CHUM Member Congregations: Asbury United Methodist, Calvary Baptist, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic, Center City Catholic (Our Lady of Mercy, St. Mary's Star of the Sea, St. Peter's), Chester Park United Methodist, Concordia Lutheran,Duluth-Superior Friends Meeting, Eastridge Community, Family of God Lutheran, First Lutheran, First Unitarian Universalist, First United Methodist, French River Lutheran, Glen Avon Presbyterian, Gloria Dei Lutheran, Hillside United Methodist, Holy Family Catholic, Hope United Methodist, Kenwood Lutheran, Lakeside Presbyterian, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Our Savior's Lutheran, Peace United Church of Christ, Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, St. Andrew's by the Lake Episcopal, St. Benedict's Catholic, St. John's Catholic, St. Mark's African Methodist Episcopal, St. Paul's Episcopal, St. Scholastica Benedictine Monastery, United Baptist Christian
FOOD SHELF OPEN HOURS East Food Shelf - 120 N. 1st Ave. W. (727-2391)
Food Distribution: Mon. 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Supplemental Food Program for Working Households and Laid Off Workers Wed. & Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Food Donations: Mon. 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Tues. & Thurs. 9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wed. & Fri. 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. West Food Shelf (624-0333)4831 Grand Ave. (Our Savior’s Lutheran Church) Food Distribution: Tues. & Thurs. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Food Donations: Tues. & Thurs. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
CHUM’s EMERGENCY FOOD SHELVES: AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY RESOURCE
THE GABRIEL PROJECT is a collaboration between CHUM and several Hillside congregations. Our collective goal is to help support families in our collective neighborhoods of worship and to strive for economic and social justice throughout Duluth. Please join us in our upcoming events! Every year JRLC hosts an annual Day on the Hill conference - the March 13 - JRLC (Joint Religious Legislative Coalition) “Day on the Hill.”this annual event, not only does CHUM participate, we also provide transportation and set up the various meetings with our local legislators.This year we also hope to meet with several Poverty Commission members.Additionally, this is a time to learn about how to be a citizen-lobbyist and to organize justice work in your congregation. Participants are briefed about justice policy issues and then lobby members of the legislature. year over 1,000 people attended.Consider riding with us on the CHUM Gabriel Project bus! To sign up, call!218-625-1739 ask for Ben or Kim
CHUM RUAH Project Apartments now Housing Families
Families are now living in the four– unit apartment building that three local organizations converted from the former Lake Superior Community Health Center. Thanks again to the BenedictineSisters of Saint Scholastica and Habitat for Humanity for working with CHUM, providing financial support, volunteer labor, and coordinated volunteers and the rehabilitation process. Thanks also to countless volunteers and donors, as well as the Lake Superior Community Health Center. CHUM manages the building as part of its on-going efforts to help families and individuals exit the cycle of repeat homelessness. In addition to stable on-going housing these families will receive intensive supportive services from Gabriel Project social worker Veronica Gaidelis-Langer with direction and support from CHUM Family Stabilization Advocate Mary Lu Larsen
-Food collectors team with volunteers in large cars, vans or trucks - Weigh & sort food the day of the drive – Volunteers are needed at the East Food Shelf (120 N. 1st Ave. W.) and at the West Shelf (4831 Grand Ave., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Be a rover – Volunteer to pick up food from homes that were missed during the morning collection. Rovers are needed from noon to 4 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Meg Kearns or Terri Bunnell at 727-2391. Kearns can also be e-mailed at chumfs@chumduluth.org. Food Shelves. . . . • The Food Shelf is seeking individuals or groups to help with the following one-time volunteer projects when the weather warms up: 1.) Replacement of individual glass brick windows and 2.) Painting of Food Shelf exterior concrete block. • Food packers are needed at the East Food Shelf on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers can come weekly or once a month for all or part of a shift. Please contact Meg Kearns at 727-2391 or chumfs@chumduluth.org about Food Shelf volunteering.
