$4,720 Raised During Challenge Grant Campaign

On May 21st, the Gathering launched a Challenge Grant campaign. Through this campaign, an anonymous donor promised to match donations from new donors dollar-for-dollar for up to $5,500. That meant any $25 donation, which can provide breakfast for 10 Gathering guests, became a $50 donation or breakfast for 20 Gathering guests. This was an exciting opportunity for the Gathering and the ultimate purpose of this campaign was to attract new donors and supporters in order to widen our community of people feeding the hungry. We set the bar high and waited for our supporters to answer—and they did!

When the campaign closed on June 30th, forty new donors had given generous gifts for a total of $2,360. With the match, this means that $4,720 total was raised for the Gathering’s programs to feed the hungry and homeless. While we did not meet our ultimate match goal, we are still incredibly grateful for the donations and support of all those who participated. THANK YOU for helping to keep our mission alive! And keep your eyes peeled for the next exciting Gathering opportunity.

The Gathering’s Thanksgiving Meal

This past Saturday, November 23rd, the Gathering served a Thanksgiving brunch that consisted of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, TONS of pies (with whipped topping, of course), gravy, sweet potatoes, yams (with marshmallows and brown sugar), cranberry sauce and carrots. 590 guests were served at our three Saturday meal sites.

Thanksgiving turkey prep

The Gathering has been so blessed to have numerous volunteers and generous individuals calling in to inquire about volunteering on Thanksgiving Day. While we appreciate the community support, the Gathering does not serve on the day of Thanksgiving (Thurs. Nov 28th). We serve ten meals every week throughout the year. On Thanksgiving Day, many of our guests take the day to be with family. In addition, there are many service organizations/churches/food pantries, etc. that serve delicious meals on this special day. So instead of repeating meals, we focus our attention on a meal the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day.

An AMAZING number of group and individual volunteers worked together to make the meal happen. Special thanks to Fox Point Lutheran Church, Immanuel Presbyterian, St. Mark’s Episcopal, Joe Bruno and more for preparing turkeys.

In addition, thanks to Southwood Glenn Elementary’s Market Day, Milwaukee College Prep, Joy Global and more for bringing amazing pies. Also SPECIAL THANKS to all of our cooks, coordinators and volunteers at the meal on Saturday. We could not have done it without you.

Volunteer Numbers for FY 2012/2013

Northwestern Mutual MLK day clean up group

The Gathering relies on hundreds of individuals and groups who donate their time and expertise. Volunteers do 98% of the direct service work. Numbers provided below are based on available tracking, observation and best practices.

SERVICE VOLUNTEERS - 36,399 Donated Hours

Volunteers come to the Gathering as individuals or as groups, one time or daily. In FY2012/2013, 163 different groups served meals at Gathering sites: 44 businesses/organizations, 58 religious institutions, 29 schools, and 32 service groups and families. At weekday meals these groups worked alongside individuals from the community and from our guest population. Each meal required 12-20 volunteers, resulting in 29,076 donated hours of service. Produce Preservation volunteers, bag lunch makers, serving group recruiters, cleaning groups, and cook team volunteers made up the remainder of the donated hours.

Breakfast Program serving line

LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEERS - 67 Volunteers

These volunteers serve as lead cooks and coordinators for our Saturday lunch programs. They serve in roles that would otherwise have to be covered by paid staff.  In FY 2012/2013 these leadership volunteers provided 2,934 hours valued at $52,988.

Donations In-Kind FY 2012/2013

Without donated food, supplies and services, the Gathering’s expenses would double. But that’s not the only reason donations in-kind are important. They also reflect the commitment and creativity of the community at large to this work. DONATED FOOD - 163,313 Pounds valued at $167,098

92,638 pounds of perishable and nonperishable foods from government and other sources were donated through Hunger Task Force. An additional 54,825 pounds came from area restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops and bakeries.  2,225 pounds of fresh produce was donated for the Produce Preservation Project, and 13,625 pounds came in the form of take home bag “dinners” for our Saturday Lunch guests. These numbers do NOT include the wonderful donations of coffee, milk and home-made baked goods provided by serving groups on a weekly basis.

South Side Saturday Lunch Cooks

DONATED SUPPLIES & SERVICES - 110 Distributions

Toiletry items were distributed monthly to St. James’ Saturday Lunch guests by Sundries from the Avenue. An additional 3 toiletry distributions were provided at our Dinner site. Sixteen groups distributed bag lunches/sandwiches at 83 of our meals. Thirteen additional distributions of treat bags, warm weather clothing, blankets and holiday decorations in addition to equipment and in-kind services were provided by scout and school groups, churches, individuals and companies.

