1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-522-0225 | www.earlsplace.org | Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries 1

Have you been thinking about donating, but just haven‟t gotten around to it?

Today, I am throwing all the fundraising tips I have learned out the window to say we

really need your assistance. Right now our program budget is far from balanced.

Cuts in government financing continue, with more expected, especially those affect-

ing our clients with incomes below the poverty level. In addition, we feel that the

burden of financing the program should not fall on the recipients of our services. Res-

idents are charged a monthly program fee that does not exceed 30% of their income,

up to a maximum monthly charge of $200 — lower than most if not all other similar

programs. This fee has not increased since the program opened in 1998 and for those

without income the fee is waived. By keeping our fees low the residents are able to

address outstanding debts and save for their future move. Some men have left the

program with several thousand dollars saved.

Just this morning we saw an example of how your donations make a difference.

Isaac came by and told Ryan, “That‟s my mom. She helped me when I was really

down, and I thought, „Why would she help me?‟” Isaac was in our program in 2004.

Today he has a home, a fiancée; his two sons are back in his life as are his fiancée‟s

two daughters. He is having an engagement party in August and wedding plans are

set for next June. He has come a long way and you should be proud that you helped

him develop the foundation he needed.

We stand by our commitment to keep our fees low so our clients can build their foun-

dations. Will you stand with us? Donations from individuals like you are essential

to Earl’s Place, so please help another “Isaac.” Thank you,

P.S. Our staff and residents would like to thank you for your

support as well. As a token of our gratitude, we‟ll send you a DVD with their thanks.

News in Brief Sheila, our executive director, co-chairs Baltimore

United Congregations (BUC), an interfaith

organization dedicated to realizing social justice in

Baltimore. In January, BUC hosted a progressive open

house to introduce people to the people behind the

many great organizations working to end

homelessness in the city. In addition to Earl’s Place,

participants visited Health Care for the Homeless and

The Homeless Persons’ Representation Project.

In May, Rev. Dr. Kwame Osei Reed was joined by Rev. Dante Miles and Ms. Alfreda

Robinson-Dawkins for a BUC seminar on empowering congregations to open their

arms to those in need of help. To learn more about BUC’s work, visit

baltimoreunitedcongregations.org.

From the Executive Director

Spring / Summer 2011

Volume 14, Issue 2

United Ministries is a hous-

ing and social justice organi-

zation dedicated to assisting

homeless men who want to

change their lives, and to

changing community atti-

tudes toward the homeless.

Inside this IssueInside this IssueInside this Issue

From the Director 1

New Beginnings 2

Residents on Radio 2

Board Interview 3

Growing our Garden 5

Goodbye Ryan 6

Volunteers 7

Upcoming Events 8

Housing Matters

Sheila Helgerson, Executive Director

James Carey, Case Manager

Gary Champ & Mike Rambo, Resident Managers

Ryan Collins, Outreach Coordinator

Joan Kolobielski visits monthly to

share life skills with our residents.

2 1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-522-0225 | www.earlsplace.org | Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries

by Sheila Helgerson

On June 4 I was privileged to

attend another college graduation

for a former resident. Gabriel

Jimenez graduated magna cum

laude from the Community

College of Baltimore County

with a degree in Network

Technology.

Gabriel completed our program

in 2007, but he has not been a

stranger. Gabriel has used Earl‟s

Place as his “class project.”

Whenever he learned something

new he would call me and say, “I

think this would be

good for Earl‟s Place.”

Thanks to Gabriel our

office computers are

networked, we have

wireless connections

throughout the building

and lots more that I

don‟t fully understand!

Gabriel plans to continue his

education while working full-

time for a computer installation

and repair company.

—

In early June, Sammy moved into

his own apartment. Karma

really worked for him.

Within a two week period, he

secured a job and got his

own housing.

That left him with a concern

about how he was going to

furnish his apartment. Never

fear, we have a wonderful

support system that stepped

up with furniture and a

special group from St. John‟s

United Church of Christ

“adopted” Sammy. Bertha Kerzel

-Collins and Virginia Hoffman

spearheaded a drive to collect

items for Sammy‟s apartment

with a “Sammy Sunday” on May

15 and the following Sunday

Sammy and I loaded my car with

all kinds of items from a coffee

maker to bed linens. Sammy is

now comfortably settled and

happy.

