Updates from WCM's Tim Moseley

Volunteer Elmer Lucille Allen Honored

2012-01-22T13:06:00.000-08:00

Elmer Lucille Allen is a six year volunteer director of the Mission's
Wayside Expressions Art Gallery. She was honored this week with three
other women. Following is her summary of the event.

Four women were honored at The Fourth Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. Concert and Awards Banquet that was held January 20, 2012 at
St. Stephens Church and Prayer Retreat Center, Jeffersonville,
Indiana.

The women and their awards were: Elmer Lucille Allen - Dr. Martin
Luther King Community Service Award; Betty Baye, The Honorable Joan
"Toni" Stringer, and Senator Georgia Powers - Dr. Martin Luther King
Foot Soldier Award. Senator Powers was unable to be present.

This was a beautiful evening.

I thank Rev. Dr. Kevin W. Cosby, Min. Kevin James and the St. Stephen
Church Mighty Men of God Choir for this award.
Photograph was taken by Michael Charles Allen Sr.
May God continue to bless me as I walk this path.
Have a blessed day.

Elmer Lucille Allen

Fern Creek High Students Tell The Wayside Story Through Video Production

2012-01-19T17:11:00.001-08:00

Fern Creek High School teacher Paul Barnwell's digital storytelling class couples the fertile imagination of his students with up to date digital technology for the purpose of telling meaningful stories in a video format! For those of us who grew up without computers, this is not your typical English essay class! On two occasions, Paul brought students equipped with video cameras to Hotel Louisville and interviewed resident clients in the care of Wayside Christian Mission. Click the link to your browser and check out their first video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Clw-4HyeKM

PIZZA! PIZZA!

2012-01-19T17:00:00.001-08:00

Little Caesars' Love Kitchen is a roving, diesel powered pizzeria that has traveled in 48 states and has served hot meals to over two million hungry people in need! And on a cold winter day in downtown Louisville, the eighteen-wheeled Love Kitchen prepared hundreds and hundreds of hot cheese and pepperoni pizzas to the women, men, and children of Wayside Christian Mission.

Before lunchtime, the pizza kitchen on wheels parked across the street from Wayside Christian Mission's Emergency Shelter on Jefferson Street. On the other side of the street, our pizza-hungry resident clients patiently waited for the fresh hot pizzas to arrive! They did not have long to wait, for the Love Kitchen and the Little Caesars' crew worked magic! No one walked away hungry! Our friends from Little Caesars made certain of that!

Local franchisee Dan Michalak said, "As a member of the area business community, it's important to me to support people when they need it and help make the community stronger. I'm excited to support this program with food and staff to provide a quality meal for people who otherwise may not get one."

Established by the company in 1985, the Little Caesars' Love Kitchen was on the scene during the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the 2001 terroristic assault against the World Trade Center buildings in New York. The Love Kitchen is dispatched during times of natural disasters, too. This road bound pizza kitchen has also crossed into Canada on numerous occasions. Two million Americans and Canadians have benefited from the generosity of some 50,000 Little Caesar franchise owners and their employees.

To the "Pizza! Pizza!" people, we say, "Thank you! Thank you!"

During the cold winter season, more women, men, and families are turning to us for help. The needs of our impoverished neighbors are great. We depend upon the help of our corporate friends and, of course, our local volunteers and financial donors who see that the work of Wayside Christian Mission continues year after year. Right now, please take a moment to donate online or send us a check. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 7249 Louisville, KY 40257-0249. People are cold and hungry. Will you help us help them?

Students Wrap Up Louisville

2012-01-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

On a recent Friday evening, Hotel Louisville was the site of the city's largest pajama party! Hundreds of University of Louisville students gathered for their annual Wrap Up Louisville event--a fundraising project that collects well over a thousand blankets for Louisville's homeless population while raising the participating students' awareness of the plight of our community's needy! Garbed in bathrobes and pajamas, a legion of students danced, laughed, and built "blanket forts" in the hotel's Grand Ballroom--and all this fun was for a very good cause! These blankets will be used to keep homeless woman and men warm during the raw temperatures of winter. Organizational founder Trevor Joelson has a heart for the needs of the homeless and he wants college students to know that it is within their power to create a better world through volunteerism.

