April 2011

Dear Friends,

In many ways, the winter of 2010-11 has been difficult. The extraordinary, record breaking weather has been harsh… shoveling, plowing, roof clearing, ice removal, and wind damage added unexpected expenses agency wide.  Pictured here, contractors hoist equipment onto the roof of one of our buildings to remove over 3 feet of snow and ice.

The weather was less than friendly to our homeless friends this year. Consider the difficulties property owners faced. Then think about not having housing to escape the cold, the wind, the ice, and the snow.

We enthusiastically embrace spring’s approach and so do many of our Christian friends, this Lenten Season.  However, the public has come to equate hunger and homelessness with cold weather and the holidays. Our active giving cycle of October through January reflects this phenomenon.

Hunger and homelessness occur year round and Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation responds to those two human conditions year round. 

Some shelters only operate in the coldest months and close from spring to fall, which can result in more persons seeking refuge on the streets.

Mercy residential services are full all year.  Our Friendship Center Meals Program serves 900 to 1,000 different adults each month—year round.  When school is out during school vacations and summer months, the number of children we serve increases dramatically.

I need your help today!

I need you to do what you can to help us continue the work you believe in.

You believe no one should go hungry.  Last year Mercy served 68,200 meals in the Friendship Center.

You believe we should end homelessness.  Last year, our programs helped 249 adults move from homelessness to permanent housing through our residential programs. And 423 children in 520 households moved into housing or were prevented from becoming homeless through our Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.

Will you please help us continue the important work that Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation is doing… helping people?  We must end homelessness and we can with your help!  

Today I would like to ask that you consider supporting Mercy Housing and Shelter with a gift to the Annual Fund.  Please give as generously as you are able to.  The current Annual Fund ends on June 30, but please consider sending your gift today… we can put it to good use right away.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

Sister Patricia McKeon
Executive Director

P.S.  This spring, in addition to the support we need to continue our important work, we also need your support in helping to cover the unexpected expenses of the record breaking winter of 2010-11. Please consider sending your gift today. You may also give online by clicking on this “Donate Now” button. Again, thank you!