New Beginnings

There is no sense of connection

and understanding like when a per-

son shares his or her story with

you. That‟s what made it so pow-

erful to hear Earl‟s Place clients

share their experiences June 8th on

Midday with Dan Rodricks, on

WYPR. Gabriel Jimenez and Luke

Wesby, who both completed our

program in 2007, and a current res-

ident, Emerson Harding, illustrated

how Earl‟s Place has made a dif-

ference in their lives by talking

about addiction, homelessness, and

their new beginnings. Here are

some highlights from the show:

“This time around, I wanted to

focus on my issues, what was

causing me to do the things I was

doing, why did I keep going back

and relapsing, and all of that. I

wanted to be in an environment

where I could work on me.” –

Emerson

“[At Earl's Place,] I finally could

walk around a house in my own

skin and not worry about being

judged. That was what was very

important for me and what is im-

portant to anybody in recovery is

to be able to be comfortable in

your own skin to move for-

ward.” – Gabriel

“It was like starting my life

again.” – Luke

Air Waves continues on 3

Taking their Success to the Air Waves

Sammy received much for his new apartment.

Left to right: Gabriel, Luke, Dan Rodricks, and Emerson.

1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-522-0225 | www.earlsplace.org | Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries 3

For Laurin, helping at Earl‟s

Place is personal. Her mother is

currently incarcerated, and will

soon be released — “I know how

important second chances are to

people,” she says.

We‟re glad to have her

dedication. Though she is one of

our youngest board members, she

has years of experience with large

and medium nonprofit manage-

ment. Serving a smaller nonprofit

is a new experience, she says, but

a welcome one. “Working with

Earl‟s Place I am able to see how

local nonprofits really make an

impact in the community... It is a

testament to the fact that a

passionate few really can change

the world.”

Laurin says that one of the most

meaningful experiences she‟s had

at Earl‟s Place was helping at the

Resolution Run, our annual 5K run

to benefit Earl‟s Place. Lee, a

resident at the time, thanked the

participants for providing their

help; Laurin says it was a moment

of profound connection for

everyone. “I felt that was a great

moment because the Baltimore

community is a very active region

and many folks didn‟t stop to think

about the cause they were

supporting because they were all

too happy to accomplish their

fitness for the day, but that brought

the mission of Earl‟s Place front

and center.”

Laurin says she would love to

see Earl‟s Place expand by adding

a farming and landscaping

component to the program—a

solution which would benefit the

Baltimore community while

creating jobs for residents of Earl‟s

Place.

We‟re proud to have Laurin

sharing her fresh thinking with us!

Laurin Hodge Managing Member of Alex & Cole, LLC

Air Waves from 2

Equally inspiring were some of the

responses that you shared with us

after hearing the show:

“I'm teary-eyed and so full of joy

for Luke, Gabriel and Emer-

son! That was a wonderful seg-

ment and really helped me get

what you and your staff do every

day for those men.” – Paulette

“I just wanted to let you know

how much I enjoyed the inter-

view with Luke, Gabriel and

Emerson on the NPR noon show

Wednesday. The men did a

wonderful job in the inter-

view. Please tell Emerson how

proud I am of him!” – Jean

“I listened to the interview w/

Dan Rodricks on WYPR yester-

day. Earl's Place, and especially

Sheila Helgerson, is doing the

Lord's Work!” – Diana

You can hear their stories by going

to www.wypr.org/podcasts.

Without your support, these stories

might not have had the happy end-

ings that they did. Thank you to all

of our donors, who have joined us

in building the community of heal-

ing that is Earl‟s Place. Your gift

is transformational in the lives

of the men we serve. If you have-

n‟t donated before, please consider

including us in your giving plans.

Read the full Read the full Spotlight Spotlight of of

Laurin online at Laurin online at earlsplace.org/laurinhodgeearlsplace.org/laurinhodge

4 1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-522-0225 | www.earlsplace.org | Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries

*Former resident

We sincerely apologize for any errors or omissions; please contact our office for corrections.

