World Refugee Day Reflections

Lizeth Zava (Right)

The 2011 Houston World Refugee Day took place at the Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Center on Saturday, June 25 from 1-5pm. Although it was a hot summer day, participating resettlement agencies and non-profit organizations as well as refugees and volunteers came out to enjoy a day of cultural performances, children’s activities, artisan market and art exhibits.

Among the various talented dancers and musicians were dance groups from Bhutan, Burma, Rwanda and Sudan. Children enjoyed a range of activities from arts and crafts to a moon jump and athletic games. Attendants were also able to enjoy the “Share the Journey” Exhibit, a set of videos from UNHCR and other entities that were shown to educate the mainstream community about the refugees in the U.S. In addition, Christopher Weeden a photography student at University of Houston displayed some of his work about the Karen community.

The Resource Fair was a big success and it granted the opportunity for all attendants to learn about the different organizations and services available. Another popular spot was the artisan market where original artwork from Iraqi artist Mohammed Baro, indigenous arts and crafts from the Community Cloth and jewelry from the Sudanese Community were displayed for sale.

Overall, it was a beautiful array of ethnicities, colors and activities. A special recognition goes to all the Volunteers who made this event possible. The Houston World Refugee Day Committee is already looking forward to the 2012 celebration!

- Lizeth Zavala
Program Assistant
Interfaith Ministries Refugee Services
Co-chair, Houston World Refugee Day
http://refugeedayhouston.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/WRDHouston
http://www.facebook.com/HoustonWRD

The following is an e-mail by one of our volunteers:
Volunteering for World Refugee Day was a unique experience for me. Living in Houston it's easy to see the variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds which live in our city, but understanding how some have come to our city has raised my awareness and appreciation for the road to getting here. I heard different languages, styles of dress, music, dancing and enjoyed it very much. At the same time, I saw the children laughing and playing as any child would, people smiling and coming together as one to celebrate the occasion just like any American would do for a holiday. I left there impressed and richer in the knowledge that we all aren't so different after all.

Thank you for the chance to be a part of the celebration.

Len Casarez.

Volunteers Lended a Helping Hand for 22 Years

John and Denise Stoneburner have had moments that made them smile, laugh and cry in their 22-years volunteering with Interfaith Ministries.

"We had one woman who was an amputee, her house was so dilapidated, but she was very gracious for what we gave," says Denise. "We would sit in her living room with no lights on, because she was conserving energy and all you could hear were the rats."

It was these types of difficult experiences which made the Stoneburners even more determined to help.

"It broke our hearts, so we tried to do what we could," says Denise.

The Stoneburners began volunteering in the late eighties when they saw that IM was looking for help. "I said to my husband, I think we should look into this, we are pretty blessed and we wanted to find a way to give back," says Denise.

"I thought it was a great idea," says John.

And it was their faith that really prompted them to want to serve. "We view this as a service as Christians, one commandment is to give to those in need and this is a way to do that," says Denise.

Over the years, the Stoneburners have formed strong connections with the seniors they have helped.

"The seniors adopt us, we become more like family to them," says Denise.

One senior kept a picture of the Stoneburners on her fridge. When the senior was moved to a nursing home in Louisiana, the Stoneburners decided to give her a surprise visit. "When we went into that room, her eyes just lit up and she had tears," says John. "She was calling everyone into our room introducing us, she was a sweetie, we have had lots of sweeties."

And although the seniors didn't always have much, they were always ready to give.

During one delivery the couple left the food outside, because the senior was not home.

The next month when they went back, the senior greeted them at the door with a bag of food. She said that someone else had come right after the Stoneburners so she had received two bags that month.

"Tears come to your eyes and break your heart and this woman was in more need than others, but she wanted to make sure the bag got to those who needed it," says John.

The Stoneburners say that the seniors were also very thankful for the deliveries, but the couple says in the end they got more out of the program than the seniors.

And that has rubbed off on the people around them. "One member of our church decided to prepare meals for the seniors for Thanksgiving and Christmas," says John.

Church members have also adopted seniors for Christmas. The Stoneburner's 13-year-old son Trevor has also been volunteering with his parents since he was a kid.

"We hope and pray that this experience is something that he will take with him all his life to really understand what gratitude is all about and understand what it means to be part of a community," says Denise.

Trevor's parents hope that more people can take the time to learn from the seniors in our community.

"You look around and see people griping and complaining and then you visit with these people who are so thankful, their faith is so strong, it's refreshing," says Denise.

"There is just so much that has gone on in their lives, they have had so little, but they aren't complaining about it," says John.

Denise adds, "they have gone through it with courage and gratitude."

