Just as despair can come to one another only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings. – Elie Wiesel
Ten years as a Bridge Communities mentor has taught Hinsdale resident Mary MacKenzie that the most important part of mentoring is making sure people know that they are not alone.
She understands that this role requires both a financial and emotional pledge. It also requires a great deal of time. Currently, Mary and a friend are walking alongside Mary's fourth client through a community group at Christ Church of Oak Brook.
As part of the Bridge Communities program, each client family is paired with a mentor team for the duration of their participation in the Bridge program. Although it helps reinforce the respectful nature of the relationship, the term "client" sounds brazenly indifferent when contrasted against the tone of deep empathy and love with which mentors, like Mary, speak of the families. "I've always had moms," Mary mentions as she fondly describes her four clients, "They're great people who just need some help."
Meetings, phone calls, and crisis interventions are the true work of a mentor like Mary. "It's mostly just being there for the client... Letting them know that they can depend on you."
Knowing that they have support empowers clients to change their lives. At the end of two years, most clients have graduated from the program. That is what Mary says is the greatest reward: "seeing them continue on and becoming successful."
Mary described one of those amazing moments. She says "one of the highs of being a mentor" was watching her second client purchase a condo in the complex. "She burst out sobbing, realizing she'd be able to own it. I just held her and told her, 'You deserve it.' And that's what Bridge does for people."
For Mary, being a mentor is a rewarding and a surprising path, but it is not one without challenges. Mary knows, though, that if ever an obstacle may arise, she has Bridge Communities to look to. "They're always there," Mary says confidently, "to back us up and to give us advice."
Overcoming obstacles together is the most transformative part of the mentor-client relationship. Mary remembers experiencing such a change as she accompanied a client to the food pantry for the first time. "It was such an eye opener to me as to what it means to people to take charity. I think at that moment, I was changed... more caring, more compassionate. One of those situations I'll just never forget."
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Planning Sleep Out For The First Time...
But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. Psalms 9:18
Hey, I’m Andy Jack, Middle School Pastor at Christ Church of Oak Brook and my group is participating in Sleep Out Saturday for the first time. I was born, raised, and educated in DuPage County. I received my MA degree in Christian Formation and Ministry from Wheaton College and I am an ordained minister in the Evangelical Church Alliance. I live in Wheaton with my wife, Kathy, daughter, Emma, and our new baby, Addison, born in September.
I was recently asked to share some of my thoughts about the event…
Why did you decide to do SOS?
It just makes sense for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people in our own community. Serving our neighbors is what we want to be about as a church and student ministry. Yet, there are not a lot of organizations that will work with young teens. The SOS experience seems to be a very age-appropriate program that allows students to use their gifts and passions for a meaningful cause.
How do you think this event will be different/similar to things you've done in the past like the 30-hour famine?
I think it will tap into their desire to serve the same way many of our other events have. Our students desperately want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Anytime we can provide students with a way to take risks, go beyond themselves, and make a difference, they respond. Any time we set the bar high, they go beyond what anyone expects of them.
What are you looking forward to most?
I am looking forward to our students experiencing the rally with hundreds of other students. I cannot begin to imagine the kind of energy that would come out of that kind of crowd.
What are you concerned about?
The sleeping arrangements seem like a logistical challenge for us. Honestly, I haven’t even begun to plan for that part of the weekend.
How do you think SOS will impact the kids you lead?
I hope and pray it wakes us up from our suburban apathy. Students and adults are blind to the issues of poverty, hunger and homelessness in our community. We think that kind of stuff happens somewhere else, but never in our own towns. Confronting our students with the truth should be enough to move them into action.
Feel free to contact me if you have any great tips for us, or if you want to talk to another “first timer.” ajack@cc-ob.org
Peace.
Andy
Hey, I’m Andy Jack, Middle School Pastor at Christ Church of Oak Brook and my group is participating in Sleep Out Saturday for the first time. I was born, raised, and educated in DuPage County. I received my MA degree in Christian Formation and Ministry from Wheaton College and I am an ordained minister in the Evangelical Church Alliance. I live in Wheaton with my wife, Kathy, daughter, Emma, and our new baby, Addison, born in September.
