It has been a productive and inspiring start to 2016. Our team -- staff and volunteers -- has adjusted to our new role as Managing Partner of the Murphy Center for Hope, and our expanded volunteer base and staff (in December and January, we hired a new Warehouse Manager/Volunteer Coordinator, a Hand Up Program Manager and an Assistant Director for our One Village One Family program) have allowed us to expand our programs in ways we never thought possible.

The result: better services for the people who need them most. So far this year, we are on pace to help more individuals obtain employment and more families escape homelessness than ever before... and, thanks to our new role at the Murphy Center for Hope, we are better-equipped than ever to coordinate our programs with all of the amazing agencies that provide services to people experiencing homelessness. 

Thank you, on behalf of all of us at Homeless Gear, for everything that you have done--and will do--to make 2016 a success! What follows below is a small glimpse of what you have already helped make possible. 

Sincerely,

David Rout, Executive Director

From a long-time Street Outreach volunteer, after an interaction during a recent shift: "He was shaking violently from the cold and had tears running down his face... When he finally spoke he asked us to help him get to the mission. We were only a block or two away so I carried his pack and then stayed with him as the mission staff agreed to let him in... I'll never forget the relief on his face when he finally got out of the cold and led into a warm place to lay down."

In our first two full months as Managing Partner at the Murphy Center for Hope, the Dedicated Navgiator program (which operates out of the building) helped program participants complete 78 benefits applications (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, OAP, AND, etc.). Thanks to a newly-launched partnership with the Department of Human Services, we expect to soon begin receiving data on the dollar-value of the benefits that our clients receive! 

It was a record start to 2016 for the Hand Up program: in January and February combined, we helped secure 34 jobs for program participants. That represents a 42 percent increase from the same two-month period in 2015! January was also a record month for the Hand Up Career Closet: we provided 25 individuals with clothes that helped them interview for and/or start a job. 

We launched the One Village One Family program near the end of 2014 and have, since that time, helped 11 families secure housing and escape homelessness (after this weekend, it is expected to be 12)! We are proud to say that -- thanks to the hard work of those families and the villages with whom they have been paired -- all 11 are still housed. Congratulations to all of our amazing families and volunteer teams! 

It has been roughly three months since we became (alongside a broad collaborative of community partners) the Managing Partner of the Murphy Center for Hope. In that time, the Murphy Center has recorded more than 7,500 interactions with hundreds of unduplicated individuals. Here is a quote from a guest after a recent visit: "The Murphy Center for Hope, being a container of comfort and guidance, of direction and, well, of hope... it's helped me with a place to stay, a job, a hug, warmth, food, comfort... My thanks for their ever-smiles and direction, for their concerns and their warmth, for their skills and their colossal hearts for others, for their time and attention.  My wounds are still healing, but... My Situation Will Change."

Marisol is a single mother in our One Village One Family program raising five children, three of whom have a disability.  From Marisol: "While we can work hard to overcome homelessness, the rise is a daunting journey of overcoming hills and mountains. Don't ever think what you guys have done was meaningless. You were there on the mountainsides handing us the tools we needed to make the next part of our climb and to cheer us on to the next ridge. And while you couldn't carry us, you stood in support....for only we can make the climb." 

Drivers:  We are in significant need of more volunteers to deliver and pick-up supplies.  We're looking for people with larger cars, a truck, and/or a vehicle with a hitch who are open to doing some pick-ups, typically closer to the Denver area.  The process is simple: let us know you're interested, we'll schedule a time to meet, and -- from there -- we'll keep your info on hand for when we're in need of a driver!  Our volunteer drivers are a huge reason we're able to distribute $1 million worth of supplies each year.  A special shout out to our regular drivers: Paul, Tom, Chuck, Walt, Rich and Gene....thank you!!  Please e-mail Chelsey if you're interested in being a driver.  We are especially in need of help in Westminster on March 15th.

Gear Room:  If you're looking for a direct service, regular volunteer opportunity, we are looking for additional hands in our Gear Room.  The Gear Room operates out of the Murphy Center for Hope and is a space where guests can access basis gear items.  Gear Room open hours are M-F between 9am and 11:30pm. With that said, most Gear Room volunteers arrive around 8:30.  If you're looking to help out on a particular day of the week, please e-mail Chelsey. 

Murphy Center Food Pantry :  The Murphy Center will be opening a Food Pantry through which guests can access produce, bread and other items. There are a few ways to help: 

1) Host a donation drive (see their  wishlist). This can be fairly simple and easy: some people might put a box in their place of business every month, some might simply ask their neighbors, others their friends...there are tons of ways to collect. 

2) Help out regularly to organize, distribute, etc. food at the MC (days to help regularly are M, W and F from 9am to 12pm).   This is a great opportunity for groups, too: if your group would like to claim a day each week to help with distribution, please let us know.  

3) Pick-up food donations at the Food Bank and/or other donation locations.

To learn more, please e-mail Ken.  And if  you haven't liked the MC on Facebook, check out their page!

Sam's Club Collection Events: Volunteers stand outside of Sam's Club and hand lists of items that we're collecting that day to shoppers. We're looking for volunteers for March 26th: shift options are 10:30am-1:30pm at the Fort Collins location.  The next event (April 9th) and all other 2016 dates can be found on our calendar.  To sign-up, please e-mail Kim.

Children in Need:  We will be hosting our second-ever Children in Need event specifically for high school students on Saturday, April 23rd.  The event will take place at Poudre High School.  For details about set-up on Friday and/or the event on Saturday, please e-mail Kim. 

Homelessness Simulation:  We will host a homelessness simulation through which college students will -- hopefully -- gain an understanding of some of the barriers that people who are homeless often face.  Volunteers will help run different "stations" (e.g. someone will monitor the shelter station and give information to students as they try to "access" that service). The event will take place at the Murphy Center for Hope on April 8th and the volunteer shift will last from 2:30pm-5:15pm.  To sign-up, please e-mail Kim.

A huge thanks from all of us at HG.  We hope you have a wonderful week!