Wayside Christian Mission is dependent upon our many volunteers--without them, we could not feed, cloth, and educate the over six hundred women, men, and children in our care. Meeting the needs of our homeless neighbors should be everyone's concern--and your help is needed now more than ever. During this bitterly cold season, more and more of our neighbors in need are coming to us for help. We do not want to turn anyone away and with your help, we will continue saving lives! Will you help? You may donate online or send your check to P.O. Box 7249 Louisville KY 40207-0249. It is cold. People are living beneath overpasses and in cardboard boxes. What will you do to save our neighbors who risk death from exposure?

Dr. Martin Luther King Remembered

2012-01-17T07:57:00.001-08:00

Martin Luther King once said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." In remembrance of this great Christian martyr whose life was spent for a nation that often reviled him, a celebration was held at Wayside Christian Mission's Hotel Louisville on the holiday set aside to honor this fallen American hero. Meeting in the hotel's Grand Ballroom, some two hundred attendees prayed, sang, and remembered the slain civil rights leader whose lifelong struggle to end discrimination has since yielded much progress. Highlighting the event was Wayside Christian Mission's own Dwayne Nathanial who once again recited Dr. King's famous I Have A Dream speech with the driving cadence and forceful passion of the original 1963 delivery. May we always be reminded that, "A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan."

Dale Tucker, D. Min. Visits the Mission's New Hotel

2012-01-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

An old friend and former executive director of Wayside Christian Mission had lunch with Chaplain Mike and me at the WayCool Café yesterday. Dale Tucker not only served as the Mission's executive director during the early eighties, developing the family and women's shelter during a time when our city was first seeing a large increase in homeless families, he also served as a foreign missionary to South America, and currently holds the title of State Program Specialist with the Corporation for National and Community Service. Dale shared stories of the earlier days at the Mission and helped us connect to some new and exciting resources that may ultimately help to provide better services to our clients. Wayside will be applying for a VISTA worker to assist the Mission in fighting poverty by enabling clients to reach their full potential. Our many thanks to Dale and his family for their dedication and calling to be agents of social change helping many disenfranchised people in our world.

Education – one of several keys out of homelessness

2012-01-03T19:36:00.001-08:00

Many of our clients struggle to get warm, stable and to feel safe. Some have lived with one relative after another, then one friend after another until they ran out of options. They ended up on the street, then in the Mission and then some into the Mission's hotel. Tonight, as most Tuesday nights, I attended our hospitality training class and our hotel resident's meeting. We discussed the educational goals that many of our clients will be working toward. Some will be working on securing a GED, technical certifications, and others will learn a good deal about hotel hospitality, while some will attend college.

When talking about education, our clients come alive, hands raise, and they know that securing an education is one of the important keys to preventing a return to the streets. With God's help and many Mission supporters, we will help many of these men and women to begin an educational track that will change their lives forever.

Prayer Thought

2012-01-03T05:15:00.001-08:00

Accustom yourself gradually to carry Prayer into all your daily occupation -- speak, act, work in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be.
- Francois Fénelon 1651 – 1715

Stuffed Animals Bring Smiles

2012-01-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

Meaningful Gifts Were Shared

2012-01-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

Ardi's Bears Enjoyed By All Ages

2012-01-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

Dick and Ardi Wilson Share Ardi's Bears with our Women and Familes

2012-01-02T20:00:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful surprise for the single women staying at Wayside when Ardi Wilson presented each with a stuffed animal while her husband, Dick, took pictures of Santa and each family. Stuffed animals were appreciated by each of the ladies, offering some symbolic security and love during a difficult time in their lives. Dick and Ardi had the family Christmas pictures printed so that each family could be reminded of the Christmas they spent at Wayside, a Christmas that was made special by many helping hands in our community.

Christmas at Wayside Christian Mission

2012-01-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers and family sponsors this Christmas. Our residents felt the love of their neighbors, the love of God and the knowledge that they are not forgotten. Since Christmas day, time and again, residents at Hotel Louisville have stopped me expressing their gratitude for the help they were given. The reality is that most of these parents and especially their children would not have had Christmas gifts without your help.

