McAuley Miracles

year later. Then, two years ago, her long-time relationship fell apart. She was alone. “I had nowhere to go and no job,” she said. “I used to wish my mom was alive because I wouldn’t be in this situation.” She took it day by day. The future was too big, and empty. Until it wasn't. This is Norca’s life today: Last year, Norca moved to McAuley Village, our two-year transitional

Norca’s Journey: From Homelessness to Hope

Spring 2013

McAuley Miracles

A Newsletter of McAuley Ministries

McAuley Ministries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that includes: • -McAuley House meal

site for the hungry • -McAuley Village

transitional housing for single parents and their children

• McAuley Village Child Care Learning Center

• The Warde-robe thrift store

McAuley House guest Greg enjoys a hot lunch on a cold afternoon.

This was Norca Perez’ life before: Pregnant and crowded into a cigarette smoke-filled, one-bedroom apartment (the only place between her and the street) with her two children and the apartment tenant, a family friend. Up at 6 am to take a bus downtown to another bus, to get to day care, to another bus for a jobs program. No one was hiring. Her mother had died 10 years ago. Her father, a

housing program with on-site daycare. In one year, she earned her GED, passed a citizenship test, and completed training to be a Certified Nursing Assistant. She dreams of becoming a nurse, and buying a home. “She is on fire to move for-ward,” said the Rev. Michele Matott, Village administra-tor. “She’s a bright light and she’ll go far.” All she needed was a chance. “I say I never want to leave,” she said, “but I know I have to give someone else a chance now.” To support the Village, visit www.mcauleyri.org

Norca’s daughter Marianna, 4, with her drawing of home.

Grateful: It’s a word full of meaning for McAuley Minis-tries… where we provide food, shelter and clothing to the most vulnerable.

Last fall, McAuley Village launched the Women’s Lead-ership Circle—seeking to build community support around the homeless mothers and children living there. The Circle, led by co-chairs Noreen Shawcross and Jeanine McConaghy, blasted off with great success. Approximately 50 women leaders from around Rhode Island—including those from banking, healthcare and business—have provided financial support, volunteer-ism and raised awareness of the Village within the larger community. Activities have included a Christmas Cookie Shoppe, Valentine’s Day celebration

Executive Director’s Message: A State of Gratitude Page 2 McAuley Miracles A newsletter of McAuley Ministries

McAuley Village Women’s Leadership Circle News

We frequently hear from those we serve how grateful they are for the support offered by our ministries. Guests at the McAuley House meal site are grateful for a daily nutritious hot meal and personal guidance. Residents at McAuley Village are grateful to participate in family– and skill-building programs. Parents are grateful for educa-tional opportunities at the Child Care Learning Center. Patrons of the Warde-robe are grateful for the availability of quality clothing at a low cost. Others are grateful too. Those who work at our ministries often comment that they are grateful for the opportunity to give back to

others. Volunteers are grateful to be of help and many have done so for years. Here is a recent comment from a new volunteer: Volunteering for the Warde-robe has brought me such great joy over the past few months. It is uplifting for me. All those we serve, our volun-teers, the Sisters, staff and Board of Trustees are thankful and share their gratitude with you for your continuing, generous and compassionate support of the mission and val-ues of McAuley Ministries. Thank you, We are grateful! Don Wolfe

honoring the single mothers, and a first-ever Women’s Business Fair in which volunteers provided resume building, mock interviews, dress for success tips and other support. The Business Fair’s goal was helping equip single mothers with the tools to secure a job, and move toward independence. “It has been wonderful to have the Circle members participating in Village activities,” Shawcross said. “They’ve made Christmas and Valentine's Day special for the mothers and chil-dren, and the Business Fair was a wonderful match for the skills of the members.”

Circle member Marianne Stepanian with Village resident Fanny at a Valentine’s Day Celebration honoring Village moms

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras recently spent a morning with McAuley Minis-tries Executive Director Don Wolfe, touring McAuley House - our meal site and house of hospitality for those who are homeless and hungry, and McAuley Village - our transi-tional housing program for homeless mothers and their children “We appreciate that Mayor Taveras generously spent his time visiting us, speaking to our staff, guests and volun-teers,” Wolfe said after the visit. “The Mayor is genuinely concerned about those in need, and hearing about ways McAuley Ministries is helping.”

Mayor Angel Taveras and Executive Director Don Wolfe discuss the work of the ministries during the mayor’s visit.

