Debra Hawley, Director of St. Francis Prayer Center (SFPC)

(shown above, with Member Mic Goulet,) came to speak with  a sparse but lively group of 10 attendees this morning about her work and how it intersects and interacts with our interests and with other community agencies (particularly  Sleep in Heavenly Peace, or SHP, one of our special interests). SHP has specific procedures and organizational limitations that mean that they can accept new materials and build new beds for children, while SFPC is  is not as limited in target population and service delivery – a broader organizational service mandate and mission mean that food, used beds and bedding and furnishings and compassionate acceptance of of all ages and situations are included in their focus. SFPC has been in existence for 50 years, and Debra has been the leader of their operations for the last 13 of those, after “official retirement”. Coordinating with 30 or so other community agencies, soliciting donations of food, trucks, and furniture from business and random public donors, the organization continues to engage in charitable and social justice causesIt was a pleasure to have her join our meeting this morning, accept a Club contribution for St. Francis Prayer Center for $500, and submit a membership application! Deb offered tickets for this weekend’s fundraiser for SFPC for sale to members.

“Stand-in Prez” Jeff Dennings led the meeting this morning, reminding all of us of his tyrannical decision-making style in past presidential roles – members were “voluntold” to take on Pledge, Prayer, and TailTwister responsibilities. 

This makes us extra-hopeful for a quick and total recuperation by our current President, Cindy Sullivan. Cindy’s knee replacement a couple days ago went smoothly, and she is recovering well (per family),  but she will have a lot of work to do post-surgically. 

Jeff Gauger reported an “awesome” Build Day event this past weekend, with much good publicity (Click HERE for the Flushing View articleHERE for ABC12 news coverage, and HERE for WNEM5) and a group of about 40 volunteers at Flushing Presbyterian Church who enthusiastically helped complete 41 more beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Karen Gasperosky (SHP Director) has made a request for volunteers for Delivery/Assembly of beds on Thursday, (9/26/24) and Saturday (9/28/24), and some of us will be working!

Our annual Installation Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, October 3 at Kathy’s (6 p.m. for beverages and conversation, 7 for dinner) at a charge of $20/person, with cash bar for those interested. In addition, this afternoon’s “informal gathering” at 3:30 p.m. will be there. (Post script: 6 were in attendance at this confab.)

The “Progressive 50/50 Pot” remains unclaimed at $943.

Until next time, “Promise Yourself…”