CHERYL-ANNE IS FINALLY HOME Hi! My name is Cheryl-Anne and I am 10 years old. This year I am in 5th grade and am feeling very good about my school and my home. But last year, when I was in 4th grade I started at my SEVENTH school since kindergarten. We have moved so many times I can’t even remember them all. The last time we lived somewhere this long it was for 2 years. I remember really liking that place because I thought it would be home for a long, long time and it seemed I could see my friends and Grandparents when ever I wanted. But, then we had to move again. I was VERY SAD when my Mom told me we were moving. But then, after she explained why, and I thought about it I understood. As long as I could live with my Mom and brothers and we could be together as a family I knew it would be okay.
Every time we have moved we had to give things away that I wanted to keep but we just didn’t have any way to move it all. The last time we moved we left my books with my Grandmother. I really miss both my books and my Grandmother.
One of the things about changing schools I don’t like is that sometimes I get behind in what I am learning. I am a bit behind in knowing the multiplication tables and learning division. But, then there are things like graphs and charts that I am good at and others in my class are just learning.
Moving around also means that sometimes we don’t have much food. Sometimes, I go with my Mom to the CHUM Food Shelf. During those times there aren’t snacks to eat after school and we are very careful to make the food last a month.
Since last spring I have been living in Duluth and have been going to the same school. When we first arrived we lived at the CHUM Family Shelter while my Mom worked with the CHUM Family Advocate to help us get our own townhouse. I didn’t really like living in the shelter with so many other people. But now Mom and I and my brothers, FINALLY have a home to ourselves.
I have my own bedroom that I don’t have to share with anyone, unless I want to. My room has a bed and some storage boxes for my clothes, those I keep in my closet. Pretty soon my Mom is going to get me a dresser to keep my clothes in, then I can use the storage boxes for all the books I want to read and the stories and poems I write.
I have joined Girl Scouts at school and really love all the things we do there. I am so excited for the activities we will be doing in the next few months like selling Girl Scout cookies.
I have a best friend now too; who I share all of my secret hopes and dreams with. We understand each other and we allow each other to really talk. It feels good to have a best friend that I know I can have for a long, long time.
Can you imagine what it would be like to have gone to 7 schools by the time you were/will be in 5th grade? How would you feel if you had to move every 6 months to a different temporary home? Have you ever moved? Changed schools?
Children like Cheryl-Anne need your assistance while they and their families are trying to find a home. Please save your change and donate it to your church’s CHUM Penny Drive Collection Bin.
THE GABRIEL PROJECT
The Gabriel Project is a collaboration between CHUM and thirteen congregations. Our collective goal is to support people living in poverty and to strive for social and economic justice throughout Duluth. Here are some upcoming opportunities to get involved in… February 28– Homeless Lobby Day at the Capitol This gives us an opportunity to be part of good public policy that can promote an environment where homelessness is rare and dealt with quickly when it occurs. Join us on the CHUM bus – to sign up call 218-625-1739. For more information specific to the day or to register, please visit www.mnhomelesscoalition.org.
JRLC (Joint Religious Legislative Coalition) “day on the Hill,” March 13, 2008 Every year JRLC hosts an annual Day on the Hill conference. This is a time to learn about how to be a citizen-lobbyist and to organize justice work in your congregation. Participants are briefed about justice policy issues and then are given the opportunity to lobby members of the legislature. Last year over 1,000 people attended. Consider riding down with us on the CHUM bus! To sign up, call! 218-625-1739
Thanks for all you support!! If you have any questions, please call us: Ben, Kim, Steve, or Veronica at 625.1739
NEWS FROM CHUM
CHUM Program Resource Needs: Drop-In Center/Emergency Shelter ongoing needs. . . . Fishing equipment (especially rods and reels) is need for outings this summer at the Drop-In Center. We also need bath towels and personal hygiene items (especially soap and shampoo), two steel bunk bed frames, and work crews that could help with cleaning projects. If you have used Karaoke CDs, we could use them for occasional social events.
