Saturday, July 5, 2014

COMMUNITY OF HOPE RECEIVES GRANT

President Evie presented a check to Linda Jo Devlaminck, Program Director of the Community of Hope, located in St. Johns which is serving the urgent need of local N. Portland women to find a path forward.  SIPN's grant this year was our first for the Community of Hope, which followed a presentation to members at a business meeting on the goals and plans for the organization.  We received the following from Linda Jo this week:  
President Evie (R) & Linda Jo Devlaminck

  Dear Soroptimists friends;

Thank you so much for your recent contribution to the work of the Community of Hope (COH), a ministry of AllOne Community Services. We are so grateful for your partnership and investment this year. You are a gift to me as well as to the families we will serve!

One of our families moved out recently, and it was an opportunity for both of us to reflect on the mother’s life here and how much she has grown. It brought tears to my eyes as she wrote about all the ways her life is better because she was here. With her permission, I’d like to share a few edited quotes. 

“I have healthy relationships and more structure, I’m gotten to know myself, and I feel freer. I can weigh my options and think before I do impulsive things.” She plans to continue to work on “school, praying, utilizing God, setting goals and reaching them, planning and following through, using better judgment, finding healthy people and maintaining healthy relationships, being attentive to my daughter (talking vs. yelling), better cooking skills, and being sober and going to AA.” 

Finally, she said that the things she enjoyed the most about the Community of Hope are “building self-esteem and enjoying great people and the love that’s here, along with the programs. I appreciate the ability to work on personal growth and being safe.”

Your donation has helped make this possible. When I asked for your help, I promised that lives would be changed. It is already happening. Thank you so much for making this possible!"

2013-14 BOARD

A final SIPN Board Meeting was held at President Evie's home.  The board enjoyed a wonderful pot-luck lunch featuring as many diverse items as members could come up with.  The weather cooperated for an enjoyable meeting on the patio!
New officers for the SIPN Board will be listed on our Officers page after they take office on July 13, 2014.