A.R. Simmons

The Abell Foundation

Debbie Aiello

Jill Allbritton

Douglas Anders

Casey W. Anno & David

Wilhelm

Anonymous

Joseph Arsenault & Linda

Emerick

Betty Baggett

Cathy Baldwin

Linda Barclay

Rev. Eugene & Karen

Bartell

Barbara Becker

Lois & Jim Benson

Rev. Lucy Brady

Marsha Brett

David & Marianne Brown

Barbara Burke

Vicky Burns

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Butler

Canton Club Health &

Fitness

Scott Carberry

Patricia E. Carey

Mary Carrigan

Central Atlantic Conference

United Church of Christ

(UCC)

Aaron Chauncey

Christian Community UCC

Dawn Chrystal

Ryan Collins

Columbia United Christian

Church

Marcia Conlin

David & Audrey Cooley

Juanita Cooper

P. Ann Cotten

April Cox

Patrick M. Dempsey

Siobhan Donegan

Rev. Dennis Dorsch

B. Marvin Dorsey*

Leslie & Larry Dunham

Donnie Eckerd

ExxonMobil Foundation

Elaine Farrant

Lenora Ferron

Rev. C. Larry Fisher

Dr. Harold & Rhea Fox

Barbara Francis

Elaine Funk

Charles Gaskins

Marie Gerwig & Susan

Barry

Janet Glover-Kerkvliet

Elijah & Mary Grady

Rev. Edgar & Marilyn

Graves

Bruce & Cheryl Griffin

Alva Grubb

Mr. & Mrs. Howard

Haslbeck

Sheila Helgerson &

Michael Taurone

Kathleen Helt

Thomas Henninger

Rita Hinkel

Carol & Tom Hoffman

Alta Horn

Brian Horn

Elwood & Bernie Hummer

Immanuel UCC Women‟s

Guild

Barbara Joellenbeck &

Steven Callahan

Dorothy Jones

Richard & Judith Katz

Ensign C. Markland Kelly

People‟s Emergency

Fund

The Marion I. & Henry J.

Knott Foundation

Joan Kolobielski

Helen Krom

Alan Lambert*

Katie Lambert

Priscilla Larity

Ronald & Maria Lefrancois

The John J. Leidy

Foundation, Inc.

Dave & Patricia Linzey

Stephen Lippy

Lila Lohr

John Lowman

Betty Macioch

Mary Matthai

Phyllis Mitchell

Rev. & Mrs. Hugh Nash

Mary Nestor

James Oliver

Rev. John & Meg Oliver

Robert Olsen

Beth O‟Malley

Diane Pachillis

Martha Pleshaw

Clara Polcak

Rev. Jan & Dr. Joan Ports

Nijole Powell

Robert J. Price

The Product Sales

Committee/Girl Scouts of

Central Maryland

James Rashed

Sasha Reamer

Dr. William Reichel

Loretta Richardson

Gregory Satrie Robinson

Lisa Eney Robinson

Roger Russell

St. John‟s UCC

St. Matthew UCC

Romeo Santos

Rita Saurusaitis

Melanie Savage

Kim Savoy

Barbara Schroeder

Jessica Siegmann

Annette Smith

Richard Spooner

Katherine Stauffer

Naomi Strolle

Rev. Bruce Swanson

Edward Szrom

Anna Taurone

Eric & Pamela Thompson

Towson Unitarian

Universalist Church

Sherri Tullis

United Evangelical UCC

Geert Van Der Kolk

Barbara Van O‟Linda

David Vanneman

Rev. Edwin Wenck

Doug & Jill White

Tracy White

Elizabeth Wiggins

Pamela Wilkens

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel

Williams, Sr.

Mark S. Wilson

Vernon Workman

Rev. Clara Young

Robert & Barbara Young

Leona Youngblood

Friends & Supporters | January — May 2011

St. Matthews shared gifts

with our residents at Easter.

1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-522-0225 | www.earlsplace.org | Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries 5

Thank You!

The support of these donors has helped us carry our mission of providing new beginnings through housing. If you have provided for

United Ministries/Earl‟s Place in your estate plans, please let us know. If not, we would love to talk to you about how you can.

Call or write: United Ministries, Inc. 1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 or info@earlsplace.org

410-522-0225

Friends & Supporters | January — May 2011

In Memory Of Charles Eney from

Eric & Pamela Thompson

Lisa Eney Robinson

Bruce Frederick from

David & Marianne Brown

Shirley Holmes from

David & Marianne Brown

Kathryn Joellenbeck from Dr.

Harold & Rhea Fox

Billie Rutten from

David & Marianne Brown

Raymond Strolle from Naomi

Strolle

In Honor of Rev. Eugene & Karen Bartell from

Rev. Douglas Anders and

David & Marianne Brown

Rev. Phillip Curran from

David & Marianne Brown

Timothy Dinterman from

David & Marianne Brown

Sheila Helgerson from

David & Marianne Brown and

Marcia Conlin

Rev. Roy Joellenbeck from Rev.

