FUEL Milwaukee Adopts the Gathering

In February, FUEL Milwaukee adopted the Gathering as part of their Adopt-A-Nonprofit program. FUEL Milwaukee is a community engagement network that seeks to connect young professionals to organizations serving Milwaukee.

Every year, FUEL’s Creative Council selects a number of nonprofits to partner with through their Adopt-A-Nonprofit program. Through this program, the Council works to promote each non-profit through various events including a launch event (200+participants), social events and volunteering/fundraising efforts. The benefits include publicity, education about the nonprofit, and a large volunteer base of professionals with all types of networks. So far, this partnership has been very rewarding for the Gathering—bringing in new volunteers, raising awareness and helping us spread our mission!

One of the Gathering’s Creative Council partners, Corrie, explained the importance of the program. “The Adopt-a-Nonprofit is my favorite part of FUEL and the Creative Council. Without FUEL, I probably wouldn’t know about half of the needs of our city. The opportunity to learn about what great work is being done is one thing but to be able to be part of that great work is priceless. That’s the benefit of Adopt-a-Nonprofit, you connect to people, places and organizations you might not have on your own, to make a difference right here in the city of Milwaukee.”

Special thanks to Corrie and Kara, FUEL’s creative council members who elected to work with the Gathering, Tiffany, Tara and Gathering Board Members. These indiviudals have already put in a great deal of time, talent and energy towards the partnership. We look forward to more social and volunteer events with FUEL, and we hope to welcome more FUEL members into the Gathering family.

Learn more about FUEL Milwaukee and the adopt-a-nonprofit program.

Giver’s Honor Roll

THE GATHERING BOARD OF DIRECTORS THANKS THE FOLLOWING GENEROUS SUPPORTERS WHO GAVE $250 OR MORE BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1, 2014 AND APRIL 30, 2014.

 

$10,000 - $14,999 EFSP Phase XXX Allocation

$5,000 - $9,999 Helen Bader Foundation Stackner Family Foundation Charles and Eileen Stoner United Way of Greater Milwaukee Donor Choice

$1,000 - $2,499 1 Anonymous Donor Grainger Foundation Hunger Relief Fund of Wisconsin Hindu Temple of Wisconsin St. Joan of Arc Parish Gary and Maureen Shebesta

$500 - $999 2 Anonymous Donors Eugene Detert Gathering Memorial Fund -The Greater Milwaukee Foundation Greendale Community Church David and Mel Johnson Northwestern Mutual Foundation Reader's Digest Foundation St. Jude Congregation - Wauwatosa Eugene and Carmen Witt

$250 - $499 3 Anonymous Donors Vincent and Linda Dindzans Faith United Church of Christ - Slinger Frederick and Susan Kasten Herbert H. Kohl Charities Michael McClone

2014 Volunteer Celebration

 by Ginny Schrag

Every year, the Gathering holds an event to celebrate our volunteers and honor those who have reached milestones in their service with us. This year’s celebration was held on the evening of March 27th at Evolution Gastro Pong (formerly Spin Milwaukee) in the Third Ward. This table tennis and dining venue offers space to nonprofits at no charge. Over 100 Gathering volunteers took advantage of the four available ping pong tables and the catered food and beverages.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 volunteers work with the Gathering each year, cooking, coordinating serving groups, preserving produce, serving meals, cleaning and painting, answering phones, guiding the agency through board service, conducting fundraisers, and so much more.

To our volunteers: without you there would be no Gathering. You build the community and maintain the hospitality so important to serving our guests with respect and dignity. Thank you!

The 2013 Volunteer Award Recipients are listed below. Special thanks to Lisa Yanzer for all of the event’s photographs pictured throughout this newsletter and on our website. 

