3/8/2010 – Shelter Spotlight #67

Welcome One And All To Another Fun Filled Hatter & Beanz Adventure. As We Catch Up And Provide You With Some Amazing Insight, Let’s Look At Where The Map Will Take Us Today…Well Folks We’re Going To Virginia. We’re Checking Out The Carpenter’s Shelter Of Alexandria,VA. First Off, I’d Like To Send A Congrats! To Fran Becker For Her 12 Years Of Amazing Service Toward The Carpenter’s Shelter, Ms. Becker Will Be Retiring From Her Post July 1st 2010. Secondly, The Carpenter’s Shelter Has Been Able To Achieve Something Very Special Through The Various Outreach Programs And Dedicated Staff That Helps Out All The Homeless Souls That Walk Through Their Doors. The Pure Dedication To Ending Homelessness Is A Task That Encompasses So Much, And Without The Carpenter’s Shelter So Much Of That Progress Would Have never Been Realized. The Carpenter’s Shelter Is Located At 930 North Henry Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

3/5/2010 – Shelter Spotlight #64

Hey Folks, Today Our Journey Takes Us To Omaha Nebraska, And We’re Going Showcase The Siena Francis House. The Siena Francis House Reaches OUt To The Sick, Hungry And Homeless In And Around The Omaha Area Offering Food, Shelter And Open Hearts. The Shelter Is Primarily For Women Who May Have Been Abused Or Experienced Mental Difficulties Throughout Their Lives. The Wonderful Staff Organizes Events, Warm Meals And Clothing Drives For The Embattled Patrons Who Reside At The Facility. The Siena Francis House Is Located At 1702 Nicholas Street, Omaha, NE 68102.

3/3/2010 – Shelter Spotlight #62

Houston In The House !!!! What Up MY Cowboys & Cowgirls, How Ya’ll Doing Today? Just A Few More Weeks Until The Little Guy Spreads Some Green Love Your, Mine And Everyone’s Way. So Here It Goes, We’re Heading To A Mighty Special Place This Evening. I’m Sure All Of You Have Heard Of The Houston Food Bank, Am I Right? Operated By An Amazing Group Of Folks Under The Leadership Of Brian Greene, The Houston Food Bank Certainly Lives Up To Its Promise Of Filling Lives. They Are Located At The Herzstein Center, 3811 Eastex, Houston, Texas, 77026.

 

“The Houston Food Bank is the largest source of free and low-cost food for hungry people in 18 southeast Texas counties.  A network of more than 400 charities, feeding a total of 137,000 people each week, receives more than 46 million pounds of food and prepared meals annually.  Fresh produce, meat and nonperishables are distributed from Herzstein Center, a 73,000 square-foot warehouse, and hot meals are prepared and distributed from Keegan Center, a 15,000 square-foot industrial kitchen. Additional community services range from nutrition education to assistance with food stamp applications and hands-on job training.  Red Barrels offer a convenient way for grocery shoppers to donate nonperishables for their neighbors in need.  The Houston Food Bank, founded in 1982, is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network.  The organization plans to grow to an annual distribution of 120 million pounds of food by 2018″. – From http://www.houstonfoodbank.org

2/14/2010 – Shelter Spotlight #45

Howdy Folks And Happy Valentines Day !!! I Hope Cupid’s Arrow Struck Each And Every One Of You In The Right Place This Year. Tonight We Are Taking The Shelter Spotlight Express Down To Sioux Falls, South Dakota And Featuring The Good Shepherd Ministry Center. The Good Shepherd Ministry Center Is Operated By Maria Krell And Her Wonderful Staff. Together, They Operate The Good Shepherd And Offer Several Programs To The Less Fortunate In and Around The Sioux Falls Area. The Good Shepherd Center Is Located On 300 North Main Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104.

