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Aurora > News > In the News
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Denver Mattress Company's Charity Campaign benefits Aurora Inc. Denver, CO -- Denver Mattress Company has donated over $1,600 this holiday season to Aurora in Evansville, Indiana.
The donation was raised from an in store charity campaign.
Additional funds were raised through a secondary campaign underwritten by Denver Mattress Company. This campaign, supported by newspaper and television advertising, was created to solicit individual contributions and raise awareness for the nonprofit organization.
Luzada Hayes, Executive Director at Aurora, explains what the donation means to their organization. “We cannot begin to thank Denver Mattress Co. enough for their support of Aurora this holiday season. What an amazing gift! The media campaign was truly exceptional. The image of homeless veterans singing the national anthem will forever be etched in our memories. In addition, the financial donation of over $1,600 from mattress sales will certainly help our light shine brighter. We’re thankful for the company’s commitment to the cause of homelessness! What a great corporate example of partnering with a nonprofit to end homelessness in the Evansville community.”
Denver Mattress Company is a division of Furniture Row Companies, one of America’s largest family owned furniture retailers.
With two of the busiest, state-of-the art mattress factories in the world, Denver Mattress services over 140 distribution locations across the country. Subsequently, Denver Mattress utilizes one of the largest mattress distribution networks in the U.S. For more information regarding the company, visit www.furniturerow.com.
Aurora gets $1,600 lift 1/6/08 Evansville Courier & Press
Trivia event to benefit nonprofit 10/23/07 Evansville Courier & Press A trivia competition at Evansville Country Club Nov. 9 will raise money for nonprofit group Aurora Inc. Competition begins at 7 p.m., followed by dinner, more competition, then cordials at 10 p.m. The game is played by four- to eight-member teams. Cost is $75 per player, $50 of which is a charitable donation. First-place team wins $500 and the second-place team wins $300. Reservations are required by Nov. 5. Aurora is an Evansville-based organization working to end homelessness and serve homeless people. For details or to make reservations, call 428-3246 or visit www.auroraevansville.org.
New Orleans jazz artist sings for Tri-State homeless 9/20/07 Evansville Courier & Press by Roger McBain Before she moved on to jazz festivals in the United States and beyond, jazz singer Sherrie R. Bias performed at benefit concerts for charities in and around her native New Orleans. Two years after moving to Evansville, Bias will sing for the Tri-State's homeless Friday, in "Jazz for a Cause," a benefit dinner and concert at the Evansville Museum. Bias, who moved to Evansville after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, grew up singing and has performed professionally for a decade, she says, singing in benefits and in jazz festivals in the United States, Japan and in Latin America. She's scheduled to perform at festivals in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, she says. In Evansville, Bias is the director of development and operations for Aurora Inc., a nonprofit agency serving homeless people in the Tri-State, and she continues to perform. She'll sing traditional and contemporary jazz Friday with bassist Gloria Glore, drummer Nathan Brown, pianist James Williams and saxophonist Monty Skelton. She describes her music as "all-inclusive jazz refined with gospel, R&B and Latin flair." The evening will open with a cash bar at 6:30, dinner at 7 and the performance at 8. Tickets, including dinner and the concert, are $50, or $400 for a table. All proceeds raised in the concert will go to Aurora. For more information, call Aurora at 428-3246 or visit www.auroraevansville.org online.
Aurora builds 'starter kits' for homeless by Trevor Brown,
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7635 or
brownt@courierpress.com
Saturday, July 21, 2007 Homeless families trying to build a new life will be getting a little extra help from Aurora's Homeless Outreach Team. On Friday, the agency assembled "housing starter kits," containing basic household items to give out to families starting in a new home. "A lot of the time the homeless lose everything because they have no room to store these items," said Kat Isbell, an education specialist with Aurora. "Our goal is to help those who have nothing get housed and get donations to help them start again." About 18 volunteers, ranging in age from 3 to 80, worked Friday at Eastminster Presbyterian Church to organize and package donated material into kits. Items included flatware, dishes, cleaning and personal supplies, linen and containers. Isbell said they were able to meet their goal by creating at least 10 full kits and six partial kits. Local volunteer Judy Hodoval said she heard about the effort from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and decided to help. "I'm retired so I had some personal time, and I think it's a good thing to give back to the community and support not-for-profit agencies," she said. Community members donated all the supplies for the kits. The agency has been collecting and issuing out donations of these items since 1998, but this is the first time they put them together in a single unit. Isbell said the idea for the starter kits came when the agency's community liaison, Sister Mary Ann Woodward, noticed their previous process of issuing out the supplies was too scattered and inefficient. Isbell said they were pleased with the community's efforts in donating the supplies and hope for similar help in the future. "It has been a great response for the first time that we have done this," she said. "And (Eastminster Presbyterian Church) has been fabulous in hosting us here." She added that the agency accepts donations year-round and they are still looking for help in establishing a permanent storage space for the supplies and furniture that is donated. Eligible recipients of the kits are people who are homeless or living in a shelter, and who accept the agency's case management assistance. Isbell said each month Aurora assists about four local families or individuals to establish permanent housing. Isbell said when they will be able to send out more kits will largely depend on the number of donations they receive. "I anticipate we'll do this again," she said. "After all this delivered, we'll be able to gauge how it went and when we can do it next." For those looking to donate, a wish list of supplies can be found at the agency's Web site at www.auroraevansville.org and donations can be dropped off at Aurora's office, 1100 Lincoln Ave., during normal business hours.
