How long can we stay?

Home Sweet Home

I recall a conversation about a family that finally, after years of being homeless and transient, moved into their own home.  The first night there, as he was climbing in his bed, one of the boys looked at his mother and said, "this is nice.  How long can we stay here?"  His mother could finally tell him this was his home and he could stay forever.

Unfortunately, for thousands of children in Baltimore City and County, their parents don't have an answer to that question.  For too many children, where they will be and where they will sleep the next day is an uncertainty in their lives.  INNterim Shelter in Baltimore County is a place that allows a mother to provide an answer, if only temporarily, and offers some stability in a child's life.

INNterim Shelter is the only residential shelter in Baltimore County for homeless women and children, housing up to 9 families in its Pikesville location; Millie Johnson serves as the Executive Director.  After an evaluation interview, approved families are assigned a room and share communal bathrooms, a kitchen, and living/dining area.  In addition to physical housing, INNterim offers a program to assist mothers in developing employable skills in order to make a living wage to independently support their family.  More self-sufficient families may be placed in INNterim Apartments and Gardens, which offer more independent living options until fully on their own.

A few days before Christmas, we visited INNterim for their Holiday Open House.  In a room full of residents, Board members, and volunteers, we enjoyed refreshments and visits with Santa.  We were delighted by the children's program of Christmas and gospel songs including a heart-felt rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which, with the help of counting on her fingers, the little songstress remembered all the words!  We also met a mother who has become a self-published author, sharing her life story in order to improve the lives of others (look for a future post about her) and were entertained by songs by her daughter and a self-written rap by her son, Che.  His song, "I remember", was both heart-breaking and hopeful, as he sung about the teasing and negativity he's faced, but also his dreams for the future.

Through the generosity of Jeffers Foundation supporters, we donated 30 gift boxes filled with socks, mittens, hats, and scarves for the children at INNterim.    Just as many boxes were donated to Sarah's Hope in Baltimore City, also a residential shelter for mothers and their children.  Thank you for your support.

For more information or to support INNterim Shelter, visit their website - www.innterim.org or contact Millie Johnson, Executive Director at 410-486-8175.

Keep a child warm this winter

Its been a comfortable fall, but we know that's not going to last long.  These past couple of days have shown that the cold weather is on its way.  On this first day of winter, consider donating a pair of mittens, a scarf, a hat, or a pair of socks to one of Baltimore's children living in a homeless shelter.  The Jeffers Foundation will be visiting 2 shelters in Baltimore City and Baltimore County on Thursday and we want to make sure there's warm weather gear for everybody.

Donating is easy.  Just click on the "Donate" button on this blog and pay by PayPal or credit card.  For only $5, we can purchase another pair of mittens; for $10 we can include a hat.  We'll fill a gift bag for $25.  Thank you in advance for your generosity and your support.

Gear up for Winter

Its the winter morning dance - moms trying to wrap a scarf around their child's neck and pull mittens on their hands, reminding their child as they rush out the door, "Put on a hat, its cold outside!"  Its the little things that are a mother's touch of love as the weather gets colder.  We can't stand at the bus-stop with our hands covering our children's ears, or blowing our warm breath onto their chilly fingers.  Instead, we bundle them up before sending them out into the cold world.

Each winter, the Jeffers Foundation collects new winter gear - scarves, hats, mittens, and socks - to make sure more children can be bundled up by their mothers.  We donate the collected items (all children's sizes, new-born through school age) to mothers in Baltimore city shelters.  Last year, we visited a women's shelter on Baltimore's west side.  The shelter was hosting a Christmas shopping day for the residents; for each child she had with her, the mothers could come through and select a toy gift, a blanket, and a set of winter gear from our Foundation, as well as toiletries for herself.  The mothers were each very thankful as they selected something special just for their child.

One of the reasons I loved this event was because everything was new.  There is a time for "hand-me-downs", and I regularly pass on my still-in-good-condition clothes, toys, and books to shelters and other agencies that request them.  But this was Christmas and doesn't every little child want something beautiful and new and all their very own for Christmas?

We are collecting items again this year - we hope to put mittens on at least 100 pairs of hands this winter.  While you are out shopping, would you consider picking up an extra pack of socks, a warm cap, or  child-size scarf? A pair of gloves or mittens?  Make your donation to the Jeffers Foundation by December 10 by contacting a Board member or dropping them in the mail to us.

Out of the Baltimore area and want to support homeless children in your own area?  We encourage ypu to contact your local human services office, or even your public school and ask where you can make a donation.

Thank you for your support.