See You There

October 31, 2008 Posted in:  0 Comments

It is time now to go matter to those who matter.  Join us! Below is the weekend schedule. If you need to contact us, we are available by phone, the number is on the contact page. 

Friday

3:00 to 4:30:   1Matters Town Hall Meeting

5:30 to 6:00:   Opening Ceremonies

5:00 to 6:00: Friday Dinner

6:00:  1Matters – 1Votes Candidates Forum

7:00:  Tim Oehlers
8:00:  Laurie Swyers & Mary Dick
9:00:  Cedar Creek Band
10:00:  Comedy: Melanie Maloy
11:00:  AJ Szozda
12:00:  Pat Lewandowski

Saturday

7:00 – 8:00: Breakfast

9:00 – 4:00: Project Homeless Connect

9:30 – 4:00:  “1Matters – 1Votes” Early Voting

Noon to 1:00: Saturday Lunch

5:00 – 8:00: Community Dinner

8:00:  Candace Coleman

9:00:  Kerry Patric Clark

10:00: Jesse & Alex Mireles

11:00: Pat Lewandowski, Mudfoot, Tom Kornacki

Sunday

7:00 – 10:00: Celebrity Pancake Breakfast

10:00 – 11:30: Worship Service

Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.

Updates & FAQ’s

October 27, 2008 Posted in:  1 Comment

Just wanted to give everyone an update as well as answers to frequently asked questions for Tent City. If you are part of a group, please pass this on to all of the members of your group.

First, if you are a volunteer with Project Homeless Connect, that meeting was moved from Tuesday to Wednesday, still at Red Cross @ 7 pm

Tent City weekend parking is available on the street anywhere for free, except for Friday 2-5 pm

The very closest parking is probably in 1 Government Center. That will cost two bucks or so.

When you arrive, look for the volunteer registration and sign in. You will be given details of your role then

Homelessness is a rain or shine event. As of today, the weather looks good Friday, but cold Saturday, below freezing Saturday night.

As for money, please do not bring cash. Not because of a theft issue, in fact we have had more than one wallet or purse turned in, with the cash

Just the opposite, don’t bring cash because you will hear great stories, and be VERY tempted to give money. Our thinking is if we give money, it might be the last money that might kill them from an overdose. We never know. If you feel moved to give money, please check with someone first, like Don, Dan, Richard, Michelle, Ken etc. We know some of the better stories, and who tells them. lol.

If someone is moved to donate to 1matters.org, please do so in a check if at all possible.

Early voting is open every day now until election day. If possible, please plan on going to early voting with one of our friends on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. It is so important that everyone be heard.

Jackson Street will be half closed all weekend between Erie and Michigan, which allows for drop off clothing donations.

On Saturday, the road will be completely closed off from 7 am to 4 pm.

That probably covers the most basic questions. Email us if you have any more.

Entertainment! Entertainment!

Friday Night
7:00:Tim Oehlers
8:00: Laurie Swyers & Mary Dick
9:00: Cedar Creek Band
10:00: Comedy Show: Melanie Maloy
11:00: AJ Szozda
12:00: Pat Lewandowski

Saturday Night
8:00: Candace Coleman
9:00: Kerry Patric Clark
10:00: Distant Thunder
10:30: Jesse & Alex Mireles
11:00: Pat Lewandowski with Mudfoot & Tom Kornacki

Volunteer Training Meeting Changed

October 25, 2008 Posted in:  0 Comments

Changes

Due to a larger number of volunteers attending than anticipated, the evening volunteer training is moved from this Tuesday the 28th, to Wednesday the 29th at the Red Cross Building. 

This volunteer training is only for those working the Project Homeless Connect on Saturday.  All other positions do not need this training.  If you are working PHC, and cannot make it Wednesday, as a last resort you can attend the training held at 8 am or 11 am at Tent City, prior to your shift.  

JIMMMMMY!

I was engaged in a conversation and someone taps me on the shoulder, I took a double take,  Jimmy was at Food for Thought today.  He had been in Ann Arbor the past three weeks for a family illness. 

AND he has (says he has) been sober for 3 weeks.   I believe him as he is usually quite honest. (Unless it is getting “religious books” at the library. lol)  He said he will be at Tent City this next weekend.  Everyone who meets him loves that man.    You will too. 

1Matters – 1Votes

There has been  a lot of heat taken by all of us for having the audacity to not only help our unhoused register to vote, but to actually vote.  One has even called our actions unpatriotic.  (Huh?)

Good example, Cherry Street Mission has gotten some letters from donors saying they can no longer support CSM because it is a shill for Obama.    Another cancelled JUST because they helped register people to vote.

Today the Toledo Blade ran a 1st person editorial essay detailing the objectivity associated with all we do to help the unhoused exercise their civil rights. 