Recycling program Dorm castoffs put to good use by Kate Braser, Courier & Press staff writer 464-7622 or braserk@courierpress.com Saturday, May 12, 2007 Instead of getting carted off to the dump, the items left behind by many college students in Evansville this year are being put to good use. A group of volunteers from Aurora, a local outreach agency for the homeless, and local churches met with University of Evansville volunteers this week to load vans and a pickup truck with refrigerators, microwaves, clothing, rugs and more. The items donated by students are distributed by Aurora to clients who are living on the streets or getting houses for the first time. Aurora's partnership with local college dorms began four years ago at the University of Southern Indiana. This year, Aurora volunteers picked up items from USI on May 4. Since the partnership with USI proved fruitful, Kat Isbell, Aurora education specialist, contacted staff at UE's Center for Student Engagement last year to propose a similar partnership. "The donated items we're able to give our clients help them have less expenses in getting started or restarted in housing," said Meghann Kulenkamp, Aurora outreach coordinator. "We've got everything from inline skates to unopened boxes of granola bars," said Rob Pool, UE assistant dean of students, as he sifted through a large box in the lobby of Hale Hall late Thursday. "It used to be that the students would move out and dump their stuff and we'd have to sift through it to send stuff to Goodwill or the dump," he said. Many students are from far away and cannot fit all of their possessions into cars or luggage for the trip home at the end of each school year, he said. Isbell said this marked the first year volunteers from Christian Fellowship Church and North Park Baptist helped collect the items. She took pictures with her digital camera as the volunteers lined up and carried away stacks of area rugs, ironing boards, bags of clothing, hangers, blue jeans, books, fans and even a baby doll. Isbell said the donated items that do not end up in a new home will still be put to good use. "For example, once a week, the homeless outreach team spends at least two hours visiting community members who are living in places not meant for human habitation and sharing a bag of food, some socks, underwear, personal items," she said. "These gifts help the recipients survive on the streets and help our volunteers build relationships and trust with those who are homeless." Summer often proves a challenging time for local shelters and food banks to keep their shelves stocked, but Sister Mary Ann Woodward, Aurora community liaison, said last year the food donations from students stocked Aurora's cupboards and helped serve clients for four months.
Trivia Night fundraiser targets homelessness Jack Schriber and Nancy Drake Sunday, March 4, 2007 Evansville Courier & Press Be a part of ending homelessness in our community.&rquot; And to that end, Aurora staged Trivia Tonight at the Evansville Country Club. Fun and fundraising were guaranteed by the personal touches of event chairwoman Sharon Hafer, as was evident throughout the country club's Grand Ball Room on Feb. 24. Friends of both Hafer's and Aurora filled the room to capacity. Wally Graves and his wife Barbara cheered on tablemate and good friend Jean Rue. Hahn Realty had a full table hosted by Carol McClintock and husband, Lloyd Winnecke. Fifth Third Bank CEO John Daniels and his wife Susan added their support to the event, answering the questions. Old National Bank CEO Bob Jones and his wife Lisa also were up for the challenge. The evening included cocktails, trivia, dinner and chocolates and cordials. Prizes were awarded to the first place and second place table winners. Yet the real winners were Aurora and those attending, who shared what they have with those less fortunate. If you would like to know more about Aurora and how you, too, can become involved, contact Aurora via their Web site: www.auroraevansville.org....
Griffin grandmother's heart problems lead to thousands of pounds of food for homeless Aurora press release published in The Navigator & Journal-Register, Grayville, IL - August 9, 2006
When an 89-year-old grandmother learned that she needed a pacemaker, little did she know that her meeting with a hospital volunteer after her surgery would end up impacting hundreds of Tri-State residents who are homeless.
