2. Guest Speaker Lisa Stanley, House of Blessing House of Blessing is financed by other service clubs, churches, etc. in the community -Their goal is to help people right when they need it. They aren’t trying to fix things, but are trying to address crisis situations, etc. Sometimes people are laid off work, or have multiple jobs but big families, some people have mental health issues, etc. -37% of people using their services are children. -600-700 people use the food bank each month. Last year gave out over 67,000 meals. -There is a lot more homelessness in Stratford than people realize. -They try to treat everyone with respect. They offer a lot of choice with the foodbank based on dietary restrictions, religious restrictions, etc. -They make an effort to give out more than just canned foods. They have a walk-in fridge with fresh food. –Eggs, milk, meat -They do appreciate getting canned goods because some people don’t have anything to cook food with or anywhere to store open food -Also diapers and formula -One of Lisa’s jobs is to apply for grants and funding. -They also get funding from the Community Social Investment Fund -Rotaract helped to fund the Kidzone Healthy Snack packs program. It is starting up again in May. –Every kid gets a paper bag filled with healthy snacks -The ‘fresh start room’ of House of Blessing. Most of their funding and supplies are from ‘Mark’s Stratford’. Things like steel toed boots, etc. which are needed to even be able to interview for jobs. -Clothing, crockpots, dishes, etc. -Things can get pieced together for people who are moving into their own place. -Every baby that is born gets a ‘new baby layette’ –brand new clothing, blankets, diapers, hygiene products, toys, books. This is funded through the Festival City Kiwanis club. This basket means a lot to the new moms. “It’s like a baby shower in a basket”. -A public health nurse also comes in 3 times a month. Often to meet new babies and get them connected with daycares, speech therapy, other resources, etc. -They also do the baby bottle campaign at the churches -The Jumpstart Program allows people to sign their kids up for sports (the YMCA and Salvation Army also get this funding) -The back rooms at House of Blessing look like clothing stores. -Maternity wear, kids clothes, adult clothes, toys, cookbooks, seasonal ware, housewares. -449 volunteers last year. They really depend on their volunteers. -Downstairs there is a huge sorting area. -They encourage you to drop off donations during business hours, as people do sometimes sleep in that area at night and on weekends -All the foodbanks are doing a giant food drive in the first two weeks of May. If you want to get involved, call house of blessing and ask for Lisa. -At Christmas the warehouse gets changed into a winter wonderland. The Chamber of Commerce helps with a Christmas toy drive. Last year they gave out 571 Christmas gifts. The parents come in and get to choose the toys for the kids. Families also get craft kits, puzzles, games, Apple Cidar etc. -House of Blessing does an exchange with operation Christmas Child. They give sewing machines and OCC gives the donations they got that couldn’t be sent overseas -They had about 20 sponsorship families this year. The Exec Director picks the families. They look for special families under unique circumstances -People are very grateful and it is common for them to donate back when they get back on their feet. -“off to school smiling” program—backpacks and supplies for kids. –Also running shoes (or gift card for payless), Subway gift cards for the teenagers -The biggest fundraiser they have is the Empty Bowls fundraiser. This year it is Nov. 2 and it is at the Rotary Complex. People paint ceramic bowls, they are all out on display. People buy their ticket and pick a bowl. Then a bunch of restaurants are there and they fill your bowl with soup, stew, chilli, etc. -May 26th Settlers of Catan tournament. The winner gets to go to the FanExpo, hotel stay, etc. –At the Army Navy, all day. -The Passport to Savings is a coupon book. It is $40 and it has some great deals. (The proceeds are split between House of Blessing, Simple Dreams, and Kiwanis) -As a club, we expressed interest in helping out with the Off to School Smiling Program. Lisa will look into this with her Exec Director. House of Blessing is Faith-based but serve everyone regardless and they do not push their faith on everyone. That said, a lot of people do ask for Bibles, and they pray for everyone there and they do have a prayer box. It is not in the mandate that staff have to be Christians or anything like that. | 
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