If you get time, please take a second to read it.  1Matters! 

Ten Day Forecast

Friday, 59/35. 20% chance of rain

Saturday 62/42, 10% chance of rain

Sunday 61/40, 50% chance of rain

Pray, eh?

Tent City – Two Weeks and Counting

October 20, 2008 Posted in:  1 Comment
Tent City – Two Weeks and Counting
So much going on to get ready, quick updates and needs.
  •  We are pretty sure all of the volunteer spots will be filled before Tent City.
  • All of Saturday lunch and most of the Saturday dinner spots are filled, and the rest of the meal spots are filling quickly. 
  • Next major volunteer spots needed filled are Project Homeless Connect & Transportation on Saturday. We would love to also see volunteers for the Barber Station and Salon Services.
  • This past weekend major clothing initiatives were done at many, many churches and organizations: New Harvest, Cedar Creek, Church on Strayer, Dayspring Assembly of God in BG, Calvary, Catholic Newman Club, Trinity Church of Nazarene, the University of Toledo, BGSU, St. Johns, Central Catholic High Schools, TNS, City of  Toledo, Lourdes College, Sylvania Chamber of Commerce, Epic- Toledo Chamber of Commerce, Savage & Associates and more, many more.  
  • Friday night we started organizing the donations at New Harvest, whoah!  We will be needing tons, and tons of volunteers over the next two weeks to help get it all sorted and organized. This is a great job for those who want to do something important, yet can’t make it Tent City weekend.  Primary times will be 10 am to 3 pm the 27th to 30th.  We are starting this weekend from 11 am to 4 pm
  • The City of Toledo is doing a WINTER clothing drive the 27th to 30th.  I am talking the entire city.  Soon will be announcements that anyone can drop of WINTER clothes at any Toledo Fire Station.
  • We would like to find one more driver with a pickup truck to assist Todd with donation pickups between now and Tent City.
  • Due to the huge anticipated demand we are building out all tents and medical services.  There will be no less than 5 mobile medical units, as well as building individual private temporary “exam rooms” in the larger entertainment tent, now called Center Stage.
  • Major donation needs yet are paper products, less expensive (or donated, or sponsored) restrooms. (Sponsored? I can see the sign, “This john/head/crapper/toi-toi is sponsored by Urinal Mints, your favorite blue target, Enjoy your stay.) This year we would also like to find a large trash receptacle to haul the trash at the end of the weekend.
  • Know a banner company that can donate 4 larger size banner signs? Let us know asap.
  • This year the different environments we are creating downtown are “The Center Stage” for entertainment,”Donation Station, and “Guest Cafe.” 
  • We have moved the  “Donation Station” to the front on Jackson Street. This will allow people very easy “drive-by) donations. 
  • The City of Toledo has stepped up remarkably! They are not only donating Birth Certificates through the Department of Neighborhoods and the Health Department, they are also doing a city employee clothing drive, providing t-shirts, and more, a lot more behind the scenes.  Everybody is pitching in, it is pretty cool!
  • Our all-star Pat Lewandowski is working on the final touches for the entertainment. We will be having a couple special treats this year, including a comedy show Friday night at 9 pm starring Melanie Malloy, our friend from the May comedy benefit; And Saturday night’s treat, local favorite Candace Coleman.  
  • The Sunday Worship Service is set, speaking are Sr. Pastor Lee Powell of Cedar Creek, Pastor Dan Rogers of Cherry Street Mission, and Pastor Don Schiewer of New Harvest Church. Stacy Rankin has put together an exceptional worship band as well.

    • As in past years, we will serve on two levels, the pragmatic and the compassionate. 

    The pragmatic is designed to stabilize with services, id’s and clothes, food, etc.

    The compassionate is to be 1 that matters to those who matter. 

    In the truest sense many of the homeless feel “abandoned” by our society.  Many actually feel that the world would not even notice if they were gone, that they don’t matter.

    You prove they do, thank you!

     

     

     

Urgent News

We wanted you to be alerted to a situation.  Cherry Street Mission and Food for Thought are two very strong supporters of Tent City.
But due to such an increase in need, both organizations are going through a shortage of resources to help those they serve. 
Cherry Street needs the resources to prepare for Thanksgiving, and FFT needs bread, peanut butter, jelly, and juice boxes.   Or cash, both are 501c3 and gladly accept cash.
These are tough times.  The economy is taking a significant toll, ”double taxation” if you will. 
First it increases the urgent demand for resources due to an increase of unhoused residents.  But it also decreases the ability to be generous in a very important time of need. 
Both Cherry Street and Food for Thought are such cases. 

Just do what you can, or just spread the word. Cherry Street is here, and Food for Thought is here.