Blessings and have a wonderful New Year!

Tim

Ron and Linda Nelson and family visit Wayside Expressions Gallery - now located at Hotel Louisville

2011-08-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks for bringing the family to see the August exhibition.

I know that Amanda and Rita appreciated you coming to see the exhibit.

Great Photograph.

Upcoming Gallery Showing at Hotel Louisville - waycool!

2011-08-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

Alumni, 5 years sober, writes about her visit

2011-06-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

Blessings to You. My name is Linda an alumni of Wayside Christian Mission Recovery Program. I have been clean and sober for 5 years. My gratitude comes from God allowing you all to love me until I began to love myself. I want to say Thank You for saving my life.

I recently stayed at Hotel Louisville. The hospitality and atmosphere was warm, welcoming, friendly and most of all spiritual.When I entered your hotel a overwhelming sense of peace, humility and gratitude came upon me. The spirit is definitely in the hotel. My stay was so emotional I did not want to leave. By the grace of GOD, through sober eyes I was allowed to see the total operation of Wayside and its mission which is helping others. I see GOD working through you all to save many lives. Such a rich and rewarding experience. The mission taking the broken in and teaching them a new way to live through service and engage in the programs offered to better themselves is truly a gift and a blessing.

The recovery choir is awesome. I attended several engagements with them. When they open their mouths to sing, I felt the anoiting. Oh my God, the presence of the spirit released in the congregation was truly inspiring. I was deeply touched by the experience.

"My Home"

2011-05-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Today I couldn't help but notice an interesting race between two young girls staying at the Mission’s family shelter located in Hotel Louisville. The girls came out of the rear door of the hotel full speed screaming at the top of their voice," my home, my home, my home". I watched as they ran into the new playground that was recently constructed by volunteers from General Electric this past week. They ran to the far side where a plastic playhouse was located. The larger of the two made it in first and closed the door and then quickly opened the door and let her younger sister enter.

Sometimes we get a better understanding of what goes on in the minds of children by observing their behavior. I'm sure these children either consciously or unconsciously dream of the day they will have their own home. For now, however, home is a hotel room at Hotel Louisville. Not too bad: things could be much worse but these children need a home in the community and eventually they will have one, God willing.

Please keep the little ones in your prayers. Pray that their childhood will not be blemished by their current problems and that God will bless them with a real home to grow up in. Pray that their parents will make progress, begin to put the pieces back together, begin to be a family with real goals and to love each other and to love God.

Guests of Hotel Louisville Comment Online

2011-03-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

Date of review: Mar 25, 2011 - New

I have stayed in hundreds of hotels all over the US and around the world, but I have never - I mean NEVER - left one before so filled with enthusiasm for what they are doing there and for my experience. I intend to urge all my friends to take advantage of this amazing place if they travel anywhere close to Louisville.

First, the hotel is based on compassion for homeless people. Many of the rooms are used by women with children, of whom I met at least 15-20, all of them friendly, clean, courteous, and obviously grateful for the love they have found here. Second, that love is reflected to the paying customer continually - in the quality of the rooms, the friendliness of the staff, the beauty of the grand piano music being played by a volunteer in the lobby, the delicious coffee and continental breakfast served in the dining room, and much more. Having grown used to the professional courtesy of standard hotels run for profit, I had not realized what a difference it could make when a customer is also treated like a member of one's family, with warmth and love as well as commercial courtesy.

I love the place!

A Youth Group Experiences an Education at Wayside

2011-03-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Linda,
I was so excited to meet you last week end. You are amazing. I hope you get to hear that a lot. I learned a lot while I was there. Last year I got a new perspective on the mission there and their purpose. I learned that homeless doesn't always mean bum, it also means down on your luck. I learned that well meaning people can be homeless as well. I learned that Wayside Christian Mission is not just a shelter from the weather and a place for free loaders to come for food. I love that it is for not only feeding but teaching to fish as well. I have a whole new outlook for this program.

This year I learned a lot about relationships from you and Ms P. I learned that loving yourself is the first step to loving others. I learned that when you respect yourself others will respect you. You don't have to be loud to be heard. I could sit and listen to you two speak for hours.