Volunteer Opportunities. . . . CHUM Horizons Distribution and Mailing Helpers. . .CHUM could use someone with a vehicle to help distribute the quarterly CHUM Horizons newsletter around the community (usually late October, January, April and July). Call David at 720-6521 or email dclanaugh@chumduluth.org. Advisory Committee Members. . .CHUM Church and the Distributive Services (Food Shelf) Advisory Committees both need additional members. Please contact Meg Kearns at 727-2391 or chumfs@chumduluth.org to volunteer.
Family Shelter & Stabilization. . . . We really need brooms, dustpans and mops. Other needs include: bath towels, twin and full size blankets, size 4 & 5 diapers, baby hygiene items (body wash and shampoo, lotion, wipes), frying pans and skillets, spatulas, cereal bowls, cleaning supplies (dish soap, bleach, and all purpose cleaner), and twin box springs in good condition.
Drop-In Center Nurse Clinic. . . . The nurse clinic needs clean, gently used women’s bras in all sizes and NEW ONLY men’s and women’s underwear in all sizes! Housing Stabilization. . . .Monthly bus passes; brief cases & portfolios; wallets & small purses, work gloves; and thermoses & lunch boxes are needed. Thank you!
Telecare Friends. . . . Telecare Friends needs volunteers to provide phone reassurance and occasional transportation for people who live in their own homes, are isolated, and could benefit from having a friend and support. Volunteers who provide this service receive mileage reimbursement and may be eligible for supplemental auto insurance. If interested, please contact Telecare Friends Coordinator Ellen Altman at 727-2391 or ealtman@chumduluth.org . Also contact Ellen if you know of an isolated elder who could benefit from this phone reassurance and assisted transportation program.
The Food Shelf is seeking individuals or groups to help with the following one-time volunteer projects when the weather warms up: 1.) Replacement of individual glass brick windows; 2.) Painting of Food Shelf exterior concrete block; and 3.) Scraping and painting of Food Shelf wooden exterior trim. Food packers are needed at the East Food Shelf on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers can come weekly or once a month for all or part of a shift. Please contact Meg Kearns at 727-2391 or chumfs@chumduluth.org about Food Shelf volunteering.
Updated CHUM Donation Information!!! Items We Accept House wares, food that is new and unopened, Postage stamps, bus passes, Bath towels, Household Cleaning Products Clean Bedding in Twin, Full and Queen Sizes, Hygiene products w/o alcohol Baby Supplies (Especially sizes 4 & 5 diapers) Playing cards, games, books, greeting cards Computers and furniture,
Items We Are Not Accepting Outdated or open food Appliances that need repair Used clothing & bath soap Outdated calendars, Magazines Liquor & tobacco products Paper Grocery Bags, Egg Cartons and used plastic bottles Rubbing Alcohol & Hydrogen Peroxide call first to make arrangements Prescription & Nonprescription medication
Making a Donation: Please contact Distributive Services Director Meg Kearns at 727-2391 if you have items to donate. Kearns can be emailed at chumfs@chumduluth.org. Please bring donations to the East Food Shelf at 120 North First Avenue West where they can be more efficiently processed and inventoried. Drive up to the door located in the alley on the south side of the building and ring the doorbell. The easiest option is to take Lake Avenue and turn into the alley between 1st and 2nd Streets and head west until you are alongside our building. If you or your group wants to solicit donations as a service project for CHUM, first contact Meg at 727-2391 or chumfs@chumduluth.org. Thanks! THE GABRIEL PROJECT is a collaboration between CHUM and several Hillside congregations. Our collective goal is to support people living in poverty and to strive for social and economic justice throughout Duluth.
CHUM board and congregations to begin considering endorsement of 'Covenant for a New America'
Sourjourners and Call to Renewal are promoting a nonpartisan "Convenant for a New America" that seeks to overcome national and global poverty through religious commitment and political leadership. The covenant seeks work that provides for family economic success and security, and end to childhood poverty, and a concerted response to extensive global poverty.
CHUM's board is considering endorsement of this covenant and it is also being brought before congregational governing bodies. For more information, visit http://www.calltorenewal.com/.
To go to the CHUM website for more information.... go to
