"Give Them Roots and Create Wings"

EPH May 2020 E-news

Update From Our Ex ecutive Director Julie A derhold

Hello again to all of you who have supported EPH and the families with children we serve by your prayers, time, talents and treasure. You are amazing! The first Monday in May has traditionally been our Annual Celebration Dinner when we enjoy a meal together at St. Norbert College Bemis Center, provide an EPH update, honor our Duane Howell Service Award volunteer of the year, and have the privilege of hearing personally from two or three of our families about their journey. Although we are not able to join together this month, I have some inspiring stories to share from just the past few weeks:

An anonymous Board member wanted to share his family’s stimulus check by both supporting our families and a local restaurant. On Thursday, April 23 rd , we had the privilege of delivering 30 pizzas and 22 chicken strips & fries meals from Rustique in Suamico to families. We had a cheese donation from a volunteer at one of our partnership churches delivered as well. The note from the Board member on top of the boxes included the statement, “You are loved!” Along with plenty of smiles, some messages we received included, “We’re very grateful!” and “This pizza is delicious…thank you so much.”

I’d like to share part of an email from a Mom who moved into one of our David homes (long term supportive housing) in April: "My heart is crying of happiness, I feel God’s love all around me, I can never thank you enough for such a big blessing ...it is a dream come true to have a house for my kids." In Prevention, Holly has been working with a single mom whom she asked how she had heard about us. Her mother had donated to EPH in the past and knew us to be "a good organization within the community." Holly has also been told by families that EPH provides a good service and has a reputation in the community for being a “good place to go” where “Holly really listens to me and I like to talk to her”.

We were able to grant an EPH HOPE Scholarship to one of our families in April. Mom needed a basic laptop and headphones for classes she is taking through W-2. Our HOPE Scholarship was started several years ago and is underwritten primarily by an anonymous donor. The objective is to offer Hope by providing an Opportunity to Prosper through continuing Education. The smile on Mom’s face was priceless! We received a donation from Dino Calarco, owner of a local franchisee of Microbe Free Solutions, on Friday, April 17 th . Dino treated (fogged) one of our transitional units, which disinfected the entire home after a family moved out. Although no one had been sick, the treatment allowed us the safety of getting into the home sooner to clean and prepare for the next family. We are very thankful! The product he uses was developed by Dow Corning and is used in major hotel chains, airlines and with professional sports teams; as well as many local business in our area. Dino found out about the work we do from his best friend’s mothers-in-law, one of our longtime volunteers, Marlene Sharman, and wanted to help. Thank you, Dino and Marlene! Lastly, many have asked how they can help during this time. Please continue praying for our families, and taking care of yourselves and your loved ones.

If anyone has access to the following (we need these items for use in our homes and with volunteers once they return to cleaning and preparing our homes): Masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, wipes and cleaning products that clean 99% of germs. With the shortages throughout the country, we have been unable to find these products locally and ordering through a vendor requires quantities too large for EPH. Please contact Wendy at our EPH office: 920-676-3779 or [email protected] .  My prayers continue to be for our EPH families and for all of you as well.  In gratitude and with a sincere heart, Julie Aderhold Executive Director

Ecumenical Partnership for Housing   is a 501(c3) organization, dedicated to finding permanent solutions for homeless families in Green Bay .