My girls really enjoyed it as well and got a lot out of it. We talked about our experience all the way home and the next day too.

Pennsylvania homeless man returns cash to owner

2011-03-15T18:03:00.001-07:00

John Kavanaugh, a homeless man in West Chester, Pennsylvania, stepped on an envelope on the ground last week, causing a pile of $50 and $100 bills to spill out. According to an NBC Philadelphia report, Kavanaugh immediately turned the $1,440 in to the local police. When asked why he didn’t use the money to help his own situation, Kavanaugh said, "If it was somebody's rent money, you know, they could use it." The cash belonged to Robert Stauffer, an attorney who was planning to use the money to record some mortgages. Stauffer planned to meet with Kavanaugh to offer a reward. In addition, the attorney plans to give a donation to any shelter Kavanaugh goes to, “so he gets a little special treatment."

One Mission Graduate's Words about his Church, Wayside and Stewardship

2011-02-27T09:55:00.000-08:00

Finding My Place in Stewardship by J. P. Hardy

By My Turn... - Posted on 18 October 2010
Going through the recovery process at Wayside Christian Mission allowed me to humble myself a great deal, Which empowered me with the willingness to grow as a Christian. I believe if I had completed the recovery process anywhere else, I would have missed the spiritual part of the program. In being able to accept and love myself, I was able to do the same for others. Prior to recovery, I either thought that I was better than you or that you thought you were better than me. I never could see others eye to eye. As my spirit awakened as the result of the Steps, I began to feel a sense of equality. I began to gain interest in my fellow man and my Creator. Feeling like a part of the community at Highland Baptist Church has opened me up as a person and as a Christian. I am more comfortable in larger groups. Being a part of my community has allowed me the opportunity to recognize the needs of others and why it is important to give back to the community.

I've learned over the last 18 months that it is much more fulfilling to give than to receive. When I began attending Friday Church, I came for myself to help myself. Once God empowered me, I realized the importance of giving back... to the community, to the Church, to support OUR Church. We are the Church. The sense of camaraderie I feel on Friday evenings when the guys from Wayside jump of the bus and greet me and tell me how their week went is indescribable. At this time I feel whole. As a church community, we make up one body... the body of Christ.

Billy Graham was quoted as saying, "A checkbook is a theological document. It will tell you who and what you worship." You see, I'm a person who used to worship my possessions, but after living in a homeless shelter for 15 months and being stripped bare of what I then considered necessities, I was able to realign my priorities to better serve God. This made me a much happier person and free from burden. Technology that is designed to make our lives easier can over-complicate things and become a burden, especially if it affects the decisions we make. Give generously because money does not make you happy, and they don't put luggage racks on coffins either! Or if you are like me and do not have much money and are already giving as much as you can to your church, do not fret. Be creative! There are many other ways to give to the Church and to serve God and to empower your community!

Peace.

Welcoming JCPS to Hotel Louisville

2011-02-24T15:24:00.000-08:00

HOMELESSNESS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

Wayside Christian Mission’s Hotel Louisville would like to welcome its new neighbor—Jefferson County Public School’s Office of Homeless Education. Diana Warfield and Janice Spicer, who head the Crisis Intervention Intake and Enrollment Center located on the second floor of our building, assist school-age children whose lives have been disrupted by homelessness.

During this school year, some 8,000 school-age children will experience the trauma of homelessness in Jefferson County. According to Ms Spicer, the downturn in today’s economy is the number one cause of homelessness among elementary, middle, and high school students. It comes as no surprise that continuing levels of high unemployment and relatively low earnings have exacted a heavy toll on many of Louisville’s most economically disadvantaged families. Thankfully, JCPS’s Office of Homeless Education assists families in the registration and enrollment process while arranging transportation and tutoring for school-age children living in homeless shelters. Keeping these boys and girls in school is one of best ways of insuring the cycle of homelessness will be broken. By the way, JCPS staff members Diane Morrison and Joyce Shumate spend several nights a week tutoring the children in Wayside Christian Mission’s Family Transitional Program on Broadway.