Beth O‟Malley

Rev. John & Meg Oliver from

Kathleen Helt

Robert Olsen from

Rev. Bruce Swanson

Laura Prinn from Aaron Chauncey,

Gregory Satrie Robinson, Sherri

Tullis, and Pamela Wilkins

Shirley Zimmerman from

David & Marianne Brown

Note: St. Matthews UCC and Dr.

& Mrs. William Reichel were

inadvertently omitted from the

donor lists.

Growing Our Garden

Thank you Beth Wiggins, Steve

Breckler, and St. Matthews!

When Beth Wiggins saw pictures of our “Garden Off Eden” in our e-newsletter, she contacted us to see what else we could use. A few days later she and her husband Steve Breckler arrived here at the corner of Lombard and Eden with purple Echinacea and plenty of mulch!

St. Matthews United Church of Christ also stepped in to help: they had collected red flowers for Pentecost, and Bob Wancowicz came and planted some of them in our garden.

Our residents spend a lot of time in the garden, whether it’s to read the morning paper, water some plants, or just relax. Bruce is one of our residents who takes great care of the garden, watering and planting as needed. He said, “Where else but Earl’s Place would I be able to do something like this?” A resident enjoys the paper each morning in

our garden (top), with our lovely purple Echinacea (middle) and red petunias (bottom).

6 1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-522-0225 | www.earlsplace.org | Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries

We hope you never need us, but we need you. Your monthly recurring donation means a new beginning for a homeless man.

“I’d been “I’d been looking for work for ages,looking for work for ages, and people and people

told me I couldn’t do it told me I couldn’t do it –– I had a record, I had I had a record, I had

felonies. But I tried anyway, and felonies. But I tried anyway, and I got it.” I got it.” ——

Sammy, Sammy, former residentformer resident

By Sheila Helgerson

Last year about this time I learned that we had a

match for a Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC)

applicant. I must admit to mixed feelings. Yes, I

definitely could use the extra help, but my office

had to be reconfigured to accommodate another

person and because we would be spending eight

hours a day across from each other, what if we

didn‟t like each other?!

Well, now I have to deal with another set of

emotions. Ryan Collins joined our family on

August 24, 2010 and he has been fabulous. He

helped me flesh out and implement some of the

ideas that I had been putting on the back burner for

a long time. Ryan and his magical computer skills

updated our website, developed an e-newsletter,

increased our presence on Facebook, and so much

more.

They say all good things must come to an end and

so it is with Ryan. His last official day with United

Ministries is August 5. I know that will be a tough

day where we will be shedding some “happy” tears.

We have all grown to love Ryan and he will be

greatly missed, but at the same time we wish him

blessings for the future as he enters the next phase

in his life as a graduate student at The Won Institute

of Graduate Studies in Philadelphia. While losing

Ryan is sad, we are also excited as we prepare to

welcome a new LVC participant; at the end of

August Aletheia Shin will step into the big shoes

Ryan is leaving and I am confident that she will be

great as well.

By Ryan Collins

I wish you could have sat across the desk from Sheila this

past year, as I‟ve been privileged to do. There is something

deeply, soul-seizingly nourishing about watching a person

exert herself day in and day out for the benefit of people who

sorely need someone on their side.

I hear constantly about people making decisions to put what

is easy or expedient over the interests of what is right and

compassionate. Sitting at this desk, I‟ve seen Sheila again and

again put the needs of the Earl‟s Place clients first. It‟s a

humbling experience.

And it‟s an honor to have been able to become a part of it.

There is a tone of compassion that runs throughout the

community here at Earl‟s Place, and it draws everyone in;

from Jim giving rides to clients long after hours, to clients

visiting each other in the hospital, to donors faithfully giving

monthly for years. Simple, day-to-day exchanges I‟ve had

with residents have given rise to some incredible friendships.

It has been tremendously meaningful for me to be a part of an

organization that puts people before profits, and that can truly

offer a chance to find a new way of life.

It has already been very difficult each time I‟ve had to say

goodbye to a graduating resident. I know it will be even

harder when I say goodbye, myself.

Ryan (left) with a volunteer at the 2011 Resolution Run.