I was recently asked to share some of my thoughts about the event…
Why did you decide to do SOS?
It just makes sense for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people in our own community. Serving our neighbors is what we want to be about as a church and student ministry. Yet, there are not a lot of organizations that will work with young teens. The SOS experience seems to be a very age-appropriate program that allows students to use their gifts and passions for a meaningful cause.
How do you think this event will be different/similar to things you've done in the past like the 30-hour famine?
I think it will tap into their desire to serve the same way many of our other events have. Our students desperately want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Anytime we can provide students with a way to take risks, go beyond themselves, and make a difference, they respond. Any time we set the bar high, they go beyond what anyone expects of them.
What are you looking forward to most?
I am looking forward to our students experiencing the rally with hundreds of other students. I cannot begin to imagine the kind of energy that would come out of that kind of crowd.
What are you concerned about?
The sleeping arrangements seem like a logistical challenge for us. Honestly, I haven’t even begun to plan for that part of the weekend.
How do you think SOS will impact the kids you lead?
I hope and pray it wakes us up from our suburban apathy. Students and adults are blind to the issues of poverty, hunger and homelessness in our community. We think that kind of stuff happens somewhere else, but never in our own towns. Confronting our students with the truth should be enough to move them into action.
Feel free to contact me if you have any great tips for us, or if you want to talk to another “first timer.” ajack@cc-ob.org
Peace.
Andy
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A Taste of What Sleep Out Saturday Means to Participants!
We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes. – JFK
Hello again to our readers of the Sleep Out Saturday 2009 blog!
It’s now time to feature our second interview of four, and this week you can really get a feel for the tremendous sentiment that comes every year with Sleep Out Saturday. Another big thank you goes out to Michelle Stuhlmacher, from the First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn, for taking the time to speak with us. Here’s what she had to say...
Hello again to our readers of the Sleep Out Saturday 2009 blog!
It’s now time to feature our second interview of four, and this week you can really get a feel for the tremendous sentiment that comes every year with Sleep Out Saturday. Another big thank you goes out to Michelle Stuhlmacher, from the First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn, for taking the time to speak with us. Here’s what she had to say...
Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you became involved in Sleep Out Saturday?
My name is Michelle and I am a junior at Wheaton North High School. My church has always been a big sponsor of Bridge Communities and last year one of the women involved in organizing SOS at my church asked me if I wanted to work as a peer leader for SOS. As a high schooler I have a ridiculously busy schedule – between homework, sports, and extracurriculars, I don't really have much free time. I thought that Bridge Communities was a great organization and Sleep Out Saturday a terrific event, but I didn't know if I could add yet another time commitment. Then I remembered what it is like out in the cold, and sometimes the wet, trying to fall asleep and thinking how hard it would be to do this every single night. I realized how lucky I am to have a place I can come home to and I decided that I could make time for a cause like this one. I agreed because the work that Bridge Communities does is so important to our community and is an awesome volunteer opportunity for an organization I really believe in.
We’re all glad you could find the time for something like this. What was your role last year?
I was a peer leader last year and really enjoyed it. As a peer leader I did some PR for the event like interviews and other media relations. I also can talk to groups of kids who do, or are, interested in doing SOS. I had never seen the planning and managing side of how Sleep Out Saturday is run until last year. I was amazed at how much time and energy went into organizing the event, but equally shocked at the enthusiasm and the passion of everyone who works at Bridge Communities. They believe in what they do and can't wait to share this love with others. I was thrilled to count myself among these great people working together for a very important cause.
What activities did you plan and/or participate in?
Peer leaders have a variety of roles; I mainly worked on public relations. I was interviewed for a radio news story on the event and the video shown at the rally the night of Sleep Out Saturday.
Do you believe more kids your age should become involved in events like this, and why?
