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Ashland

WinterSpring Center for Transforming Grief and Loss

A non-profit that receives no federal funding, WinterSpring has been supporting people in dealing with grief and loss in Jackson County, Oregon, for more than 18 years. The center offers adult support groups as well as programs aimed at assisting children and adolescents through their grief journeys. WinterSpring is staffed by five part-time employees and a group of 100 volunteers, all trained in appropriate, compassionate and empowering support for individuals and families. Schools, employers, community groups and agencies are also well served. Bread for the Journey of Ashland gave a $750 grant toward expanding outreach and support to seniors who are grieving the death of a loved one.

Doula Devotion

Doula Devotion, a holistic support program for childbearing women, promotes awareness of healthy and safe birth practices amongst the greater population of Southern Oregon. Doula Devotion will provide financial support for low-income women and families seeking holistic care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and beyond, including doula care, midwifery, pre- to post-natal yoga, and massage, as well as childbirth education and a network of local care providers and resources. Bread for the Journey of Ashland gratefully awarded $1000 to this worthwhile program.

Dancing People

Bread for the Journey provided funding for at-risk teenage girls to participate in a six-session introductory workshop in aerial dance. Participants came from a local residential program that helps girls gain self-confidence, while realizing the consequences of their actions and making better choices. The workshop offered the girls an opportunity to truly embody those lessons. They not only set individual goals for themselves, but also discovered ways to support their peers as they learned how to work with the apparatus. Each and every one finished the workshop with a renewed sense of accomplishment and self esteem. What a joy to watch their faces as they mounted, stood or took flight with grace and beauty! Bread for the Journey of Ashland granted $700 to Dancing People for this exciting program.

Agnes Baker Pilgrim

At 84, Agnes Baker Pilgrim is the oldest living female directly descended from the ancient Takelma Indians. Honored as a “Living Treasure” by her tribe and as a “Living Cultural Legend” by the Oregon Council of the Arts, “Grandma Aggie” travels the U.S. and around the world as a Voice for the Voiceless, urging us to remember what we all share as people of Mother Earth. Aggie has been a teacher and mentor to many for over 36 years. In 2004, she and 12 other female elders formed the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. Bread for the Journey of Ashland awarded Aggie $650 to continue to do this important work. See www.agnesbakerpilgrim.org

Siskiyou Institute

The Siskiyou Institute is a nonprofit arts organization that promotes quality music and educational events in Ashland. In six years, the Institute has produced more than thirty concerts and workshops at the Old Siskiyou Barn. In 2006, the Institute introduced a new and exciting Artist-in-Schools program. Guest artists may lead a workshop in one or more of the city schools, while local music teachers and performers can provide year-round program opportunities. Bread for the Journey of Ashland granted $1500 to expand this innovative program. See www.siskiyouinstitute.com

At the Helm

With 24 years of professional experience in business and leadership under her belt, Marianne Weidlein is dedicating her current work to clients she calls “youngers” — men and women aged 20-40. She has developed At the Helm, a group tutorial that guides youngers to thoughtfully manage their time, energy, cash flow and assets, while striking a healthy balance between family life and the need to earn a living. As involved family members become more effective in relating, cooperating and managing, they bring enhanced value to their other relationships and endeavors. This, then, can positively affect and inspire the broader community. Bread for the Journey of Ashland granted $1000 toward scholarships for Weidlein’s work. See www.empoweringvision.com

Ashland Center for Creative Aging

Nearly five years ago, healthcare practitioner and author Gaea Yudron envisioned an organization focused on positive aging. She formed the Ashland Center for Creative Aging with programs aimed at advancing the health and wellbeing of older adults, investigating relevant issues and areas of interest to elders, and enhancing community and intergenerational connection. A newsletter, annual conference, regular forums, workshops, cultural/social events are all in the plans. Bread for the Journey of Ashland awarded $1000 toward development of these vital programs.

Community Creative Arts Center

A vision of a nonprofit accessible art space in downtown Ashland is on its way to becoming realized. The Community Creative Arts Center will be a place where tools, materials and instruction in a variety of media will be available, allowing people to learn a new skill, continue an old project, or use the free space to experiment and be creatively inspired. The center will differ from other art organizations through its wide-ranging scope, less expensive fee structure, and focus on building community. Bread for the Journey of Ashland funded $1000 to help achieve the center’s nonprofit status.

Mama Yoga

Sheryl Grunde, founder of Mama Yoga, offers prenatal and postpartum yoga classes to women in an effort to support them in experiencing the physical and emotional wonders of pregnancy, childbirth and new motherhood. The classes offer these benefits in addition to excellent preparation for birth and parenting. Bread for the Journey of Ashland granted $1000 to subsidize scholarships so that Mama Yoga will be able to reach more women and babies in the coming year and provide a solid foundation for the very important journey ahead.

Jiva Dawn

Jiva Dawn is a Montessori-prepared learning environment — founded by Tyre Dawn — that adheres to Permaculture practices and ethics in order to foster the conscious evolutionary emergence of Ashland’s youth and their families and facilitate the earth’s regeneration. Bread for the Journey of Ashland granted $1000 to give two children full scholarships toward the summer course and to qualify for Fall enrollment in Jiva Dawn.

A Day for Dreamers

Canadian poet Wendy Morton took poetry out of bookstores and coffee shops to become famed as Canada’s Poet of the Skies, reading her poems and writing poetry for passengers aboard WestJet Airlines flights. She also was an organizer of Random Acts of Poetry across Canada — a week in which she and other poets take poetry into banks, supermarkets, bakeries, out in the streets, and wherever people will stop and listen. Bread for the Journey of Ashland granted Wendy $500 to bring her workshop, A Day for Dreamers, to make dreams based on flights of fancy to Ashland. It’s all about Possibility - what a great match for BFJ.

More Ashland Stories and contact information.

Atlanta

Opening New Horizons for Vulnerable Children

Through its unique summer camp programs, Camp Horizon restores dignity and hope into the lives of abused and neglected children. Campers aged 8-18 experience unconditional acceptance, trust, love and a large dose of play. The children of Camp Horizon have been placed in the state’s custody for their protection and often live in foster or group homes. They come to Camp Horizon to embark on a journey of self-discovery designed to help them realize they are children of promise with endless possibilities. Campers receive one-to-one counseling, mentoring, and activities designed to build self-esteem, in a recreational camp setting. Alumni campers ages 12-18 are invited to participate in the Leadership Development Program, with opportunities to apply their new skills in service projects to improve their home communities. Bread for the Journey of Atlanta was proud to provide $1,500 to send 3 children to Camp Horizon in the summer of 2008.

School Gardens Cultivate Strong Children

Urban Gateway Gardens (UGG) has a vision to empower vulnerable children to experience a life filled with health, support, joy, diversity, environmental stewardship, love of learning and extraordinary purpose. They use the gateway of hands-on gardening and cooking to nourish and empower children in need with wholesome food, love, and a sense of a connected community while teaching them academic, life, and communication skills. UGG provides local schools with the technical and fundraising support, guidance, and people power they need to build their own gardens and cooking programs.

Bread for the Journey of Atlanta was happy to give Urban Gateway Gardens a grant of $1000 to support their extraordinary program.

Sled Hockey: Disabilities are no barrier

For many physically and mentally disabled children, the excitement of playing hockey may seem an impossible dream. But Onechildhood believes that hockey is for everyone. Through its Sled Hockey Program, Onechildhood empowers disabled children to overcome their disabilities and experience the thrill and intensity of the game first hand. In addition to organizing teams and clinics for disabled athletes, Onechildhood's Sled Hockey Program provides coaching and mentoring to help children make their dreams come true, both on and off the ice. See www.onechildhood.org.

Bread for the Journey of Atlanta was proud to contribute $1000 to purchase 2 new sleds.

More Atlanta Stories and contact information.

Austin

Truth Be Told

Women inmates at a prison in Lockhart, Texas are learning to face the truth of their past, develop a deeper sense of personal responsibility, and embrace the hope of their future through Truth Be Told, an organization which encourages self expression among inmates. Semester-long classes teach the women public speaking, writing and performance art skills as a way of examining their life stories. They also explore their own personal creativity through workshops with visual artists, singers, musicians and dancers. Classes end with a graduation ceremony where participants creatively tell their stories to an audience of 25 guests. Bread for the Journey of Austin gave Truth Be Told a $1,000 grant to help them expand the program to other prisons in Texas. The money helped develop a curriculum tool-kit that volunteers in other prisons to can use to organize and conduct a Truth Be Told program. The goal is to expand the program to 12 different women's prisons. Thanks to BFJ in Austin, the organization is on its way! www.truth-be-told.org

Auto Repair Project of Austin

The Auto Repair Project of Austin (ARPA) provides free car repair to Austin residents in need. Most referrals come from Safe Place of Austin, a local woman’s shelter, and Family Eldercare, a nonprofit organization that provides a range of free services to older adults and people with disabilities. ARPA's vision also includes community convergence and inspiration, as they partner with another local organization, Southwest Key, in order to start a mentoring program for at-risk teens with an interest in car repair. ARPA’s diverse membership includes car mechanics, lawyers, students, and stay-at-home moms who all come together to fix a vehicle and serve each other. With a $1000 grant from Bread for the Journey, ARPA is able to purchase parts and materials for some of its very first repairs. The success of these initial projects will generate the member enthusiasm needed to grow, fund, and fully organize ARPA into an effective and sustainable community service.

 Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition

Since its inception in 2006, the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) has been committed to achieving dignity, equality and respect for Austin’s immigrant community and to achieving recognition by the city of the contributions of immigrant families to its diversity and vitality. While the Coalition has organized numerous mass rallies and marches, their vibrant and enthusiastic coordinator, Caroline Keating Guerra, saw the need for a sustained movement that would be able to retain the groups and individuals who participate in them. Toward this end, the Coalition was granted $500 by Bread for the Journey of Austin to develop a website that would provide information to potential members, enabling them to build their base and effectively carry out their mission.

Austin Bat Cave

Austin Bat Cave (ABC) is a new nonprofit organization providing children and teenagers, ages 6-18, with opportunities to develop their creative and expository writing outside of the classroom. They connect a diverse population of young writers and learners with a vibrant community of adult volunteers in Austin. On June 1st, they moved into their first home after an initial year of offering workshops with various host organizations scattered around the city. With a $1000 grant from Bread for the Journey, they renovated a beautiful space to meet their needs. They also purchased worktables and painting supplies, set up a communications infrastructure for their new office, and decorated a "storefront" reading/breakout area with pillows and rugs. A weeklong summer program will serve 40 kids and feature guest workshops from local novelists, poets, playwrights, and screenwriters, as well as a major journalism component in partnership with Texas Monthly.

Uplift Austin

Founded by Gina LaMotte, Uplift Austin is an innovative, multi-disciplinary program that takes the form of an elective course in Austin’s most impoverished high schools. Uplift Austin invites a team of design professionals and university students representing the fields of landscape design, interior design, green building and public art to introduce students to the world of design while planning and implementing a colorful and eco-friendly renovation of their own school. Youth will be empowered as leaders and change agents in their community while gaining skills in the growing field of green building and design. “Having spent the last eight years working in impoverished communities throughout developing countries and in the U.S.; I had come to consciously recognize the effect dismal spaces had on people’s health and self-esteem. I began developing my own venture which marries the issues most important to my heart: community empowerment, education, sustainable living and the advancement of public arts and beauty.” Bread for the Journey of Austin wholeheartedly supports Gina’s passion and winning combination by contributing $1000 to assist Uplift Austin in creating a website to garner online donations and support.

Giving Voice to Promising Young Leaders

“The CIPHER – Austin’s Hip Hop Project” provides training, exposure to the Austin music industry, and other new experiences for youth living in educationally and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in East Austin. The founders’ vision is to help develop young leaders, writers, spoken-word and Hip-Hop artists, with the intent of strengthening these communities in various ways. The teachers themselves grew up here, and found ways to make their voices heard through the arts. The project has recruited 25 young adults (ages 15-21), mostly referred by probation officers and various social-service organizations throughout Austin. The skills gained through the program will take them farther in life than they would have thought possible. By engaging the youth in community events, rallies and festivals, and providing opportunities to meet with committed mentors, musicians, poets, and community leaders, they will establish positive relationships, develop new coping skills, and create their own opportunities in culturally relevant ways. Bread for the Journey of Austin was delighted to support the production of the Project’s first CD with a $1000 grant.

The Power of Hats, Hair and Heart

 As a breast cancer survivor and the founder of the Breast Cancer Advocacy, Awareness, and Outreach Center, Deborah Duncan Hurdle had a long-held dream to host Austin’s First Cultural Showcase of Hats, Hair, and Health in September 2008. With the African American population disproportionately affected by Breast Cancer, this Showcase will celebrate the cultural interlacing of hats, hair, and health, while raising awareness of the need for self-exams, mammograms, and the community supports that are available to those in need. Bread for the Journey of Austin was proud to grant $1000 in order to assist Deborah with this worthwhile endeavor.

A Sanctuary for Seniors

Ms. Ethyl Sharp describes the Senior Program at St. John’s Community Center in Northeast Austin as “The United Nations.” The program has a history of “caring and sharing … a place where peace abounds … because of its diversity, it should be a model for all America to see.” Bread for the Journey of Austin supported Ethyl’s vision for a garden sanctuary, providing $500 for benches, birdfeeders, and shrubs to complement the raised garden beds where seniors cultivate vegetables and herbs to share with others. “All are welcome to this sanctuary,” as Ms. Sharp proclaimed. ”Love is the warden” at 7500 Blessing Avenue in Austin.

More Austin Stories and contact information.

Chicago

Hearing My Fathers Voice

When a parent is incarcerated, children are cut off from the opportunity to experience the daily love, nourishment and support that parent could provide. Companions Journeying Together works to bridge that gap, and help incarcerated fathers reach out and be a positive force in their children’s lives. The Father’s Read Project helps create a healthy connection for fathers and children, with a positive focus on learning. Volunteers help pick out a culturally and age-appropriate book for each child. Then, the program records the father reading the book for his children. The hope of the program is to allow children to hear their father’s voice when they cannot be near him physically, and to encourage positive relationships and reading experiences. In 2003, Fathers Read was instituted at the Sheridan Correctional Center, the first substance-abuse rehabilitation prison in the nation. With the support of Program Warden Jordan-Luster, the Father’s Read project has served over 200 men and their children. Bread for the Journey of Chicago was happy to grant $2,000 to Companions Journeying Together to purchase books for the Father’s Read Project.

Denver

Honoring Black Pioneers in Music

As a graduate student in music at the University of Colorado (CU), Fred Peterbark wanted to honor African-American musicians who broke the color barrier in the areas of operatic performance and operatic and symphonic composition. In addition, he wanted to create a template for students on how to put together a musical production. Fred decided to create his own concert to figure out what steps were involved. As part of CU’s Black History month, in 2007, he created “A Tribute to Black Pioneers in Music Performance” and brought together an accomplished group of African American musicians. Fred was thrilled with the support from the University and the community for his first production and the performance came off flawlessly. Fred described it by saying, “I fulfilled my dream with this concert – not to make it happen, but to sit in the audience and watch the fruits of your labor.” He quickly was asked to reproduce this concert on January 16, 2009, in conjunction with the University of Denver and the Lamont School of Music at the Newman Center for Performing Arts. Bread for the Journey of Denver was proud to give Fred a $1000 grant to contribute toward this educational and entertaining production.

Community Theatre for Children with Disabilities

Gloria Seiman is a member of the African American Parent Leadership Association, an independent group of women of color who are parents of children, some of whom have disabilities.  AAPLI works to enable women of color to gain skills and knowledge to become community advocates working at the grassroots level to develop and sustain a leadership network actively involved in improving the lives of women and children in underserved areas.  One of the ways that AAPLI encourages increased civic engagement is through the arts. Bread for the Journey of Denver made a grant of $1000 to the Association to help pay the rent for a community theater so that the disabled students can participate in an after-school theater program with their peers.

The United Church of Montbello is located in a racially diverse section of northeast Denver. But, as is often the case, different racial groups each go to their own separate churches. The United Church of Montbello is interdenominational so part of their purpose has always been to bring the community together. They wanted all the neighbors of Montbello who were in need to feel welcome at their cooperative food bank. They planned a series of community dinners and invited members from throughout the community and included discussions on different topics of relevance to the community. Their hope is that by bringing the community together at these events, their relationship with other churches will be strengthened and together they will be better able to serve the community during these difficult times. Bread for the Journey of Denver was pleased to give the Montbello Cooperative Food Bank a grant of $1000 to support their efforts.

Elza Kominski has a dream to help low-income women access holistic health services that can help them support their own health. During a difficult period in her life, Elza discovered Body Talk, a therapy form that uses state-of-the-art energy medicine to optimize the body’s internal communications so that it can more effectively respond to injury and illness. She found immediate relief emotionally, spiritually and physically. Elza’s dream is to create a community clinic offering integrative medicine at an affordable cost. She is particularly interested in helping low-income women to access the services that were so helpful to her. Bread for the Journey of Denver gave Elza a small grant of $500 to acquire some of the supplies and materials she will need to get her idea off the ground.

For 30 years, People House has been responding to their community’s needs for emotional healing and spiritual growth. In recent years, they have seen a growing crisis among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. People House is launching a Veteran’s Re-integration Program to help military families struggling with the process of bringing soldiers home after deployment. Their team of therapists and care providers created this program out of their desire to support returning soldiers to resume happy and healthy lives. They were concerned that health issues, financial challenges and the changes that people go through during separation would put additional stress on families with returning Vets. Veterans often have higher incidence of divorce, domestic problems, homelessness, unemployment and suicide. It is their hope that they will be able to support families and also provide links to other beneficial community services. Bread for the Journey of Denver gave People House a $1000 grant to create marketing materials to get the word out to vets and their families in need of these therapeutic and mentoring services.

Sunnyside Music Festival

Back in 2000, a group of neighbors in northwest Denver decided to host a bluegrass concert in one of their backyards, as a way to get to know each other and enjoy some music on a warm summer night. Seven years later the event has grown to become the Sunnyside Music Festival, with over 7000 attendees, now held in Chaffee Park. It includes all types of music, arts and crafts, foods and treats from local businesses, and family fun. The intent is still to welcome all the neighbors of northwest Denver and to build community in this transitional neighborhood. This free event is run entirely by volunteers, with proceeds from vendors going to support the Conflict Center, a local organization that promotes peaceful conflict resolution and teaches these skills to parents and youth. Bread for the Journey of Denver gave the Sunnyside Music Festival a $500 grant to support their marketing efforts and their new children’s play area.

