UPS & DOWNS September 2001

WAYFARERS' HOUSE

WELCOME to new residents Susan, Mary, Rachel, Stefanie and Ruth.

FAREWELL AND GOOD WISHES to Joanne, Belva and Jason, Geanie, Nancy and Cathy

Apologies to Xavion for misspelling his name in the previous newsletter.

Dr. Simonson's new schedule is as follows:
Oct. 4 8:30 - noon
Oct 16 1 - 4 p.m.
Nov. 18:30 - noon
Nov. 201-4 p.m.
Dec. 68:30 - noon
Dec. 181 - 4 p.m.
Marsha will post a sign-up sheet the day before Dr. Simonson's visit for those who wish to see the doctor.
Wayfarers' new slate of night monitors includes Cathy Windsor, Carol McCullough, Joan Morgan and Kathy Parker. Training sessions for the monitors began the last week of September.
Stay tuned for more news of the Sketching Class to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 10:00 a.m. at the House.
House meeting has been changed to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Parenting/communicating has resumed and meets in the office at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.
An Apple computer has been donated and Cynthia Lane, a resident at Wayfarers', has agreed to instruct any of us who wishes to learn to use a personal computer. Please see Cynthia to arrange for instruction and/or use of the computer.

MEETING GROUND AFTERCARE PROGRAM
Volunteers are needed "as persons and families move from Meeting Ground to their new home. Our community offers them heartfelt good wishes for their success and happiness. We know that many might benefit from Meeting Ground's keeping in touch, continuing to offer a contact with our supportive community.
"... Whatever the need, we want to help provide necessary support and assistance so that persons and families may successfully maintain their own home. The program is meant to be a bridge, not just bolts and planks, but indeed a support mechanism for those things needed to make the move from a shelter to independent housing successful."
In" keeping with our philosophy to enhance individual responsibility, not diminish it, and to foster a spirit of self-reliance, we have designed this program to support formerly homeless persons and families especially in the first year in their new home.
"If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor for a person or family, please contact us. We are recruiting a group of volunteers we can call upon from time to time to help others who are working hard to help themselves...
"Skills which formerly homeless residents have indicated would be of use in their transition to a new home, and to assist in preventing future homelessness for themselves and their children...:
Financial planning, G.E.D., Community College info., transportation, counseling, cooking/nutrition, parenting, relationship skills, computer instruction, job interview skills, employment, household maintenance, courts/custody, yard care, furniture, tutoring-children, social services, tutoring-adult (especially reading), health issues, and time management.

For questions or further information, please call Acting Coordinator Barbara Dugan
at 410-620-4678.
Mailing address: 238 Mackall Street, Elkton, MD 21921
E-Mail: bdugan@meetingground.org

Meeting Ground Volunteers met at the George Porter House on Sept 11 for their quarterly session. One of the agenda items was how to encourage others to get involved in Meeting Ground. Others included concerns current volunteers have and how to resolve them, for example how to make residents aware of local resources from which they might benefit. The design of forms for the new Aftercare Program was another topic addressed.
Next meeting: Tuesday, November 13, at 12:30 p.m. at the George Porter House. Please bring your brown bag lunch and encourage prospective volunteers to attend with you.

The Community Kitchen is seeking more organizations to host a lunch every few months.

Raven's Rolling Readers is planning to be represented at the community Thanksgiving Dinner in Elkton to introduce their program and van, which they plan to launch the following day. Stay tuned.

To put on your calendar: Delaware Housing Coalition at Delaware Technical and Community College, Dover Campus, annual meeting Nov. 8 and 9.

IN MEMORIAM

Jim Corbett, author, environmentalist, philosopher, co-founder of BorderLinks (a sanctuary movement based in Arizona), man of courage and faithful steward of the created order, died on August 2, 2001. (Please see the current issue of Loaves and Fishes for articles by and about Jim, kind friend of Meeting Ground.)

We remember all those lost in the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC and all their extended families.

The following poem is the work of a former resident.

A NEW WORLD

another broken piece
eases into place ...
there is no rush ...
more with each new day
the healing balm of grace
soothes the ageless ache
the border of my vision
melts from leather into lace
there are sights as never imagined
loves as never conceived
joy so encompassing -- life reborn
more than I ever dared to dream
Gayle
the