Program Information: FY 2011/2012

Numbers and activities listed below are for our fiscal year - July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012

Number of meals served in FY 2011/2012:  152,432

Breakfast – 57,130 guests

Breakfast is served Monday through Friday - St. James' Episcopal Church, 833 W. Wisconsin Avenue.  Because 60% to 70% of breakfast guestsare homeless, collaborative mental health, legal, and medical assistance is provided on site weekly.

Dinner – 13,108 guests

Dinner is served Mondays and Wednesdays at our south side site - Christian Faith Fellowship Church East, 724 S. Layton Blvd. This is our most diverse population with people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

Saturday Lunch – 26,580 guests

Saturday lunch is served at the above two locations and at Our Next Generation Neighborhood Center (formerly St. Andrew’s Outreach Center), 35th & Lisbon.  Between 25 and 30% of guests are children. Mt. Carmel Lutheran (82nd & Center) serves a Saturday lunch on the fourth Saturday of each month.

Shelter Meal Program – 44,755 meals

August 1, 2011 marked the beginning of our Shelter Meal Program (SMP) funded by Community Advocates. The Gathering prepares all meals on location, seven days a week, for 70-100 residents of the Women’s Refuge homeless and domestic violence shelters, and Autumn West (housing for adult mentally ill). An additional residential shelter housing 12 individuals will be added in late 2012. This program is staffed by 6 part-time employees (4 cooks & 2 drivers), a part-time manager and a nutrition consultant. Community Advocates provides the funding, kitchen and equipment; the Gathering provides the staffing, food and delivery of services. We have developed a volunteer component to the program which is in its fledgling stage. This collaboration is an excellent melding of the strengths of two long standing anti-poverty agencies.

 Our Next Generation – 10,859 meals

This tutoring/mentoring program at 35th & Lisbon - one of our Saturday lunch sites - serves a light meal four afternoons each week to program participants of middle school and high school age.  The Gathering provides food for these meals.

Additional Program Information: FY 2011/2012

Mental Health – 1,345 contacts One of the contributing factors to homelessness is mental illness.  Our collaboration with the Homeless Outreach Nursing Center focuses on connecting with and stabilizing the lives of the homeless mentally ill.  At our breakfast site mental health staff provided information/referral and general screening services to 981 Gathering breakfast guests, and direct mental health services to 364.

Produce Preservation Project – 3,496 pounds frozen

2011 was the second year of our fresh produce preservation project, designed to preserve excess donated produce received during the growing season.  The preserved produce was used in our winter meals, providing additional flavor and nutrition.  Fifty-eight (58) volunteers supported by Gathering staff froze 3,496 pounds of basil, bell peppers, cabbage, green beans and zucchini donated from farmers, gardeners and food banks.

Medical Assistance – 11 visits

Staff from St. Ben’s Medical Clinic provided blood pressure checks and medical referrals at our Breakfast site once a month for ten months out of the year and conducted flu shot clinics serving 48 guests.  Walgreens also conducted a flu shot clinic at our Breakfast site providing shots to an additional 15 guests.

Legal Assistance – 72 clinics

Attorneys from The Legal Aid Society conducted clinics at both weekday meal sites.  At our downtown Breakfast site, 51 clinics were held serving 167 guests.  The majority of issues (49%) dealt with municipal citations, warrants and fines.  The next highest issue was housing at 7%.  The remainder ranged from drivers license recovery to family issues to social security.  Twenty two clinics were held at the south side Dinner Program, serving 22 guests.  Issues were varied and included tax issues, medical malpractice, insurance, housing and social security.  Resolution of legal issues is often a first step towards job and housing stability.

Sundries from the Avenue – 2,064 served

Items such as soap, lotion, shampoo, toothbrushes & toothpaste, laundry soap, combs, and deodorant (23,101 items) were distributed to guests on a monthly basis through Sundries from the Avenue, sponsored by St. James’ Episcopal Church.