Let Us Rise

Let Us Rise is an organization that supports individuals, non-profits, congregations, local businesses, clubs and other groups in working together to create a society rooted in love, personal responsibility and democracy. Local people in Denver will host a Visioning Circle with friends or members of their organization. By reflecting on a series of questions, each group creates their own vision for a better world. Each vision is shared on the website and, over time, each group’s vision will become part of a collective action plan that will begin to implement that shared vision. The website encourages participants to “imagine what we could do if each one of us takes responsibility for the power we have to create our world anew.” Bread for the Journey of Denver gave this very inspiring and diverse group a $1500 grant, enabling them to offer training to the volunteer facilitators of the community Visioning Circles.

Richard Flores Magon Academy Community Event

Richard Flores Magon Academy is a year-old, college preparatory, public charter school in the Denver suburb of Westminster Colorado. With the inspiration of Ricardo Flores Magon, who helped to save the Mexican people from the oppressive dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, students at Magon Academy are encouraged to move beyond the restrictions of the limited circumstances into which they may have been born while never needing to choose to abandon their cultural heritage as they prepare for high school, college and beyond. The new school chose to locate in a portion of Adams County with particularly poor test scores, with a high percentage of immigrant and ESL students. As they started their second year in operation, they realized the need to build better relationships with surrounding community businesses and organizations, with the hope that these efforts will support the education of their students. Bread for the Journey of Denver gave them a $300 grant to host a community dinner that will showcase the school’s efforts through student presentations, exhibitions and a video.

North High School Leaves a Green Legacy

Over the years, Denver’s North High School has had many students drop out before graduating, and few who have gone on to college. Recent test scores verify that only a small number of students are meeting grade-level expectations. Following a community-wide effort, North High was renamed the North High School Institute for World Learning, as new resources and efforts have been aimed toward turning the school’s image and achievement levels around. Through a service-learning program, both students and the surrounding community could begin to see these young people as empowered and valuable members of their community. Jennifer Draper, the Public Relations Liaison, worked with students to design a tree-planting project that would help beautify their campus and also benefit the community. Thanks to Jennifer’s efforts, most of the supplies were either donated or given at a reduced cost. Bread for the Journey of Denver granted $800 to cover the final costs and a sign identifying the new “forest” as the Tree Nursery Service Learning Project.

Art in Commerce City

Over the years, Carol Kentworthy has taken many seminars to learn different art techniques, finding ways to turn the arts and crafts she loves into gifts for her community in Commerce City, Colorado. Carol teaches classes in acrylics and then works with her female students on projects that benefit nonprofits and people in need. Her students make memory boxes for families suffering the loss of a child, and make treasure boxes for patients in local nursing homes. Carol also teaches classes to children at elementary schools and sponsors an annual crafts show at the high school. As her skill level has increased, so has the popularity and size of her classes. Bread for the Journey of Denver gave Carol a small grant of $800 to purchase a projector and equipment that will allow her to more effectively teach larger classes.

Justice High

As a juvenile judge in Boulder, Colorado, Magistrate TJ Cole found that many local kids with truancy, expulsion and drug- and alcohol-related problems were falling through the cracks. So he and other community members started the college preparatory Justice High in the Boulder County Courthouse. The school helps kids learn by teaching classical subjects and applying them to real-life situations. Each summer, students have an opportunity to study abroad, where they learn about the culture, zoology, biology, political science and sociology of that particular country. In the summer of 2008, they planned a visit to the Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary in Reserva Natural Aboluta Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica. There, the students would help to reintroduce and protect local endangered species. After meeting with two students and sensing their excitement about the trip, Bread for the Journey of Denver granted $1500 toward the group’s fundraising goals, helping the youth apply their knowledge in a real-life setting.

Taste of Whittier

A few years back, a group of parents joined forces to support the local school and build stability in the Whittier neighborhood of Denver. An area in transition, Whittier has many low-income families, and also young families who have recently become attracted by its central location and historic housing stock. The Taste of Whittier event has grown out of their efforts. Bread for the Journey of Denver contributed $750 to cover costs that could not be raised from other sources. The event will spotlight the diversity of cultures and businesses that make up the neighborhood. Funds raised from the event will benefit the school by helping to support its dances, student council, plays and musicals — the types of events that help to build great memories for school kids everywhere.

Celebration of Families and Students

Each year, Robbi Bean and a dedicated group of friends and neighbors host a Celebration of Families and Students in their Northeast Denver Community. They bring together individuals, businesses, schools, churches and organizations to recognize the accomplishments of young people who write, and create art and music along themes that celebrate the family. At the ceremony, each child is recognized individually while their families proudly watch and give applause to all of the other exceptional students as well. The Celebration is advertised by word of mouth and at recreational centers, churches and schools. Nominated students meet throughout the year for educational programs and presentations that all culminate in the final celebration. Ms. Bean was a teacher her whole career and she feels that this celebration offers, “another way of learning.” Bread for the Journey of Denver was pleased to give the group $600 to help cover costs for the event, including small gifts that are then awarded to the students.

More Denver stories and contact information.

Flagstaff

Apache Fair Trade Cooperative

Indigenous arts are not only a life force in preserving tribal traditions and maintaining cultural viability, but can also be an economic engine for impoverished communities. However, the artisans of Arizona’s White Mountain and San Carlos Apache nations live in isolated, remote places far from the gift shops and galleries where their work is sold. They seldom receive a fair price for their baskets, jewelry, and leatherwork. In the summer of 2008, the artisans formed a fair trade organization that will return a higher margin to its members through direct sales. The goal of the Apache Fair Trade Cooperative (AFTCO) is to foster economic justice and strengthen Apache communities through a self-sustaining crafts industry. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff contributed $650 for photography, text, travel, and design expenses to AFTCO for use in a brochure and website (www.apachefairtrade.com), and a flyer for their first crafts fair in the city of Phoenix. That event netted $6,638, with $4,096 going to the artisans and the rest to be invested in future shipments to shops. BFJ of Flagstaff was pleased to help the cooperative launch this exciting new venture.

A Little Privacy for the Homeless

At 7,000 feet above sea level, Flagstaff’s nights can be bitterly cold, posing very real threat to the lives of homeless members of the community. Flagstaff’s new Phoenix Street Shelter offers the homeless protection from the cold nights. However, the shelters business and residential neighbors expressed concern that the shelter would “degrade” the neighborhood. The shelter devised a plan to address neighbors’ concerns, while preserving the dignity of shelter clients, by building a privacy fence that creates an outdoor space for residents to enjoy fresh air during the day. Jeff Hartin, owner of a local landscaping business, designed a simple landscape plan but came up short on fencing materials. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaffdonated $250 toward a privacy fence, which Jeff constructed with the help of clients working for their room and board.

Jeff tells us: “I’ve already put in quite a few hours over there in volunteer time, and I must tell you it has been quite educational and has knocked down many misconceptions I used to have about the homeless. Most of all, I must tell you these men are God’s creations, just like you and I. Their roads have not been filled with the same blessings we’ve enjoyed.  Mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, as well as just plain bad luck and poor decisions have plagued these men and our charity is absolutely needed. This facility is on the front lines fighting for the dignity of these men. This facility will save lives this winter.”

A Wild Heart

Cindy Wilder is a cottontail and jackrabbit rehabilitator licensed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Throughout the year, she cares for sick, injured, and abandoned wild rabbits. Many of her patients have been caught by cats or hit by cars, and one was even kicked by a mule! Once they recover, she releases the animals back into the wild. Through her work, Cindy saves the lives of many animals while at the same time educating people about the ecological role and life cycle of these creatures and the importance of controlling their own dogs, cats, cars and mules. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff donated $902.67 for the purchase of a humidified incubator to increase the survival rate of the wild animals that Cindy rescues.

Shared Earth Network

The Shared Earth Network (SEN) of Flagstaff is a citywide, faith-based network whose mission is to bring transformation by uniting people of faith to advocate for environmental sustainability. SEN links people of different faiths in an email network to share information, events and action alerts. Planned projects include sponsoring an annual workshop on faith and environmental sustainability, organizing a prayer chain, and starting a Creation Care Fair where members can share their activities, programs, information and ideas. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff contributed $928.74 to the Shared Earth Network for startup expenses, including the production of a banner for tabling events, cards explaining the organization, and t-shirts for members to wear at public events.

The Northern Arizona Forum on Leadership

One snowy day in December, some friends were talking politics over lunch. While everyone knew where their candidates stood on the issues of the day, no one had thought about how each of them would react to something unforeseen. If elected, how would their candidate go about making the necessary decisions? The friends decided to ask a diverse group of distinguished local citizens to describe the qualities they look for in potential leaders. The audience would be provided with blank “voter’s guides” to fill out during the program, for use in evaluating the statements and actions of candidates in the upcoming Arizona primary. When the day came, about seventy people listened to insights from diverse individuals, resulting in a convergence of views about what a good leader has to offer. Bread for the Journey of Flagstaff sponsored the Northern Arizona Forum on Leadership with $225 for miscellaneous needs, from copy services to refreshments.

More Flagstaff Stories and contact information.

