UCOM received word, via letter, from the IRS that we are officially a Non-profit organization, a 501(c)(3). This means we have reached tax exempt status and can now receive donations and can give, in return, a tax exemption for donors.
Months of hard work went into the paperwork and filing process. A special thanks to Board of Directors Chair and Vice-Chair, Jeff Peterson-Davis and Meghan Barkett, as well as Executive Director, Heather Myer for all your hard work in the process!!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
"Morning Commute" by Meg A., Chicago
Clouds of dirt and grime envelope
me as I scamper
down the concrete sidewalk,
towards the lemon unveiling itself
over the reaches of the trees,
spraying the world with its
citrus, nourishing even the smallest brick.
I cower and scatter away
shielding myself from the disgust shot
at me from all around.
I reach the gloomy corner
that is mine
and set out the Folgers can
that is my income.
me as I scamper
down the concrete sidewalk,
towards the lemon unveiling itself
over the reaches of the trees,
spraying the world with its
citrus, nourishing even the smallest brick.
I cower and scatter away
shielding myself from the disgust shot
at me from all around.
I reach the gloomy corner
that is mine
and set out the Folgers can
that is my income.
Final day
UCOM's pilot week wrapped up today with one last trip to the Food Bank. The youth packed up over 1,000 lunches!! The regular workers in the kitchen at the Food Bank, complimented our groups on their hard work and their willingness to work. They said how nice it was to see young people wanting to work, compared to some of the youth they get in the kitchen who are working off community service hours. So, bravo! to the group!
The second half of the group ventured into downtown to pass out cold bottles of water. The youth took 150 bottles and passed them out at the West Side catholic Center and the immediate area. Matthew C. said, "I thought the concept was great and touching, but I think next time we should distribute more water." More waters! Wow!
At the end of the day the group was challenged to take what they learned this week here in Cleveland and use that information and those experiences to help out an agency in Chicago. Either as a group or an individual. Because "you can't know what you don't know until you know it. But once you know it, you can't not know it!"
The second half of the group ventured into downtown to pass out cold bottles of water. The youth took 150 bottles and passed them out at the West Side catholic Center and the immediate area. Matthew C. said, "I thought the concept was great and touching, but I think next time we should distribute more water." More waters! Wow!
At the end of the day the group was challenged to take what they learned this week here in Cleveland and use that information and those experiences to help out an agency in Chicago. Either as a group or an individual. Because "you can't know what you don't know until you know it. But once you know it, you can't not know it!"
From the mouths of youth...
"I wonder if hunger could end if all 6 billion people in our world contributed one can of food?"
"I learned that even the littlest things can make someone's day."
"It [homelessness] is my problem because we are only as "rich" (blessed) as the least among us."
"I wonder how people can walk past these people and not even care."
"Maybe there is a solution..."
"There is no simple solution."
"Poverty matters to all of us because we could find ourselves in the same situation in the future."
"I often feel helpless when confronted by a person in a homeless or hungry situation."
"Having money is not enough in life."
"The Cleveland Food Bank really opened my eyes to the severity of the issue of homelessness."
"I learned that even the littlest things can make someone's day."
"It [homelessness] is my problem because we are only as "rich" (blessed) as the least among us."
"I wonder how people can walk past these people and not even care."
"Maybe there is a solution..."
"There is no simple solution."
"Poverty matters to all of us because we could find ourselves in the same situation in the future."
"I often feel helpless when confronted by a person in a homeless or hungry situation."
"Having money is not enough in life."
"The Cleveland Food Bank really opened my eyes to the severity of the issue of homelessness."
Thursday, July 29, 2010
When you do unto the least of these...
Each night during devotion time the group has focused on a different passage. Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:35-40 and Micah 6:8 have been covered this week. Each passage dealing with a part of our service in Christ to the city of Cleveland. Who is my neighbor? When you clothe, feed, tend and visit the sick and poor you do unto Christ. Seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God. Part of the questions for devotion time are following a What? So what? Now what? line of thought. The 'What?' questions were posed as the facts of the passages. The So what? questions were posed as So What? Why do these things matter? Tomorrow's questions will be posed as Now what? What are these passages telling us about your future service?
Day four of service took us back to the Food Bank and the community kitchen. Again hundreds bologna sandwiches were made and then boxed for distribution. For a few youth in the group, spaghetti was the name of the game today. They processed about 90pounds of noodles, and over 50 pounds each of sausages and sauce. They then spooned the mixture into foil pans, where they were labeled, and stored in the refrigerator for later distribution.
Day four also brought volunteer work at a new agency for the week... The City Mission. TCM is celebrating 100 years of service to the city of Cleveland this year. They are an organization spreading the love of Christ to the most needy. They have a men's long term shelter, a women's and children's home, summer child programs, after school programs for children, as well as programs like clothing distribution, hygiene kit production and distribution and many more. Today, the donation program needed help organizing the hygiene kits. Over a 1,000 bags of soap, shampoo, razors, diapers, shaving creams, deodorant, etc had been donated to TCM prior to today. The group was in charge of unloading the bags of donated items and then organizing them into specific items and then repackaging them. 2 hours later, all the bags had been emptied, and reorganized. Someone later will be able to come in and pick from each box and make a complete kit for distribution.