Oranges Donated for Christmas 2012 Goody Bags

On Site Services - FY 2012/2013

MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM - 1,121 Contacts A contributing factor to homelessness is mental illness. Our collaboration with the Homeless Outreach Nursing Center focuses on connecting with and stabilizing the lives of the homeless mentally ill. Twice weekly at our Breakfast Program, mental health staff provided information/referral and general screening services to 782 guests and direct mental health services to 339.

Robert, a long term volunteer with the Breakfast Program

LEGAL ASSISTANCE - 68 Clinics

Unresolved legal issues are often barriers to housing and job acquisition/retention. Our collaboration with the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, along with volunteer attorneys, addresses such issues at both our Breakfast and Dinner Programs on a weekly basis. At the Breakfast site, 49 clinics serving 123 guests were held. Municipal citations comprised 33% of issues dealt with; next closest, all at 6%, were driver’s license recovery, criminal, and landlord/tenant issues. The Dinner site offered 19 clinics serving 17 guests with the majority of issues focusing on landlord/tenant and municipal citations.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE - 39 visits

Staff from St. Ben’s Medical Clinic provided blood pressure checks and medical referrals at our breakfast site for 244 guests and conducted flu shot clinics serving 55 guests.

SUNDRIES FROM THE AVENUE - 25,060 Items Distributed

Toiletry items (soap, lotion, shampoo, laundry soap, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant) were distributed monthly to guests at our St. James’ Saturday Lunch by Sundries from the Avenue, a ministry of St. James’ Episcopal Church. This ministry is particularly important at this downtown location where a majority of Gathering guests are homeless.

BAG LUNCH/SANDWICH PROJECT - 82 Distributions

Sixteen different groups provided bag lunches or sandwiches for Gathering guests to take home with them following the Saturday Lunch meals. This is especially important on Saturdays since the next large scale meal available is not until noon Sunday. An estimated 13,625 bag lunches were distributed valued at $20,438.

Preservation Peppers donated by the Witte's Vegetable Farm c/o Bill Balbach

FRESH PRODUCE PRESERVATION PROJECT - 1,330 Pounds Frozen

This project (in its third year in 2012) focuses on preserving excess donated produce received during the growing season for use in our winter meals, providing additional flavor and nutrition. The 2012 growing season suffered a severe drought affecting the amount of produce available. However, 2,225 pounds of bell peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots and green beans were still donated by area farmers, gardeners and food banks. 43 volunteers (270 donated hours) processed the donations into 1,330 pounds of frozen produce.

Program Information - FY 2012/2013

Numbers and activities listed below are for our fiscal year – July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012

Total number of meals served in Fiscal Year 2012/2013: 150,336

Hot, homemade meals are served to all who come at no cost to the recipient.

BREAKFAST - 50,179 (ave. of 200 guests/meal)

Breakfast is served Monday through Friday mornings at our downtown site, St. James’ Episcopal Church, 833 W. Wisconsin Avenue. The majority of breakfast guests are adult males; 60-70% homeless. Legal, medical and mental health services are provided on site.

DINNER - 11,694 (ave. of 118 guests/meal)

Dinner is served Monday and Wednesday late afternoon at our south side location, Christian Faith Fellowship Church East, 724 S. Layton Blvd. Dinner guests come from the surrounding neighborhood; diverse in age and ethnic background.

Youth Volunteers in the serving line at the Dinner Program

SATURDAY LUNCH - 26,156 (ave. of 513 guests/Saturday)

Saturday lunch is served at the above two sites and at Our Next Generation Neighborhood Center (ONGNC) , 35th & Lisbon. Guests at ONGNC are primarily African American with 20-30% children. Lunch is also provide on the 4th Saturday of the month at Mt. Carmel Lutheran church, 82nd & Center.

SHELTER MEAL PROGRAM (SMP) - 53,949 meals

The Shelter Meal Program provided three meals every day to residents of three shelters managed by Community Advocates: Women’s Refuge homeless and domestic violence shelters and Autumn West, housing for adult mentally ill. Community Advocates funded the program and the Gathering provided the staffing, food and delivery of services.

Shelter Meal Program Staff Meeting

OUR NEXT GENERATION COLLABORATION - 8,358 meals

This tutoring/mentoring program at 35th & Lisbon – one of our Saturday Lunch sites – serves a light meal four afternoons each week to program participants of middle school and high school age. The Gathering provides the underlying support for these meals.