Indianapolis

When children become seriously ill or injured, families often must travel hundreds of miles to seek medical treatment for their child, far away from the comfortable surroundings of their family, friends, and home. The Ronald McDonald House is a home-away-from-home, offering a refuge from the hospital setting for families of seriously ill or injured children hospitalized in the Indianapolis area. In addition to volunteering their time to cook and serve meals, Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis provided a $100 grant to the families of the Ronald McDonald House at Riley Children’s Hospital. The grant was used to purchase food for the pantry, lunch and snacks, holiday fruit, and homemade baked goods. BFJ of Indianapolis was pleased to help offer comfort and nurture in simple ways to these families so far from home.

Students Beautify School Grounds

At Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, students in the Entrepreneur-Club had a vision to help beautify their school through a landscaping project. Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis was honored to award the E-Club with a grant of $400 to purchase mulch for the project. The landscaping project is drawing in other community volunteers in the effort, and while they are still raising funds to complete the whole project, BFJ is proud to help these students bring their vision to fruition.

Body And Soul

The Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC) works with community partners to reduce health disparities experienced by racial and ethnic minorities by increasing access to needed healthcare and improving health literacy. In Indianapolis, local African American churches are partnering with the IMHC and the American Cancer Society to implement a nutrition and health program that is culturally appropriate to help prevent and reduce disease such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer in the African American community. The project is part of a national effort sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis was pleased to award a grant of $600 to local African American churches to assist in the effort.

Shelter for Homeless Men at the Light House

The Lighthouse Mission in Indianapolis provides assistance to the poor, the homeless, and the hungry with their spiritual, physical, and social needs. They have a 65-bed shelter for men in the heart of the city. Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis was inspired by Ambria Sigger and a group of students from Franklin College who assisted shelter residents this summer. Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis was pleased to contribute $300 to the Lighthouse to provide loving shelter to men in need.

Girl Scouts in Action to Serve their Community

Girl Scout Troop #106 was started in 2007 with young ladies ages 13, 14 and 15, who were not currently active with Girl Scouts. Troop #106 had a vision to serve their community by helping with projects at Habitat for Humanity, cleaning the Ronald McDonald house at Riley Children’s Hospital, and preparing and serving lunch to families staying at the house. Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis was inspired by these young women, and was honored to award a $100 grant to assist the troop with membership fees and transportation costs to complete their Community Service projects.

Helping Elders Meet their Needs Proactively

Proactive Concierge provides much needed support services for Indianapolis’ low-income senior community. They help seniors maintain independent living by assisting them with maid service, errand service, drop off and pick up services for medical needs, and house-sitting. The grant will enable Proactive to continue servicing the Senior Community. Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis was pleased to award a $300 grant to Proactive Concierge to continue this important service to our low-income seniors in need.

Supporting our Most Vulnerable Sisters and Brothers

Faith in God Ministries in Indianapolis reaches out to our community’s most vulnerable members. They provide support services, transportation, clothing, food, shelter for the homeless, home care and companionship, ministerial services, and other supports to meet basic and immediate needs. Bread for the Journey of Indianapolis is honored to support this ministry of compassion and practical assistance with a grant of $200.

More Indianapolis Stories and contact information.

Kauai

Holiday Hams

When an economic crisis hits, low-income community members are often the first to feel the effects, and suffer the most. The demand for emergency food from the Kauai Food Bank has increased 25% over the last year, while food donations from local grocery stores have been decreasing. Each Christmas season the Food Bank distributes hams to the needy. This year they were having great difficulty in raising funds to support this project. Bread for the Journey of Kauai was pleased to make a grant of $1,000 to make Holiday hams a reality for our community members in need.

Making Music to Build Scholastic Skills

The Garden Island Arts Council’s Van Gogh! Program brings cultural art programs to communities and schools all over Kauai. Carrie and Wendy Valentine, both accomplished musicians, wanted to devise a fun way for children to create musical instruments, while strengthening their scholastic skills. K-6 students from schools all over Kauai will use math and measurements to design and create their own musical instruments. They will learn how musical instruments vibrate in a series of fractions creating harmonics. They will use Native plant life from Kauai such as bamboo and gourds to construct the instruments, and then they’ll learn to play rhythmic patterns in a percussion band. BFJ of Kauai was thrilled to make a grant of $1,000 to help launch this innovative new project.

Hawaiian Studies Program

Preserving knowledge of indigenous Hawaiian culture is a key value at the Island School on Kauai. Through its Hawaiian Studies program, all students in grades K-5, and the high school hula class learn about Hawaiian language, culture, history, music and dance. Bread for the Journey of Kauai was happy to make a grant of $500 to purchase new resource books on Hawaiian culture for the elementary program, and hula implements and costumes for the high school hula class.

Radio Station Upgrades Keep Kauai Connected

Radio station KKCR is a critical lifeline for Kauai’s residents, especially in times of crisis. Kauai’s only independent, non-commercial, listener-supported, community radio station, KKCR broadcasts island-wide emergency information during times of crisis such as storms, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters. In addition, KKCR makes airtime available for overlooked, suppressed, or under-represented voices, issues, public affairs, and music. In order to keep providing this important community service, KKCR needs to replace their aging transmitter and a fragile fiber-optic cable link that carries their signal from the studio to the uplink to their transmitter. Bread for the Journey of Kauai was pleased to provide a grant of $1,000 to be used as seed money to help KKCR launch the capital fund-raising effort that will make the upgrades possible.

More Kauai Stories and contact information.

Oakland

Jazz: The Next Generation Music Project

Jazz: The Next Generation Music Project is the brainchild of 14-year old Ayinde Webb, a tremendously enthusiastic young man inspired by the music classes he is taking at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music (OPC). At the encouragement of mentors at the Conservatory and local jazz artists in the community, Ayinde plans to build a music program for youth. Jazz musician mentors will provide music lessons to a group of 10 youth from under-resourced environments. In addition, the youth will support one another as peer role models. The goals of Ayinde’s new program include music appreciation and lessons in jazz, blues, and gospel; Friday night jam sessions for youth and mentors; and a venue to showcase developing talent.

Bread for the Journey of Oakland was honored to provide $1000 to Jazz: The Next Generation Music Project as seed money to get this program off the ground. When asked to share his story, Ayinde said: “I feel that being a part of OPC's events help keep me and other young people out of trouble. Everyone who visits OPC falls in love with it as soon as they walk in the door. It feels just like home, and I am glad that there are places like this out there where the youth of the community can hone their musical talents.”

Teen Talk and “Stay in School”

Dee Johnson has a heart to enhance the quality of life of inner city youth, especially those who reside in homeless shelters. So in 1998, she formed the Lend A Hand Foundation. One of the foundation’s programs, A Teen Talk Program, provides a safe place for teens at the shelter to talk about issues that affect them and to engage in life skill workshops. Workshops include career and financial planning, making the right romantic decisions, arts and crafts, leadership training, and healthy lifestyles. Lend A Hand wants to make sure the youth knew that even though they are in a homeless situation, they are not hopeless.

This spring, the Teen Talk Program is launching a new project, called the “Stay in School” incentives project. The project empowers youth to stay in school by providing tutoring support as well as help with books and supplies if they stay in school and work hard at furthering their education. Bread for the Journey of Oakland was honored to grant $900 for the Teen Talk “Stay in School” project. We wish Dee and the teens success!

Urban Sprouts School Gardens

Urban Sprouts School Gardens is a nonprofit organization that serves low-income youth from San Francisco’s underserved neighborhoods. Urban Sprouts builds new gardens and revitalizes old, overgrown ones at elementary, middle and high schools in San Francisco. The organization teaches students to grow, harvest, prepare and eat vegetables from the school garden in order to help them become more engaged in school, eat better, exercise more, and connect with the environment and each other. Each year, Urban Sprouts works with over 750 youth at five San Francisco public schools. Bread for the Journey of Oakland is honored to grant Urban Sprouts $500 for their efforts to construct wheelchair-accessible raised garden beds at Martin Luther King Middle School. Future plans include an “urban farm,” which may include a greenhouse, chickens and, quite possibly, beehives in the next few years. Urban Sprouts has also started working this year with a group of parents interested in improving school food, so they are now involved in urban policy efforts to try to make school food fresher and healthier.

“I’m With the Band”

Created by Tamra Engle, “I’m With the Band” is a new program that benefits kids ages 6-17 in the San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa unified school districts, where music education and after-school programs have been dramatically cut or altogether eliminated. The program will help kids create, play and record their own music in a band setting, where they learn teamwork and goal setting, and build a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Kids who do not have “performance aspirations” can work with behind-the-scenes tools to record the songs of the performers. “I’m With the Band” plans to host a Studio HQ, and provide in-school programs, band camps, and local performance showcasing opportunities for the kids in the program. Bread for the Journey of Oakland was happy to grant $1000 for the purchase of musical instruments for the children.

Young Shakespeare Workshop

Young Shakespeare Workshop (YSW) brings together Seattle-area students from all backgrounds and creates a community bound by love of the English language and the work of William Shakespeare. Among other things, YSW supports the work of high school language arts teachers whose classes are studying Shakespeare. Bread for the Journey of Seattle was pleased to fund a YSW residency at Seattle’s Cleveland High School with a grant of $500.

