Volume 1 Issue 3 Summer 2000

• Transition is Complete
• Quarters for Quarters Campaign is Wrapped Up!
• From Where I Sit by Rebecca Ambrose
• New Officers Elected
• United Way Campaign Designations
• October 15th is Volunteer Appreciation Event
• Do You Like to Do Landscaping?
• Talbot and McGuire to Perform a Benefit Concert at St. Anthony's
• Former Shelter Resident Shares Her Story
• Sweet Tomatoes Donation Arrives
• Get to Know the Staff at GNC

Transition is Complete

The Good Neighbor Center is operating on its own after a yearlong partnership with Community Action Organization. With CAO running the center this past year, it made it possible for the East Washington County Shelter Partnership Council to focus on fundraising and organization before taking over the operation. As of August 1, 2000, the Good Neighbor Center is being run by its own board of directors and officers.

As a gesture of support, the CAO Board presented the Good Neighbor Center board with a gavel. Also, a brick with the names of the GNC Board imprinted on it will be placed in CAO's courtyard as a remembrance of the successful partnership.

The Good Neighbor Center will continue to recruit board members. If you have an interest, please come and visit the Board Meetings which are held the 4th Thursday of the month at 3:30 pm at the Tigard United Methodist Church. There are also committees that need volunteers and you're welcome to get involved.

With CAO's help, the board has designed a program for clients that is based on empowerment. Residents are allowed to stay five weeks, but they must have goals, and an action plan on which they continually work. The year-end statistics show an 80% success rate with residents who stayed in their five week program and substantially reached their goals and moved in to stable housing.

We continue to be grateful to caring and sharing communities who are willing to lend a hand to help people get back on their feet.

Pat Biggs, President

Quarters for Quarters Campaign is Wrapped Up!

The late spring fundraiser called "Quarters for Quarters" wrapped up in June. There are still a few boxes lingering out in ID the businesses, but the campaign has brought in about $8,000 net. Although the campaign got started late in May, the response from the Tigard Tualatin Schools was outstanding. "The school children collected over $5,000," said Sydney Sherwood, chair of the event. "This was a first-time event and we learned every step of the way."

The campaign is being planned again for next year and we anticipate including other school districts. We also will do the campaign earlier in the year. If you're interested in being a part of this campaign, please call 403-0119.

From Where I Sit by Rebecca Ambrose

First Year Anniversaries are milestones no matter what the occasion. With the Good Neighbor Center, this is no exception. I have been working at the shelter for one year now and the shelter will celebrate being open for one. Year on Sept. 13th. There are many people to thank for all their work and at the top of the list are the volunteers. I have had the opportunity to work at shelters in different areas and working in this shelter has been phenomenal. Without the outpouring of support from this area, this shelter would not be operating. Everyday we experience miracles in the form of support for our mission. We have operated on a, shoe-string budget and have not had: a budget for food. The volunteers are the core that keeps this program humming. So on this anniversary, I want to give the volunteers a salute for their help and support!

We have just finished the transition from Community Action Organization and are off and running with some additional staff. The need for shelter has not diminished with the summer months, in fact, it increased in July. So as we start our second year, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your gifts of time and money.

New Officers Elected

New officers and board members elected for the year 2000-2001 are as follows: Pat Biggs, Pres., Steve Schmitt, Vice Pres., Arlene Voelker, Sec., Dick Roland, Treas. and board members - Todd Bernhardt, Judy Kizer, Toby Padgett, and Wes Taylor. We would like to thank these folks for their commitment to the shelter.

United Way Campaign Designations

Although we are not a United Way Agency, we can receive donations by having people designate that their donation go to the Good Neighbor Center. Each year, United Way does its campaign in the fall and we are anticipating that many donors will designate us as non-profit they would like to assist. It's easy to do. Just mark on your form the amount and write in The Good Neighbor Center. Donations are what keep our operations going.

October 15th is Volunteer Appreciation Event

The Good Neighbor Center wants to recognize and honor the volunteers for all their hard work and many hours of time they have given to keep the center operating. On Sunday, Oct. 15, 2000 from 6:30-8 pm, please join us in celebrating the volunteers at a dessert in their honor. The event will be held at the Kelly Center at St. Anthony's in Tigard.

Do You Like to Do Landscaping?

Perhaps you have driven by the Good Neighbor Center recently. We have a need for some volunteers to maintain our landscaping. Although some of our residents have helped keep weeds at bay this summer, our landscaping needs some TLC. If you or a group you know have a few extra hours, we could use your help. Please call Janet Sims at the shelter, 443-6084, and let her know if you can spare a few hours. Also, we are in need of a few specific items that will assist in the maintenance of our landscape. We need a ladder for cleaning gutters and at least a 100-foot garden hose, plus an outdoor extension cord. Let the shelter staff know if you want to help with this project.

Talbot and McGuire to Perform a Benefit Concert at St. Anthony's

Writer and performer Terry Talbot and- superstar of the 60's, Barry McGuire will perform a benefit concert on Friday, September 15, 2000 at 7:00 pm at St. Anthony's in Tigard. Ticket price is $10.00.