As this is a collaborative effort that benefits homeless children throughout the community, Wayside Christian Mission agreed to donate the three rooms needed for this project—two offices and a learning lab—that is valued at $900 per month. Considering all that is at stake in the lives of these children, we are pleased in providing this space to the Jefferson County Public Schools without charge to accommodate this vitally important project.

WHAS Comments from a Wayside Case Manager

2011-02-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

Tim,
Just last month Dale and I did CPR on a client for 15 minutes awaiting EMS. The CT had gone to the emergency room at U of L at 2am that morning and had been released to the shelter. We received a call from the 2nd floor monitor at 9:30am about a CT that had fallen out. When we arrived the CT was non responsive. Dale and I went to work, called 911, began chest compressions and continued until EMS arrived. The CT had a pulse when he exited. Unfortunately, we were informed that he died on the way to the hospital. Here is a case where a CT was released back to the shelter and suffered a heart attack after being released from the emergency room 6-7 hours previous. We often have guests come to us from hospitals, emergency rooms with prescriptions that don't get filled. I can't tell you how many times we as case managers have gone to Walgreen's to assist CT's with the purchase of meds.
Often we have poor people dumped at the shelter via cabs with no meds and unsigned discharge documents, but nobody seems to care about that. Recently, had a man dropped via cab from Norton Brownsboro, mental health issues, scripts but nothing to hold him over until they were filled. Spoke with the man for several hours located some family members through the conversation and was able to get him reconnected with his family and some help. Because of the severe situations and problems our guests come to us with I will never take a chance with a guests medical/emotional needs. Their lives are to important to make an impoper or incorrect medical decision, period. And because we deal with so many medically fragile individuals we will have more than our share of medical emergencies, it comes with the territory. It is incumbent upon us, as case managers, to provide not only compassion, but the best care options available.

An Open Letter to WHAS Investigative Report Concerning EMS and Emergency Room Usage

2011-02-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

Homelessness and Emergency Medical Services

In order to insure accurate news reporting regarding the “hundreds of ambulance runs” from Wayside Christian Mission’s Emergency Shelter, there are a number of discernable facts that are not so obvious and yet deserving of your consideration. It must be remembered that Wayside Christian Mission is the “final safety net” and “last chance” in caring for the area’s homeless population. We serve many clients who were turned away by other agencies and, as such, provide vitally needed services to those who are in the highest risk category.

Too, no citizen, homeless or otherwise, can be denied the right to emergency ambulatory care. Both logic and compassion dictate that the seeking of refuge in a homeless shelter does not necessitate a forfeiture of this basic right; furthermore, if Wayside Christian Mission attempted to restrict a client’s access to emergency ambulatory care, this would amount to nothing less than a scandalous violation of a citizen’s protected right. As such, it is unreasonable to assume that Wayside Christian Mission should be held liable if a resident chooses to access emergency medical treatment.

In truth, it is far more reasonable to believe there would be many more ambulance runs if those living in the security of these shelters returned to their abandoned buildings or highway overpasses. Adverse weather is also a determining factor, for during times of searing heat or bitter cold, Wayside Christian Mission’s Operation White Flag brings even more homeless men and women into their Emergency Shelter. These are typically the chronic homeless who shy away from the shelter except during the worst possible weather conditions; as expected, the chronically homeless are often the ones with the most pressing health issues. For the record, Wayside Christian Mission houses more homeless than any other local organization. With all this, it is even more reasonable to believe that, without Wayside Christian Mission and other like-minded organizations, there would be desperate overcrowding in the city’s morgue.

Additionally, recent trends such as the rise in outpatient treatment and the deinstitutionalizing of the mentally ill coupled with the inherent health issues common among the homeless have created greater, almost overwhelming challenges to shelter operators; however, both the homeless and society at large have benefited from the efforts of those who battle homelessness on a number of fronts. Rather than adding to the financial burden, the humanitarian efforts of Wayside Christian Mission and other area shelters have saved the public millions of dollars.