Social Justice Educational Workshops

After successfully establishing On the Bricks as a mentorship program for at-risk and incarcerated youth, former participants wanted to become more involved in their community. During the mentorship program, they engaged in one-on-one and peer group counseling, as well as other workshops specifically designed for them. On the heels of this experience, they approached On the Bricks’ program leader Tony Coleman with a desire to help others by sharing what they learned. Former program participants will be trained to facilitate workshops in the Bay Area primarily for at-risk and formally incarcerated youth. The workshops will be tailored to youth, young adults, and staff with a focus on political education, conflict resolution, and leadership. Bread for the Journey of Oakland granted $600 to One Fam, the organization representing the workshop project, as seed money to help the program get off the ground.

More Oakland stories and contact information.

Orange County

The best predictor for high school success and completion is student success in elementary and middle school. For vulnerable children, early intervention is critical for helping them to succeed as students and citizens. Bread for the Journey of Orange County has a heart for helping vulnerable children in their community. Wilson Elementary School in Costa Mesa is a Title 1 school with 78% English Language Learners and 92% socio-economically disadvantaged families.  Reading coach Peggy Fox is working with Wilson students to build their literacy and language skills, as well as their self-confidence. Ms. Fox wanted to purchase an interactive software program for her reading program, but the district couldn’t provide the funds.   Bread for the Journey of Orange Countystepped in with a grant of $750 to purchase the Get Set To Read program, providing an essential tool to help 88 sixth graders strengthen their English language usage and thrive as students. 

Foster children are among our most vulnerable children. Medically fragile preemies, infants and young children often must wait longer for loving homes than healthy ones. Loving, nurturing care at these young ages is vital to their healing and healthy development.  Angels in Waiting provides medical care and emotional support with trained nurses and other loving adults.  Medically fragile, injured, and abused foster children are "healed and held" during this vulnerable time as they wait for appropriate homes.  Angels in Waiting was seeking a grant from GlobalGiving, and needed to raise $3,000 from more than 75 unique donors. Bread for the Journey of Orange County was pleased to give their name and $200 toward this worthy effort

Mission Accomplished

For 27 years, Tom Serafin was an "on the street" police officer working with youth crime and violence. While he saw young people with no support or language fluency, low self-esteem and a belief that no one cared, he also knew that this cycle could be broken with early recognition and intervention. So the Santa Ana Police, in conjunction with Santa Ana Parks and Recreation formed a crime prevention program employing educational, athletic and recreational activities to create trust and understanding between youths and law enforcement. It focuses on at-risk students to combat gang membership, gang violence and school drop outs, and Tom was the officer put in charge of the program.

The "Drop In Center" took over an abandoned library building staffed with police officers and volunteers. It provides students not only with a safe haven, but with tutoring, computer access, educational materials and peer support groups that offer a place to talk about problems. Bread for the Journey of Orange County provided a $3000 grant to help furnish the "Drop In Center" with comfortable new chairs for the reading/media area.

The Beat Goes On

Jolene Smith and Laurel Santana are two young teachers at Las Palmas Elementary School in San Clemente who share a passion for music — especially percussion. When the school district cut music programs due to a lack of funding, Jolene and Laurel decided to provide three-fourths of the percussion instruments with their own money. Bread for the Journey of Orange County gave a grant of $915 for the purchase of two new xylophones so they could expand their program to include 30 children from kindergarten through fourth grade. There is now a waiting list for the Las Palmas Percussionists, who play for school activities, parent programs and local events.

Manipulative Math

Mrs. Rossano teaches learning-disabled fourth and fifth-graders at Monroe Elementary School in Santa Ana. Since these children learn at their own speed and in their own best modalities, she's found "manipulatives" to be extremely helpful, especially in the area of math. These concrete visuals bridge the gap from the tangible to the conceptual. Pocket charts, colored pens, even food items can help these students make the leap from five lollipops and four jelly beans, to the concept of nine pieces of candy. Bread for the Journey of Orange County gave a grant of $450 to help Mrs. Rossano make learning exciting and meaningful for her students through the use of manipulative materials.

Symbols Matter

The fifth-grade students within a low socio-economic community in Santa Ana asked their teacher, Mary Pittaway, why their classroom didn't have a real flag to salute in the morning. Instead, theirs was drawn on the blackboard in red, white and blue chalk. They didn't have a world map, either, so Bread for the Journey of Orange County spent $278.82 to bring these two items into their classroom. The students sang for us and wrote thank you notes. It was a great day in Mary Pittaway’s room at Lowell Elementary School, and another heart-warming one for Bread for the Journey of Orange County.

Math Class Evolves

Mr. Ashendorf teaches mathematics at Back Bay Alternative High School in Costa Mesa, California. As he tells it, "years of drill and kill has succeeded" in subduing his students’ interest in mathematics, and that they are reluctant to make the mental effort to work through problems. In using calculators, however, the experience becomes much more interesting. Bread for the Journey of Orange County gave a grant of $100to buy 15 Casio calculators with natural fractions, to be shared among 120 students. The students call them "sexy" and actually fight over them. Mr. Ashendorf was ecstatic in his thank you letter, explaining how exciting it was to see his students finally participating and enjoying his class.

An Angel for the Homeless

The homeless population of Orange County is estimated at 35,000 and growing. For four years, Sue Sonnenberg and her volunteers have been frequenting parking lots, emergency shelters, and mental health facilities in Santa Ana, distributing over 1200 pieces of clothing a month. They set up tables with the clothing ordered by gender and size, have a numbered waiting system, and call most of the recipients by name. Sue is particularly delighted when she can give someone with an upcoming job interview an appropriate outfit, plus a five-piece toiletry pack with a razor. "It's such an esteem builder to feel decent about the way you look." Each year, clothing stores and private individuals dispose of thousands of items without considering the poor and homeless, or even taking the items to thrift stores. Through a $1600 grant, Bread for the Journey of Orange Country partnered with Sue to help with storage rental and the purchase of underwear, which is hard to find in good used condition.

More Orange County stories and contact information.

Portland

Many and One

Founded by Pious Ali, the Maine Interfaith Youth Alliance is dedicated to bringing together youths of myriad religious, national, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds who are interested in bridging gaps and coming to understand and appreciate each other more deeply. MIYA intends to hold regular gatherings, run educational programs and present communal art that speaks to our collective need to know and love each other in spite of our differences. Additionally, they will introduce an Interfaith Youth Service program where youth of various traditions will come together for annual service projects that benefit the Greater Portland community. Bread for the Journey of Portland granted $1800 to Maine Interfaith Youth Alliance to purchase a laptop computer and other startup supplies.

It Takes a Garden

Since its fall 2007 opening, East End Community School in Portland, Maine, has consistently sought to be a comprehensive resource for its vibrant neighborhood and beyond. Last spring, the PTO (Parent/Teacher Organization) embarked on an ambitious project to create a community garden on the school grounds, to be used by students during the school day as well as by parents and other community members at other times. With grants from the City of Portland and others, they built garden beds, lined up seed sources and put the infrastructure in place. With a $1000 grant from Bread for the Journey of Portland, they were able to purchase tools and other supplies.

Different Words, Same Language

With 21 different native languages spoken by its student body, Hall Elementary School has long been at the vanguard of efforts to increase awareness and inclusion of the many diverse communities within Portland, Maine. To kick off the school's 50 th anniversary last spring, a group of parents, led by Lisa Thomas-Prince and Deb Rothenberg, hosted a multicultural literacy fair at the Hall library. The centerpiece of this fair was the display of a new collection of bilingual books, representing nine languages -- from Arabic to Khmer to Serbo-Croatian to Swahili and others -- that are most commonly spoken within their district. Native speakers read aloud from the new books and a packed house of Hall students and parents got a direct experience of the true wealth in their own community. Bread for the Journey of Portland contributed $350 to purchase the initial collection of bilingual books.

More Portland stories and contact information.

San Diego

Chula Vista Fastpitch Girls Softball League:

Jackson and Nicholle Wyatt are teachers at a Catholic girls’ school in San Diego. Both sports enthusiasts, Jackson coaches for the Chula Vista High School Girls Softball Team in his “spare” time. As someone who grew up in Chula Vista, Jackson was aware of untapped potential for sports leagues, particularly for young girls, in the lower income portions of Chula Vista. With that in mind, he and Nicholle identified an abandoned softball field that was owned by a local church, and met with church officials to discuss its reclamation. The church agreed and the Wyatts single-handedly pulled together a board of parents and supporters and have begun to raise funds. They have spent up to $4,000 of their own money to begin to clean up and reclaim the ball field. A $500 grant from the San Diego chapter of Bread for the Journey will assist them as they continue toward creating a new girls’ softball league. They have already had 110 young girls come forward to register to play. They are also hoping to secure a grant from the Padres baseball team, which would pay for the remainder of the restoration project.

Southern Sudanese Community Center

Located in the heart of City Heights, the Southern Sudanese Community Center of San Diego (SSCCSD) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with the mission to assist all Sudanese refugees in their resettlement through education, social, economic, and cultural support. The refugees are guided towards self-sufficiency and full integration into American society while achieving dignity as new Americans. Aid is also provided to children in Southern Sudan, since many of these African children have lost one or both parents to war and genocide. The SSCCSD provides support for those who have immigrated from war-torn Southern Sudan, with most of its staff members being unpaid volunteers. Bread for the Journey of San Diego met with SSCCSD Executive Director Dep Tuaney, and granted $1,000 toward their general youth programming, which includes tutoring after school.