Tell Us What You Think! Take a 5-minute survey to tell us what you like

to see in the Earl’s Place newsletters. Complete

it online, by phone, or fill it out yourself.

Online: earlsplace.org/readersurvey

Phone & Print: call 410-522-0225

1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-522-0225 | www.earlsplace.org | Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries 7

“Putting the key in the door, I feel “Putting the key in the door, I feel

the the same peace here that I felt same peace here that I felt

at my own homeat my own home when I had one. when I had one.

I can go to a guy’s room and talk I can go to a guy’s room and talk

and find peace. Every single day I and find peace. Every single day I

can find peace here.” can find peace here.” —— J.B., J.B.,

current residentcurrent resident

A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting United Ministries A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting United Ministries

at 1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 or 410at 1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 or 410--522522--0225. Documents and information sub-0225. Documents and information sub-

mitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from mitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from

the Office of the Secretary for the cost of copying and postage. the Office of the Secretary for the cost of copying and postage.

by Sheila Helgerson

Rev. John Oliver, a United

Church of Christ pastor, hospice

chaplain and musician, is also a

former board member and great

friend of United Ministries /

Earl‟s Place. In March, Rev.

Oliver presented a concert of

show tunes at Immanuel United

Church of Christ in Catonsville.

A free will offering and sales

from his CDs totaling $642 were

donated to Earl‟s

Place! Thank you,

John, for sharing

your time and talent,

Immanuel for

sharing your space,

and everyone who

attended!

One of those who

attended John‟s

concert was Jean Trotter. Jean is

a clinical faculty member for The

Johns Hopkins University School

of Nursing. Thanks to this

serendipitous meeting, Earl‟s

Place had the privilege of being a

volunteering site for eight

students in the Public Health

Nursing program. Erin, Sarah,

Margaret, Carey, Amy, Marissa,

Vlada, Diana, and of course Jean

surpassed all our expectations.

They provided blood pressure and

glucose screenings and

information on

a variety of

men‟s health

issues. They

even shared

exercise tips

and provided

exercise bands

for each of us.

Their final

visit was bittersweet. The

evening consisted of an

information session on healthy

eating and then an opportunity to

experience what we had just

learned. Some of the men were

surprised to find that a meal

without meat could be delicious

and filling! As if they had not

given enough, the students

provided a cookbook made up of

their favorite healthy recipes,

several additional cookbooks and

a tomato plant for our garden.

We were honored to have so

many dedicated instructors. We

wish them every success in their

new roles!

Interested in holding a fundraiser

or sharing life skills with the

residents of Earl’s Place? Visit

our website to see how you can

get involved, e-mail us at

info@earlsplace.org or call us at

410-522-0225.

Rev. Oliver hosted a concert to benefit Earl‟s Place.

8 1400 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-522-0225 | www.earlsplace.org | Earl’s Place is a project of United Ministries

Non-Profit

U.S. Postage

PAID

Baltimore, MD

Permit No. 7462 Sheila Helgerson, Executive Director

Earl‟s Place

1400 E. Lombard Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21231

Phone: 410-522-0225 Fax: 410-522-3744

www.earlsplace.org

Received multiple mailings? Need to update your

address? Want our e-newsletter instead of the print

one? Call the number above, or e-mail

epoutreach@verizon.net.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Increasing Understanding, Diminishing Fear

The Second Annual Interfaith Forum on Homelessness

This year’s Interfaith Forum will focus on breaking down the barriers that limit congregations

from working to help people experiencing homelessness. The forum will feature interactive

workshops to equip congregations with the tools they need to make a difference. Join us,

and bring your friends! To register, call 410-522-0225.

9:00AM—3:30PM at Goucher College

1021 Dulaney Road, Towson, MD 21204

January 1, 2012

The 2012 Resolution Run Featuring a revised course to better accommodate our growing number of walkers and run-

ners, the 2012 Resolution Run promises family fun and a healthy start to the New Year —

all while supporting Earl’s Place. Sponsorships are still available, but for a limited time only.

Call 410-522-0225 or e-mail us at info@earlsplace.org for an informational packet.

Race begins 2PM, Patterson Park, Baltimore MD 21224

CO

MIN

G

EV

EN

TS

The staff and residents of Earl’s Place are always honored to speak at your The staff and residents of Earl’s Place are always honored to speak at your

congregation or organization. Call or econgregation or organization. Call or e--mail us for details!mail us for details!