Homelessness and Trends in Outpatient Treatment

According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, the length of the average hospital stay has been substantially reduced in recent years. Owing to today’s skyrocketing health care costs, many illnesses that once prescribed long hospital stays are now being treated on an outpatient basis. This cost-cutter measure may work well in a number of cases; unfortunately, those who are homeless cannot expect to convalesce while living under a viaduct. Proper outpatient treatment requires sanitary living conditions, a healthy diet, and a measure of assistance. These vital requirements for recovery are not found on the streets. In truth, were it not for the services of homeless shelters, the burden of outpatient care would fall upon costly nursing homes or necessitate longer hospital stays; either way, the taxpayer would end up footing a rather exorbitant bill.

The University Hospital refers many of its patients to our Emergency Shelter on Jefferson Street as there are eighty medical beds reserved for convalescing residents. The utilization of Wayside Christian Mission’s eighty medical beds helps to ease the overcrowding of limited floor space while saving the hospital substantial sums of money and manpower.

Inherent Health Issues and Homelessness

Homeless shelters receive residents who are far more likely to be plagued with health-related issues. Poor hygiene, long term substance abuse, inadequate diets, and harsh living conditions ultimately result in a grave toll against the individual’s overall health. According to a study by Mary Ann Burg titled Health Problems of Sheltered Homeless Women and their Dependent Children, risks of illness and disease are the expected byproducts of life on the streets.

“Because of their adverse and transitory living arrangements, homeless people in general have a higher prevalence of illness resulting from exposure to the elements, violence, poor nutrition, parasites, and infectious disease than other impoverished persons.”

These health problems, often life-threatening, present an even greater challenge to the facilities that serve the homeless, yet, without the services provided by homeless shelters, hospitals and convalescent centers and, for that matter, taxpayers would be further burdened by the health issues inherent to homelessness.
Locally, Phoenix Health Care operates a medical clinic that assists in the treating of patients residing in area homeless shelters.

Homelessness and the Deinstitutionalizing of the Mentally Ill

With the introduction of new antipsychotic drugs in the 1950s, the trend of deinstitutionalizing mentally ill persons began. Many who had spent much of their lives under around-the-clock care were suddenly released from institutions onto the streets. It was believed by some mental health experts that the institutionalization of the mentally ill created more harm than good; it was further argued that these new drugs would allow the mentally ill to live among society—making their own choices and benefiting from their new found independence. As an added benefit, it was argued that the closing of these institutions would ultimately save taxpayer dollars. The deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill appeared to be a win-win situation; rather than being locked away, mentally ill people would gain by living among society while the steady drain on the public coffers would be substantially reduced.

In theory, mainstreaming the mentally ill appeared to be a favorable alternative to institutionalization; however, according to a study by Crystal Ribeiro titled Deinstitutionalization of the Mentally Ill, this new trend was not without flaw:

“Unfortunately, these programs were not completely well thought out or implemented…The programs thought to replace care given in institutions were not nearly adequate. These programs, attempts to place the mentally ill back in society to be helped by the community members, day programs, and medications were not fully implemented to the full extent needed to replace institutions. This process led to an overwhelming number of mentally ill loose in society, becoming criminals due to lack of treatment.”

While it cannot be rightfully argued that all mentally ill people should be herded back into institutions, statistical studies indicate that mental illness is among the leading causes of homelessness. Where day programs and medications fail, homeless shelters afford a vital safety net. In other words, homeless shelters are providing many essential services to the mentally ill that were once offered by those institutions that have since been closed. It may be furthered argued that America’s streets are somewhat safer because of the fundamental services homeless shelters provide to the mentally ill.

Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness

Wayside Christian Mission combats the ravages of homelessness on a number of fronts. Our Sober Living Program and similar programs offered by other area shelters and agencies can point to literally hundreds of men and women whose lives were once desperately out of control but are now living useful, productive lives. It is worth noting that sobriety programs have saved the public millions of dollars in lost revenue and in the mounting costs of expensive treatment programs funded by the government. Wayside Christian Mission provides more than cots and three hot meals a day—we are teaching life skills to those battling substance abuse, ignorance, and poverty. Ultimately, all of society benefits when a homeless person becomes a self-sustaining member of the community.