Sherman Heights Community Center

The mission of the Sherman Heights Community Center is to offer health prevention, personal development, educational and cultural programs, enabling families and individuals to reach their greatest human potential and participate fully in society. The Center is truly a hub of activity for those who live, work and play within the Sherman Heights community, a low-income area within San Diego. The center offers a wide variety of classes and experiences, including ESL classes, cake decorating, karate and exercise classes. A $1,000 grant from Bread for the Journey of San Diego will go toward expenses for their four-week summer youth program, which will be offered free to all participants.

The San Diego Hunger Coalition

The San Diego Hunger Coalition is a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating hunger through education, outreach, collaboration, and public policy advocacy. Their activities focus on three main areas: 1) increasing participation in the federal Food Stamp Program; 2) expanding School Meal Programs, including School Breakfast and Summer Lunch service; and 3) working with elected officials and policymakers to effect systemic changes that will alleviate hunger and promote good nutrition. While not a new organization, the Hunger Coalition is going through somewhat of a renaissance. With a capacity-building grant from The California Endowment, they are now able to move into their first office suite in the City Heights area. A $1,000 grant from Bread for the Journey of San Diego will help purchase a laptop, which will be used to regularly screen eligible applicants for food stamps at the newly revitalized City Heights Farmers Market on Saturdays.

More San Diego Stories and contact information.

Santa Fe

Planting Time

Miguel Santistevan loves the land in northern New Mexico where he was born and raised. Currently a Ph.D. candidate in biology at the University of New Mexico, he has planted small fields with youth over the years, and now wants to expand this work since inheriting two acres that have been in his family for generations. Students from Antioch College in Ohio, University of California in Santa Cruz, and a Native American charter school in Albuquerque — as well as other local schools — have come to participate in his workshops and experimental seed-saving farm. As Miguel is opposed to burning, he always cultivates by hand and turns the plant scrub back into the soil. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe was happy to support his youth mentorship program in agricultural work by granting Miguel $1000 to purchase a cutter bar and a hiller/furrower.

Helping The Helpers

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can have stressful impacts in caregivers’ health, family relationships, and general wellbeing. Caregivers can struggle with feelings of guilt, isolation, and overwhelm. To respond to the growing needs of caregivers in their community, the Chesed Project in Taos offers a monthly support group for those who are caring for family and friends with dementia. Staff at the Chesed Project approached Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe to help them provide specialized resources for this important program. BFJ provided a grant of $225 to purchase two video series that provide practical approaches for communicating with and providing care for those with Alzheimer’s. In addition, the grant enabled the Chesed Project to reproduce and distribute helpful articles from the Alzheimer’s Association. BFJ of Santa Fe was happy to contribute toward providing care, support, and resources to those who are giving the same to our elders.

Opening Doors for the Uninsured

With the rising cost of healthcare and increasing numbers of people falling off the roles of health insurance, affordable, holistic healthcare and prevention is a good solution for helping the underserved maintain health. The Well-Being Community Clinic in Taos provides free and reduced-cost holistic healthcare services to underinsured people who otherwise would not have access to health services. The Clinic, which has been providing services to Taos and Questa residents for three years, is modeled after the renowned Ithaca Free Clinic and encompasses a wide variety of complementary healthcare modalities. In addition, the clinic empowers people by educating them about holistic health and disease prevention. About five hundred low-income, underserved people are served with three clinic days per month. Strong community partnerships keep the costs down - the building and utilities are donated by the Taos County Housing Authority, and clinical and administrative services are donated by volunteers. The clinic has an impressive array of 20 licensed professional volunteer healthcare practitioners who provide Oriental medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal and Ayurvedic consultation, dietary, nutrition, lifestyle and stress reduction training, massage therapy, and homeopathic medicine. Community response has been overwhelming, and staff wanted to add one more clinic day per month. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe was pleased to grant $1,000 to cover supply and service costs, enabling the clinic to open its doors an extra day every month.

Innovation Enables Year-Round Fresh Produce

Rising food costs and our healthcare crisis have caught everyone’s attention this year, and rural and tribal communities are increasingly looking inward to promote self-sufficiency and health through growing local foods. In 2007, the Taos Pueblo Education and Training Division started two greenhouses to grow local crops. However, rising fuel costs made it cost-prohibitive to heat the cold-area greenhouses to grow food year-round. The Pueblo came up with an innovative solution, using small diameter wood (forest thinnings) to fuel an efficient wood-burning furnace plumbed to heat the greenhouses with a hot water radiant heating system. The new DHS heating system now makes it possible to provide affordable, fresh, pueblo grown food to the tribe’s childcare, Head Start, Day School and Senior Center programs. The staff considers this DHS system to be their best innovation to date. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe board members agreed and granted them $1,467 to make it operational.

Here Comes the Blue Truck

Jaime Figueroa is a remarkable young woman of Puerto Rican heritage who grew up in various small towns in rural Ohio. She always loved books and found great solace and joy in public libraries. Jaime had a dream called the “Blue Truck Project,” in which a bio-fuel-powered pick-up truck would pull an RV filled with books and notebooks for writing projects. She would drive into rural communities in Northern New Mexico that do not have public libraries. She wants to provide quality literature and support to writers and readers ages five through twelve while celebrating multicultural and multilingual voices and honoring the integrity of the planet with her eco-friendly bookmobile. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe provided Jaime with $800 to complete all of the requirements for becoming a nonprofit organization.

Let the Facts Be Known

An estimated 40-50,000 people worked in and around the mines during the uranium boom era (approximately the 1930’s to the late l980’s). As a result, many have become sick and/or died with no compensation from the responsible parties. Maria Varela has been researching the facts surrounding the controversy of who is responsible for the inadequate safety precautions and procedures in place at the time. Her goal is for legislators to extend the compensation program to include everyone who worked in the uranium industry up until 1990. Maria recruited students from Colorado College to do data entry and analysis, while tracking down lists of workers, location of safety badges, and any corporate reports on workers’ uranium exposure that were mandated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe contributed $1,910 toward this project.

The Four C’s

Dana Richards and his colleagues at the Earth Works Institute of Santa Fe believe that young people need education and inspiration to deal effectively with climate change. They require a sense of hope that solutions to the problems exist and that they can be part of those solutions. The Climate Change Conservation Corps (4C) is designed to inspire, educate and empower young people through a program that integrates content knowledge with community service. For one year, youth are paired with mentors in the community as they learn about ways to define a sustainable society. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe has contributed $2000 to this “green collar,” service-oriented job-training and leadership program that can prepare young people for careers that address climate change.

An International Connection

For the past twenty years, Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe has made one international grant per year to someone known to the chapter. At this year’s annual potluck luncheon for donors and grantees, Fred and Kim Masoni (“Sleeping Bags for the Homeless in Santa Fe” project grantees) met Jim Kavanagh (“Young Peacemakers” project grantee). Originally from Kenya, Fred has been trying to help people there who have been displaced by political unrest and subsequent challenging living conditions. Since Jim was planning to go to East Africa, he offered to take along baby blankets that the Masonis had collected. Fred arranged to have some friends in Kenya accompany Jim to one of the refugee villages, and asked if BFJ might pay for some maize to be distributed along with the blankets. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe was happy to grant $400 for this purpose.

Coming Home Connection

Originally from Wales, Glenys Carl successfully trained and organized over 400 volunteers to help care for her son during the four years of his survival after a tragic accident. Now living in Santa Fe, she has recruited volunteer nurses, physical therapists, and physicians to help her provide members of the community with free training in home care. She approached BFJ of Santa Fe for funds to pay for a training manual and for a brochure that would publicize this resource within the community. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe gave Glenys $1000 for this important work.

Viva Bikes

Nine years ago, Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe gave bicycle enthusiast Richy Green a small grant for tools so that he and some friends could repair and give away old bicycles. Since then, Richy has formed a nonprofit organization called Viva Bikes, Inc. He is aware that many young people between 13 and 18 years of age would love to ride a bicycle, but cannot afford to own one. As a solution, Richy plans to loan a bike and helmet to ten young people for participation in a five-mile bike ride — twice a month for six months — on a beginner’s trail out in the beautiful countryside east of Taos. Instructors will teach safety checks, and everyone will be required to wear helmets, as well as bring water and snacks. The ride will include a stop along the way to rest, enjoy a snack, and discuss the environment in that setting. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe gave Richy $1,000 to buy ten helmets and to cover the estimated $216 in fuel costs for van transport of the kids and the bicycles on a total of twelve trips.

Young Peacemakers

Dr. Jim Kavanaugh (a licensed child psychologist, freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker) and Dr. Selena Sermeno (the Ambassador of the Bartos Institute for the Creative Engagement of Conflict) intend to create a film that will illustrate the power of approaching our inevitable human differences with an open mind, a commitment to human rights, a forgiving heart, and respectful dialogue. This will be accomplished through the voices of former alumni, current students, volunteer mentors, and community leaders and other young people from around the world. Dialogues among students in oppositional cultures will form part of the training aspect of the film. The film will be distributed to schools and communities throughout the USA. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe was delighted to provide $2,500 for the short demo film, which will be used to raise awareness and additional funding to complete the full-length version.

Palliative Care

Marcy Grace and a small group of people in Santa Fe want to create an in-patient freestanding facility for dying patients without the restrictions of traditional Medicare Hospice, and to set up a point of entry into the system for patients with life-challenging illnesses. They have formed a nonprofit group called Palliative Care Services of Santa Fe and have connected themselves with Baylor University Palliative Care in Dallas in order to be able to access the most cutting-edge information in the field. Marcy approached Bread for the Journey with a request for $2,500 to defray the costs of printing a fairly substantial packet of materials for prospective donors. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe was happy to grant their request to help get this project off the ground.

