Ready For Life makes an impact
Ready For Life makes an impact
STRATEGIC PROCESSES ARE STANDARDIZING CARE AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES
The pandemic at Cherry Street has pushed and challenged us. But during this complex time, the team was hard at work strategizing and refreshing one of our key efforts in the fight against poverty.
The “Ready For Life” program was relaunched out of the desire to standardize and strategize our approach to care and wholeness. The entire Engagement Team was hard at work creating Standard Operating Procedures and developing trainings, manuals, and much more to comply with best practices as prescribed by experts in the Social Work field and person centered care.
Not only will these updates enable staff to dive into a more efficient and effective workflow that will lead to greater impact on the guests and the community, but reporting and tracking processes will be brought into alignment with our partners and strengthen data shared within the community and government.
The Ready For Life launch was a true team effort. One of the staff leaders who played a heavy role in developing this curriculum was the Ready For Life Manager, Nora Riggs. Nora is a Licensed Social Worker and holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Toledo.
“We’ve seen guests start to think beyond the moment-to think about what life can look like when they have sustainable income, healthy relationships, and stable housing,” said Nora. “Guests are attending weekly support groups that follow a monthly theme, with curriculum to guide the advocates in each topic.
“The advocates are doing a wonderful job applying the intensive training they received and have completed 84 goal plans with guests in our first 30 days of the RFL relaunch! We thank God for every member of the team who has helped us get to this point, and are excited for the work that will continue to change lives and bring restoration & hope to our guests.”
“We’ve seen guests start to think beyond the moment-to think about what life can look like when they have sustainable income, healthy relationships, and stable housing.”
We are excited to see the continued impacts of the program as it continues to demonstrate life change. Thank you for championing the strategic work of Cherry Street and making a difference in the lives of those served.
Volunteerism Highlight
Volunteerism Highlight
The Appold Learning Center, typically referred to as the Cherry Street Library, is located on the second floor of the LRC and is a beautifully classic picture of what a library should be with its richly colored wooden shelves and peaceful environment. The library is linked to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, which means not only are the shelves stocked with an excellent variety of books, but the computers can access incredible information, databases and resources, just as if you were logging in at your local library.
Open mornings and afternoons every weekday, guests are able to step away from the bustling environment of the cafe and spend some time browsing shelves, scrolling through personal and professional pursuits on the computer, or taking a moment to breathe. A volunteer or two-like Sister Nancy-sits at the desk and assists guests with computer questions, creates library guest passes, tidies up as necessary, and might even enjoy their own book. The library re mains quietly productive while providing physical and emotional rest to guests, making it a beloved spot in the building.
If you’d like to volunteer in the library, you can send a message to volunteer@cherrystreetmission.org to find a time that works for you.
Cherry Street Mission Ministries is more than a soup kitchen; it's a life vocational experience
For the past 75 years, they've made it their mission to help people by eradicating poverty one person at a time.
Author: Jeremy Downing
TOLEDO, Ohio — As anyone in immediate need of a helping hand knows, Cherry Street Mission Ministries can be a lifesaver, whether it’s a warm meal and a place to sleep on a cold winter night or a safe place for domestic violence survivors. But there’s much more to how they help our communities.
“We are able to do things that other small communities aren’t able to do. So we’ll have people visit Cherry Street to get healthy again and then go back to the community that maybe they came from or maybe they’ll choose a new community to go participate in.”
Cherry Street Mission Ministries CEO Ann Ebbert says for the past 75 years, they’ve made it their mission to help people by eradicating poverty in the surrounding 25 counties.
Ebbert says they usually see about 1,500 people a year, but in the last year and a half that help has become more in demand and they’re seeing an increase of about 30 to 35 new, first-time people a month.
“What we’ve seen is a remarkable increase in people coming to our front door who would be called first-time homeless. Right now we are seeing numbers that we typically see in the middle of February, which is our heavy, high season, as you can imagine. The pandemic really made it vibrantly clear that there are a group of people that have absolutely no other options.”
Help is always available, but the assistance Cherry Street offers is more than you might think since they are much more than just a soup kitchen.
Cherry Street partners with both Toledo vocational schools as well as Owens Community College to offer career certificates for career-level jobs to teach skills for jobs in welding, tool and die, auto manufacturing, office specialists and even job placement.
“Everything from soft-skills, like how to have good attendance and a good attitude, to how to do a resume and how to have a great interview.”
