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http://www.ihawestport.com
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Coverage: National
Categories: Community Service, Hunger/Poverty, [ view all ]
Interfaith Housing Assoc. Of Westport & Weston, Inc. Charity Profile
The Interfaith Housing Association (IHA), a not-for-profit agency with an IRS 501(c)(3) designation, is a local grassroots response to the tragedy of homelessness. With a caring professional staff and the help of more than 400 volunteers, IHA assists people who have lost their ability to lead normal lives.
IHA’s mission is to provide facilities and supportive services in a structured environment that enable homeless people in the communities we serve to achieve an independent and self-sufficient life. We will accomplish this through permanent affordable supportive housing, casework and supportive services, emergency shelter, food and meals and the life skills training critical in preventing homelessness from reoccurring
Interfaith Housing Assoc. Of Westport & Weston, Inc. Volunteer Information
How can you get involved? Become an IHA Volunteer.
Help on a committee for one of our 2 annual fundraising events: Castles in the Sand or Stand Up for Homes With Hope: A Fundraiser Starring Lewis Black.
Donate your special skill in the field of photography, writing, graphic design, web design and maintenance, advertising, sales, or public relations. If you have a special interest or talent, we can use it.
Become a mentor for a woman in the WIN program.
Bring your family to cook and serve dinner at the Community Kitchen. The need is even greater in the summer months.
Encourage your high school student to work with the Bacharach Community staff babysitting children or become a babysitter yourself.
Maintain the gardens at one of IHA’s 10 buildings. Spring or fall cleanup is a great project for a scout troop or sports team.
Organize a food drive at your office or civic group to help supply the Food Pantry.
The Community Kitchen is located in the Gillespie Center, 45 Jesup Road in Westport, behind the Restoration Hardware store
Gillespie Center Contacts:
• Jim Barber, Afternoon Supervisor, M-F, 4pm - Midnight
• Maryellen Estrada, Program Director, M–F, 9am–5pm
• David Kelly, Case Manager, M–F, 8am–4pm
Community Kitchen Serving Instructions
If for any reason you are unable to be there on your assigned date, it is important that you call the Volunteer Meal Coordinator and the Gillespie Center as soon as possible so other arrangements can be made.
Dinner is from 5:00 – 6:00 PM. The people arrive at 5:00 PM ready to eat. You can consider the dinner hour over at 6:00 PM. Do not serve seconds until 5:20 PM and then only if you can tell that all the guests have been served. Generally there will be a lull in the number of people coming to the serving window indicating that all have had their first helping.
Any leftovers that can be used for another meal are good to leave behind. Casseroles can be left if you do not want the pan back; or you can transfer the food into a Gillespie Center pan. All clean-up will be done by the Gillespie Center clients. The dishwasher is a commercial-grade one and the kitchen management prefers that a trained person operate it.
You can add to your experience at the Community Kitchen by eating dinner with the clients. They are curious about who you are and why you’ve agreed to provide the food and generally volunteers are curious about who the clients are and their experience being homeless. We are always glad to have children serve and eat meals. The quests who eat at the Community Kitchen welcome children. In many cases seeing you children will inspire them to become compliant with treatment so that they can be reunited with their own children.
The cooked meals should be brought to the kitchen by 4:45 PM. There is an oven/stove and a small microwave if you need to heat anything. Dinner plates, cups, napkins, utensils and beverages are supplied by the kitchen, although the diners would enjoy lemonade, iced tea or juice. All meals should be well-balanced and enough to feed at least 30 people. Please note that women and children may also eat at the Center and this may be the only cooked meal for many of the people. Fresh fruit is recommended for dessert, although regular desserts are enjoyable as well.
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Interfaith Housing Assoc. Of Westport & Weston, Inc. Donation Information
The Interfaith Housing Association accomplishes its mission through the abundant compassion of local families, faith congregations, businesses and organizations that have come together to help persons in acute or chronic distress. IHA is the extended family for homeless families and individuals who have exhausted the compassion of their caregivers. IHA depends on ongoing contributions to support the facilities and supportive services we provide that enable homeless people in the communities we serve to achieve an independent and self-sufficient life.
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Interfaith Housing Assoc. Of Westport & Weston, Inc.
