Sojourner Truth House,

sponsored by the Poor

Handmaids of Jesus Christ,

is a ministry of hope for

homeless and at-risk

women and their children.

Through advocacy, the

hospitality of our day

center and integrative

services, participants can

improve their lives and

that of the community.

2006 Statistics

5928 Meals prepared

708 Medical/dental

services rendered

56 (up 12%) Shelter clients moved

1464 (up 9%) Male pantry clients

3804 (up 9%) Female clients

5712 (up 3%) Children served

10884 (up 3.3%) Total clients

4812 (up 14%) Total walk-in adults

10,503 Total volunteer hours put in at Sojourner Truth House!!

Winter 2007

MISSION S TA T EMENT

When I walked through the doors of Sojourner Truth House, I was broken down and hopeless. Today, I am full of hope and love for myself. With the help of STH staff and the group activities, I have acquired new skills to continue on this wonderful journey called life!

You see, I am a 27-year-old crack addict. I have been struggling with addiction since the age of 13. I was raised in the Catholic Church and I was instilled with good values. At the age of 13, I was raped. After that, everything went downhill. I’ve been in and out of rehab centers, jails, and prisons. I have four felony convictions and over 35 arrests. Upon release, I went back to drugs. How insane is that?

After being released on December 23, 2006, I finally had enough. I celebrated Christmas and New Years Eve for the first time in five years with my family. I was tired of living in a self-made hell. I would cry out to God, “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose?” Already at rock bottom, I began to reflect on God’s Word. God tells us to completely surrender and cast all our burdens unto Him. We are also reminded that faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain. This new journey would require me to give up my best friend, my comforter, my drug.

I felt like a baby learning how to walk. Unlike before, when I felt myself falling, I had STH staff, my new friends, and my new-found trust in God to love and support me. It’s hard, but I’m off to a good start.

STH staff has never given up on me, and my friends have kept me encouraged. I pray that my testimony will help others to reach out when they are in need of help. I want to say thank you to all those wonderful people who have touched my life. I love you all!

CLIENT’S CORNER Angelique DeMuth

Thanks to all who supported our

Thanksgiving Gala this year!

Last year we made $10,000. This

year? $22,500!!

SAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATE June 2, 2007June 2, 2007June 2, 2007June 2, 2007

It’s official! June 2, 2007 is the date for our Eighth Annual Walkathon at South Gleason Park, Gary. Start planning for your teams, your corporate donations and a day of great fun and fundraising! We already have a pledge for $3000!! Can you top that?

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VVVVOLUNTEEROLUNTEEROLUNTEEROLUNTEER V V V VOICESOICESOICESOICES It may sound corny, but my New Year’s resolution is to be like leaven in 2007. Maybe I’ll remember it better because of the rhyming (my record with such resolutions is pretty dismal). What does being a leaven mean to me, me who never baked a loaf of bread in her life? I am assured by those bakers around me that a pinch of yeast or leaven makes the dough rise, resulting in the fresh, airy softness of warm homemade bread. It quietly works its magic over time and any baker knows when it’s time to pop the pan into the oven. I can hear the “And???” even as I write this.

In this beautiful world wracked with pain, I think leavening is needed. Here at STH, we are confronted with human violence over and over. Women and children abused by “parents”, “spouses”, or “friends’; women and children held hostage in their economic “status” because resources that would train them, educate them, sustain them are continually cut to fund military violence, homeland security and, really, indifferent, if not savage domination. Women and children ravaged by hunger, dubbed “food insecurity” by those who do not wish to see. Women and children who can’t live on the wages of part-time work and who suffer the violence of “no-health-benefits” at the hands of a society whose sense of

the common good has atrophied in the face of greed and power. Women with mental illness and/or addictions whose families unravel because, even though studies show that residential treatment works better, such families are not priorities. I recall the premise of an author I read recently. Until the day the most basic of human relations, that between men and women, becomes equal, mutually respectful and in partnership, the domination paradigm of power-over, greed, and all the –isms under which we labor, will continue.

So, back to my New Year’s resolution. I challenge myself to be leaven. I will try to live in partnership rather than in domination, in nonviolence rather than hateful voice or action, in a quiet but strong stance for the common good. We at STH will keep trying to live the values underpinning the mission here: community, openness to God’s Spirit, simplicity, and respect for the dignity of all. These values are not only Gospel values, these are basic values of a healthy and whole human community. And we are most grateful for the support all of you are able to send our way. You keep on helping us be true to these values, to the best in the human community, to the way of partnership and nonviolence. So, I challenge you also: be leaven in 2007!

REFLECTIONS Sr. Peg Spindler, CSA

Sojourner Truth was the inspiration for this “house.” She led an unconventional life in a time when slavery was rampant. She endured hardships and heartache, yet achieved much in her lifetime. Sojourner Truth was a champion for women’s rights, inspiring others with her values and eloquent speeches. And she did it all with no formal education.

