In a crucial step towards empowering individuals facing barriers to housing and … read
Gabby’s Story Comes Full Circle
Gabby’s Story Comes Full Circle
As our guests enter the Community Room at the Norristown Hospitality Center each weekday morning, they are greeted by Gabby, our front desk volunteer. Gabby greets everyone with a smile and a light in her eyes.
She directs our guests to sign into the Center, sign up for a shower, or sign up for social services. She ensures that our guests are connected with services in a timely manner and she really keeps the Center running efficiently.
Gabby was formerly homeless, and experienced multiple mental Health challenges. Our staff worked with Gabby and provided her with basic needs services, case management, and she completed Arize, our workforce development program. The Hospitality Center has a MOU with Maturity Works – a program that helps individuals who are 55+ years of age get back into the workforce. Gabby was placed as a staff at the Center through Maturity Works.
She is truly a success story because of her resilience and eternal hopefulness! She is empathetic to everyone who walks through our doors because she has a similar lived experience.
Gabby plans to continue her success and complete a training program to become a Certified Peer Specialist. It is her hope to help the most vulnerable people of the community and to help them regain their life and power. We are so thankful for the gifts and talents that Gabby brings to the Center!
Health & Wellness at the Hospitality Center
Health & Wellness at the Hospitality Center
Health outcomes have been known to improve since the Housing First approach was implemented. But those that remain unhoused, due to lack of affordable housing coupled with underfunded housing programs, still need their healthcare needs addressed. Unhoused individuals often face many barriers to accessing healthcare including high health care costs, lack of insurance, and lack of access to transportation. Often these barriers result in higher utilization of emergency services. In the last program year alone, the Center documented 19 calls to 911 due to medical emergencies.
The Hospitality Center has been at the forefront in understanding the needs of our clients and developing meaningful collaborations with other organizations to meet these needs. We have seen a significant increase in our Health and Wellness Programs being utilized by our clients.
Under our Health and Wellness Programs, the Center provides various preventative health programs onsite like our Monthly Health Clinic, bi-monthly HIV/STI Testing Clinics, weekly Mobile Recovery Clinic, a nutritious breakfast every weekday, medication co-pays, year-round referrals to Lenscrafters for eyeglasses, flu shots, and COVID vaccines. Most of these programs are offered in collaboration with other organizations.
While we believe that stable housing is still a key determinant of health, we need to give urgent attention to the the immediate health needs of our clients. The Center is a place where a non-traditional route to basic healthcare becomes accessible to those that need it and are not able to access it through traditional means. Our goal is to improve health outcomes for our clients. We are accomplishing that by leveraging strategic partnerships to bring these critical healthcare services to the people.
30-Day Shower Challenge Ends on Friday, September 15th
30-Day Shower Challenge Ends on Friday, September 15th
There are just a few days left of our 30-Day Shower Challenge and the response has been truly amazing. If you have already donated, our staff and guests thank you for your generosity and support.
Just today, our staff was discussing that we have seen a significant increase in demand for the use of our shower. We can normally accommodate up to 12 individuals per day, but recently, the daily need has increased. We are evaluating ways to meet this increased need.
Did you know that the Norristown Hospitality Center provided 2,631 Showers in the last program year? Each month, the Norristown Hospitality Center provides, on average, 219 showers to our guests.
Our shower program provides a safe and clean place for people to shower. We also provide our guests with laundered towels, new underwear, soap, and other toiletries. In addition, we offer them a chance to connect with case managers who can help them find housing, employment, and other resources.
There are just a few days left in our 30-Day SHOWER CHALLENGE. Will you support this important program? Will you donate $0.50 for each shower a member of your household took since August 15th.
Through our shower program we have seen the difference that a simple shower can make in someone’s life. The shower program is one way that the Hospitality Center provides Care, Comfort, and Compassion.
Will you think about the needs of our guests while you are in the shower?
The next time you are taking a shower, we ask that you think about the Norristown Hospitality Center. More importantly, we ask that you think about our guests. On these hot, steamy days, our guests rely on the Center to provide them with the ability to wash the dirt and sweat from their bodies. We all know how refreshing a shower can be! Will you support the shower program at the Hospitality Center?
- How many showers do the people in your household take each month?
- Would you be willing to donate $0.50 for each shower someone in your home takes from August 15th through September 15th.
Your support of the 30 Day Shower Challenge helps alleviate our guests’ feelings of isolation and shame.
CLICK HERE to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our community.
