With decked halls, trees lit with twinkling lights, and Christmas presents for each woman and child, the excitement of the season touched everyone at Saint John’s! Thanks to our many generous donors and our remote volunteers, our Christmas was magical. Despite the absence of volunteers on our campus this season, there was no shortage of fun festivities for the women and children at Saint John’s, including gingerbread houses, cookie decorating, Christmas parties and special meals for all. Thank you so much for making our holidays so special and bright this year with your support; it means the world to all of us here. |
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CONTENTS:
Vanessa's Story
2020: The Year in Review
RED DOOR desserts
End of Year Giving Opportunities
Red Door Reflections
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Creating a New Kind of Home |
When I first met Vanessa in 2019, what struck me most was her quiet confidence. She appeared calm when focusing on her five children (ages 2-9), composed when encountering customers at Plates Café, and projected an overall sense of being in total control.
Little did I know the true story behind Vanessa’s kind eyes. When asked what life was like before coming to Saint John’s, Vanessa replies with one word, “Chaotic.” While chaos might describe her world, inside she felt lost. “No matter the era in my life, I was a sheep in the desert feeling out of place. I didn’t even recognize myself which left me feeling hurt and empty. I lived a long life of being put down and feeling less than.”
Vanessa first came to Saint John’s after fleeing an abusive relationship. “I spent 10 years battling a possessive and manipulative man that I created a family with. I was tired of fighting. I wanted to LIVE, for my children,” she shares. Vanessa had no idea what to expect when she walked through the red doors at Saint John’s, five children in tow, in February of 2019. She remembers feeling battered and broken when arriving at Saint John’s. “Saint John’s took us in, all of us! The recovery began immediately with parenting classes. I had no idea what was happening, but I knew it was good. So I opened up and allowed my emancipation to begin.”
Click below to read the rest of Vanessa's amazing story.
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Vanessa's five adorable children |
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Unlike no other year, Saint John’s has not only experienced significant challenges, but also has felt the commitment and support from the community like never before. Thank you!
This year, Saint John’s took on several new ways to conduct business and provide services for our women and children. And, with your support we held a very successful virtual Polo for Change. Though not on the polo fields, the event raised more than ever and funded teachers and programming for our children in distance learning.
The transition from two restaurants, Plates Café and Plates Midtown to a catering only model, forced another change at Saint John’s. ”Necessity is the mother of invention” and drove the idea behind Red Door Desserts – a delicious cookie subscription!
It’s hard to guess what next year brings. One thing is sure, our women and children’s future guides our decision making and your commitment to their success helps us deliver new and stronger programming-no matter what obstacles we face! Not knowing what comes next, we plan on hosting the Party for Change on May 15, in person, conditions permitting. Please save the date.
Thank you for your generosity this year. The outcomes are life changing, and you have made all the difference.
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Current client, Jessica, baking a batch of Chocolate Crinkle Cookies |
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Our Signature Box includes Chocolate Chunk, Lemon Thumbprint and S'more's Cookies |
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Brittany, a current client, packaging boxes ready for shipping and pick-up |
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It’s been a month since we launched our new social enterprise, RED DOOR desserts, and we’ve been blown away by the response and support! Our women worked hard to bake, package, and mail over 600 orders in time for the holidays.
With the closing of our two restaurants and our catering business, Plates Café and Catering and Plates Midtown due to COVID-19, we needed to redevelop our employment training. The leadership and experience of our culinary services director, as a classically trained pastry chef, quickly shifted to our business to combine our internal strengths with a practical and memorable product that helps share our stories. With RED DOOR desserts, women at Saint John’s continue their hands-on employment training and learn to not only bake beautiful and delicious cookies and desserts, but also learn order management, supply chain elements, packaging and shipping.
Indulge and empower with a monthly dessert subscription to our RED DOOR desserts Club. For just $30/month, enjoy delicious desserts made from scratch, and with love, from women in the hands-on employment training program at Saint John’s. A perfect hostess gift or just keep for yourself -- we won't tell! Sign up for the RED DOOR desserts Club and shipping is FREE!
Craving cookies now or need extra gifts? Signature Boxes are always available for pick up or delivery.
100% of the proceeds from RED DOOR desserts directly support formerly homeless women at Saint John's working to build self-sustaining lives for themselves and their children.
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End of Year Giving Opportunities - How Can I Get Involved? |
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End of Year Monetary Donations: As we come to the end of 2020, please keep Saint John's in mind for your year-end charitable giving and donations. Click here to see the many donation options! |
Appreciated Stock: Amazingly the stock market is up this year. If you’re looking to write off any gains this year, Saint John’s would love to accept a donation of stocks to help fuel the comprehensive wrap-around services we provide.
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In-kind Donations: We are so grateful for all of the gifts we receive during the holidays. With COVID-19 restrictions, our in-kind donation drop off center is presently closed. However, our Amazon Wish List is current and makes it easy to give in-kind! Click here to view our Amazon Wish List. |
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Become a Change Maker: Supporters of Saint John's who donate monthly are called Change Makers, and their contributions, big and small, make a tremendous difference in the daily success of Saint John's. Would you consider contributing to Saint John's on a monthly basis? Click here to become a Change Maker today. |
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As 2020 ends, our Saint John’s family thanks you for the continued support you provide. We are fortunate to have weathered a very challenging year and our Red Doors remained open, offering hope to all who walked through them. Our women and children are the heart of all we do and our commitment to them and their continued journey toward independence and self-sustainability remain the same. We are optimistic about what the New Year holds for Saint John’s as we move forward strengthening children’s education, building on-site housing for our women and children, and rebuilding the vocational training model through Red Door Desserts.
Join us in 2021 – we will be here for each other.
Wishing you love, happiness and peace,
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Today is a Perfect Day for a New Beginning
Together, we will give more women and children the opportunity to start a new life - a life filled with hope, joy and endless opportunities. With your gift today, you will provide a family at Saint John's not only a safe home, but also a hand up through an educational program that empowers mothers to provide for themselves and their families.
For more information, please contact info@saintjohnsprogram.org.
Saint John's Program for Real Change
Nonprofit, 501(c)(3)
Tax ID: 68-0132934
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