Yes, events like SOS are so easy and simple. All you have to do is raise funds and sleep out for one night and you have helped a person or a family for a lifetime. We have the ability to do so much if we all work together, the more people we get, the more lives we can touch. If just one person raises money and sleeps out in their yard, he or she might be able to help a family for a couple of months. But if 1,000 people sleep out we raise thousands more and exponentially increase our awareness. And that is really why we sleep out – it is one thing to raise money, it is a completely different story to live a night in the life of a homeless person. After that one night people go home changed by the experience. I didn't realize how many things I take for granted living here in DuPage County. Be person 1,001...you do make a difference!
What do you look forward to most about SOS this year?
The rally! Every year it gets bigger and better. More people come and more entertainment is planned. I am excited not only to see the DJ or band that comes and plays, but also the sheer number of people who are all coming out with one purpose in mind. We are all there to make someone else’s life better…to give them a warm, dry place to stay. If you have ever slept out you know what it is like to wake up in the morning and be a little sore, a little groggy, but imagine feeling that every single morning and still having to go to school or work. It is something that not a lot of people get to understand. I look forward to others, and myself, being able to connect with the families who have been homeless.
This year's theme is HOPE...what does that mean to you?
That word has been used often around the country in the past year, but I think Bridge Communities provides real HOPE to many homeless families in DuPage County. They have helped move families off the streets and start them towards better education and jobs and permanent housing. Bridge Communities provides housing but it also provides HOPE for a brighter future. Each family receives a mentor them that guides the family on their journey to stability; these people really give the family new HOPE for the future. SOS mirrors the families' HOPE as well. By coming out on a chilly fall night, the sleepers show they have hope for a better tomorrow, one in which everyone will have somewhere warm and dry to stay.
Do you have any suggestions for new group/peer leaders this year?
Just that you are helping out a great cause and feel free to let people know that you believe that everyone should have a home. The experience you get from this night is not one that you are likely to get anywhere else in DuPage County. We are all so lucky to have a home so share your experiences, your time and your funds and help those who have not been so lucky. We can make the world a better place, just work together.
Thanks, so much, Michelle. Keep up the great work!
You’re welcome, anything I can do for Sleep Out Saturday is truly a blessing.
_________________________________________________
If you are a group leader and would like to nominate one of your teens or if you are a teen that is participating in Sleep Out Saturday 2009 and would like to be a SOS Peer Leader, please contact Lisa Hedrick at lisa.hedrick@bridgecommunities.org for more information.
That concludes this week’s segment. Please make comments or suggestions or share tips and stories about Sleep Out Saturday too!
Next week we’ll have a glimpse into a first time Sleep Out Saturday group and the excitement surrounding planning this event! Thanks and have a great week!
My name is Michelle and I am a junior at Wheaton North High School. My church has always been a big sponsor of Bridge Communities and last year one of the women involved in organizing SOS at my church asked me if I wanted to work as a peer leader for SOS. As a high schooler I have a ridiculously busy schedule – between homework, sports, and extracurriculars, I don't really have much free time. I thought that Bridge Communities was a great organization and Sleep Out Saturday a terrific event, but I didn't know if I could add yet another time commitment. Then I remembered what it is like out in the cold, and sometimes the wet, trying to fall asleep and thinking how hard it would be to do this every single night. I realized how lucky I am to have a place I can come home to and I decided that I could make time for a cause like this one. I agreed because the work that Bridge Communities does is so important to our community and is an awesome volunteer opportunity for an organization I really believe in.
We’re all glad you could find the time for something like this. What was your role last year?
I was a peer leader last year and really enjoyed it. As a peer leader I did some PR for the event like interviews and other media relations. I also can talk to groups of kids who do, or are, interested in doing SOS. I had never seen the planning and managing side of how Sleep Out Saturday is run until last year. I was amazed at how much time and energy went into organizing the event, but equally shocked at the enthusiasm and the passion of everyone who works at Bridge Communities. They believe in what they do and can't wait to share this love with others. I was thrilled to count myself among these great people working together for a very important cause.
What activities did you plan and/or participate in?
Peer leaders have a variety of roles; I mainly worked on public relations. I was interviewed for a radio news story on the event and the video shown at the rally the night of Sleep Out Saturday.
Do you believe more kids your age should become involved in events like this, and why?