Evelyn Stone, of Griffin, Indiana, and mother of Carl and Richard "Dick" Isbell of Grayville, received a pacemaker in May 2006 at Deaconess Hospital where she met volunteer, Jennifer Dixon. Through their conversation, Dixon learned of Stone’s granddaughter, Kathi “Kat” Isbell and her job which involves touching the lives of Vanderburgh County’s homeless.
Isbell is the Education Specialist with Aurora, Inc., which offers direct services to the homeless and community development activities, including links to the area’s eighteen specialized homeless service providers. Early this week, Dixon, wife of a Tyson Foods, Inc. employee, told Isbell of an available donation of meat.
3,000 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs have been donated by the Robards, KY, facility of Tyson Foods, Inc. to benefit homeless shelters and transitional housing programs.
With the sweltering temperatures of late, Aurora’s staff sought a refrigerated truck to transport the donation. Through tips from Christian Fellowship Church staff, Isbell connected with Alan Clark, part-owner of CRS One Source. Clark arranged for a truck to pick up and deliver the chicken to Aurora’s parking lot.
This Friday afternoon, 600 five-pound bags of chicken thighs will be picked up by staff from Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Dorthea McGregor Family Shelter, Goodwill Family Center, Hannah House, House of Bread and Peace, Lucas Place, Ozanam Family Shelter, Evansville Rescue Mission, United Caring Shelters, YWCA, and Aurora’s Homeless Outreach Team.
On any given night, at least 400 individuals are temporarily sheltered in our community’s emergency homeless shelters and transitional housing programs. One third of those are children.
At least another 30-40 are living in places not meant for human habitation, e.g. abandoned buildings, under bridges, and in vehicles. These figures don’t include those who have no permanent residence as they stay with friends, family or in motels.
In light of numbers like these, Aurora serves as the coordinator for “Destination: Home,” the ten-year plan for ending and preventing homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. For more information on this plan and how you can become involved, contact Aurora at (812) 428-3246 or 1100 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN 47714 or visit www.auroraevansville.org
Thinking of the poultry provisions resulting from her pacemaker surgery, Evelyn Stone stated, “It is a good feeling to think that I, in my elderly years, had some little thing to do with helping someone in need. I give the Lord the praise. I know He had a part in it.”
Homeless shelters get 'a lot of chicken'By JACOB BENNETT Courier & Press staff writer
464-7434 or
bennettj@courierpress.com
A grandmother's chance encounter resulted in 3,000 pounds of chicken for the area's homeless shelters.
The skinless, boneless chicken arrived by truck Friday at Aurora Inc. in Evansville, in 60 boxes, each containing 10 five-pound bags. It was a gift from the Tyson Foods plant in Robards, Ky.
"The shelters were like, 'That's a lot of chicken,'" said Kat Isbell, education specialist at Aurora Inc., which works with other organizations in Evansville to end homelessness.
Tyson sent the food because of Isbell's grandmother, Evelyn Stone, 89, of Griffin, Ind., who received a pacemaker in May at Deaconess Hospital.
While in the hospital, Stone met a volunteer named Juanita Dixon, who is married to a Tyson employee, and told Dixon about her granddaughter and the homeless programs in the city.
Ten shelters received as much chicken as they could hold in their freezers. Hannah House, for example, got nine boxes. Ozanam Family Shelter asked for one.
The gift was a big help to the shelters, many of which have seen record numbers of visitors in the last few years.
Barb Miller, executive director of Albion Fellows Bacon Center, a domestic violence shelter, said the number of visits at the center has increased by 50 percent since 2003.
Evansville has about 400 people sleeping in shelters on a given night.
"This is a fabulous donation," Miller said. "Meat is expensive to purchase for our shelter. We're really excited about it."
Stone choked up when she learned of the donation, Isbell said. "It is a good feeling to think that I, in my elderly years, had some little thing to do with helping someone in need," Stone said in a statement. "I give the Lord the praise. I know he had a part in it." Television/RadioWIKY 104.5 FM and WSTO Hot 96FMApril 12, 2006 -- "The fight to end homelessness in Evansville is expanding beyond finding housing. Aurora Executive Director Luzada Hayes says preventing it must start with children in the family, and identifying anyone at risk of losing their home. Mayor Weinzapfel is co-sponsoring a U.S. Conference of Mayor's resolution that asks HUD to use people staying in motels, and living temporarily with others in its definition of homelessness. Health and Human Services already does." WFIE TV-14Walk for the HomelessApril 6, 2006 02:29 PM CDTNew Media Producer: Rachel Chambliss Indiana's Lieutenant Governor is hoping you'll include a walk in your weekend activities. Not around your neighborhood, but a walk in downtown Evansville.