Volunteers: FY 2011/2012

This ministry relies on the hundreds of individuals and groups who donate their time and expertise.  Volunteers do 98% of the direct service work.  The numbers provided below are based on available tracking and observation from fiscal year 2011/2012. Leadership Volunteers - 65

These volunteer cooks & coordinators provide the leadership for our Saturday lunch program. They volunteered 2,681 hours valued at $47,668.

Service Volunteers – 30,861 donated hours

Gathering volunteers may come once during a year or daily. Each meal requires 12-20 volunteers, comprised of groups and individuals. In 2011/12, 31 schools, 59 churches, 25 service clubs & family groups, and 45 business groups and organizations participated.  Individuals from the surrounding area, including Gathering guests, volunteered regularly at the weekday meals. Fifty-eight (58) volunteers put in 300 hours of service time with our Produce Preservation Project. Individual volunteers completed school service requirements or court-ordered community service through their Gathering work.

In-Kind Donations: FY 2011/2012

Donated Food – 174,313 pounds 111,007 pounds of fresh and nonperishable foods from government and other sources were donated through Hunger Task Force. An additional 1,100 pounds per week came from area restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, bread companies and food wholesalers. Area farmers and gardeners donated an estimated 7,200 pounds of fresh produce for our Produce Preservation Project, and numerous volunteer groups contributed coffee, milk and homemade dessert items on a weekly basis.

Donated Supplies & Services – 108 distributions

Items such as deodorant, toothpaste & toothbrushes, laundry soap, shampoo, lotion, combs and bath soap were distributed to guests on a monthly basis through Sundries from the Avenue, sponsored by St. James’ Episcopal Church. Sixty-four distributions of sandwiches/lunches “to go” were provided by 11 groups. Thirty-two additional distributions of winter outerwear, socks, treat bags, non-perishable foods and holiday decorations in addition to equipment and in-kind services were provided by individuals, schools, service clubs, churches and scout groups.

Giver’s Honor Roll

July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012: We recognize the following individuals, foundations, churches, corporations, schools and other organizations that have contributed to the ministry. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all donor names. If we have missed you or spelled your name incorrectly, please let us know.

$25,000 And Over

Hunger Relief Fund of Wisconsin, Quad Graphics/Windhover Foundation

$15,000-$24,999

Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Nicholas Family Foundation

$10,000-$14,999

1 Anonymous Donor, Catholic Community Foundation – JCC Fund, The Grainger Foundation, The Roundy’s Foundation, United Way of Greater Milwaukee Donor Choice

$5,000-$9,999

3 Anonymous Donors , Empty Bowls Project, Federal Emergency Management Assistance Grant, Gardner Foundation, Luedke-Smith Fund – The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Lux Foundation, Gerald and Elaine Mainman, Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation, Stackner Family Foundation, Inc., Trainer Family Foundation

$2,500-$4,999

2 Anonymous Donors, All Saints’ Cathedral Hunger Book Sale, August Mueller Trust (U.S. Bank, Trustee) , Robert W. Baird & Co. Foundation, Christ Church Episcopal – Whitefish Bay, Community United Methodist Church – Elm Grove, Gathering Memorial Fund – The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, GE Foundation, David and Mel Johnson, Greg and Jackie Johnson, Joy Global, Ladish Company Foundation, Thompson Foundation, Inc.,  John Zacher

$1,000-$2,499

5 Anonymous Donors, Stephan Acton, Bostik, Inc., CAN Insurance Company, Lucy Cooper, Custom Service Mfg., LLC, Richard and Mary DeLuca, Gene Detert, Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Rachel Finger, Daniel and Kathy Glaser, Paul and Kathy Hartke, Steve Holt, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Michael Istwan and Amy Korpi, Dan and Nancy Kiernan, Kuehl Family Foundation, Eugene and Gwendolyn Lavin, Joanna Linsley, Mike and Ginny McBride, Jeff and Holly Morris, John and Beryl Mulhern, Ab Nicholas, Rite Hite Foundation, William and Susan Rose, St. John Chrysostom Episcopal Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church—Milwaukee, St. Matthias Parish, Richard Schreiner, Margaret Schumacher, Searman-Goes Family Foundation, Inc., Service Club of Milwaukee, Gary and Maureen Shebesta, Silverman Family Foundation, Stony Hills Presbyterian Church, Richard and Mary Thickens, Twin Disc Incorporated, Marc Vandiepenbeeck, Robert and Ellen Venable, Donald and Kate Wilson, John and Julie Wolf