“The Good Shepherd Ministry Center a non-profit, ecumenical ministry, provides daytime shelter and services for people who are homeless, poor or newly arrived in our community. For many, these services make the difference to getting a new start – and rebirth in confidence and hope that leads to a happy ending“. – From Their Website – http://www.goodshepherdsiouxfalls.org

2/9/2010 – Shelter Spotlight #40

Hey There Folks, Happy Snowy Tuesday !! Welcome To Tonight’s Shelter Spotlight, That’s Right Folks We Are The Big 4-0. No We Aren’t Forty Years Old, That Would Make Me A Very Depressing 67. Rather This Is The 40th Installment Of The Ever Popular Segment We Put Together Each & Every Day (Holidays & Weekends Included) Called “Shelter Spotlight“. Tonight Our Year Long Journey Takes Us To Phoenix, Arizona Where We Will Feature “The Phoenix Rescue Mission” Which Was Able To Serve 294,975 Meals Last Year Alone. That’s One of Those Things That Go Beyond Very Impressive And I Think We Should All Give A Standing Ovation To Marlena Padron And Jerry Sandvig And Their Wonderful Staff At The Phoenix Rescue Mission. Three Of The Important Programs I Wanted To Highlight Include The Homeless Emergency Services Program, The Addiction Recovery Program, And Finally The Family And Community Outreach Program. These Programs Along With The Outstanding Work Of Marlena’s Volunteer Staff Make The Phoenix Rescue Mission A Great Operation. The Phoenix Rescue Mission Is Located At 1801 South 35th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, 85009.

“The Phoenix Rescue Mission is a family of people who really care about those who are less fortunate — and who also roll up their sleeves to see that the work of caring for these people actually happens. Our family is made up of a hard-working Board of Directors who give many contributed hours each month to the policies, procedures, and spiritual conformance of the Mission’s operations. Our staff is varied in talent and profession, yet are bound in their common effort and love for the people we serve and the Lord who has charged us to care for them. Our family is blessed with thousands of donors who give of their time, goods, and funds to allow this organization to carry out our work 24 hours each day and seven days each week.We would love to have you join our family in any way your heart may lead you. There are many ways that you can help us feed, clothe, provide shelter to the homeless, and assist young families as they strive to gain the skills and self-confidence needed to become independent“. – From Their Website – http://www.phoenixrescuemission.org

2/4/2010 – Shelter Spotlight #35

Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls, And Welcome To The 35th Installment Of Hatter & Beanz. Tonight We Head West, And Feature For You, The Works Of An Amazing Homeless Shelter Located In Rosevile, CA. The Folks At The Gathering Inn Provide Nearly 17,000 People A Place To Lay Their Head Each Year. That’s Pretty Impressive If You Ask Me. Not Only Are They Accomplishing That Number, But They Accept Folks Both Young And Old As Well. The Gathering Inn Is Located At 201 Berkeley Ave., Roseville, CA 95678.

“On a cold day in January 2004, a group of ministers in Placer County met to talk about a longstanding problem in the community—there was no safe and warm place for people to go if they lacked housing during the coldest months of the year. The ministers represented many different faiths, but felt united in their desire to help those who were suffering each night in the cold. Together, the ministers imagined gathering those who were homeless into the warmth of their churches, to provide supper, overnight accommodations and hospitality. They discussed the nomadic model of care, which had been used successfully in many other parts of the country. It was a simple concept that appealed to them: the site of the hosting church would change from one night to the next“.  – From Their Website – http://www.thegatheringinn.com

You See, All It Takes Is One Night, One Idea And The Rest Is History. Have A Great Night Folks.

1/29/2010 – Shelter Spotlight

Hey There! Tonight, I Get To Go Back Home, And Feature A Local Soup Kitchen Of Sorts. When I Was Younger Lad, Roughly 3-4 Years Ago I Used Hang With My Fellow Irishmen In Times Square, New York City. Today, As A Much Older And Wiser Man, I Can Appreciate Some Of The Great People And Great Organizations NYC Has To Offer. One Of Those Groups Are The Folks Who Twice A Week Offer Up A Meal To Hungry And Homeless That Gather At Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church In New York City. The Soup Kitchen Is Open Every Tuesday And Thursday At 1:00PM. Saint Luke’s Is Located At 308 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036.

“Tradition tells us that Saint Luke was a physician, the author of the third Gospel.  As such he has been for centuries the patron saint of healing.  We invite all people to join us at Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church – The Lutheran Church of Times Square“. – From Their Website.

