Monday Memo July 22

Monday Memo agency news & updates

July 22, 2019

Vacation Tips for Nonprofit Professionals

Why is it so hard for nonprofit professionals to truly unplug and unwind during their time off from work? Because, as one NP Professional so bluntly puts it, "We suck at vacationing!"

After asking fellow colleagues for tips on how to enjoy vacation time, she compiled a list of hilarious suggestions. Click here to read the full article.

Here are a few of my favorites:

“Get a massage and write a grant at the same time!”
"Take a break from feeling guilty about not being at work to feel guilty that you’re wasting your precious vacation time by thinking about work.”
“When planning your vacation make sure to identify your mission, purpose, objectives, budget, inputs, outputs, evaluation process, and reporting dates, followed with the debrief notes.”
“Put on an away message that indicates you are on vacation. Then immediately respond to all emails. Under promise…over deliver.”
“Use the time off to create a PowerPoint presentation for colleagues about the importance of self-care.”

This article was shared by Becky and paraphrased by Tara.

SHELTER OPERATIONS

Client Services Update with Megan

Tara and I will begin attending the Outcomes-Based Program Evaluation Institute this week.

The Outcomes-Based Program Evaluation Institute (OBPEI), sponsored by The Miles Foundation and The Morris Foundation, provides organizations with the knowledge and skills to evaluate program efficiency and effectiveness.

The OBPEI consists of four in-class sessions and eight hours of one-on-one coaching with program evaluation consultants. We will be expected to design an evaluation framework for one program that includes a theory of change model, a logic model with goals and indicators and a data collection plan.

Our sessions and training will continue through the beginning of October.

Client Services and Fund Development will be working closely together so we can better track data!

As we continue to work on the expansion, this is a great time to evaluate our current data tracking procedures and increase our measures.

Shelter Update with Rachel

Our clients stepped away from their routine at the Shelter last Monday, July 15 to take part in an event at First Christian Church.

Ulster Project invites our clients for a picnic every year in July. This picnic is organized by exchange students from Europe and their host families.

Everyone had a lot of fun enjoying dinner and participating in the activities. Our clients sang and gave speeches about their experiences here at the shelter. The feedback from the clients was very good and they really enjoyed the event.

Current Needs

Over the counter meds
Pain pills and allergy meds
Wash cloths
Hand soap
Cereal bowls

Client Story and Update from Andrea

Susan came to us with nothing but a job, a car, an eviction, and a bankruptcy. We had just got Susan on a plan to success, then a tree fell on her car and totaled it. What we thought was a disaster turned out to be a miracle though. Insurance paid the car off, she was able to get another car, and is no longer in bankruptcy. She saved her money and was offered Rapid Exit. Below is the rest of the story.

Good morning Andrea,

I am ecstatic to be able to write this email and say that all went well, and I am now housed!! After all that I have experienced since March 9, 2019 this was a welcome outcome!

When I had to go to the shelter I was scared because I did not know what to expect. I see so many homeless people that are wandering the streets and sleeping in their cars that I felt that it could happen to me too. I am so glad that it didn't.

Arlington Life Shelter is true to it's motto of returning the homeless to self-sufficiency.

I thank you and I thank God for all that I was able to achieve by being able to be a part of the program at Arlington Life Shelter.

The Rapid Exit program and CEC gave me a bed, love seat, bedding, kitchen starter with China!!!!!! They GAVE me china! A nice dining table with chairs, and so much stuff....I can throw my broken things in storage away!!!

I am eternally grateful for Arlington Life Shelter, CEC, and I am in thankful tears for God's grace through you. The Bible says that "He shall open the windows of Heaven and pour you out a Blessing that you will not have room to receive....and that is so true.

Thank you again so much!!!!!!

P. S - Tell Mr. Melvin thank you for his ministry, patience, diligence, support...too much to put in this email. Also, tell him no deep smiling 😀

FUND DEVELOPMENT

Community Engagement Update with Chandra

The Salvation Army has generously donated the use of one of their food trucks to the shelter to help feed residents during the construction of our new building. The picture shown is an idea of what our food truck may look like; we won't know exactly til Thursday. The food truck will be onsite at the shelter through December.

Food Teams will begin using the food truck to prepare and serve dinner for residents beginning August 1st.

FOOD TRUCK TOURS FOR FOOD TEAMS

Food Teams will have two opportunities to tour the kitchen on the food truck prior to August 1st. Tours will be held between 9am - 1pm on Friday, July 26th and Saturday, July 27th.

Capital Campaign Update

The wall of the serving area of the Hearts of Faith Kitchen will prominently display the names of faith communities that provide food teams for the shelter.

This rendition is an example of what it will look like.