It was that hope and human interaction that pushed the Stoneburners to continue to volunteer for so many years.

"Even though it seems so little, it is a great deal to them, you can never undervalue the value of what you are doing," says John.

"We take a few hours a month, to take a box of groceries, to have a short visit with these seniors who have become important in our lives," says Denise. "It's not a whole lot to us, but it is to them and we always walk away feeling so blessed because we have the ability to do this."

For more information about our volunteer opportunities contact rcjohn@imgh.org 

Summertime Volunteering for Kids and Families

School is out, temperatures are rising, and the every parent is beginning to hear the troubling words "I'm Bored!!!"

That means Summer time is here.  This is a perfect time to gather as a family and volunteer to help others in need.  Not only will your kids have fun, but they'll lean the value of helping other people who are less fortunate.

There are lots of volunteer opportunities in your own community.  Plan a day to clean your up your block, help beautify a senior’s home, community center, or a park. More volunteer opportunities for Houston are listed here.

No matter how you volunteer, start with a plan, and have a goal in mind.  Take Aiden for example.  He is a second grader who had a goal to deliver Meals on Wheels to seniors.

Aiden and his family learned about Meals on Wheels through a family friend. His father Karim decided to go on a Meals on Wheels delivery route and took Aiden along, giving warm meals to seniors in need.  “It made me feel good to see the people happy and smile when I gave them the meal,” Aiden said.  They had such a great time that Aiden and his father decided to do a fundraiser for IM’s Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston.  Aiden sent handwritten notes to friends, family and neighbors explaining he wanted to help raise money for Meals on Wheels.  “I thought for sure I could raise $500 and I raised more, about $570,”Aiden added proudly.   

Would you like to work as a family to help IM this summer?  Here are more great volunteer opportunities, especially for youth. 

·         Volunteer with your family or youth group to deliver pet food to our Meals on Wheels seniors with pets each month.

·         Assist with ESL classes or provide homework help to refugee youth.

·         Join a group to clean up a senior’s yard, paint a porch or help with indoor projects.

·         Volunteer at Meals on Wheels’ Central Site helping count, pack and load meals with drivers and deliver pre-packaged hot meals to homebound seniors during midday hours.

Contact Rina Chandarana John rcjohn@imgh.org for more information: 713-533-4948

Interfaith Murals by Local Teens Displayed at IM

Last month, new art pieces were unveiled at IM.  The art pieces are the work of a joint project between the Boniuk Center at Rice and the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston (MOCAH) called Sacred Sites Quest.
The project brought together 24 very diverse high school students from 12 different schools who visited 11 religious sites and then capped everything by creating four pieces of art that captured their sense of the commonalities that all religions share. 

This video will give you further explanation of the the mural "Light".

IM was chosen as the host site because of the prominent role we play in interfaith work and our central location in Montrose.  The four pieces are now mounted on the front of our building facing Montrose Blvd. 

The murals these young artist designed and painted were top notch. Their work was officially displayed at a dedication ceremony with leaders of all three organizations in attendance.

2011 Tapestry Gala a Record Breaking Success

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston held its third annual Tapestry Gala on May 3 at the Hilton Americas Houston.  The event was chaired by Philamena and Arthur Baird and honorary chairs Jan Duncan and Peggy and Bill Barnett.  Breaking previous Tapestry Gala records, the event raised more than $875,000.  Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises LLC led the way as Presenting Sponsor of the event.

More than 700 people attended the gala which celebrated Houston's great diversity in cultures, ethnicities and faith traditions. Guests entered the Grand Ballroom adorned with hot pink and orange roses, green hydrangea, pink coral peonies and gold décor by Darryl & Co. The evening consisted of a fabulous four course dinner and beautiful program celebrating diversity with a number of musical performances provided by Kenneth Gayle Productions.  A coffee reception was held afterwards, generously hosted by Matthew Finnan and the Hilton Americas.

The evening honored Ambassador Arthur Schechter and The Honorable Fred Zeidman.  Mayor Annise Parker and Judge Ed Emmett presented the Tapestry Award to the honorees, an honor that recognizes community leaders who have shown remarkable dignity through tangible work for the betterment of Houston and the world.  Additionally, Lester Smith presented a special tribute to Rabbi Roy Walter, a lifetime board member, for his years of service to Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston.

To learn more about the Honorees Ambassador Arthur Schechter and The Honorable Fred Zeidman, view the video below.

View a slideshow of the smiles, handshakes and hugs of the Tapestry Gala attendees.