Sojourner Truth began life as Isabella Baumfree, a slave in New York in 1797. She was bought and sold at least four times by the age of 30. One owner was exceedingly cruel. She had five children, one of whom was sold into slavery. She escaped to Canada around 1827, returning to New York with the help of some Quakers, to work there as a domestic for about ten years.

About age 46, Isabella changed her name to Sojourner Truth because she believed that it was her duty to preach “the truth” and she traveled so much to do so. She spoke against capital punishment and in favor of prison reform, abolition and women’s rights. Her many friends included Amy Post, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. She was active in the Underground Railroad and was a landowner during a time when few women owned property, let alone a black woman and a former slave.

Almost two hundred years later, we still look to Sojourner Truth for inspiration. She gives the women of Sojourner Truth House hope for the future: hope to be reunited with family members, hope for a home of their own, hope for a better quality of life. She inspires our clients to have the courage of their convictions even as she inspires staff and volunteers to stand up for “the truth.”

TRUTH BE TOLD

Sherri Jackson and Sister Willa in the new food pantry.

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• Sanitary Pads

• Deodorant

• Toothpaste

• Toothbrushes

• Toilet Paper

• Lotion

• Diapers (all sizes, esp 4-6)

• Tampons

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Bath Soap

• Beds (twin, double)

• Pillows & Pillow

Cases

THE POWER OF ONE $10 buys 20 toothbrushes or 10 brooms or 10 notebooks $25 buys 25 deodorant containers $50 buys 50 tubes of toothpaste $100 buys 50 bottles of shampoo and 50 bottles of conditioner

WISH LIST THANK YOU

A special thank you for the beautiful linens, towels, kitchen utensils and other items our donors have been bringing. Your care enables us to give out nice things to clients.

We also much appreciate the thought so many of you give to your donations of clothing. CLEAN and gently-used items are the only ones we keep. We believe that if we wouldn’t wear the clothing or shoes or coat or hat, then neither should the client have to. It’s a matter of respect for them, and we are grateful you help us do that so well.

And, if that’s not enough, we are grateful for your patience with our furniture pick-up. Only one person does this and his schedule is pretty tight between pick-ups, deliveries, and facility maintenance. Thanks for always thinking of the women and children of STH!

Two coworkers have been with Sojourner Truth House for over 5 years! Ora Mae Keith is the cook for shelter clients and staff; Harold Moses is our Facility & Maintenance Coordinator. They were recently honored with gifts and lunch in recognition for all their hard work by Toni Mola, Ancilla Systems Administrator.

Congratulations, Ora Mae and Harold!

STAFF STORIES

Students at Aquinas School in Merrillville, IN

participated in a Crazy Hair Day. They could

wear their hair any way they wanted IF they

brought in hair care products for Sojourner Truth

House! We received LOTS of shampoo and

conditioner!! Any other great ideas out there??

INNOVATIVE IDEAS

As a member of this community when asked to come here to volunteer, I felt honored and humble to help in whatever manner I could. It is very rewarding to see a group of faith-based people who work so diligently at helping these young, homeless, and somewhat hopeless women. I feel very proud to help wherever needed. Working in the clothes closet, I have been able to witness so many women receiving ample clothing. When those working in this ministry are busy aiding their clients, I have been able to help in the reception area. And there is a special pride when I help prepare the lunches and watch as the women and their children enjoy these meals. I am a senior citizen and I don’t have the means to help financially; therefore, I do appreciate the opportunity to donate my time to STH.

- Eva Johnson

Volunteer VoicesVolunteer VoicesVolunteer VoicesVolunteer Voices

410 W 13th Ave Gary, IN 46407 (219) 885-2282 Fax: (219) 885-1984 Email: STHjopeg@aol.com

Thank you to all of you who keep us in your prayers and for your gifts of time and resources. We keep you and your special intentions in our prayers and invite you to come and visit us.

MAKE A TRIBUTE TO SOJOURNER TRUTH HOUSE

We accept gifts in memory of someone who has died or in honor of a special occasion such as a birthday, a marriage, a birth, an anniversary or graduation. Or, you can give a gift just to say “Thank you.” A card will be sent to the per-son honored or the family of the deceased. Please fill out this form and mail it with your contribution.

Please Print.

I am enclosing a special gift in the amount of $ .

In memory of .

In honor of .

To celebrate his/her/their .

Send announcement of gift to:

Name .

Address City/State/ZIP .

Indicate on Acknowledgement that Gift is being Made by:

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Phone (in case of questions) .

Sojourner Truth House 410 W. 13th Avenue Gary, IN 46407 (219)-885-2282