This spring, the Warde-robe in Central Falls got a makeover, thanks to Holy Apostles Parish. The faith community, which is in Cranston, donated $2,200 to enable the thrift store to install new carpeting. Volunteers helped haul out clothing racks and display cases so carpeting could be quickly laid while the store was closed—allowing store manager Donna Benetti to re-open for regular

Mayor Tours McAuley Ministries

Faithful Support: Local Parish Dresses Up Warde-robe

Fall 2012

Planned giving is a way of expressing your support for McAuley Ministries into the future. For more information, contact Executive Director Donald Wolfe at 401-941-9013 ext 303.

hours. The new carpet-ing replaced flooring that was soiled, buckled and patched with duct tape. “Our new carpeting makes the Warde-robe look like a department store,” Benetti said. “This conveys a real hospitality and respect for our patrons.” Holy Apostles has been a good friend to the Warde-robe, including hosting an annual clothing drive.

McAuley Ministries Board of Trustees

Jack Emerson Chair

Bernard Beaudreau Vice Chair

Richard Fritz Treasurer

Fausto C Anguilla John D. Condon Bethany Costello Daniel P. Egan Kathleen Harrington RSM Neal McNamara Shannon O’Brien Richard Ratcliffe Mary Reilly RSM Kristen Soucie Donald P. Wolfe, Executive Director

Store Manager Donna Benetti, store co-founder Sr. Alberic Martin, and staff member Lynn Charbonneau express their gratitude to Holy Apostles.

Page 3

Feeding the Hungry with Love, Respect & Healthy Food Page 4 McAuley Miracles A newsletter of McAuley Ministries

meals with extra virgin olive oil, whole grains and vegeta-bles. The recipes help families stretch their food dollars while losing weight and getting healthier. Recently, the Rhode Island Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to enable Dr. Flynn and McAuley House to translate the program to a meal site, and to offer cooking classes to McAuley guests with diabetes. Stop & Shop and United Natural Foods Inc. provided funding for whole grains and other ingredients. “Dr. Flynn’s ground-breaking work will help those we serve live healthier lives,” said the Rev. Mary Margaret Earl, Associate Director of McAuley Ministries.

living in poverty suffer obesity and other life-style based ail-ments at far greater rates than their middle-class counterparts. Though McAuley House has long provided healthy and hearty lunches for up to 300 people daily, leaders wanted to do more to break the cycle of poverty and illness. This spring, they launched a pilot program with Mary Flynn, Ph.D., RD, LDN, Supervisor and Chief Research Dietitian at The Miriam Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at Brown University. Flynn had developed the Rais-ing the Bar on Nutrition Pro-gram with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, teach-ing low-income families visiting pantries to create affordable

Several years ago, McAuley House staff noticed a trend. Many of those seeking help to purchase life-saving prescription medications were suffering from diabe-tes, high blood pressure and other diet-based diseases. Studies show that those

Cup O’ Tea for Mother’s Day, and Other Ways to Help!

Dr. Mary Flynn, center, with two Brown University students who are collecting data for the McAuley House Healing Foods Project.

Mother’s Day is on the way! Chances are, Mom doesn’t need one more sweater or bottle of perfume. But she may like this: Knowing she’s been honored by helping a homeless mother. McAuley Ministries is celebrat-ing Mother’s Day by inviting donors to make a $25 donation in honor of their mother, plus $5 for shipping. We will send a complimentary “Cup O’ Mother McAuley’s Irish Tea” to your Mom, letting her know your donation supports home-less mothers and children at McAuley Village. Quantities are limited: We are offering just 100

cups and saucers, with a bag of Irish tea included. To participate, make an on-line donation at www.mcauleyri.org, noting that this is for Mother’s Day, and include your email and your Mom’s mailing address along with a message for her!

Spring cleaning? Here are ways to help those in need at the same time: The Warde-robe:

• Small furniture items • Pots and pans • Towels • Curtains Call the Warde-robe at: (401)729-0405 McAuley House: • Baseball caps • Sneakers • Boots • Jeans Call McAuley House at (401)941 9013 ext. 302

Feeding the Hungry with Love, Respect & Healthy Food Page 4 McAuley Miracles A newsletter of McAuley Ministries

meals with extra virgin olive oil, whole grains and vegeta-bles. The recipes help families stretch their food dollars while losing weight and getting healthier. Recently, the Rhode Island Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to enable Dr. Flynn and McAuley House to translate the program to a meal site, and to offer cooking classes to McAuley guests with diabetes. Stop & Shop and United Natural Foods Inc. provided funding for whole grains and other ingredients. “Dr. Flynn’s ground-breaking work will help those we serve live healthier lives,” said the Rev. Mary Margaret Earl, Associate Director of McAuley Ministries.

living in poverty suffer obesity and other life-style based ail-ments at far greater rates than their middle-class counterparts. Though McAuley House has long provided healthy and hearty lunches for up to 300 people daily, leaders wanted to do more to break the cycle of poverty and illness. This spring, they launched a pilot program with Mary Flynn, Ph.D., RD, LDN, Supervisor and Chief Research Dietitian at The Miriam Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at Brown University. Flynn had developed the Rais-ing the Bar on Nutrition Pro-gram with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, teach-ing low-income families visiting pantries to create affordable

Several years ago, McAuley House staff noticed a trend. Many of those seeking help to purchase life-saving prescription medications were suffering from diabe-tes, high blood pressure and other diet-based diseases. Studies show that those

Cup O’ Tea for Mother’s Day, and Other Ways to Help!