Becky Skillman came to the Echo Community Health Care's Sue Woodson Clinic in Evansville on Tuesday to promote Homeward Bound, a 5k walk to raise money for housing for the homeless.
There are more than 400 people who are homeless in the city of Evansville, a third are children.
If you would like to participate in this weekend's walk, registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The walk starts at the Casino Aztar Pavillion at 10 a.m. For more information call 428-3246. Press ReleasesIn Response ... to April 17, 2006 letter to the editor re: "Too many agencies trying to aid homeless"A recent letter to the editor cited the fact that the April 8th "Homeward Bound – 5K Walk to Provide Housing & Fight Homelessness" raised funding to support 11 area agencies. In it, the author posed a relevant question: Do we really need 11 agencies? Evansville is ranked highest in the state in the number of homeless individuals per capita, with at least 400 individuals housed in our emergency shelters and transitional housing programs on any given night. Over a third of them are under the age of 18. In addition, there are an estimated 30-40 individuals living in places not meant for habitation. In order to serve the 400-plus people who are homeless in our community, those 11 agencies and others are indeed needed in our current system of service delivery. Funds from such events such as the annual walk are critical, since the monies are undesignated and can be used by the agencies to fund expenses and projects not often covered in other private and government funding earmarked in specific ways Each of these agencies provide specialized services, such as emergency shelter for families, or single men and women. Day shelters offer hot meals, showers, laundry, toiletries, and a place to come inside out of the elements. Transitional housing, case management, financial assistance for establishing a home or avoiding eviction, food assistance, substance abuse treatment, health care, prescription assistance, transportation, information & referral, employment training services, and more are offered through these and other agencies. For a list of these agencies and their specialized services, visit www.auroraevansville.org/calendar.htm In reality, there are 18 specialized programs in Evansville. For the last year, nearly all of them have operated at capacity. Families seeking shelter are often turned away daily. Men’s shelters frequently resort to offering mats on the floor when all their beds are filled. Waiting lists for transitional housing and subsidized housing programs exceed capacity rates for the next 10 years. The current demand for services consistently exceeds availability. To avoid duplication of services, many of these services agencies meet regularly and work collaboratively to serve the homeless. Some may see the same clients at times; however, each agency brings a unique tool needed in helping an individual become permanently housed or to prevent potential homelessness from occurring. We recognize that our current system of services is in need of revision to reflect the current realities, and the work toward that end has begun. Our community is well into the second year of "Destination Home: A Ten Year Journey to End Homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County". This communitywide plan establishes the parameters for ending and preventing homelessness in our community by addressing both the root causes and the effects of homelessness. We would invite you to view the plan at www.auroraevansville.org/plan.htm or any Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library or the Willard Library. For further information or to find out how you or your organization can get involved, e-mail us at info@auroraevansville.org, or call (812) 428-3246. Together, we can create a community in which each one of us has a place we can truly call "home." Kat Isbell, Education Specialist Aurora, Inc. 1100 Lincoln Ave. Evansville, IN 47714
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact for Additional Information: March 27, 2006 Diane Wargel, Media Coordinator 436-0224 ext. 28 Luzada Hayes, Event Chair 428-3246
The Homeward Bound Walk is a 5K walk-a-thon in Evansville that is sponsored by local homeless and affordable housing service providers that will host hundreds of walkers on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at the Casino Aztar Pavilion. Registration begins at 8:30 and walk begins at 10 a.m.
The Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues collaborates with 11 nonprofit programs and agencies in our community to organize Homeward Bound. These agencies are: Amethyst House, Aurora, Inc., Community Action Program of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Inc. (CAPE), Echo Community Health Care, Inc. (ECHC), ECHO Housing Corporation (EHC), House of Bread and Peace, Mental Health Association in Vanderburgh County, Outreach Ministries, Tri-State Food Bank, United Caring Shelters, and YWCA of Evansville.
Do you know which of the above agencies…
Many people in Evansville are surprised to know that over 400 individuals are homeless on any given night. One third of these individuals are children. The collaborating agencies of Homeward Bound strive daily to assist these individuals in a variety of ways so that these individuals can obtain and maintain a stable housing environment.
Since 2003, the Evansville Homeward Bound Walk has raised more than $117,330. The 2005 walk was very successful not only in terms of dollars collected, but also in raising awareness of the issue of homelessness in our community. The walk also accomplished one other very important goal – increased participation by the community-at-large.