They also offer baseline healthcare, substance abuse help and mental health services and place an emphasis on creating healthy relationships; all of which are available to anyone in the community, not just residents.
“Because you can have all the skills but if you don’t know how to create relationships,” Ebbert says, “you don’t have the boundaries in your life that will keep you on track to use your skills.”
Cherry Street is also adding new training classes next year in the building and construction trades and will be partnering with Mercy Health and ProMedica to provide medical beds for people getting out of the hospital but don’t have a home to go to fully recover.
Ebbert says their mission to help others has a bonus, it also means helping themselves as well.
“That ability to look someone in the eye and say ‘we’re humans together and we’re going to work through this together’ is just an amazing experience to have as a staff person here.”
Cherry Street Mission Ministries currently has 65-70 staff members and 2,500 volunteers working 24/7 365 days a year and can always use more help in terms of donations and volunteering.
Thanksgiving at Cherry Street
November 9, 2021- TOLEDO (Ohio) – For nearly 75 years, Cherry Street Mission Ministries has served individuals who are hungry and experiencing homelessness in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Community members come to Cherry Street who need a bed, safety and maybe a special meal this holiday season. Community members come to Cherry Street who are Hungry: Hungry for Change, Hungry for a Career, Hungry for Success, Hungry for Direction. Working together we can address the needs of those who are hungry and together we can start Feeding Futures.
Upcoming Thanksgiving Events:
- 11.9.21 – 12.31.21 Volunteer sign up for Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons
- 11.1.21 – Registration open for Dave’s Running Shop Turkey Chase https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Toledo/DavesTurkeyChase5kRunWalk
- Thursday, 11.25.21, 7:00 am to 8:00 am – Autumn themed breakfast at Mac Street Café
- Thursday, 11.25.21 @ 9:00 am Turkey Chase Thanksgiving Tradition begins. Proceeds to benefit Cherry Street Mission Ministries.
- Thursday, 11.25.21, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm – Lunch catered by Real Seafood, served restaurant-style by Chick-Fil-A staff
- Thursday, 11.25.21, 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm – Southern inspired dinner at Mac Street Café
FOOD DONATIONS
Food donations and meal supplies can be dropped off at 1501 Monroe Street, off 16th Street at the Life Revitalization Center building Monday through Friday from 9 am to 12 pm. If you need to drop off outside of these hours or have questions concerning donations, please contact Kary Jo Gribble at 419.214.3321.
Monetary donations can be mailed to: Cherry Street Mission Ministries, PO Box 9100, Toledo, OH 43697-9100 or you can donate online at www.cherrystreetmission.org.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers will be needed throughout the day to make it a special day for all. The community can make an impact on those living in poverty by donating toward the meals and volunteering their time. For more information on volunteering contact Hallie at volunteer@cherrystreetmission.org or at 419.214.3419.
BREAKFAST AT MAC STREET CAFÉ – 7:00 am to 8:30 am
Thursday, November 25, 2021 – 1501 Monroe St. Toledo, OH 43604
Located within the Life Revitalization Center, Mac Street Café will be serving pumpkin spice pancakes with syrup and cranberry glaze, muffins, scrambled eggs, sausage links, maple chicken and fruit salad. Meals and celebrations are available to all Cherry Street guests.
LUNCH CATERED BY THE REAL SEAFOOD COMPANY – 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Thursday, November 25, 2021 – Mac Street Café, 1501 Monroe St. Toledo, OH 43604
Lunch will be served in the Mac Street Café in the Life Revitalization Center. Live music will be played, and lunch will be served restaurant-style by Chick-Fil-A staff and volunteers. Meals and celebrations are available to all Cherry Street guests.
DINNER AT MAC STREET CAFÉ – 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Thursday, November 25, 2021 – 1501 Monroe St. Toledo, OH 43604
Located within the Life Revitalization Center, Mac Street Café will be serving a Southern inspired meal. Meals and celebrations are available to all Cherry Street guests.
Cherry Street Mission Ministries Experiences 400% Increase
September 20, 2021- TOLEDO (Ohio) –
The end of the eviction moratorium, staff over-time, increased expenses, less volunteer help, and a rise in people needing help are impacting our kitchen, library, Mac Street Café — critical to providing meals, shelter and a path toward a changed life.