IM & HSPVA present Interfaith Play at 2011 iFest

The cultural mosaic that is Houston, Texas will be displayed in all her glory during the annual International Festival, also known as iFest. The theme for the 41st annual iFest is The Silk Road, Journey Across Asia. It will highlight the 5,000 mile Silk Road that Marco Polo took through China, India, Eurasia and North Africa. iFest is open April 30 – May 1, and May 7 – May 8 in downtown Houston The festival will stretch across parks and streets including City Hall, Bagby Street, and Tranquility and Sam Houston Parks. You can find a map HERE.

This year, it brings us great honor to be a part of the ifest. We hope you join Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston for a collaborative theatrical production with The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) called the Religions of the Silk Road.

The story of a young merchant traveler who must complete an important mission to secure his family’s future. Along the journey, the young man encounters difficult situations and learns from wise religious teachers on how to be both a successful merchant and a compassionate man.

The play will run at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 and May 8, on the International Kid’s Stage located in Little Tranquility Park. Bring your whole family for this kid friendly play.

Many faith communities are participating in Religions of the Silk Road including Chung-Tai Zen Center, Friends of Confucius, Herman Park, Houston Blue Mosque, Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, Islamic Spirituality Center, Jain Society of Houston, Hindus of Greater Houston, Lakewood United Methodist Church and Zoroastrian Association of Houston.

Every year, there is tons of music, food, and family fun to enjoy at iFest. Here are some additional acts and festivities going on this year.

1. The Golden Dragon Acrobats from China
Center Stage
April 30: 2pm, 4pm, 6pm,
May 1: 2:30pm, 4:30pm

2. Mariachi MECA
RoomStore Latin Stage
May 7, 2:00pm
May 8, 2:30pm

3. Voodoo Brass Band
The Louisiana Stage sponsored by Green Mountain Energy
May 7, 12:30pm

4. Great Wall of China Replica
A 100-foot-long winding reproduction of the world’s wonder.

For a complete list of events, click here. Tickets are on sale at the festival website, www.ifest.org and H-E-B grocery stores, or call 713-654-8808. Prices are $12 in advance, $18 at the gate, with kids 12 and under admitted free on Mother’s Day, May 8, courtesy of ConocoPhillips.

March For Meals: Senior Profile

It is March For Meals month, an annual national campaign to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on a local level. Your support and participation in our program helps people like Mario and Patsy Piña.  To learn more about our program, click here
Mario and Patsy Piña are Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston clients who just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.  “I liked her the first time I set eyes on her and I couldn’t let her get away,” said Mario.  The couple keeps their love alive by sharing laughter and joking with one another.  Things took a turn for the couple earlier this year, when Patsy got sick and was hospitalized for three months.  “We signed up for IM’s Meals on Wheels when my wife came home from the hospital,” he said. “This is the first time we’ve had to ask for help like this and these meals have been a god-send.  I don’t see very well anymore and it’s hard for me to take over the duties of cooking.  If it wasn’t for Meals on Wheels, we wouldn’t have a wonderful, hot meal to eat every day.”

Keeping Ahead of the Curve- Tuesday Memo

Greetings!


It's been said that God works in mysterious ways. One day things look great and then another day it can look like the sky is falling. I've been watching the process of the Texas Legislative Session very closely. As many of you know, Texas faces a huge budget deficit of up to $27 billion dollars and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle may be forced to make significant cuts.

In an environment where the word "tax" is poisonous, it looks like the only way our state leaders will address this crisis will be through major cuts across the broad spectrum of state expenditures. We are fearful that programs funded through the Texas Department of Health and Human Services and the Texas Department of Agriculture may see cuts of 10 - 20% or more. At the same time, the U.S. Congress is seeking similar savings and as they pass fewer dollars down to the states, there may be even fewer dollars to go to IM's two key service projects - Meals on Wheels and Refugee Services.

We serve 4,500 seniors each day and as many as 600 refugees will arrive this year to be resettled by IM. Even though no one knows yet how the budget decisions will play out, we think that being proactive is the best way to go.

So let's announce some good news! Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises LLC, one of Houston's great civic and community leaders, has agreed to be this year's Lead Corporate Sponsor for IM's Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston! This partnership provides significant funding, and hopefully encouragement for others to join them in IM's Adopt-a-Senior program. Thank you, Shell!

We are committed that no home-bound senior in our service area goes hungry and that each refugee receives a great welcome; so in the face of potential cuts we are seeking your support.

To keep the boat from being too shaky, we hope to hear from many of you. Here's how you can help:
Companies, congregations and individuals can participate in our Adopt-a-Senior program for an entire year for just $1,200. That provides one meal per day for a home-bound senior. You can sponsor one, two or as many seniors as possible - and if you can't afford a full year, please do what you can. We will begin listing all those who step forward on our website - and I know you'd like to see YOUR name there! To learn more please contact Perry McAfee, our Business Development Officer at 713.533.4925.