Yes, events like SOS are so easy and simple. All you have to do is raise funds and sleep out for one night and you have helped a person or a family for a lifetime. We have the ability to do so much if we all work together, the more people we get, the more lives we can touch. If just one person raises money and sleeps out in their yard, he or she might be able to help a family for a couple of months. But if 1,000 people sleep out we raise thousands more and exponentially increase our awareness. And that is really why we sleep out – it is one thing to raise money, it is a completely different story to live a night in the life of a homeless person. After that one night people go home changed by the experience. I didn't realize how many things I take for granted living here in DuPage County. Be person 1,001...you do make a difference!
What do you look forward to most about SOS this year?
The rally! Every year it gets bigger and better. More people come and more entertainment is planned. I am excited not only to see the DJ or band that comes and plays, but also the sheer number of people who are all coming out with one purpose in mind. We are all there to make someone else’s life better…to give them a warm, dry place to stay. If you have ever slept out you know what it is like to wake up in the morning and be a little sore, a little groggy, but imagine feeling that every single morning and still having to go to school or work. It is something that not a lot of people get to understand. I look forward to others, and myself, being able to connect with the families who have been homeless.
This year's theme is HOPE...what does that mean to you?
That word has been used often around the country in the past year, but I think Bridge Communities provides real HOPE to many homeless families in DuPage County. They have helped move families off the streets and start them towards better education and jobs and permanent housing. Bridge Communities provides housing but it also provides HOPE for a brighter future. Each family receives a mentor them that guides the family on their journey to stability; these people really give the family new HOPE for the future. SOS mirrors the families' HOPE as well. By coming out on a chilly fall night, the sleepers show they have hope for a better tomorrow, one in which everyone will have somewhere warm and dry to stay.
Do you have any suggestions for new group/peer leaders this year?
Just that you are helping out a great cause and feel free to let people know that you believe that everyone should have a home. The experience you get from this night is not one that you are likely to get anywhere else in DuPage County. We are all so lucky to have a home so share your experiences, your time and your funds and help those who have not been so lucky. We can make the world a better place, just work together.
Thanks, so much, Michelle. Keep up the great work!
You’re welcome, anything I can do for Sleep Out Saturday is truly a blessing.
_________________________________________________
If you are a group leader and would like to nominate one of your teens or if you are a teen that is participating in Sleep Out Saturday 2009 and would like to be a SOS Peer Leader, please contact Lisa Hedrick at lisa.hedrick@bridgecommunities.org for more information.
That concludes this week’s segment. Please make comments or suggestions or share tips and stories about Sleep Out Saturday too!
Next week we’ll have a glimpse into a first time Sleep Out Saturday group and the excitement surrounding planning this event! Thanks and have a great week!
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
From A Veteran SOS Leader 's Perspective
Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hello again to our readers of the Sleep Out Saturday 2009 blog!
This week will feature our first interview of four, and we know it will provide you with some great insight into what Sleep Out Saturday is all about. A big thank you goes out to Sandra Hill, from the First Church of Lombard, for taking the time to speak with us. Here’s what she had to say!
_____________________________________
I am The Outreach Coordinator for First Church of Lombard, United Church of Christ. My various roles include the coordination of The Outreach House – Home to Walk in Ministry and First Things First Infant Needs Outreach, the monthly Mobile Food Truck from Northern Illinois Food Pantry, The Community Table, and PADS. My role is to expand and encourage the numerous volunteer opportunities for our congregation and our community. I am also responsible for maintaining and fostering the relationships our Wider Church Committee has, including, but not limited to, Elmhurst College, Community Renewal Society, Lifelink, Interfaith House as well as our friends at Bridge Communities!
Wow! Sounds like you’re pretty busy. It’s great to know that someone’s doing all this great work! What then is unique to you about Sleep Out Saturday…what really drew you in the first time around?
Sleep Out Saturday is a perfect example of “walking in another person’s shoes”. It provides a wonderful opportunity to teach and to experience the issues of homelessness our brothers and sisters face on a daily basis.
What sort of activities do you have planned for this year?