$500 - $999

9 Anonymous Donors, Answerport Management and Technology Consultants, Robert C. Archer Designated Fund-The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, David Ashpole, David and Karen Bartel, James Bauman, Bayerlein Foundation Ltd., Evert and Cindy Berndt, Richard and Karen Binder, Joe and Marlene Bruno, Lisa Christiansen, Cottrell/Jacobs and Housiaux Family Fund-The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Vincent and Linda Dindzans, Extendicare Health Services, Richard Fabing, John Farina, David P. and Marjorie L. Hamacher Fund-The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Heider and Bott Company, Inc., Houghton Mifflin Matching Gift Program, Henry Jaskulski, Silas Johnson, Frederick and Susan Kasten, Ted and Mary Kellner, James and Dona Knight, Jill Kortebein, Evan Lenhardt and Virginia Finn-Lenhardt, Jim and Maureen Leurquin, George and Sharon Loxton, Marking Services, Inc., Andrew Martin and Janet Trostel Martin, Michael McClone, Hazelyn McComas, Joseph and Joni McDevitt, Tom and Diane McGinn, Rex and Gladys Merriman Fund-The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, The Other Stratton Foundation, Allan and Sandy Pasch, Dennis Petrick, Jack and Martha Prince Family Fund -The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Thomas Radomski, Will Ross Memorial Foundation, St. Bernard's Congregation-Wauwatosa, St. James' Episcopal Church- Milwaukee, St. Jude The Apostle-Wauwatosa, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church-Cedarburg, St. Paul's Episcopal Church-Milwaukee, Saints Andrew and Mark Gift Trust, Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving, Seeds of Health Elementary, James and Christine Speaker, Natalie Swanson, Carl and Nancy Trimble, Trinity Episcopal Church-Wauwatosa, Western Province of the Community of St. Mary, Trevor and Margaret Will, Eugene and Carmen Witt, Lee Wolcott

$250 - $499

11 Anonymous Donors, A & A Manufacturing Company, Inc., Jeff and Susan Allen, Emily Bach, William and Kathryn Berezowitz, Andrew and Anita Boyd, Jane Bozewicz, Robert and Elizabeth Bradley, Brewcity Bruisers, Darrel and Linda Bybee, Law Office of John Cabaniss, Carrie Taylor and Nettie Taylor Robinson Memorial Fund-The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Christ Church- Delavan, James and Diane Cowles, Margaret Dahlman, Paul Fackler, Sarah Fanjul, Gary and Faye Giesemann, Greendale Community Church, Greg and Hazel Griffin, Gerald Harmon and Ellen Croke, Holz Motors-Hales Corners, Johnson Controls, Inc., JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Maureen Kania, Peter and Mary Klabunde, Randall Klumb and Sarah Ford, Brian Koch, Herbert H. Kohl Charities, Inc., Michael and Sarah Kubly, Brian Lanser, Bill and Missy Levit, Rob and Becky Lonergan, Daryl and Kim Lueck, Frederick and Kathryn Luedke, Anthony and Julianne Maggiore, Peter Mahsem, Sr., Jane Matheus, Mark and Karen Meunier, Susanne Michalski, Jose Montenegro, III, Jo Mooney, Jean Mueller, William and Susan Mueller, Nordco, Inc. , Kevin and Cheryl O'Connor, Dick and Betty Peterson, James and Michelle Piech, William Reichhardt, Bill and Mitzi Roy, St. Agnes Congregation-Butler, St. Augustine Congregation-Milwaukee, St. Boniface Episcopal Church- Mequon, St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church-Greendale, Patrick and Valerie Schoen, Marilyn Schrader, Thomas and Meredie Scrivner, Shorewest Realtors, Roger and Margery Senn, Jerry Smith, Melvin and Lee Stapel, Kevin and Melanie Stewart, Teresa Trostmiller, Patrick and Joanne Ward, Western States Envelope and Label Company, Wanda Zemler-Cizewski