Friend of the Gathering Awards – Outstanding Service

Hindu Temple of Wisconsin, Jim Leurquin, St. James Episcopal Church, Weekday On-Site Collaborations (Homeless Outreach Nursing Center, Legal Aid Society & Lucy Cooper, St. Ben’s Medical Clinic)

George and Craig

George Greene Award – Given for exceptional service by a guest turned volunteer:  Craig Burrow, Breakfast Program

Serving Groups - Milestones reached in 2013 for # of times served

• 15+       Faith Community Congregational Church, Mt. Calvary Lutheran School
• 25+       Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
• 35+       Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
• 50+       St. Boniface Episcopal Church, YouthWorks
• 65+       University Lake School
• 75+       North Shore Presbyterian Church, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, St. John Vianney Firm Believers
• 85+       St. Rafael Catholic School, UWM Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership and Research
• 150+   Emanuel United Church of Christ
• 275+    St. Anne’s Serving Team
• 325+    Marquette University High School

Produce Preservation - Milestones reached in 2013 for # of times served

• 10+     Char Radke, Jane Shero, Michelle Talhami
• 25+      Eileen Duffey

Individual Awards – Milestones reached in 2013 for # ofyears served:

• 3 Years:   Tom Sromek, Shayla Sromek, Shirley Bankier, Jennifer Thomas, Sue Hanser, Brian Genduso, Cindy Kaja, Rob Krecak, Robert MacDonald
• 5 Years:   Velma Foster, Kathy Sween, Noni Guddie, Judy Linsley, Dan Linsley, Camille Austin, Tricia Trexell, Marie Daniels, Sandra Hickman, Valecia Watson
• 10 Years:   Cheri Grambo
• 15 Years:   Gene Detert, Julie Mercer
• 20 Years:   Bob Nakamura, Pat Steppe
• 25 Years:   Marge Gundrum

Dan, Natalia and Miriam accept the award for St. Rafael Catholic School

We Love the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee

The Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee is “Milwaukee’s primary resource for volunteerism." It helps recruit volunteers for the Gathering’s meal programs, along with other volunteer-based nonprofits in the area. The Center also provides area nonprofits with countless resources. They do great work behind the scenes and we think it’s time they are recognized.

Jessica Tabbutt is the program coordinator at the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee. Tabbutt runs the Center’s website, speaks at community service fairs, corresponds with prospective volunteers and works in creative ways to promote volunteering throughout Milwaukee. If that wasn’t enough, Tabbutt still finds time to volunteer at partner agencies. 

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“One of my personal goals is to really get to know the agencies and volunteer opportunities I’m sending volunteers to.”

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Tabbutt’s experiences with the Gathering’s meal program have been enjoyable. “Every one of the guests and fellow volunteers were so nice to be around. I pointed out to a friend after the experience, you wouldn’t even know it was 7:30am while you’re there. Everyone is chipper, in a good mood and excited to be there!”

Tabbutt also interacted with many of the Gathering’s long term volunteers including Robert and Yolanda, Marquette High School students, and more.

“Yolanda told me that the week before I was there was her one year anniversary of volunteering at the Breakfast Program. Along with her, many of the others were returning volunteers as well. I think that it’s very special when volunteers love being there so much they return time and time again.”

The Gathering is so thankful for our volunteers, whether they can come once, twice, or have been volunteering for a year. The work of Jessica Tabbutt, the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee, and other community organizations strengthens our committed volunteer network. We cannot thank you all enough!

Connect with the Volunteer Center of Milwaukee.

Volunteer Spotlight: East Troy High School National Honors Society

The National Honors Society (NHS) at East Troy High School has been volunteering with the Gathering for over 15 years, and in the words of student Krystal Jacobs, “We have a great experience every time!” East Troy High is one of many high schools that volunteers with the Gathering, but, unlike many other schools, East Troy students travel over 30 miles to make it to the Gathering’s dinner program. The commute may be limiting for many, but for East Troy National Honors Society students—it is a welcome challenge.

Jacobs explained that in order to transport 15 students to volunteer, they needed to get their own bus. The NHS students rallied together and fundraised to afford the bus. These fundraisers included creative opportunities such as: Duct Tape A Teacher, where students paid for the opportunity to duct tape their teachers to a wall (an idea they found on Pinterest), selling carnations for Valentine’s Day and doing their own version of eharmony for students. The students successfully raised the money to rent a bus and were able to volunteer on February 22nd. 