We plan on doing a “Scavenger Hunt of Social Services” type of activity. Our participants this year will be given a 24-hour bus pass and a list of places to find that a person who is in need of assistance might need to locate. Such as: Department of Human Services, DuPage County Health Department, Food Pantries, PADS site for shelter, PADS Day Site, and so on.
That’s a really neat idea, Sandra! Do you have any suggestions for activities that new, first time group leaders can use?
We have an activity that we used last year to illustrate the need for a safety net and to also demonstrate how fragile relationships can be. After a lengthy conversation of the need to identify those in your safety net (other than school friends) and why you might need a safety net, we handed out rolls of toilet paper and ask our participants to write the names of people on each square. We used toilet paper to demonstrate how fragile safety nets can be and the need to have more than one or two people you could turn to if in need. We hung these around the sanctuary the next morning to encourage conversations with participants and those attending service.
That sounds like a great activitiy! As you may have experienced your first time around, new group leaders might have some concerns going into their first SOS. Anything you can think of that would help them out?
We always run the risk of planning too much or not planning enough. Bridge provides us with a tremendous amount of invaluable resources…Use them! Plan from them! But, be flexible and go with where the group needs to go when experiencing this event.
Lastly, Sandra, this year’s theme is HOPE. What does that mean to you?
As a community social worker, my professional life is to work with others and advocate. As a person of faith, it is my calling to help others…both with the hope that one person’s actions can bring about change and hope for a better tomorrow.
Thank you, Sandra. Your answers have been terrific and you really were such a great help!
It was my pleasure and my honor. I really look forward to this year’s event, and I can’t wait to continue my work helping others find HOPE.
Feel free to comment on anything Sandra has talked about, and discuss this with others on the blog. Come back next week for another great interview, this time with a high-schooler who’s making the difference!
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hello again to our readers of the Sleep Out Saturday 2009 blog!
This week will feature our first interview of four, and we know it will provide you with some great insight into what Sleep Out Saturday is all about. A big thank you goes out to Sandra Hill, from the First Church of Lombard, for taking the time to speak with us. Here’s what she had to say!
_____________________________________
I am The Outreach Coordinator for First Church of Lombard, United Church of Christ. My various roles include the coordination of The Outreach House – Home to Walk in Ministry and First Things First Infant Needs Outreach, the monthly Mobile Food Truck from Northern Illinois Food Pantry, The Community Table, and PADS. My role is to expand and encourage the numerous volunteer opportunities for our congregation and our community. I am also responsible for maintaining and fostering the relationships our Wider Church Committee has, including, but not limited to, Elmhurst College, Community Renewal Society, Lifelink, Interfaith House as well as our friends at Bridge Communities!
Wow! Sounds like you’re pretty busy. It’s great to know that someone’s doing all this great work! What then is unique to you about Sleep Out Saturday…what really drew you in the first time around?
Sleep Out Saturday is a perfect example of “walking in another person’s shoes”. It provides a wonderful opportunity to teach and to experience the issues of homelessness our brothers and sisters face on a daily basis.
What sort of activities do you have planned for this year?
We plan on doing a “Scavenger Hunt of Social Services” type of activity. Our participants this year will be given a 24-hour bus pass and a list of places to find that a person who is in need of assistance might need to locate. Such as: Department of Human Services, DuPage County Health Department, Food Pantries, PADS site for shelter, PADS Day Site, and so on.
That’s a really neat idea, Sandra! Do you have any suggestions for activities that new, first time group leaders can use?
We have an activity that we used last year to illustrate the need for a safety net and to also demonstrate how fragile relationships can be. After a lengthy conversation of the need to identify those in your safety net (other than school friends) and why you might need a safety net, we handed out rolls of toilet paper and ask our participants to write the names of people on each square. We used toilet paper to demonstrate how fragile safety nets can be and the need to have more than one or two people you could turn to if in need. We hung these around the sanctuary the next morning to encourage conversations with participants and those attending service.
That sounds like a great activitiy! As you may have experienced your first time around, new group leaders might have some concerns going into their first SOS. Anything you can think of that would help them out?