Granted, a number of ambulatory request calls placed by clients in our Emergency Homeless Shelter are frivolous. This is unfortunate and yet this is not always preventable; quite simply, mental illness will often impair a client’s better judgment. Too, the anxiety resulting from living in a homeless shelter can induce a sense of uneasiness and panic when a non-threatening illness occurs. Persons experiencing homelessness have limited health care options at their disposal with the Phoenix Health Care for the Homeless Clinic being the only alternative to emergency care they can generally access. Wayside Christian Mission did not create this problem nor does the Mission perpetuate this problem—the problem exists because more health care services do not exist.

2011-02-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

SPECIAL DELIVERY

I am well acquainted with the flocks of pigeons that gather atop the high rise buildings of downtown Louisville, but on January 11, Wayside’s Hotel Louisville was visited by a lone stork! Yes, little Talahne Jones was born in our women’s shelter located on the fourth floor of the hotel!
As you might imagine, everyone was surprised—including the baby’s mother Tocheyona Jones! When little Talahne decided she was ready to greet the world, she wasted no time getting here! And the good news is both baby and mother are doing just fine! Little Talahne is absolutely beautiful—of course, all babies are beautiful, but there is something special about this little one! As for the mother, she appreciates the good care and safe environment provided to her and her daughter by the caring staff of Wayside Christian Mission.
Owing to the generosity of our donors, Baby Talahne and her mother are in a safe place.

"JUST BEAUTIFUL!”

2011-02-07T13:17:00.001-08:00

On January 29, Mr. John Bright of Louisville celebrated his birthday—but this was no ordinary birthday nor was there anything ordinary about the celebration. That Saturday evening, about one hundred fifty family members, friends, and local dignitaries came together in the Hotel Louisville’s lavishly appointed twelfth floor ballroom to celebrate Mr. Bright’s one hundredth birthday!
According to Ms. Ruby Hyde, the party’s organizer, Mr. Hyde was gratified by the gathering of well-wishers! Along with the festivities, both the Mayor’s Office and the City Council decreed January 29 as John Bright Day!
Wayside Christian Mission’s own Down by the Wayside Choir topped off the event with a special concert in Mr. Bright’s honor! Mr. Bright, who enjoys good health and a sound mind, was thoroughly pleased with his one hundredth birthday bash!
When asked about the quality of the Hotel Louisville’s accommodations, Ms. Ruby Hyde said, “Everything was just beautiful! This is one of the best venues in the City of Louisville!”
Well, nothing is too good for Louisville’s most celebrated centurion!

FOOD AND FUNDRAISER

2011-02-07T13:01:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday, a spirited troop of singers, actors, and dancers known as the Emerging Artists Group entertained a capacity crowd at a fundraiser hosted at Wayside Christian Mission’s Hotel Louisville. The show, A Culinary Cabaret, featured novelty songs and comic sketches about everyone’s favorite topic—food! From caviar to cheeseburgers, the show was a real smorgasbord of taste-tempting entertainment. As one would expect, some deliciously delightful hors’d oeuvers and deserts were served to the hungry guests, too. Area businesses and local artists added to the festivities by donating their wares for the silent auction. And the fun was for a good cause as the proceeds from the event will benefit Wayside Christian Mission’s battle against homelessness. Hats off to the organizers, performers, businesses, artists, staff members, and attendees who made this a night to remember!

WHOSOEVER

2011-01-31T15:54:00.000-08:00

When weather conditions are particularly brutal, Wayside Christian Mission’s Samaritan Patrol combs the streets looking for homeless men and women. One of our patrol volunteers sent this report: “Last night, I did my three hour ‘white flag’ run with Wayside. Looking for new homeless, I stopped the van in Southern Indiana and hollered up into the top of an overpass and after a thirty second delay, a man spoke. After I told him who we represented, he came down to ground level. He has been in and out of prison after committing various assaults and told other wild tales. He knew and could speak of the Bible very eloquently. He quoted Job and John…when I asked him his name to pray for him, he said ‘Whosoever.’ A real character!”

Guest Artist Franklin Jones

2011-01-23T19:17:00.001-08:00

Guest Artist Franklin Jones, presented a history of the slave trade in Ghana. Mr. Jones has traveled extensively in Ghana and displayed numerous prints from his journeys. About 100 guests attended the presentation which was educational revealing little known facts of abuse that took place during the slave trade period.