The education piece was lead this afternoon by, Rev. Dr. Kerri Peterson-Davis. Pastor Kerri lead the group through discussion about homelessness and why is it important for us to know about it. The quote for the afternoon that was the basis for discussion was, "You can't know what you don't know, until you know it. But once you know it, you can't not know it." Some of the questions posed for discussion where, What did you not know about homelessness in Chicago? People are homeless because...? If it doesn't directly affect me, I...? It's not my problem because...? It is my problem because...?
As tomorrow and the end of the week approaches, we will be answering the Now what questions? Now what will you do when you get home? How will you take what you've learned this week and apply it to your own agencies?
Day four of service took us back to the Food Bank and the community kitchen. Again hundreds bologna sandwiches were made and then boxed for distribution. For a few youth in the group, spaghetti was the name of the game today. They processed about 90pounds of noodles, and over 50 pounds each of sausages and sauce. They then spooned the mixture into foil pans, where they were labeled, and stored in the refrigerator for later distribution.
Day four also brought volunteer work at a new agency for the week... The City Mission. TCM is celebrating 100 years of service to the city of Cleveland this year. They are an organization spreading the love of Christ to the most needy. They have a men's long term shelter, a women's and children's home, summer child programs, after school programs for children, as well as programs like clothing distribution, hygiene kit production and distribution and many more. Today, the donation program needed help organizing the hygiene kits. Over a 1,000 bags of soap, shampoo, razors, diapers, shaving creams, deodorant, etc had been donated to TCM prior to today. The group was in charge of unloading the bags of donated items and then organizing them into specific items and then repackaging them. 2 hours later, all the bags had been emptied, and reorganized. Someone later will be able to come in and pick from each box and make a complete kit for distribution.
The education piece was lead this afternoon by, Rev. Dr. Kerri Peterson-Davis. Pastor Kerri lead the group through discussion about homelessness and why is it important for us to know about it. The quote for the afternoon that was the basis for discussion was, "You can't know what you don't know, until you know it. But once you know it, you can't not know it." Some of the questions posed for discussion where, What did you not know about homelessness in Chicago? People are homeless because...? If it doesn't directly affect me, I...? It's not my problem because...? It is my problem because...?
As tomorrow and the end of the week approaches, we will be answering the Now what questions? Now what will you do when you get home? How will you take what you've learned this week and apply it to your own agencies?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Day 3
Half way and not even close to the finish line.
We are half way through this pilot week. Today the group was split into two smaller groups. Group A went to the Food Bank where we were once again in the community kitchen. For the 3 hours of work, the group of 9 youth and 3 adults packaged over 330individual lunches, parts of 200+ TV dinners, and made about 800 sandwiches. Making parts of 1,300 meals is very excellent and fulfilling work. It's such a great feeling to know and see how much of a difference we are making in a single day.
Group B, made and delivered 70 lunches to some of our homeless neighbors in the downtown Cleveland area. The number of lunches coincided with the the number of lunches they were eating this week. So 14 youth and adults are packing 5 days worth of lunch for themselves this week. So today, they made and handed out 5 lunches a piece. By the time all the lunches were handed out, the nerves had subsided and they had the chances to provided one extra meal to 70 people. 70 people is roughly about 1/3 of a normal soup kitchen lunch crowd. Each lunch consisted of a PB and J sandwich, a piece of fruit and a bag of chips. The exact lunch that each of the 25 youth and adults here at UCOM this week, are packing in their own lunch bags.
This afternoon the group had Free time! They explored the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as well as the Edgewater Park. It was a much needed rest for them as well as the Director and Director's Assistant.
So far, the estimated man hours of volunteer labor has surpassed the 275 hour mark. By the end of the week we will add another 150 hours. Lots of great work in a mission field that never runs out of work!
More to come...
We are half way through this pilot week. Today the group was split into two smaller groups. Group A went to the Food Bank where we were once again in the community kitchen. For the 3 hours of work, the group of 9 youth and 3 adults packaged over 330individual lunches, parts of 200+ TV dinners, and made about 800 sandwiches. Making parts of 1,300 meals is very excellent and fulfilling work. It's such a great feeling to know and see how much of a difference we are making in a single day.
Group B, made and delivered 70 lunches to some of our homeless neighbors in the downtown Cleveland area. The number of lunches coincided with the the number of lunches they were eating this week. So 14 youth and adults are packing 5 days worth of lunch for themselves this week. So today, they made and handed out 5 lunches a piece. By the time all the lunches were handed out, the nerves had subsided and they had the chances to provided one extra meal to 70 people. 70 people is roughly about 1/3 of a normal soup kitchen lunch crowd. Each lunch consisted of a PB and J sandwich, a piece of fruit and a bag of chips. The exact lunch that each of the 25 youth and adults here at UCOM this week, are packing in their own lunch bags.