1/21/2010 – Shelter Spotlight

Hey Folks !!! I’ve Got Some Good News, The Weekend Is Almost Here, And We’re Heading West Once Again. Today We’re Pulling Up To A Place many Of You Have Heard Of, And If You Haven’t You Should Stop In And Tell Them Hatter & Beanz Sent You. They’ll Love The Company, And I’m Pretty Sure You’ll Get Satisfaction Lending Your Helping Hands. There’s A Place In Costa Mesa, CA Called Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, And They Certainly Care Not Only About The Homeless Hungry In Costa Mesa But In The Surrounding Areas As Well. They Are Located At 720 West 19th Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.

“Our mission is simple: To feed a daily nutritional meal to the homeless, the unemployed, the working poor, the mentally challenged, the physically challenged, the senior citizens and most important of all – the children. We provide this meal to our guests in a friendly, non-threatening atmosphere. Our belief is that no one should go to bed hungry, on the street or otherwise. The Soup Kitchen provides a nutritional and tasteful meal to the less fortunate in our community. A meal that we would be proud to serve our family at home. A well-balanced meal made fresh daily consisting of vegetable soup, lettuce and fruit salads, hearty and filling side dishes, breads and muffins, desert, milk and water”. – From Their Website – http://www.someonecareskitchen.org

1/8/2010 – Shelter Spotlight

Hey Folks, it’s day #8 of Operation:365 and boy are we growing in size and scope. Today, I want you to reflect for a moment, and imagine a world without your Blackberry, iPhones, Facebook, Twitters, and CNN. I want you to imagine what it would be like without Fox News, without ESPN and maybe without a vast food choice you get to normally have each night at dinner. I want you to think about what you can do for maybe an hour out of your week, to help someone less fortunate. Maybe give them a bag lunch, or help them cross the street, or even take them to a doctor, but let it be something because to them no matter what, it’s worth the effort.

Todays “Shelter Spotlight” is going to focus on a great soup kitchen in Homestead, FL. The Homestead Soup Kitchen has served about 800,000 meals since 1984, and continues to grow with each and every service. Guided by Ms. Juanita Smith, Homestead Soup Kitchen serves the surrounding communities by offering hot meals and comfort to those who are in need. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such drive and commitment displayed by a Board of Directors in my many years in the financial services marketplace. Homestead Soup Kitchen is located at 105 SW 3rd Ave, Homestead, Florida 33090 and, can be reached at (305) 245-7448.

“It is the mission of the Homestead Soup Kitchen to serve those members of our community in need of a hot meal, regardless of circumstances. By having a “no questions asked” policy, the Soup Kitchen provides in excess of 700 meals a week to people and families of the Greater Homestead/Florida City area and beyond”. – From Their Website – http://www.homesteadsoupkitchen.com

1/5/2010 – Shelter Spotlight

Hey There Folks, It’s Hatter Here Again With Your Daily Dose Of Giving A Little Something Back, Where It’s Most Needed. Today’s Spotlight Is Going To Focus On A Place Called Open Door Community. Open Door Community is another Multi-Tiered Organization, That Feeds The Hungry, Provides Worship, Shelter & Showers To The Less Fortunate And Offers Several Residential Options For Its Members. They Are Hands-On, Hope-Filled And Heart-Driven. Located In Atlanta,GA & Operated By The Resident Followers, Open Door Community Is Bringing Together People In An Effort To Share Thanksgiving & The Catholic Way Of Living Ones Life. The Efforts Of Open Door Community Are Very Well Respected, And We At Hatter & Beanz Want To Send Our Thanks For The Continued Work Of Open Door Community.

“In our life and work together, we strive to encounter and challenge the barriers of sexism, racism and classism that are within our own hearts and in our social structures. Because our community includes African Americans, European Americans, Latinos, women and men, rich and poor, we deal with these issues on a daily basis. Living at the Open Door, therefore, requires a willingness to work for change in our social structures and in ourselves”. - From Open Door Community’s Website - http://www.opendoorcommunity.org