LAST CALL – Early Bird Registration Closes on 8/31… Save $5.00 Today
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Sole Harvest 5K/1 Mile Walk to benefit those experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County |
Will you help support our neighbors who are living on the streets?Join us for the Sole Harvest 5K/1 Mile Walk on Saturday, October 14th at 9:00 AM at the Norristown Farm Park. This event is a fundraiser for the Norristown Hospitality Center, and all proceeds will go towards providing Care, Comfort, and Compassion to our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness and poverty.This event, now in its 10th year, is a critical fundraiser that will ensure that programs at the Norristown Hospitality Center will continue to serve the needs of the community. The daily breakfast program, shower program, social services, and work force development programs all depend on the funds raised by this event.Early bird registration is now open!Register by August 31st and save $5.You can register online at www.soleharvest5k.com.Are you a student? The student rate is only $15.00!All participants will receive a race t-shirt! This year, the t-shirt has been upgraded to a tech shirt!This is a great event for the whole family! So come out and support the Norristown Hospitality Center and have some fun at the same time.If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected].Thank you in advance for your support of those in our community who are most in need. |
What Do YOU Think About While You Are In the Shower?
During your next shower, will YOU think about the women and men who rely on the showers at the Norristown Hospitality Center?
Dear Supporter,
Did you know that the Norristown Hospitality Center provided 2,631 Showers in the last program year? Each month, the Norristown Hospitality Center provides, on average, 219 showers to our guests.
Today, I am writing to you to ask for your support of our SHOWER PROGRAM for those experiencing poverty and homelessness. As you know, there are many people in our community who do not have access to a safe and clean place to shower. This can have a devastating impact on their physical and mental health.
When people cannot shower regularly, they are more likely to suffer health issues and experience medical problems. In addition, not being able to shower can lead to feelings of isolation and shame.
Our shower program provides a safe and clean place for people to shower. We also provide our guests with laundered towels, new underwear, soap, and other toiletries. In addition, we offer them a chance to connect with case managers who can help them find housing, employment, and other resources.
Through our shower program we have seen the difference that a simple shower can make in someone’s life. The shower program is one way that the Hospitality Center provides Care, Comfort, and Compassion.
Mike is one of our guests who spends each night sleeping on the street. He is among the first people to enter the Center each morning to get breakfast and put his name on the shower list. He starts each weekday getting a shower at the Center before heading off to work in Philadelphia. Your donation allows Mike to have the dignity of cleanliness. He can be fresh and clean each morning before he takes the train to work.
We know that there are many people, like Mike, in our community who need help. That’s why we are asking for your support.
Will you think about the needs of our guests while you are in the shower?
The next time you are taking a shower, we ask that you think about the Norristown Hospitality Center. More importantly, we ask that you think about our guests. On these hot, steamy days, our guests rely on the Center to provide them with the ability to wash the dirt and sweat from their bodies. We all know how refreshing a shower can be! Will you support the shower program at the Hospitality Center?
SHOWER CHALLENGE:
- How many showers do the people in your household take each month?
- Would you be willing to donate $0.50 for each shower someone in your home takes during the next 30 days?
1 Individual – Showering Daily for 1 Month – $15.00
2 Individuals – Showering Daily for 1 Month – $30.00
A Family of 5 – Showering Daily for 1 Month – $75.00
Your support of the 30 Day Shower Challenge helps alleviate our guests’ feelings of isolation and shame.
CLICK HERE to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our community.
Sincerely,
Matt Kirsch
Development Coordinator
10th Anniversary Sole Harvest 5K/1 Mile Walk
Did you know that our annual Sole Harvest and 1 Mile Walk is now in its 10th year? We need your help to make this year’s event the best ever! The Norristown Hospitality Center relies on this event to raise awareness and critical funds to maintain our facility and programs.
Will you mark your calendar for this year’s event? Saturday, October 14th will be a celebration! We need your help in several ways:
- Sign-Up to participate in the 5K
- Sign-Up to participate in the 1 Mile Walk
- Create a Team to sign up for the race. Get some friends, coworkers, church members, or neighbors….form a team and race together!
- Send an email to sign up as an event volunteer. We need 90 volunteers to make the event run smoothly.
- Sponsor the Event – If you own a business, work for a business, run an organization, worship at a religious center, or are part of a foundation please sponsor our event. Sponsors receive a number of INCENTIVES based on their level of giving!
- Attend the event as a spectator- there will be raffles, a 50/50, sponsor tables, and a fun atmosphere! Come cheer on the participants!
- Donate – If you can’t make it to the event, please consider supporting the Hospitality Center by donating today.
10th Anniversary Special! – Participants will get a free race t-shirt!
This important event raises funds to support those in our community who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot! A Message from the Executive Director
With the temperatures soaring, we are once again working hard at the Center to make accommodations for our guests who are unhoused. Our general reception area or community room is open to guests as always to stop in and get a bottle of cold water or Gatorade and cool down from the heat outside. There is steady traffic at the Center averaging about 80 people a day. Most of them move from one place to another on foot. While they are here, they also are able to see a social worker and get some of their housing, social, health, legal, and other needs met.