Dr. Mary Flynn, center, with two Brown University students who are collecting data for the McAuley House Healing Foods Project.

Mother’s Day is on the way! Chances are, Mom doesn’t need one more sweater or bottle of perfume. But she may like this: Knowing she’s been honored by helping a homeless mother. McAuley Ministries is celebrat-ing Mother’s Day by inviting donors to make a $25 donation in honor of their mother, plus $5 for shipping. We will send a complimentary “Cup O’ Mother McAuley’s Irish Tea” to your Mom, letting her know your donation supports home-less mothers and children at McAuley Village. Quantities are limited: We are offering just 100

cups and saucers, with a bag of Irish tea included. To participate, make an on-line donation at www.mcauleyri.org, noting that this is for Mother’s Day, and include your email and your Mom’s mailing address along with a message for her!

Spring cleaning? Here are ways to help those in need at the same time: The Warde-robe:

• Small furniture items • Pots and pans • Towels • Curtains Call the Warde-robe at: (401)729-0405 McAuley House: • Baseball caps • Sneakers • Boots • Jeans Call McAuley House at (401)941 9013 ext. 302

Fall 2012 Page 5

For decades, Florence and Ramsey Davis helped students with special needs. Florence taught school for 35 years, including 18 at the Hamilton School with learning disabled stu-dents. Ramsey, a Vietnam Veteran, taught emotionally disturbed children

The partnership between McAuley Ministries and Stop & Shop sprouted last year, when the supermarket com-pany sought to help homeless families at McAuley Village. Learning that families moving into the transitional housing program often arrive with nothing, S&S District Manager Shawn Lynch arranged for a donation of “Welcome Home Baskets” - laundry baskets brimming with cleaning supplies and other household items, to help families start afresh. Since then, Stop & Shop has supported McAuley Minis-tries with a wide range of

needs: Store manag-ers from around the state painted apart-ments and cleaned up the playground at McAuley Village; a Stop & Shop store in Cranston gathered hundreds of “Food for Friends” boxes, as well as financial do-nations for McAuley House; and recently, Stop & Shop provided a $2,500 grant for the McAuley House “Healing Foods” program. Such outreach is a Stop & Shop commitment, Lynch said.

Our Featured Community Partner: Stop & Shop

McAuley Ministries is Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy—Northeast Community

in the Warwick public schools. About 5 years ago they retired. But not from giving. They began volunteering at McAuley House. On Wednesdays, the couple serves those in need. Florence volunteers in the kitchen, sometimes helping coordinate other volunteers, and Ramsey tends to the computer needs of the Ministries, including trouble-shooting technical glitches. They are faithful. Their commitment, Florence said, flows from a sense of wanting to remain focused on the larger world, not on themselves.

“McAuley House has given us a lot of lessons that enrich our lives,” Florence said. “We make fewer judgments about others. And we carry that out into the world.” Seeing the struggle of those in need sharpens their sense of gratitude. “We are fortunate and blessed,” Ramsey said. “And we need to give back.” Volunteers like Ramsey and Florence ensure McAuley can serve those in need, said Executive Director Don Wolfe “They are the kind of volunteers who inspire others” Wolfe said.

Retired Educators Bring their Gifts to Those in Need

“Stop & Shop values supporting the communities we serve,” Lynch said, “and we are proud to assist McAuley Ministries in its work to help those in need in Rhode Island.”

The McAuley Corporation PO Box 73195

622 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI 02907

401-941-9013

Feeding, Sheltering and Clothing RI’s Neediest

Non-profit Organization U.S.Postage PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 867

Visit our website: www.mcauleyri.org

Yes! I want to feed, shelter and clothe Rhode Islanders in need!

Enclosed is my gift to McAuley Ministries in the amount of: ______ $250 ______ $100 _______$75 _____$50 ______Other _______ My check is enclosed and made payable to McAuley Ministries ____ My company ______________________________ will match my gift. The matching gift form is enclosed. ____ Please send me information about ways to include McAuley Ministries in my estate plans.

Donor Information Name: ___________________________________________ I wish to remain anonymous _________ Address ___________________________________ Telephone ______________________ City/State/Zip___________________________________________________ Email ___________________________ You may contact me using e-mail _______________ Please be assured that McAuley Ministries never shares or sells donor information . Please remove me from mailing list ___ Please return in enclosed envelope or mail to: McAuley Ministries PO Box 73195 Providence, RI 02907 Secure and easy on-line donations can be made at www.mcauleyri.org Thank you for your support! This gift is tax-deductible to the extent provided by law



401-941-9013









401-941-9013







Documents

McAuley Miracles