Fifteen NHS members signed up to volunteer. The students cleaned and set up tables, wrapped silverware, prepared food and worked the food line.

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“The most meaningful thing, hands down, for all of us, was seeing and hearing how grateful the people were for their meal. There is nowhere else where you can see someone so happy for our volunteer work. Definitely put a smile on our faces as well!”

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The NHS members had a great time volunteering. They even adopted nicknames for their fellow students based on what they were serving in line, like Peaches, Cookie, Beans, and Dressing.

The students were especially touched by their interaction with the Gathering’s guests. “We met a guy, Monte. He checked the name on our hats and wanted to be polite and address us by our first names. He was very thankful for what we were doing at The Gathering.”

Like Monte, the Gathering community is also thankful for what East Troy High School and other students do to travel to a meal site and volunteer. We look forward to seeing Peaches, Cookie, Beans, Dressing, Napkins, Coffee, and all other East Troy NHS students when they come volunteer again in March. Who knows, maybe Ed the chef will let us duct tape him to the wall!

Looking Down the Dirt Road with Jeanne

Jeanne (second from the right) with fellow volunteers at the dinner program

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“I got involved with the Gathering because I was homeless, because I lost my job and I couldn’t pay my rent. And that’s basically the long and short of it. I came in one day and asked the coordinator downtown if she needed any help and the rest was pretty much Gathering history.”

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Jeanne explained this story to me when asked how she first got involved with the Gathering. She is indeed a part of Gathering history, as she has been volunteering for the Gathering’s meal programs for about ten years.

Jeanne understands the issues that contribute to hunger and homelessness, having spent plenty of time at the Gathering and in Milwaukee. When sitting down with me, Jeanne discussed the Great Depression, the history of Milwaukee, labor issues, urban sprawl, globalization, deindustrialization and the rust belt, the education system, employment issues and more.

“We never looked down the dirt road to see that the corporations and manufacturing jobs were not going to be here. I knew a lot of people that used to have decent, good paying jobs. But now we need to reinvent ourselves—because the industrial day is gone.”

Jeanne is adept at recognizing a lot of the structural and systemic issues that contribute to poverty, hunger and homelessness in Milwaukee. Her lived experiences as well as her self-education have taught her what is needed to turn things around for many disadvantaged individuals:

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“Change doesn’t ever come from the top down, it comes from the bottom up. Maybe the time will come when somebody will get inspired to go out and say, ‘Enough! No more.’ People shouldn’t have to live like this. They shouldn’t have to suffer like this. We can do better.”

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For Jeanne, and others involved in the Gathering community, the Gathering offers opportunities to do better. Even opportunities to influence change.

“Look at all the people that come here. Where do you find people like this? I don’t know of anywhere else where you might be able to go and meet all of the different kinds of people that come here. We’re like one big adopted dysfunctional family…Maybe [The Gathering] is an idea showing what cooperation could be like. Maybe even showing an idea of what things could be like. If you leave the baggage at the door and everybody comes here and everybody gets together. Who knows? You’ve seen what people do here. We just come in and do whatever. Everybody has a job, everyone has pretty much done every job. Everybody comes in here and does whatever needs to be done. The work gets done. We have fun doing it. But we realize the most important thing is not that we have fun, but the work we do, the most important thing is that people get fed. And that’s basically where it starts. A person comes in here, they’re hungry, and we feed ‘em. You’re going to get so much more back when you do that. I can sit here and preach to the choir but there is nothing like experiencing it for yourself.”

Jeanne’s communal view of the Gathering and the work being done is shared by others who volunteer with her at the Gathering’s dinner program. Some dinner volunteers have even tossed around the idea of opening their own restaurant. Jeanne’s ideas, communal vision, education and articulate hope for the future represent one piece of the puzzle that is needed to end hunger and homelessness.