Cherry Street is providing emergency shelter to 33% more people as compared to the same time last year. From May to August the organization saw 400% more new faces arriving, homeless for the first time in their life- all due to Covid-19.
Furthermore, the shelter has experienced an increase in Covid-19 positive cases. At this time, 10% of the men and women served by Cherry Street are positive for Covid-19. Following the guidelines of the CDC, positive guests are receiving appropriate care and have been separated from others.
It’s not winter and yet the shelter beds are filling up. Nonetheless, Ann Ebbert, CEO/President of Cherry Street; the area’s largest emergency shelter; said “We will not turn men and women away”.
Cherry Street’s staff are exceptional and already utilize healthy practices for preventing the spread of disease and viruses. Led by the facilities team, Cherry Street is using strategies that have proven useful and are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. This includes the frequent disinfection of hard surfaces and high traffic areas. Face masks must be worn by all guests, employees, visitors, volunteers and partners. Cherry Street has been working ceaselessly to ensure the health and safety of those served is at the forefront. Due in large part to those measures, since the pandemic began, no one staying at Cherry Street has died because of Covid-19.
Cherry Street has been well stocked with food, soap, bottled water, hand sanitizer, cleaning chemicals, and disinfectant wipes. However, extraordinary purchases and the increase in the amount of people needing emergency assistance from the organization is unprecedented and has affected the budget of the organization. Throughout the pandemic, ministry programs have not yet been impacted. It is crucial the care and provision to those served at Cherry Street continues uninterrupted as it has since 1947. Monetary support from the public will help bridge the gaps.
Cherry Street will continue to care for the most vulnerable in the community and care for people living in poverty. Donations and the wish list can be viewed on the website: cherrystreetmission.org/get-involved
'Be the Bridge' for Cherry Street Mission
'Be the Bridge' for Cherry Street Mission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D53OMz3fJcc
Exciting things happening around Cherry Street!
Take a moment to learn from our staff about the exciting things happening around Cherry Street!
CSMM on YES-FM
Each month Cherry Street staff are joining the morning crew at YES-FM to offer what they call the “Morning Munch”. It is a reflection, a devotion and a prayer starting the listeners day at 7:30am. Cherry Street uses the same monthly theme for our time on the Morning Munch, for Bible studies and for our weekly worship services. You are invited to join in this focus for the upcoming month.
In January, we are focused on the concept of communication. The Bible helps us with this concept in Ephesians 4:29-31 which says: “29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Communication is defined as containing information, news, advice, and request. For an example, being able tell others how/where you stand on various topics. As we explore the concept with ourselves we ask the question: “What truth are you living in? Or Are you living a lie?”
You can listen each month for our thematic focus on various topics by tuning in to YES-FM.
Fill The Pantry
Our pantry has some blank spots you can help fill.
Drop it off | have it delivered | create your own collection drive
Shop with Amazon or Amazon Smiles to have your donations shipped directly to Cherry Street located at 1501 Monroe St. Toledo OH 43604.
Drop off your donations to Cherry Street’s Life Revitalization Center Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm. Come to the 16th Street side of the Life Revitalization Center located at 1501 Monroe St. Toledo OH 43604.
Needs list:
- Water – another truck load is needed if possible.
- Gloves – Winter gloves, this was a challenge last year and looks like it will continue.
- Underwear – Men’s – Small and Medium, Women’s – small and Medium
- Masks – both homemade and the blue disposable.
- Water shoes/flip-flops – something for our guests to use in the shower
- Body Wash – Neutral or Scented for Women
- Lotion – full size bottle of skin lotion
- Boots and Shoes for winter
- Bedding – blankets (twin and full size)
- Bath Towels
- Disinfecting wipes
- Women’s hair care products
- Chapstick
- Paper towels
- Nitrile Gloves – Medium, Large and X-Large
Kitchen Items:
- Coffee – Ground
- #10 cans of Vegetables
- Large Lunch Bags
- Brown Sugar
- Sandwich Bread
- Salsa
- Fresh Fruit
- Pancake Mix
- Pancake syrup
- Spices/Seasoning:
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Pepper
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Chili Powder
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Taco seasoning
- Hot Chocolate
- Tea bags
- Oatmeal
- Snacks – Serving size packs
- Chips, Cookies, Trail Mix, Cereal Bars, Fruit Snacks, Pretzels, Goldfish, etc.
- Fresh Eggs
- 12 oz coffee cups – disposable