I often see them sitting on a chair in the community room and resting their heads on the table due to exhaustion. Continued exposure to extreme temperatures is known to cause deaths and our unhoused neighbors are at risk. We experienced a generous outpouring of donations in the form of water, Gatorade, and Italian ice which we hand out to our guests so they can keep cool. Hospitality at the Center is in full swing, and especially during these hot summer months, we are doing everything we can to care for our unhoused neighbors.
Your participation in our Mission ensures that we keep our unhoused neighbors hydrated and safe. Thank you for being an ally. We are so grateful for you and the partnership we share.
Guidestar
Our organization earned a 2023 Bronze Seal of Transparency! Now, everyone can view our financial details and learn about the people at our organization. Check out our updated #NonprofitProfile on Candid: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/22-2505101
Three Good Days at the Center Look Like This
Some days at the Hospitality Center have highs and others have lows, but there are some days that our staff will never forget. Here are some of our top three days at the Norristown Hospitality Center:
1. One of our clients named Kim got placed in a nearby shelter, but the shelter didn’t allow her to keep her insulin in their refrigerator. I kept it in the fridge here at the Center, but she didn’t have access to it over the weekend. When she came back on Monday, she wasn’t feeling well and her blood sugar was too high, so she ended up in the hospital. After she was discharged from the hospital, the shelter wouldn’t let her back in because it was after check-in hours. I called another agency, and they made one phone call to get her into another shelter where she could keep her insulin and other personal items with her. It was a good day because it usually takes a while to get people into housing, but that day it just took one phone call.
-Amalthea, Certified Peer Specialist
2. One of our clients, Brian, was living across the street under a tarp throughout the winter. He would come to the Hospitality Center for breakfast and showers with only a pullover for warmth. When a local church donated coats, he tried on an XL coat but it was too small. A few days later, when I looked through the coats a bit more closely, I found it- an XXL men’s coat. I ran to the window and yelled to him from across the street, saying I had something for him. He tried the coat on and it fit perfectly. After that, he was always wearing his coat. Brian is now housed and off the streets, but he still has his winter coat. I will never forget my excitement when I realized that this church gave us exactly what Brian needed.
-Katie, Development Coordinator
A few years ago, we had a client named Tony that would disappear for periods of time before coming back to the Hospitality Center. He had health issues and ended up in jail multiple times, so we never knew what happened to him when he was gone. One day, I saw Tony come in after months of being gone and I pointed him out to a case manager. The case manager excitedly called out, “Tony!” when she saw he was back. It was wonderful to see a reunion and know the case managers care about our clients so much.
-Laurie, Office Manager
Thank you for your continued support, which makes days like these possible for our staff. If you would like to join us in creating these life-changing moments for our clients and staff, email [email protected] for volunteer opportunities or make a donation here.
Volunteer Highlight
Although our volunteer policies have changed due to COVID-19, we would like to thank all of our volunteers. We appreciate your dedication and eagerness to serve at the Norristown Hospitality Center.
During this time we would like to tell the story of Laurie, one of our mailroom volunteers:
How did you get started volunteering at NHC?
My son was a student at Norristown High School, and through school announcements, I learned about collections for the Hospitality Center. I looked up the center online and thought I’d like to do something, but wasn’t sure how I could fit in. That April (2016), the High School choir was the featured performer at the Silent Auction/Concert, so when I went to see my son perform, I realized this was the same organization! I ended up talking with Jennifer Mathews, who was the Volunteer Coordinator at the time, and the rest is history!
What do you do here?
Jen said that help was needed in the mailroom, and Betty Hartman was very kind and patient training me in how it works. It has been a perfect fit for me. I love the details and organization. I sort the incoming mail and file it for all our clients. I pride myself on knowing the names of many of our clients, and I enjoy interacting with people while distributing mail. I’m so happy people have a place to safely receive mail, which can include everything from employment and benefit checks to magazine subscriptions and coupons. For a while, before my son went away to college, he helped out one day a week, too. A side benefit, before COVID 19, was being able to hear the daily devotionals. I especially miss Deacon Dennis, but I also enjoy listening to Pastor Austin and Nancy Hicks. I can’t believe it’s been over 4 years total now.
What changes have you seen?
I’ve been very impressed that through many changes – a reorganization of the mailroom, a temporary move to St. John’s during the construction of new flooring, a new shower, new programs for clients, several staff changes, and now the many changes caused by COVID 19 – everyone works together as a team to provide service for our clients. I’ve always been happy to be involved here, and I’m a monthly financial partner, too.
What do you do when you’re not at the Hospitality Center?
I have two part-time jobs. I’ve been a church organist for 40 years, and a choir director for 30. Currently, I’m the Director of Music at Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe, playing the organ and directing the choral and handbell choirs. The choirs are on indefinite hiatus right now due to COVID 19, but I still play the organ. My second part-time job is teaching English online to young students in China. I usually teach from about 7 am – 9 am. I’ve been very grateful to be able to do this at-home work, and I’m always finished in time to do other things for the whole day! I also play the piano for the Norristown Chorale, but that’s also on hiatus currently.