More Santa Fe stories and contact information.

Seattle

The Compassion of Poetry

Merna Ann Hecht, poet, storyteller, and arts and literacy educator, has partnered with Bread for the Journey of Seattle, Voices in Wartime Education Project, and Institute for Poetic Medicine to bring the power of language through poetry and narrative to immigrant students who have experienced war and conflict. As poet-in-residence at Foster High School, just south of Seattle, Merna has two goals for her students. The first is to provide a meaningful experience of how poetry and narrative writing can give honest expression and voice to their losses, their questions, their struggles and their hopes. The second is to provide opportunities within the larger community for showcasing the poetry of these young people — including community poetry readings, public radio broadcasts, and the publication of an anthology in hard copy. Bread for the Journey of Seattle is proud to have partnered with Merna and two other important organizations by contributing $1000 to fund this remarkable work.

Ministry of Presence

Mary's Place is a day center run by the Church of Mary Magdalene in Seattle. It is a refuge and sanctuary where countless numbers of homeless and formerly homeless women find support for their spirits, minds and bodies. For some years there has been a vision to create a support network for homeless women who have been hospitalized or imprisoned by training Spiritual Directors to become spiritual companions to women who have found themselves ill or incarcerated. Bread for the Journey of Seattle is delighted to fund the pilot project to expand the Church of Mary Magdalene Ministry of Presence. Funds will support a project coordinator to create and lead training and orientation for spiritual directors; to meet and make connections with hospital chaplains and transitional housing directors to find women who have been hospitalized; to meet with prospective spiritual directors and provide support; and to explore long-term funding possibilities to continue to grow this important work. Bread for the Journey of Seattle is delighted to grant $1000 toward this end.

LifeSPAN

In recent decades we have witnessed a remarkable upward trend in the longevity of people with developmental disabilities. For the first time, they are outliving their parents, but fewer than 50% of them have a viable plan for the future once their parents die. LifeSPAN supports families in Washington State in developing quality futures for their relatives with a developmental disability. Among other activities, LifeSPAN helps its client families establish networks of caring individuals who collectively help ensure a safe and secure existence over the entire lifetime of the disabled individual. Bread for the Journey of Seattle granted $1,275 to LifeSPAN for the purchase of a computer system that would support its long-term operation.

Practicing Philanthropy with Children and Families

One mission of Bread for the Journey of Seattle is to involve our children and families in the process of philanthropy, to make the abstract concepts of generosity, compassion and empathy real and tangible.  Our first family activity was focused on understanding the homeless in our community and was organized around assembling care packages for women at a local women's shelter.  Mary's Place is a thriving community focused on providing a safe space for women and their children. Women come together, not only to find their basic needs met, like meals and showers, but also their spiritual life and relationship with one another nourished.  It is a unique place that offers hope, love and an opportunity to build relationships based on trust.

Our family activity began Saturday morning with adults and children as we shared coffee, poetry and enthusiasm for our mission.  We gathered around a table to form an assembly line to fill 75 colorful packages, each with a non-perishable snack, feminine supplies, items for personal hygiene and an inspiring poem.  Even the youngest child in attendance, 1 ½ years old, found a place among us!  Gratified by the efficiency of our teamwork, we shared lunch together, and the women and children among us delivered packages, donations and ice cream to Mary's Place.   At first we found ourselves somewhat timid, but many of the women were happy to receive ice cream or a colorful bag, and we found ourselves relaxed and grateful to share the day with the women at Mary's Place. The supplies to fill the care packages cost $453 – an amount whose value far exceeded the dollars spent.

Young Shakespeare Workshop

Young Shakespeare Workshop (YSW) brings together Seattle-area students from all backgrounds and creates a community bound by love of the English language and the work of William Shakespeare. Among other things, YSW supports the work of high school language arts teachers whose classes are studying Shakespeare. Bread for the Journey of Seattle was pleased to fund a YSW residency at Seattle’s Cleveland High School with a grant of $500.

The Hero Project

The Hero Project brings professional arts training to students and teachers at Kimball Elementary, a diverse school in Beacon Hill with a large immigrant population. During the six-week residency, Shana Bestock — an actor, director, and teacher who is Artistic and Education Director of Seattle Public Theater — uses theater to help students gain language and teamwork skills. Students explore the worlds and achievements of significant cultural “heroes” such as Jackie Robinson, Sitting Bull, Langston Hughes, Cesar Chavez, and Rachel Carson. The program culminates in a final community sharing that brings together parents, students and staff in celebration of the students’ achievements. Bread for the Journey of Seattle was proud to contribute $500 to help fund this program.

Incarcerated Youth: Inspiring Empathy, Building Skills

Canine Connections has a program that allows incarcerated youth in Echo Glen — a high security juvenile corrections facility near Seattle — to rescue dogs from shelters, train them as service dogs, and operate and manage a boarding kennel. Through “patience, persistence, praise, and practice,” the kids train and socialize dogs rescued from “dog death row,” which are later adopted out into the larger community. The dogs help the kids learn to change their own behavior, and the kids discover their capacity to help others. Kids leave Echo Glen with a stronger sense of their own strengths and with newfound skills as dog trainers, groomers, kennel managers, vet technicians, and responsible pet owners. Bread for the Journey of Seattle gave $300 to Canine Connections in support of this remarkable program.

TeenHOPE

An organization serving homeless and at-risk youth in the greater Seattle area, TeenHOPE has three commendable programs: the Emergency Shelter, the Street Outreach Program, and the PeaceTable Mediation Program. They house, clothe and feed 170 young people each year. Additionally, the outreach program sends vans into the community three times per week to provide meals and simple care packages to teens who live out on the street. Bread for the Journey of Seattle was pleased to give TeenHOPE a $500 grant to fund a river rafting adventure for the shelter’s residents.

Mind Body Connection

Parkwood Elementary School is a beautifully diverse learning community just north of Seattle that believes dance can help students to make a visceral connection to the abstract concepts they are learning in class and develop a greater sense of physical space and motion. Toward this end, Parkwood has partnered with artist Eric Johnson to integrate dance and movement into the existing curriculum. Bread for the Journey of Seattle gave a grant of $135 to cover the costs of a visit by the artist to the annual school wide arts showcase, where he spoke to parents about the program and gave a demonstration lesson.

More Seattle stories and contact information.

Sebastopol

A Study Room to Speed Success!

Kristen Downing is a volunteer at COTS (Committee on the Shelterless), a program in Petaluma, CA, that helps formerly homeless families learn new life skills and assists them in successfully transitioning back into their own homes. Kristen saw a need to make a highly efficient, functional yet beautiful study room in one of the transitional homes.  The family head — usually a single mother — is required to attend school.  Kristen wants to show women the importance of an organized work space in achieving success. A $1500 grant from Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol supplies three new fully equipped “work/study” stations in the home’s refurbished study room. There will also be a special desk for the children so that they may emulate their mothers’ behavior, and learn study skills and responsibility at a young age. Kristen intends for this space to become a prototype for other houses. See www.cots-homeless.org.

Street Feet

Laura Roehrick and Louise McCoy, BFJ board member

Laura Roehrick, RN, started The Preventive Diabetic Foot Care Alliance (PDFCA), a nonprofit organization, for the purpose of educating underserved and uninsured diabetic patients about preventive self-foot-care practices. Also part of her plan is to train and educate healthcare professionals who work in low-cost and free clinics about preventive foot care for diabetics. Laura has developed specific techniques that are more effective than those usually taught to nurses and pedicurists. Many studies show that preventive foot care can decrease amputation rates by up to 85 percent. Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol gave Laura a $1500 grant for printed materials and logo design to help “Street Feet” reach its goals.

Earth Roots Sustainability Camp

Earth Roots Collective Sustainability Camp started in the summer of 2007, with the shared intention of teaching children skills in sustainable living, organic gardening, and the expressive arts. The camp’s projects and workshops included gardening, composting, animal husbandry, green building with cob, herbal crafting, solar energy, basket weaving, native storytelling, eco-art, yoga, and water-quality monitoring. The 10-week camp takes place at the 50-acre Laguna Farm. This year, with a grant of $1500 from Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol, they are working on expanding their outdoor kitchen and cob stove so they can accommodate more students.

A Gift of Time and Creative Energy

We’re constantly reminded that not all seed grants come in the form of money. Bread for the Journey of Sebastopol’s Sharon Bard and Susan Harman met with Pablo Rodriguez at a local coffee shop, where it became clear that Pablo could benefit from a boost of “idea power.” Pablo is a singer and vocal teacher who also teaches schoolchildren about music, using methods that are dynamic, creative and fun. He needed to raise money to repair older instruments and supply the program with new ones, so that he could add workshops — even charging a small fee — to continue expanding the program. During this brainstorming session, they were able to come up with several concrete ways for Pablo to make his project self-sustaining. Pablo was thrilled with the gift of time and creative energy, and everyone had fun expanding on each other’s ideas. It was a delightful exchange and a serendipitous win-win for all concerned.

More Sebastopol stories and contact information.

