Hello my favorite TIS Supporters!
As I sit in the building we recently purchased, I am contemplating all the things we could do here to expand our services to our community. This building has plenty of space for offices…in fact, we are moving our Development office and our conference room from Evelyn’s Place to this building so we can open up two more rooms there for guests.
We will also offer many of our classes here at 133 Vine Street. We will begin one of our most successful classes—“Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World”– in mid-March. This class looks at poverty, how we find ourselves in that position, how we can access resources while we’re struggling, and how we can eventually wean ourselves off of those resources once we’ve squared away some items in our lives. A quote from the website: “In a facilitated group setting, Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World takes you step by step through a discovery of yourself like no other. It’s not just about how you got where you are now. It’s also about what comes next to build the life you want. Plus, this workbook helps you develop relationships with people who will support you all along the way.”
This is a foundational class in our S4 Program, and it helps our guests to understand the root causes of poverty, how to build resources and make connections, and ways to deal with change and create stability in their lives.
We also know that people who are grappling with homelessness have dealt with much trauma on their journey. To this end, we are developing Yoga and Meditation groups, Art Therapy groups, and the like, and will create a welcoming, nurturing space in the building for these experiences. It is crucial to offer ways of coping with trauma and loss within the population we serve.
Of course, with all these plans for expansion comes more expenses. As the only homeless shelter in Easton, and one of only two 24/7/365 organizations sheltering people experiencing homelessness in our 5-county Mid-Shore area, expansion is necessary. The need is great, and the responsibility to do this work has fallen on non-profits. This fact becomes more evident every day.
If you are able to contribute a little more, or can invite some friends to know more about TIS by forwarding these newsletters, talking amongst your social circles, volunteering with TIS at events or for our house-sitting schedule, we could help more and more of our neighbors to turn their circumstances around and to become self-sufficient. What could be more rewarding?
If you or a friend are curious to learn more, please call me at 410.310.2316. I LOVE talking about TIS! And I would be happy to show anyone around our two shelter homes, and now our newest project on Vine Street.
Thank you for being a key player on Team TIS, and for (hopefully) bringing more teammates into the fold!
-Julie Lowe