Volume 9, Issue 1
December 2011

Our Preschool Comes Home

Willina Gaston Honored

On September 24th, St. Vincent's Day, at the gala event held annually, the Galveston community gathered to celebrate the homecoming of our preschool returning to St. Vincent's House after Hurricane Ike. Additionally, the occasion honored the years of dedicated community service by Willina Gaston who was presented with the 2011 Houston Heroes Award.



"We are blessed to have the large outpouring of support we continue to receive from the Galveston community," said Michael Jackson, Executive Director. "Having the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority here to help us honor Mrs. Gaston was exceptional."

Established in 2004, the Afreda Houston Community Service Award, known affectionately as "Houston's Heroes Award," serves as a permanent tribute to the life and legacy of Galveston's own Steel Oleander: Alfreda Baptiste Houston, Director Emeritus of St. Vincent's House. She served Galveston for decades as a long time social, political activist and consummate community servant. This award seeks to recognize and honor those unheralded individuals whose life and work exemplify the same passion and tireless dedication to the underserved and disadvantaged population of the greater Galveston community.

Parents, students and community leaders were on hand to rededicate the preschool. Proclamations from the Diocese of Texas, the State, County and City were read to honor the occasion.

St. Vincent's Preschool was displaced after the Hurricane and was hosted by Wesley Tabernacle United Methodist Church. "We knew our parents needed to get back to work - especially after the disaster," said Director Patricia Johnson. "We were open for our children December 1, 2008. And we are so happy to be back home now!"

An Invitation to Hope

This year St. Vincent's has initiated another way for our friends and supporters to contribute to the mission and work of St. Vincent's House. Our new initiative, Team Hope, will provide the needed resources for us to continue to say Yes to our clients' requests for services and assistance in 2012.

As a member of Team Hope, you choose the level of support you wish to provide. You can join the team as an Agent of Hope, $5 - $99; Investor in Hope, $100 - $249; Partner in Hope, $250 - $499; or an Angel of Hope, $500+. No matter which membership level you choose, you will provide Hope for St. Vincent's House to say Yes to our clients. We invite you to join the Team and Hope us to say Yes...

ArtWalk Thrives at St. Vincent's House

The interns, residents and staff from UTMB don't have a great deal of time to participate in outside activities. Many of them are actually gifted artists who would love to take part in Galveston's "ArtWalk" that takes place every six weeks. Clinic Director A.J. Halverson and Executive Director Michael Jackson discovered a wonderful way to help them showcase their artistic talents at St. Vincent's House during ArtWalk. Our examination rooms and common areas were turned into "mini-galleries". Our UTMB partners were able to display their artistic talents, network with local artists and enjoy an ArtWalk filled with fun and music. Our next ArtWalk will be January 22, 2012. Join us for an exhibit that features art from the "Children of St. Vincent's House."

Welfair Grows

Welfair 2011 in partnership with The Green House Foundation held this year's event at Wright Cuney Recreation Center. The annual event, held at St. Vincent's House the previous years, was invited by Green House to expand The Welfair as an outreach with a focus on planting garden and to edu-cate participants to better understand the relationship between food and health.

The Welfair which brings various Health and Social service agencies together was again joined by its partners, The Jesse Tree, The Galveston Family Children and Youth Board. The school of Nursing, Galveston County Health District, and Frontera De Salud. The year's Welfair again offered the health and wellness screenings, medical information and displays for diabetes, hypertension and nutrition. Two wonderful additions this year were Jesse Tree bringing a Food Fair and representatives from the Lunch Box instructing cooking classes.

As the day closed on the several hundred guests and volunteers, 21 garden beds were planted, 30,000 lbs of food was distributed and great fun, fellowship and education was had by all. We look forward to what next year will bring as we continue our efforts to rebuild and renew Galveston as a healthier community.

Message From Our Board President

It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as the president of the St. Vincent's House Board during 2011. My involvement with St. Vincent's House began when I came to Galveston in 2004. From that time to the present, I have seen first hand the vital ministries carried out in this "Oasis of Hope," and I am keenly aware of the profound impact St. Vincent's House had had on individual lives, on families, and on the local community.

Each day there is personal and uplifting ministry with children and youth of all ages, as well as parents and senior adults. Our ministries include education, clothing, food, health care, and assistance with other vital needs. These ministries have remained strong, even in the face of a major disaster and a dire economy.

One of the joys of my involvement here is to make financial gifts, which I do regularly. I consider them be much, much more than "charitable donations." When I write a check to St. Vincent's House, I know that I am giving help and hope to another person or to a family who needs it, just as our Lord expects of us. This has become an important part of my life. I encourage you to open your heart to those served by St. Vincent's House, to provide help and hope to others, by making financial gifts in support of these ministries. It's a simple way to make a real difference.

Hope Notes 2011

G reetings in the Spirit of the holiday season. This year as I reflect on what the holidays mean to me, Hope and Expectation come to mind. The holidays are a time of hope for today and hope for tomorrow with expectation of a better new year. The mission statement of St. Vincent's House reads, "... an oasis of hope, expecting miracles..." At St. Vincent's House hope is also a verb, 'we hope people'.

Over the past 57 years we have been able to provide our clients with the basic necessities to make it another day. However, this past year has been one of increased challenges, especially financially. The reality of our distressed economy has caught up with St. Vincent's House. During the first years of the double whammy of hurricane IKE and the depressed economy we have been able to say YES to our clients and not have to cut services or staff. During this time the number of requests for services have increased. However our support has not kept pace, actually decreasing especially from grants and institutions. Gift Works, an organization which tracks nationwide giving trends, recently reported giving was up in 2010. The report also noted giving to life line agencies, of which St. Vincent's is one has been decreased by 6%. Above hopefully you read about our new initiative, Team Hope, hope us say YES.. In 2012 we will need added support to say YES to the 150 students who attend school at St. Vincent's House and are provided a nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack at $5 per student each day. A Team Hope membership of $25 provides five nights of vouchers to the Salvation Army so someone won't have to sleep on the street and can have a hot meal. A $100 membership provides 50 snack packs for the hungry who have no place to cook or helps provide the last part of rent or a utility bill so someone can stay in their home and won't become homeless.

The holiday season provides us a Spirit of Hope and expectation, we hope you will share that spirit and invite you to join Team Hope. In 2012 we expect to say YES to those who come to St. Vincent's House for Hope, and assistance. We need your support. If we don't say YES, who will: Hope with us. Join Team Hope. Wishing all a most blessed Holiday Season with Hope and Expectation for the New Year... Peace.

Faithfully,
Michael Jackson