Southwest Michigan

Pink Shawls for Native American Women

The Pink Shawl Project was created in 2003, to respond to concerns that Native American women were not accessing breast health services due to cultural and other barriers. This past year, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians offered their first Pink Shawl Project both to promote breast health awareness among native women and to help native women reclaim important traditions of their culture. Through a series of ten workshops, the women were offered training on cultural teachings, sewing instruction, and health education. The workshops were free to participants and Pokagon Indian Health Services provided all fabrics and supplies. Workshop participants listened to talks given by cultural presenters and health educators, and created basic, simple cotton shawls for themselves and for other family members, working together across generations and creating community. One mother made a shawl for each of her young daughters, the youngest of whom was only a couple of months old. A grandmother made a shawl for a severely disabled family member. In October, the shawls were smudged with medicine and “danced out” at the Holland Pow Wow. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was very pleased to be able to provide a grant of $250 to support this important and inspiring project.

Doorways to Love and Forgiveness

A self-professed “heart person,” Janet Graham developed a 2-week summer arts program that would bring together youth from various parts of the city of Kalamazoo. The young artists met on common (neutral) ground at the Youth Development Center where they worked together to design and create doorways. The real objectives were to engage and empower the young artists by providing awareness and practical tools to recognize, celebrate and tap into their real strengths and creativity, and especially to choose love over fear. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was very pleased to provide a grant of $400 in support of this important community program that engenders healing.

Transition Center Pilot Project

Sheri Ritchie and Deb Hansen are life/executive coaches at the Comstock Community Center (http://www.comstockcc.com/). They have developed the Transition Center, which is designed to help baby boomers identify their passion, purpose, experience and talent in new ways as they move into the next chapter of their lives. Their 10-week program includes various assessments, small group work, and individual coaching that will allow participants to design a life plan based on their strengths and passions. The program has numerous community partners who will introduce a variety of volunteer opportunities to the participants. An important component of the program is that it is designed to represent the entire community, not just the affluent. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to provide a $1400 grant for this important pilot program.

History Detectives

Donna Odum from the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society (http://smbhs.org/) has created History Detectives, a classroom-integrated program for middle school students. Students will interview African American community elders, then compile the information for various public presentations. In addition to the hard skills they will acquire, the students will gain valuable teamwork experience and intergenerational connections. The program will also provide students with an opportunity to gain information on a variety of potential careers, which will tie nicely to the Kalamazoo Promise (www.kalamazoopromise.com). Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to provide a grant of $1400 to support this empowering program.

Come-Union Garden

Erik Benson has been working hard on his 3 year old Come-Union (formerly Moonbeam) community garden on Kalamazoo’s Northside. He’s been putting in a lot of compost, building paths, and planting perennials and medicinal herbs. Now that the beds are more established, Erik will plant more vegetables. His long term goal for the garden is for it to be owned and run by someone in the neighborhood, hopefully providing jobs for neighborhood youth. Toward that goal, he developed a 10-week summer internship program for two neighborhood youths who have been involved with the garden. This will provide the youths with the opportunity to learn even more about gardening and running a small business. A field trip to a local organic farm is also planned. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was very pleased to provide a grant of $500 to Erik for the summer internships.

Battle Creek Tumbling

Michele Aldaeri has developed a tumbling program in Battle Creek for youth from low income families in a variety of neighborhoods. The coach of the Battle Creek Central competitive cheer program agreed to teach tumbling at a reduced rate if 20 kids signed up. The program includes stretching, strength and running drills and pushing and jumping techniques that are important in tumbling. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was very happy to be able to provide a grant of $1540 to support scholarships for 10 students for the 24-week program.

Requirements for the scholarships include commitment to attend all class sessions, parent involvement, winning attitudes and a desire to succeed.

Community Living Step-Down Program

Community Living Options (CLO) is a nonprofit organization in Kalamazoo that provides and enhances opportunities for community living to people with developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses through a variety of programs (see www.communitylivingoptions.org). In assessing their program, it became clear that while residents affected by both mental illness and substance abuse do well in CLO’s 24-hour structured programs, they often relapse once they return to life within the larger community. CLO is now developing a “step-down” program that will offer a transition phase. The interim home will be staffed 6-8 hours per day, with staff next door that will be available for emergencies 24/7. CLO is currently waiting for confirmation of funding from Community Mental Health (CMH). Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan has provided a grant of $1000 for house furnishings contingent on this CMH funding.

Open Door Urban Garden Project

Ashley Bishop and Julie Kaufman, started a youth-centered organic garden in 2007 at the Open Door Church in Kalamazoo’s Eastside neighborhood. In its first year, neighborhood residents helped construct the gardens and children attended classes on gardening and sustainability issues. Participants received produce from the garden for free, and any remaining was sold to church members at very reasonable prices. This year, Ashley wants to expand the program through sales to a wider clientele. A public produce stand will help the children learn about handling money and running a business, and will give low-income families in the area access to organic produce. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to provide a grant of $812.44 in support of this project.

Partners Adventure Retreat

Heather Rose and Jenny Doezema are facilitators at Adventure Center near Kalamazoo (see www.adventurecentre.org). In working with youth, they have found that when parents (or parenting partners) come to better relationship with themselves and each other, that stronger and healthier families and communities are the result. Heather and Jenny have designed a weekend retreat workshop to foster gratitude, strengthen connections, and provide tools to approach challenges. The retreat will include team-building activities, shared meal preparation using food from community-supported agriculture (CSA) and a farmers’ market, as well as introductions to local activities, restaurants and programs. Heather and Jenny requested funding for a scholarship fund. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan provided a $500 grant contingent on the financial need of workshop applicants.

New Music Project

The New Music Project was founded in Kalamazoo to support the creation, promotion and performance of new works by emerging composers at the beginning of their careers (see www.newmusicproject.org). The organization focuses mainly on works within previously unexplored genres and instrumentations, with the 2008 cycle requesting compositions for string, percussion and contact microphone. Each August, a call goes out to Midwestern music schools for short scores. Those received are evaluated, and four composers are selected to receive commissions for full scores using the year’s selected instrumentation, with the works being performed at a spring concert. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to provide a grant of $255 to cover the New Music Project’s costs for their application for nonprofit status.

 FIRE!

Denise Miller and Michelle Johnson have spent many years as community healers, working in the areas of counseling, education, and sustainability. In 2005, they bought the former Portage Fire Station in the Edison neighborhood of Kalamazoo, with the vision of creating FIRE! — a community gathering place that currently offers programming in the arts (poetry, music, visual arts) and movement (tai chi, yoga). As their vision has expanded, FIRE! is also becoming a hub of economic stimulus for the community. Their long-term vision is of a place where people can learn skills related to areas they are passionate about that will also lead to paid work. Examples include: poetry workshops on both the craft and the publication process; opportunities for local landscapers to beautify the neighborhood; awarding recording sessions to young musicians to learn about music production; or teaching sustainable cleaning practices to the cleaning staff. FIRE! is currently home to the house band The Movement, Abstraction Theatre, Just Panda (the Kalamazoo College improv group), and others. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was very pleased to provide a grant of $3000 for legal fees for FIRE! to become a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  www.thisisfire.com

Don't Sweat It

Stephanie Willette and Mariah Frye are students at Kalamazoo College, which has a renowned study-abroad program that many students participate in during their junior year. While continuing their studies abroad, the students also work with organizations that the school has established long-term relationships with. As a result, the students come to understand and deeply appreciate the day-to-day realities of life in these countries.

An organization called “Don't Sweat It ” – founded by students at K College – will be selling fair trade crafts in the college bookstore that will be brought back by the students after their time abroad. Profits from sales will be sent to the craftspeople, and their stories will be included with the items sold. Networks will develop further as the older returning students serve as mentors for the younger students preparing for their time abroad. Everyone involved hopes to expand the sales to a store in town called Terrapin. Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan was pleased to help launch the program with a $350 grant to support the purchase of 100 necklaces from Ecuador. See http://guilds.kzoo.edu/.

More SW Michigan stories and contact information.

Wilmington

Gee…You Will Project

The “Gee…You Will” Project is dedicated to empowering women and to giving them the tools they need to live happy, prosperous and successful lives. Their formalwear initiative provides dresses to women who are not otherwise able to afford them. “Gee…You Will” also offers a mentoring component and hosts more than 50 women at the three-day “Women Supporting Women through Opportunity Conference.” Bread for the Journey of Wilmington was happy to grant the “Gee…You Will” Project $500 to apply for nonprofit status.

Urban Bike Project

Urban Bike Project is a small non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the community's needs by educating and promoting cycling as a safe, practical, cost-efficient mode of transportation. Their facilities provide a means for the public to become more self-sufficient, both in bicycle maintenance and transportation. They are currently working on setting up a few public workshops. Bread for the Journey of Wilmington was happy to grant the Urban Bike Project $500 for the first year’s insurance.

Formal Dress Project

Attendance at her school prom was among the highlights in Tracy Burns’ young life. Having grown up in a family where community service was very important, Tracy now collects new and gently used prom dresses. With assistance from The Foster Care Association, YWCA, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club and others, many girls in New Castle County who would not have attended their proms for financial reasons now have the opportunity to obtain a dress, free of charge. They can also use the dress for other special occasions. Bread for the Journey of Wilmington was happy to grant the Formal Dress Project $500 to apply for nonprofit status.

More Wilmington stories and contact information.

More Stories of Community Support (2007)

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This page updated by Brandy Sacks. For more information, please email bjourney@pacbell.net