Spring 2008

Take The Challenge!

For National Hunger Awareness Day

We will be celebrating Hunger Awareness Day in June by challenging everyone and anyone who would like to

better understand our neighbors in need. The challenge is to live on food purchased with the present allotted

food stamp amount, which is currently $5 per day, per person. Participants are asked to keep a journal of their

experience. Please consider accepting the challenge for a day, week or month!

E-mail Patty Dowling at pdowling@shorelinesoupkitchens.org.

Great News:

New Meal Site is up & Running!

In March, 2008 our newest meal site opened their doors for the first time. A warm and very hearty welcome to:

Grace Episcopal Church Meal Site
338 Main Street, Old Saybrook
Wednesdays
12 noon to 1pm

Please help spread the word about our new lunch time meal site on Wednesdays.

Pay It Forward

By Carol Grant

We had a lady as a client for many months come into our pantry

that I knew from church. Each time she came in she would always say how thankful she was

that we were there to help her through a rough patch in her life. As things were improving for

her, she would always say that she was looking for a way of giving back the kindness and

support that she found at our pantry. Well I am happy to tell you that things have turned

around for her. She has found the solution to her housing problem, her health has improved,

and she is now a volunteer at our soup kitchen. In addition, she spear headed a donation for

our troops in our church which was a major success,

and has been made a member of our church vestry.

HOT NEWS!

Clinton Pantry

New Day and Time!

On Wednesday evening June 4^th the Clinton Pantry will open their doors for the first time on

a Wednesday evening from 6pm to 7pm for grocery distribution. This will provide our working

clients with an often requested evening hour pantry, and also offer a nice dinner at the

Clinton Meal site at 5pm, then shopping at 6pm at the Clinton Pantry site. Both Clinton sites

are close to each other. Saturday May 24, will be the Clinton Pantries last Saturday grocery

distribution day.

Food For Thought

“Food for Thought” Is a column where volunteers can share their views on hunger and poverty.

        My name is Tina Belmont. As a nurse with the VNA of Southeastern Connecticut,

I have a dual role. As a VNA nurse, I make home visits, providing nursing care to homebound

patients in Lyme, Old Lyme, and Old Saybrook. My other role is as the Old Saybrook Town Nurse.

I provide health screenings, and blood pressure clinics, visit the residents at the low income

senior housing, work at the senior center, work with Youth and Family Services when needed,

to service the residents of Old Saybrook. I wanted to learn more about the needs of the community

I was being paid to work for. I started to help out at the Old Saybrook food pantry, offering my

knowledge and assistance of services that are available to those in need, especially those without

medical insurance. Knowing that I have contacts with local social services, and experience with how

and when to seek medical care even without medical insurance, I wanted to offer whatever

assistance I can to those who attend the food pantry. Checking blood pressures was beneficial

to getting to know the patrons of the food pantry, and getting them to open up to other needs

they may have. I can also be a resource for those who

Work/volunteer there. Occasionally I don't have an immediate answer, but with my work with the VNA,

I have a whole network of experienced nurses, therapists, social workers who are involved in their own

communities, and can refer me, lead me in the right direction. It's been a wonderful experience for me

working with Marge and the others that volunteer there.

Tina Belmont

Spring Gardening News:

Spring and gardening are here. If you would like to volunteer at the SSKP garden in Old Saybrook

please contact Claudia Van Nes at 860-526-3459.

Board Member Profile

Tracy Helin

I was born and raised in the Springfield, MA area, and lived in Western Massachusetts until 1992. I have lived in Connecticut since then, and currently reside in Middletown with my wife of 12 years, Christy Kovel.

My career path started in the world of food service, and I spent over ten years cooking professionally after completing my degree in Culinary Arts in Boston. While working over a hot stove for many years, I spent my free time completing my Bachelor’s Degree at Central Connecticut State University, in New Britain. As soon as my studies were completed at CCSU, I entered the world of non-profit organizations as an anti-poverty advocate.

Since 2001, I have worked for the Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS), a Hartford-based statewide non-profit organization. I am the Outreach Director, and have had the good fortune of wearing many hats, doing some fundraising work, writing and analyzing policy, and collaborating on some statewide initiatives to reduce poverty. During my time at CAHS, I was able to complete a Master’s in Social Science at Wesleyan University through the Graduate Liberal Studies Program.

I joined the Board of Trustees of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries in 2006, and serve on the Nominating Committee and bring legislative updates to the Board as the sole member of the ad hoc Legislative Information Committee. I believe strongly in the work we do at the SSKP, and feel that careful attention to legislation is important to help us be more aware of the issues that we all face together. Raised awareness can help us to take a proactive approach to policy changes that our guests may face, so that we may adjust to changed scenarios before they occur. I truly value the opportunity to serve on the Board, and hope to make a lasting contribution during my time here.

In my spare time, I enjoy hitting golf balls into the woods, rather than keeping them on the fairways. Why take the easy route to the green? I also like to spend time with my wife, and we travel as often as we can.

Meal Site Profile

Saturday Meal Site

Coordinator – Louise Lynch

The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme

The 1^st Congregational Church of Old Lyme has hosted a soup kitchen along with a food pantry every Saturday for about 12 years. Initially we served lunch to about 60 people while they waited to get their groceries between 11:00 and 1:00. However, people kept coming early for their groceries and then not staying for lunch. By three years ago, the food pantry was giving out food at 8:00 in the morning and only a handful of people were coming to the soup kitchen lunch. Beginning to feel no longer of service, one of the cooking teams decided to serve a brunch instead of lunch. We then set to work to have the soup kitchen and food pantry times coordinate.

Today, the church opens its doors at 8:00. People come in to register for the food pantry, and then sit to enjoy a brunch served from 9:30 to 10:30. The food pantry begins giving out food at 9:20 and finishes around 11:30. We have twelve cooking teams currently serving around 110 people each week, with the number of guests growing. There is a feeling of welcome and respect among the people serving and the people served. The two Shoreline programs work beautifully together.

Louise Lynch

What would you do?

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:
1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3 The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Think before you continue reading.

       This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application. You could pick up the old lady because she is injured and will die, and thus you should save her first. Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
       The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. He simply answered:
"I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."
       Sometimes we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think outside of the box."

***

Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.

-John Lennon

For any information, be it volunteering or donating or any other information about the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries, please call or email Patty Dowling. Also, if you have ideas or comments about this newsletter, please contact our Partnership Coordinator, Linda Smith.

		Spring 2008