$100 - $249

44 Anonymous Donors, Christopher and Natavan Abbott, Advocacy Investments, Diane Anschuetz, Dave and Jill Aschebrook, Dick and Patsy Aster, J. Mark Baker, Phillip and Margaret Bartness, Mildred Baumler, Beam Global Spirits and Wine, Inc., David and Diane Bedran, Bentley World Packaging, Mindy and Paul Biedrzycki, Sabine Bierold, Jack and Peg Blank, Patricia Bowne, Elizabeth C. Bradley, Jim and Ruth Brennan, Amy and Mark Bronner, Jackson Bruce, Jr., Dick and Sandy Buchman, Gary Buerstatte and Anna Pepelnjak, Georgia and John Cain, Charles Camilli, Jim and Laura Carlos, Alexandra Carlson, Mike and Sue Carnahan, Sue Jean Ceel, Gary and Mary Chmielewski, Catherine and John Clarke, Rick and Lana Colbo, Continental Equipment, Michael and Kathleen Crabb, Kip and Patricia Cramer, Data Financial, Inc., Randy Dean, Leanne Drives, Dolores Duffey, Ted and Beth Durant, Thomas and Michele Ebben, Guenther Eisenmann, Don Ellingsen, Emmanuel Community United Methodist Church-Menomonee Falls, Daniel and Corinne Engstrand, Faith Community Church-Franklin, Thomas and Linda Feist, Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, Arthur and Nancy Fritz, Betsy Fryda, Jeffrey and Cynthia Garland, Cynthia and Jeffrey Gault, Thomas and Roxanne Gebhard, Frank and Susan Gedelman, Sandra Gepfert, Julie Giacobassi, Richard and Joanne Glaser, Michele Goldstein, Paul and Bonnie Gossens, Joe and Joanne Graf, Jim and Sarah Gramentine, Chris and Lorraine Gramling, Charles and Deborah Graupner, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Claire Greene, Howard and Christine Gygax, Doug and Margaretann Haag, Hader Industries, Inc., Paul and Mary Beth Haubrich, Stephen and Deborah Heinze, David Henry and Deborah Ciszewski, Kurt and Sharon Hoefert, Debbie Hogate, Carolyn Hoover, David and Mary Elizabeth Huntington, INdustri Cafe, Andrew and Ruth Itzov, Kenneth and Mary Lee Jacobs, Nancy Jacobs, Keith Jacoby, Marilyn W. John, Gayle Johnson, Jeffrey Johnson and Marie Hoven, Lenny and Patty Johnson, Sue Jones, Jayne Jordan, Dennis and Pam Kandziora, Jeffrey and Dawn Kautzer, Anne Kebisek Dudek, Thomas Kloehn, Doris Kontos, Carolyn Korona, Charles Krause, Nancy Krebs, Christine Krueger, Kristin and Peter Kult, Ian and Katherine Lambert, Lessiter Publications, Dan and Judy Linsley, Eileen Lipinski, Mark and Diane MacDonald, Jennifer Mays, Anthony Medina, Chris and Mary Meixner, William Mehlhorn, Douglas and Suzanne Mettelman, Brion and Betty Miller, David and Roberta Mliner, Thomas Mooney and Elene Strates, John Morton, Harry and Ellie Moseley, Judy and Richard Nell, Michelle Nelson, Ronald Nelson and Elizabeth Pfluger, Ronald and Patricia Nielsen, Gregory Norman and Margaret Stratton, Barry and Becky O'Connor, David and Judith Olson, Dr. David Paris, Harrison and Susan Parker, Ed and Sue Patschke, Charles and Evelyn Payson, Marshall H. Pepper, Joseph Pipitone, Jack and Mary Plemons, Mary Prince, Bruce and Lyn Ranta, Jay and Denise Riederer, William Robison, Michael Rocque, Martin and LeeAnn Roehner, Mason and Julie Ross, Charles and Patricia Roy, Dick and Martha Roy, Martha J. Rutkofske, St. Thomas Aquinas School-Waterford, Donald and Carol Schardt, Craig Schnuck, Ted Schnuck, Jr., School Sisters of Notre Dame, Ron and Michelle Schroeder, Ellsworth and Miriam Schuett, Daniel and Kathleen Schultz, Davita Shanklin, Glenn and GiGi Sheridan, Katherine Smith, R.A. Smith National, Wendy Sopkovich, Susan Spath, Julie Starks, L. William and Kathleen Staudenmaier, Gertrude Stillman, Jane and John Stoneman, Scott and Holly Stoner, Streich Family Foundation Inc., Summit Credit Union, William Swisher, Marjorie Szydlowski, Dean and Kathy Thome, Roy and Sandy Uelner, Slack Ulrich and Barbara Becker, United Way of Metro Chicago, Carol Veit, Sue Watson, Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church-Wauwatosa, Walden and Mildred Weaver, Weber & Rick, SC, Gregg Weirauch, Theresa Wiedoff, Steven and Susan Wilson, Terrance and Mary Winkler, Wixon, Inc. , Bob and Connie Wolf, Judy Wood, Nancy Zaborowski

