Our Stories Preventing Homelessness, Ending Hunger

Volunteers Recognized in County-wide Award Program

The success of every team is the sum of its parts and MOM has some great parts. There are many individuals who give of their time and from their hearts. In the past year a few stood out as examples of the wonderful volunteers at Middleton Outreach Ministry. These three - Michelle Arora, Barb Laurence and Rosanne Strohl - were nominated for a 2013 United Way Community Volunteer Award.

The awards honor all of the great volunteers throughout Dane County and the incredible impact they make in our community.

The United Way CVA award event, held late in April, was attended by more than 600 community members. During the luncheon program, nearly 100 award nominees were recognized for their countless hours of volunteerism and lasting impact in Dane County.

School Supplies made the Difference

MOM was a big part of Tahkaney's life as she was growing up.  Her mother, single and disabled, budgeted and saved. Even so, she had to rely on MOM when emergencies arose or when cupboards were bare at the end of the month.

Each fall when Tahkaney received school supplies from MOM, she thought about her caring neighbors and community. Their support not only helped her hardworking family, it motivated her to do her best at school.  Tahkaney believes this support helped her achieve her dream. She received a full scholarship to Stanford University, where she will be entering her Sophomore year this fall.  Community support turned this family's fear into hope and plans for a better future.

Food Deserts, made a Land of Plenty

Hunger is a multi-faceted issue, and the reasons for facing food insecurity go well beyond whether or not a family has enough resources to purchase food.  At MOM, we know that there are people in this community who are food insecure due to several barriers.  While much of our community hasn't been identified as a typical Food Desert, there are many people in our community who still do not have access to food.

Laurie's Story

Learn about how MOM is preventing homelessness through our new video on youtube called "Laurie's Story".

Tell Us your Story

 

That weekly bag of free groceries can make all the difference.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Photographs are the best way to tell a story, according to the old adage and according to current communication strategists. As an image based society, a non-profit needs to show their work visually to the community in order to effectively raise funds.

Thanks to Mike Adler of Restaino & Associates and Jason Weber of Starion Financial, MOM will be able to continue telling their story through photographs taken using a new Canon DSLR camera.

WTS Paradigm Shares the Holiday Spirit

The December 2012 event included an hors d'oeuvre and dessert reception, a holiday store and a Heartland's Theater Live Radio play, complete with live music at the Middleton Performing Arts Center. In its sixth successful year, the Home for the Holidays event raised over $26,000 to help Prevent Homelessness in the community.

"It was great to have a group come out and volunteer at Home for the Holidays this year!" said Abbe Smith Event Coordinator for WTS Paradigm. "Thanks for putting on a great event! We look forward to next year." WTS Paradigm supports the Middleton Outreach Ministry both financially and with volunteers.

WTS Paradigm is a well-respected configuration technology company, committed to research and development in the software industry located in the Middleton Industrial Park.

Through the Preventing Homelessness programs at Middleton Outreach Ministry, Case Managers provide housing counseling and financial mentoring, which helps prevent eviction and assists in maintaining long-term stable housing.  Aid for rent, security deposits, utilities and other critical needs make the difference in a crisis. In 2012, the housing assistance programs alone provided aid to 270 families.

Fun Competition Helps End Hunger

In November 2012, Andrew Fassbender and Rob Hammacher of NET collaborated to create a fun competition to engage employees in the annual food drive for MOM. Four teams of about 20 people were challenged to create the longest line of food with bonus items each day identified from the top 10 list of the Donate Food, End Hunger website page. http://www.momhelps.org/give-help/donate/donate-food/  The top 10 bonus items were added this year to better address items MOM participants needed most.

 

Community Garden Provides Independence

Many MOM clients have benefited from their involved in the Food Pantry Garden. One successful gardener, Imelda, enjoyed her experience so much that by the end of the 2012 growing season she asked to be included in the garden again in 2013. Last year her garden output was so profuse she no longer needed to obtain fresh produce from the Food Pantry, instead enjoyed the vegetables and fruit of her own labors.

MOM operates a Food Pantry Garden as well as a teaching garden. This garden is managed by volunteers and supported by several businesses throughout the community. The produce from the gardens is enjoyed by the clients who grow the food and is also donated to the Food Pantry.

Historians believe one of the nation's first community garden was established in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1759. Since then researchers have learned a lot about the psychological and socio-economic benefits of community greening projects. Here are a few findings. Note that this list includes helping people take steps toward self-sufficiency, preserving cultural heritage, job training, and providing a place for children to play and grow.

The teaching garden gives customers their own small plot, where they are being taught how to grow fresh food. Customers are able to keep some of the produce for their families and donate some to the Food Pantry. In 2012, the garden grew over 5,000 pounds of food.  See NBC15's video coverage of the program and watch a  slideshow of photos from the garden.

Swimmers Pledge Proceeds to MOM

The All City Food Drive is an annual competition among the 12 Madison All City pools to see which team can do the most to beat hunger in our area.

In 2012 the Middleton Gators main effort, the Swim A Thon: Hungrrrrrr Bites, raised funds for the Middleton Outreach Ministry. Gator swimmers got the day off of regular practice to swim as many laps as possible in one hour. Pledges they gathered from friends and family were contributed to MOM.

The Madison All City Swim and Dive Clubs' Food Drive will kick off this year's food drive with the Peanut Butter Jam on June 12, 2013, which will include a craft sale, raffle and peanut butter drive.

Sometimes a Bus Ride is All It Takes

Last week a client stopped in to request a bus ticket. He had an appointment at a local hospital to discuss an outstanding bill for several thousand dollars. He said it was critical that he was able to get to that appointment. Middleton Outreach Ministry immediately issued him a two ride tickets and wished him good luck.

He returned two days later to say, "Thank you." His meeting went so well that the hospital is planning forgive more than $8,000 in debt. He feels that this was only possible because MOM provided him with the means to get there and make it happen.

He wanted everyone to know that MOM truly does make a difference and wanted to share his story along with his heartfelt gratitude.

"You are Doing a Great Job"

"Well, this little guy has the right mom. You are doing a great job," the Middleton Outreach Ministry Case Worker told the mom. This single mom has a two-year-old who was recently diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her daycare provider had recently denied access to the child due to behavior issues, so the mother then had to quit her job to care for her baby while she figured out what to do next.

This brave mother has gotten early intervention services for the child, but since she struggled to find daycare, she was still unable to work. Now the two of them are facing homelessness. The little guy has outgrown his clothes, and while they have Food Share his mom is unable to purchase even basic things like diapers.

The MOM Case Worker was able to get her information on subsidized housing (a long term plan, due to waiting lists), and access to the MOM Food Pantry and Clothing Center, as well as hope and encouragement.

An "Extensive Blessing"

Despite preparing for the future, extended unemployment took a toll on the Gollin family. Out of a job for sometime, David and his wife, DeeDee, weren't sure where to turn. Before long, they received what they call an "extensive blessing" - a referral to MOM from their son's teacher.

Teetering on the edge, the family used MOM's services as they needed to make it through one particularly hard month. The family's strong faith, combined with MOM's assistance and the goodwill of neighbors, got them through a very difficult period.