The concert is a benefit concert on behalf of the Good Neighbor Center and Neighborshare. Mercy Corps, which is helping sponsor the concert, will also be recipient of a free-will donation.

Terry Talbot not only writes music, but performed as a guitarist with such talents as Sonny & Cher, Glen Campbell and Chad Mitchell.

Barry McGuire has three earned Gold Albums. He was the lead singer with the New Christy Minstrels and wrote their hit, "Green, Green" "Eve of Destruction," a 60's anthem, was also recorded by McGuire.

Call 639-4179 for tickets.

Former Shelter Resident Shares Her Story

Let me introduce myself. I am one of the successful clients that has benefited from the program at the Good Neighbor Center.

In order to fully understand why I became homeless in the first place, let me tell you about myself. I am a single parent of a 12 yr. old son. I have an AA Degree in Arts and Science from Clark College in Vancouver. I also have a BS Degree in Psychology from Washington State U-Vancouver. So how in the world does a person with this type of education and training become homeless? Through lack of opportunity and the death of my mother. Due to my mother's death, I started the cycle of being "stuck". The executor of my mother's estate wanted me to leave the home I had shared with my mother and step-father, along with my son for eleven years. To make a long story short, I had roommates that didn't work out, lived in a small house on the property of the church I used to attend and have been in three different shelters in Vancouver and three in Oregon. At one time, I was working for the Economic Opportunity Committee of Clark County. I only worked 24 hours a week and was not receiving any assistance or child support at the time. After I was hospitalized for a week due to severe depression, I was terminated from my job. This led to the feeling of failure as a parent, employee and a person.

I finally moved in to the Good Neighbor Center with my son and boyfriend. Having gone to school in Tigard, at least I knew my way around. If not for the staff at the Good Neighbor Center and the program at the shelter, I would not be where I am now. I did the work to get where I am, However, without the support, empathy and assistance I would not have found the energy to succeed. Janet, Rhonda and Rebecca hounded me until I found the will to succeed. When my boyfriend left me, they helped me to realize how lucky I was to have my son, to have a roof over my head and a brand new job. They all let I me cry when I needed to, get mad when I needed to and then booted me in the rear-end when I needed it.

Having been in as many shelters as I have, this is the best shelter that I have been in, ever. If not for Janet, the residents would not have overnight staff for protection or home cooked nutritious meals. Rhonda took a chance on my family and stood by me every step of the way even though she wasn't my case manager! Rebecca helped me find my strength, provided a guiding hand and direction when I needed it more than any other time in my life, except when my mother died. Rebecca also helped me find a place to live when I had nowhere to go.

I now have a wonderful job at which I earn more than I ever have in my entire life. Rebecca, Janet and Rhonda were there to share the good news with and to continually tell me I would do fine. I have a nice apartment that they helped me find furniture for. Good Neighbor Center has done more for me than all the shelters I have been in combined. More than anything, I felt that although the stay is short term, residents can still find a place to call home. I know that for myself and my son, we would not be where we are now if we had not had the opportunity to stay at the Good Neighbor Center. Although I came in to the shelter in crisis, I left the shelter with my pride restored, knowing that I would succeed. To share my success is the one gift I can repay and I do when I visit and let the staff know that I still care for them and to let them know I still have permanent housing and permanent employment. The bottom line that remains is that everyone that walks through the doors (of the center) has the potential to succeed and that without the support of the staff and the community, these people may not make it out of crisis and continue to be caught in the cycle of homelessness, loss of pride, loss of individuality. Those are the things that make this program a success in this community and a gift ever so difficult to repay.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and for taking the time to read it. Thank you for the Good Neighbor Center and bless each and every one of you and the part that you may play in making the shelter a success.

Sincerely, A Former Resident

Sweet Tomatoes Donation Arrives

During the month of July, Sweet Tomatoes restaurant donated the profit from drink purchases at their restaurant in Tigard. We recently received a check for $500.00. Thank you so much, Sweet Tomatoes!

Get to Know the Staff at GNC

For many volunteers and visitors to the shelter, you may see staff and be greeted by them but not really know them. We'd like to tell you about Janet Sims and Melissa Shockman.

Janet Sims has been at the center since Dec. 1999. She came from the Interfaith Hospitality Network in Hillsboro after a temporary shutdown there due to lack of funds. Janet has worked at Open Door Counseling also in Washington County. Janet has also spent time in Seattle as the district director of Camp Fire Girls. Almost all her work experience has been working with volunteers in some way. In many jobs she has had it has been working with the homeless or low-income families.

Janet has a degree in Education, Sociology and a Masters in Christian Ministries. Janet's dedication to her work has made her a very valuable addition to the GNC.

Melissa Shockman says, "A little bit of dignity goes a long way." Her personal experience includes many of the things that bring our clients to shelter. She graduated from the Hope Spring program and is attending college. Her work experience includes childcare and working with women in recovery from domestic violence and drug abuse. She also says, "I am honored to be in a position of service and forever grateful to those who never gave up on me: Melissa's compassion and understanding make her a great asset to the Good Neighbor Center.

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