$50 - $99

41 Anonymous Donors, Albright United Methodist Women-Milwaukee, Todd and Kelly Anderson, Thomas and Kathleen Asher, Dan and Cheryl Bellissimo, Laxman Beniwal, Neal and Beth Berger, Marjorie Bjornstad, Joan Blaicher, Michael and Kim Breitbach, Gayle Bush, Elizabeth Campbell, Alan and Carole Cellarius, Fern Chmielewski, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church-Jackson, Thor and Joan Christensen, Catherine Clark, Del Clear, Frank and Patricia Danes, David and Stephanie Dean, Sandra Dereskos, Robert and Laurie Dickhut, Deborah Dion-Simon, Timothy and Susan Dugan, Nancy Dunbar, Brian Dutcher, James and Susan Dziak, John and Shari Egan, Edward and Alice Eisendrath, Epistles of Christ-Northwest Mission Department, Richard and Peggy Falsetti, Kathryn Farseth, Cid Filter, Helen Flynn, Norman and Judith Fons, Jim Foy, Robert and Linda Frisch, Margaret Furdek, Walter and Donna Gager, Jim Gill, Dorothy Gillet, Donald and Carolie Goniu, Joseph Grafwallner, Clark and Kathy Gridley, Norman Gunder, Dick and Susan Hackl, David and Janice Hahn, Jan Hamann, Ron and LouAnn Hammes, Steve and Jana Hanagan, Mike and Gay Hatfield, Len and Karen Haubert, John Haydon, Vanda Healy, Arthur Heitzer, Maya Held, H. Allen and Joan Higgins, Hobert & Svoboda Enterprises, Inc., Paul and Kathleen Hoffman, Aziz Ikhlef and Chafiha Idri, Barbara and Chuck Jackson, Rachel Jones, Sue Pepper Joys Living Trust, Shirley Kapus, Joy and Tom Kasun, Cathy Kendrigan, Frederick and Xiaodan Kier, Earl and Elaine Klabunde, Jack and Lynne Kleinman, Norton and Betty Ann Kollmann, James and Janice Koput, Craig and Karen Korn, David Krajewski, Robert Krecak, Jerry and Mary Kringel, Samuel Kruschel, John Lapinski and Helena Pycior, John Laskowski and Catherine Mingo, Susan Lauersdorf, Jerome and Virginia Laurent, Mary Ellen Lukaszewicz, Gary Maddox, Karen Mahler, Vincent and Kathleen McAvoy, Mark and Nancy McQuide, Jim and Judy Millard, Rob and Heidi Mortensen, Kathleen Neuman, Tracie Noah, Deborah Oseland, James and Claudia Paetsch, Bruce and Anita Parnau, Pat and Phyllis Pellechia, Jonni and Carl Penner, Lorinda Percifield, Betty Phillips, Rich Phillips, Bruce and Alice Pollock, Carol Privette, Neil and Jane Radtke, James Reiher, Ruth Renzelmann, Bret Roge and Jill Munson-Roge, William and Dorothy Rooney, John and Pat Rossmiller, Margaret Roy, John Roy, II, Richard and Kristie Rozran, St. Mary's Episcopal Church- Dousman, St. Rafael Catholic School-Milwaukee, Marc and Brigid Schaepkens, Jan Scherr, Steve and Lynne Schley, Virginia Schrag, Judy and Mark Schueller, Virginia Shackleton, Patricia Sheahan, Tom and Martha Shimek, Mark and Minna Smith, Jerry and Linda Stepaniak, James and Barbara Tacyshyn-Roth, Tollefsen Steel, Frank Walbrink, Dianne Weber, Stephen and Carol Weber, Lisa Weiner, Dean Wernicke, Everett and Ellen Wessell

