a Santa Cruz Sentinel staff writer about the on going outreach to the homeless youth on the streets. We continue to partner together to raise awareness of the needs of homeless youth and how Ronee, CompassionSC and others are trying to holistically meet their needs. Local churches are beginning to become aware of the need and are desiring to help. We are encouraged.

Today as we chatted and shared the story it began to rain. The Ave. was transformed as the drops began to fall. People moved for shelter. The dampness moved in. The homeless in The Santa Cruz Roasting Company began to discuss how they were lacking needed items to cope with the rainy season. We were able to hand out sleeping bag Ronee had in her van and a rain poncho.  It seemed as the rain started a bit of gloom and worry set in among them. We pray and continue to try to be a beacon of hope. Below are some images from the Ave. today and some yarn that came in the mail for the "Beanies of Hope" initiative.

Street kid making a sign asking for help as it begins to rain.

A woman in her 70's living on the street and mentally ill. I watched half a dozen people just walk right by her as if she was invisible before I walked up and talked to her and heard a bit of her story.

 

More yarn arrived in the mail today for knitting "Beanies of Hope!"

Thanks to High St. Community Church for participation in the sleeping bag drive

A thank you shouted out from Ronee who we are partnering with for the sleeping bag drive here in Santa Cruz. These sleeping bags are being distributed to young adults and others living on the streets.

Ronee's thanks to Trinity Bible church

This is a brief video recorded at the drum circle after Trinity Bible Church graciously donated some of their excess funds from their summer trip to Ronee. She spent it on needed sleeping bags to begin to distribute. We are presently in the midst of a sleeping bag drive. If you would like to help out we are receiving new or slightly used sleeping bags. We have also worked out a deal with Outdoor World who is partnering with us and kindly selling brand new bags towards this cause for $10. You can give a tax deductible donation and 100% of your gift will go towards the purchase of the sleeping bags.

The way we hope partnerships in the community develop!

     In July, CompassionSC hosted a youth team from Trinity Bible Church in Richardson,  Texas. They usually go overseas for their summer trip to serve those facing poverty and to share compassionate love with those in need. This summer we were able to facilitate an experience where their youth group was able to serve those facing poverty here in Santa Cruz, CA.

    Each day we placed them at different sites serving alongside different organizations who uniquely serve those facing poverty. They served at the Homeless Service Center, The Homeless Garden Project, St. Francis Soup Kitchen, one day did their own outreach by making and handing out sandwiches, and also partnered with Ronee Curry's outreach to the young adults living on the streets. Each of these experiences challenged and changed the team from Texas. They went home understanding more extensively God's heart for those facing poverty and how we are called to extend compassionate love. Ronee's outreach at the drum circle in particular made a lasting impact on the group.

    One of the significant by products the trip facilitated was the continued partnership between Ronee Curry's outreach and the youth group after they returned home to Texas. The youth have continued to stay informed and involved in what continues to go on here in Santa Cruz and how they can still make an impact. They are doing this in a number of ways.

    Recently they decided they would give some of their excess funds left over from the trip to Ronee, so she can purchase sleeping bags to hand out to the homeless teens. A number of them are also advocating and getting the word out regarding CompassionSC's and Ronee Curry's initiative called "Beanies of Hope." Facilitating opportunities where these types of lasting partnerships  can be developed for the sake of those facing poverty here in Santa Cruz is one of the main reasons CompassionSC exists. 

CompassionSC is a collaborative community, compelled by love and sustained by hope, to serve those facing poverty in Santa Cruz, CA.