It is estimated that nearly 18,000 Hoosiers are homeless on any given night. Tracy Jackson, local Homeward Bound Walk spokeswoman, has said, "I will walk for homelessness because I know it's a worthwhile cause. I encourage others to participate in the Homeward Bound Walk because homelessness and affordable housing are issues that affect us all."
Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman is serving as Honorary Statewide Chairperson for the Homeward Bound Walk. Lt. Gov. Skillman has stated, "I invite you to join us in this important event. We will raise the funds to support the vital work of affordable housing and homeless service providers in Indiana."
To register for the Homeward Bound Walk or to learn more about the event, visit the event website. You may also contact Homeward Bound Chairwoman Luzada Hayes at (812) 428-3246 or luzhayes@auroraevansville.org. Register as a team captain and invite your family and friends to join your walk team. Together we can fight homelessness in our community!
For Immediate Release Contact for Additional Information: March 20, 2006 Diane Wargel, Media Coordinator 436-0224 Luzada Hayes, Event Chair 428-3246
Stable Housing can be destroyed in an instant… 4th Annual Homeward Bound Walk to Provide Housing and Fight Homelessness
Evansville: In the recent events of both Hurricane Katrina and the November 6th tornado, we have all seen how quickly someone can become homeless. How many of us touched with the same circumstances would be forced out of our own stable housing situation? How affected would we be if we could not feel the safety of our home? Homelessness can affect anyone at anytime…on any given night in Evansville over 400 individuals reside in shelters or on the streets. One third of these are children. Many more individuals are at risk of losing their homes while still others are doubled up with friends or family members due to the lack of financial resources to maintain housing.
Area agencies are collaborating to raise both funds and awareness to provide housing and fight homelessness by hosting the Southwestern Indiana sponsor/pledge event which is part of the statewide Homeward Bound Walk. The Evansville walk will be held on Saturday, April 8. Registration begins at 8:30 with the walk beginning from Casino Aztar at 10 am. Volunteers welcome to assist with the walk as well. Interested volunteers may call Tracy at 401-3415.
Homeward Bound is a unique fundraising event as 100% of the monies raised go directly to homeless service providers. As recent events have shown, the numbers of the homeless can increase in an instant. As many families have been affected by recent events…the social service agencies providing care have been affected as well. Please help us help others by contributing to Homeward Bound.
Donations may be turned in on the day of the walk or they may be taken to Barb at the Tri-State Food Bank on April 5 or 6 from 8 am until 4 pm. More information about Homeward Bound may be found at www.homewardboundindiana.org or by calling 428-3246.
HOMEWARD BOUND – Southwest Indiana P.O. Box 512; Evansville, Indiana 47703-0512 Phone: (812) 428-3246 Fax: (812) 428-3253
For Immediate Release Contact for Additional Information: January 25, 2006 Diane Wargel, Media Coordinator 436-0224 ext. 28 Luzada Hayes, Event Chair 428-3246 Jackie Aguirre, Deputy Press Secretary, Office of Lt. Governor Becky Skillman (317) 232-5676
Lieutenant Governor to visit residents assisted through Homeward Bound
Evansville: Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman will visit with Therese Burke in her apartment at Lucas Place, a transitional housing program for homeless families, on Friday, January 27th at 2:30pm. Skillman is the State Honorary Chair of Homeward Bound, Indiana’s 5K Walk to Provide Housing and Fight Homelessness, and will see firsthand how one local agency utilizes funds raised in the annual event to continue programming at Lucas Place.
Evansville is Skillman’s first stop in her efforts to promote Homeward Bound across the state. In response to the Walk’s slogan, "Why will you walk?" Skillman replies, "As lieutenant governor and a life-long resident of Indiana, it is important to me that we improve the quality of life for every Hoosier. We must provide leadership and resources to expand affordable housing opportunities in Indiana, and Homeward Bound is one link in creating those resources."
Homeward Bound is a sponsor/pledge walk and will take place in downtown Evansville on Saturday, April 8th at 10:00 a.m. The walk is designed to raise awareness of local homelessness and to assist 11 local agencies in raising crucial funding to maintain and expand programs. The participating agencies include: Amethyst Addiction Services, Aurora, CAPE, ECHO Community Health Care, ECHO Housing – Lucas Place, House of Bread & Peace, Mental Health Association of Vanderburgh County, Outreach Ministries, Tri-State Food Bank, United Caring Shelters and YWCA.
More information about Homeward Bound may be found at www.homewardboundindiana.org. or by calling 428-3246.
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