We always run the risk of planning too much or not planning enough. Bridge provides us with a tremendous amount of invaluable resources…Use them! Plan from them! But, be flexible and go with where the group needs to go when experiencing this event.
Lastly, Sandra, this year’s theme is HOPE. What does that mean to you?
As a community social worker, my professional life is to work with others and advocate. As a person of faith, it is my calling to help others…both with the hope that one person’s actions can bring about change and hope for a better tomorrow.
Thank you, Sandra. Your answers have been terrific and you really were such a great help!
It was my pleasure and my honor. I really look forward to this year’s event, and I can’t wait to continue my work helping others find HOPE.
Feel free to comment on anything Sandra has talked about, and discuss this with others on the blog. Come back next week for another great interview, this time with a high-schooler who’s making the difference!
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Hope Springs Eternal at Sleep Out Saturday, November 7th!
Hope is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; by all those men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is; who have courage to remake the world as it should be. – Barack Obama
Welcome all new and returning readers to our blog for the sixth annual SOS (Sleep Out Saturday) season! Be sure to share this blog address with your group participants! Over the next six weeks, we’ll be detailing everything you need to know about this year’s event, as well as interviewing some very special people for insights on how to get the most out of your SOS experience!
This year’s event will take place on Saturday, November 7th and will feature over 75 groups, individuals, and families looking to raise awareness for the homeless of DuPage County. As we strive to give homeless families HOPE (this year’s theme) we look forward to helping you prepare for a night of experiencing homelessness.
As you may or may not already know, SOS is sponsored by Bridge Communities, a non-profit organization located in Glen Ellyn. They help homeless families in DuPage County become self-sufficient again. By sleeping outside in November, it gives us a chance (if only for one night) to experience what it might really be like in another’s less fortunate shoes.
The SOS 2009 rally will be better than ever. One of Chicago’s hottest radio stations, 101.9 The Mix, will DJ and emcee the entire event. We are excited for their presence and we know the kids will love it too.
In the coming weeks, each blog will feature an interview with people from four different perspectives, all involved with Bridge Communities in some way, but all speaking for your benefit. We want to make your SOS experience the best possible, so keep checking back every week!
For more information, and to register for this year’s event, please visit www.sleepoutsaturday.org. While you’re on the site, also check out the great videos in our Sleep Out Saturday Newsroom!
All of your thoughts, concerns, and questions are greatly appreciated. Feel free to give feedback right here on the blog.
Coming Up Next Week...
An interview with Sandra Hill, a returning SOS group leader! Hear what she has to say about the SOS experience!
Welcome all new and returning readers to our blog for the sixth annual SOS (Sleep Out Saturday) season! Be sure to share this blog address with your group participants! Over the next six weeks, we’ll be detailing everything you need to know about this year’s event, as well as interviewing some very special people for insights on how to get the most out of your SOS experience!
This year’s event will take place on Saturday, November 7th and will feature over 75 groups, individuals, and families looking to raise awareness for the homeless of DuPage County. As we strive to give homeless families HOPE (this year’s theme) we look forward to helping you prepare for a night of experiencing homelessness.
As you may or may not already know, SOS is sponsored by Bridge Communities, a non-profit organization located in Glen Ellyn. They help homeless families in DuPage County become self-sufficient again. By sleeping outside in November, it gives us a chance (if only for one night) to experience what it might really be like in another’s less fortunate shoes.
The SOS 2009 rally will be better than ever. One of Chicago’s hottest radio stations, 101.9 The Mix, will DJ and emcee the entire event. We are excited for their presence and we know the kids will love it too.
In the coming weeks, each blog will feature an interview with people from four different perspectives, all involved with Bridge Communities in some way, but all speaking for your benefit. We want to make your SOS experience the best possible, so keep checking back every week!
For more information, and to register for this year’s event, please visit www.sleepoutsaturday.org. While you’re on the site, also check out the great videos in our Sleep Out Saturday Newsroom!
All of your thoughts, concerns, and questions are greatly appreciated. Feel free to give feedback right here on the blog.
Coming Up Next Week...
An interview with Sandra Hill, a returning SOS group leader! Hear what she has to say about the SOS experience!
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