$49 and under

202 Donors

Memorials and Honorariums

Throughout the fiscal year, some of the donors listed above gave gifts in memory or in honor of the following individuals:

Michael Glenn Altman, Robert C. Archer, John F. Barry, Margaret Bersch, Anne R. Bode, E.W. Brentz Marion Byers, Jim Clark, Warren Conley, N. Donk, Paul G. Eklund, Barbara Fahey,  Dr. Joseph Faupl, DDS, Joe Feldy, Lois Filbey, Robert Flynn, Elnor Geissmen, George Greene, Suzanne Greene, Thelma Greene, Marlene Hardt, Tony and Bernice Joerres, Richard “Dick” John, Bob Jorin, Park Joy, Cyril Karrels, Janet Kivell, Al Kosharek, Char Kulas, Lavina Kulas, Terry Laskowicz, Willis and Helen Lockwood, Ben Louthan, Dr. Ben Louthan, John Mann, Annette DeMers Mark, John "Shorty" Metzenheim, Diana Montenegro, Frank Mooney, Richard Mooney, Ed Moore, Ronnie Nelson, Josephine Oldfield, Pat Phinney, Patricia Pups, Tim Repensek, Bill Scanlon, Tom Sopkovich, Gordon Sorensen, David Stoner, Catherine Tackman, William Taylor, Linda Timm, James W. Wahner, Verna Walbrink, Nina Campanelli Wall, Craig Warner, Ron Wasilowski, Thomas Weber, DuWayne Wornardt, Ginny Zacher, Dennis Zagorski

Produce Preservation Update

In order to answer the question – “How do we become better stewards of our resources while providing healthy meals for our guests?” - the Gathering started the Fresh Produce Preservation Project. The project started in 2010 with just a dozen volunteers. These volunteers prepared produce donations from farms, gardeners and food banks around the area. The produce was then frozen and added to the Gathering’s community meals (breakfast, dinner and Saturday lunch) throughout the winter months.

Now, over 7000 pounds of produce and 75 volunteers later, the project is gearing up for its third season. Already this season (after just two preservation sessions) volunteers have prepared 148 pounds of tomatoes and 40 pounds of green beans. These vegetables will be used in soups, lasagnas, sauces and other delicious, nutritious dishes in the coming months. Even now, while you are reading this, faithful produce volunteers are rolling up their sleeves, tightening their apron strings and snapping on their hair nets in preparation for a large donation of bell peppers that just arrived.

One such faithful produce volunteer is Janet. Janet has been a volunteer with the produce preservation project since the beginning. Janet first heard about the project through her church. She made connections with other volunteers and had such a great time that she kept coming back: “The community spirit of the Gathering is what keeps me coming. I love the talking and slicing together” Janet said. Janet spent the majority of the past two produce sessions stuffing and weighing freezer bags full of peeled tomatoes and fresh green beans and is looking forward to more produce in the weeks to come.