You can also help us with needed furniture and household goods for our new refugees. We accept "gently used" or new furniture such as beds, couches, small kitchen tables and chairs, and all sorts of house wares. For those who would like to go an extra mile, we are seeking rental support for one to four months. Please contact Alva Sanchez, our RCA and MG Coordinator for Refugee Services at 713.533.4931 to learn how you can help.

We are seeking volunteers to help with both Meals on Wheels and Refugee Services. While most of our meals are delivered by paid staff, we are seeking small groups to take on some deliveries each weekday for an extended period of time. Additionally we are seeking volunteers to help our refugees learn English and also find their way around the city. Volunteer hours are counted and help IM receive the maximum amount of federal funding available. To learn more please contact Denise Atkerson, our Director of Volunteer services at 713.533.4922.

We are looking at new business opportunities to fill in the gaps. We have two MBA students spending this semester as interns under the pro-bono supervision of Kathryn Vernau from Huron Consulting. We are looking at new ways to better serve our seniors and refugees while generating more program income. If you are interested in helping with this project please contact me at 713.533.4901.

Great non-profits move with the times and trends and IM will be on the cutting edge as we seek to continue our high level of service.

A THOUGHT TO PONDER

I just celebrated my seventh year anniversary at IM. I've had the blessing to meet hundreds, if not thousands, of people I would have never met. I've seen IM grow in the numbers of people we serve and employ. We've become recognized as one of Houston's great non-profits. Over the years I've learned first-hand how truly good most of us are, no matter what faith or community we come from. Over and over again when things seem low someone steps up to fill the gaps. I am a bit of a control freak - so living by faith (though I am a pretty faithful guy) is not easy for me. I've learned that good things really do happen to good people, especially when you let the low points pass you by.

Here are a few upcoming IM events I'd like to share with you:

The next Women's Spiritual Gathering is coming up on February 24th at the Jade Buddha Center. Join other women for an educational presentation about Buddhist beliefs followed by a vegetarian meal and group discussion. Click here for more information and to register.

Sacred Songs, Sacred Sites "OnSite/InSight" sponsored by IM and the Houston Arts Alliance is February 26th-27th. Explore the artistic and cultural traditions that make each worship experience unique through a series of visits to Houston area faith communities. Click here for more information and to register.

The annual iFaith Youth Dinner Dialogues is March 3rd. Teens ages 13-18 will come together for conversation, dinner and fun! Click here for more information and to register.


Talk to you in two weeks.


Elliot Gershenson

President and CEO

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston

Severe Weather Awareness Week: February 20-26

Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas is Feb. 20-26. Texas leads the list of U.S. states and territories receiving presidential disaster declarations. Tornadoes and floods can occur at any time of year in Texas, with the state also subject to ice storms, severe wind-related wildfires and other wild weather events. The best advice for Texas residents it to be prepared with emergency plans and supply kits – and to monitor TV, radio and NOAA weather radio for storm information. Visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s Severe Weather Awareness web page and the National Weather Service’s online Weather Awareness Events Calendar for more information.

Valentine’s Day Cards Donated to Seniors

A big thank you goes to Judy Bruner and her daughter Elisa Bruner McNich who asked their family and friends to help Meals on Wheels seniors celebrate Valentine’s Day. They collected handmade cards as well as toiletries and other items that will be delivered to seniors on IM’s Meals on Wheels program.


Thank you Judy and Elisa for sharing your time, energy, and love!

Fire and Heater Safety

  This week, Houston has been hit with unusually frigid temperatures, rolling blackouts, and icy roads. Prepare and be safe inside and outside your home.

Even though space heaters are an easy alternative for warming up a room, they are also the main cause of home fires during the winter months.  Here are a few pointers that can make all of the difference between staying warm, and becoming a victim of fire.

• Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. 
• Never leave space heaters unattended. 
• Keep all flammable materials at least three feet away from space heaters, fireplaces and stoves. 
• Place your space heater on a hard, level, nonflammable surface. 
• Keep children and pets away. 
• Look for space heaters that shut off automatically if they fall over. 
• Keep the fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. Never leave fireplaces unattended. 
• Be sure to have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and furnaces professionally inspected once a year.

Make it your goal to prepare ahead, install smoke alarms on every floor of your home. Check them once a month by pressing the test button and replace the batteries as necessary. 

Finally, confirm that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly, and practice your home fire escape plan so every member of your family, including young children and pets, can get out quickly and safely.