This afternoon the group had Free time! They explored the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as well as the Edgewater Park. It was a much needed rest for them as well as the Director and Director's Assistant.
So far, the estimated man hours of volunteer labor has surpassed the 275 hour mark. By the end of the week we will add another 150 hours. Lots of great work in a mission field that never runs out of work!
More to come...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
2 days in...
UCOM's pilot week is off and running. We've had two days of work and experiential education. Day One, one-third of the group traveled by city bus to the Cleveland Food Bank, where they helped process the incoming donated food, by separating each item into specific categories. At the end of their work time, they processed close to 10,000 pounds of food. One-third of the group went to Bishop Cosgrove Center in downtown Cleveland where they helped prep and serve lunch in the soup kitchen. At the end of work time, they dished out and served over 200 lunches. The lunches included Salisbury steak, noodles and gravy, cooked mixed veggies, cake or cookies, a chunk of bread and juice. A very nice meal. The last third of the group, shopped for and delivered school supplies to Chagrin Falls Park Community Center. The children that are serviced by the Community Center come from very poor families who can't always supply the basics for school.
Day two, The food bank was revisited, but this time the youth worked in the community kitchen. The kitchen provides accessible meals for immediate delivery. They packaged both individual meals (BBQ chicken, noodles, veggies and dessert, that were then sealed) and boxed meals that included 6 bags of food including a turkey and cheese sandwich, fruit cup, cole slaw cup, milk and a package of veggies. While a few were packaging these meals into boxes, others were in the kitchen making the sandwiches. Over 800 sandwiches were made for packaging. The school supplies were also revisited and with both days, 25-1st, 2nd and 3rd graders will go to school in a few weeks with all the supplies they need. The last work group for day two went to the West Side Catholic Center. This group sorted the clothing donations and the supplied the clothing store with the new donations. They turned the store over twice during working hours. Over 100 people received clothing today because of their efforts.
Both afternoons 1/2 the group attended a poverty simulation. Each of the 14 participants was given a scenario representing either someone who was homeless, a runaway, an unemployed married couple, and a working single mom. In each scenario they were given a "Life". Things like, a drivers license (or not), and address (Or not), income (or not), etc. They were taken into a room that was set up with an unemployment office, pawn shop, bank, food pantry, soup kitchen and a bill collector. They then had to figure out how their person who survive a day.
So far we are off to a great start. More great work to come as the week continues.
Day two, The food bank was revisited, but this time the youth worked in the community kitchen. The kitchen provides accessible meals for immediate delivery. They packaged both individual meals (BBQ chicken, noodles, veggies and dessert, that were then sealed) and boxed meals that included 6 bags of food including a turkey and cheese sandwich, fruit cup, cole slaw cup, milk and a package of veggies. While a few were packaging these meals into boxes, others were in the kitchen making the sandwiches. Over 800 sandwiches were made for packaging. The school supplies were also revisited and with both days, 25-1st, 2nd and 3rd graders will go to school in a few weeks with all the supplies they need. The last work group for day two went to the West Side Catholic Center. This group sorted the clothing donations and the supplied the clothing store with the new donations. They turned the store over twice during working hours. Over 100 people received clothing today because of their efforts.
Both afternoons 1/2 the group attended a poverty simulation. Each of the 14 participants was given a scenario representing either someone who was homeless, a runaway, an unemployed married couple, and a working single mom. In each scenario they were given a "Life". Things like, a drivers license (or not), and address (Or not), income (or not), etc. They were taken into a room that was set up with an unemployment office, pawn shop, bank, food pantry, soup kitchen and a bill collector. They then had to figure out how their person who survive a day.
So far we are off to a great start. More great work to come as the week continues.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Pilot group coming
UCOM has it's Pilot Group coming next week from La Grange, IL! 28 youth and adults will be driving in on Sunday afternoon, July 25th to experience a week with UCOM.
Part of the work they will be doing while at UCOM, will be not only to help Heather, the Executive Director, by running through the daily work schedule, but also giving feed back during the afternoon educational experiences as well!
UCOM will be working throughout the city of Cleveland every morning next week, at the Food Bank, food pantries, collecting school supplies for children in need, The City Mission and many other agencies.
We are very excited about La Grange and what they mean to UCOM. Look for updates as they start their journey through UCOM and in the city of Cleveland.
Part of the work they will be doing while at UCOM, will be not only to help Heather, the Executive Director, by running through the daily work schedule, but also giving feed back during the afternoon educational experiences as well!
UCOM will be working throughout the city of Cleveland every morning next week, at the Food Bank, food pantries, collecting school supplies for children in need, The City Mission and many other agencies.
We are very excited about La Grange and what they mean to UCOM. Look for updates as they start their journey through UCOM and in the city of Cleveland.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Summer 2011 Dates are Open!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)