Giver’s Honor Roll

The Gathering Board of Directors thanks the following generous supporters giving $250 or more between May 11, 2013 and July 31, 2013.

$15,000 - $24,999 Northwestern Mutual Foundation The Grainger Foundation

$10,000 - $14,999 Mary McKey Charitable Bequest Trust Roundy’s Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999 1 Anonymous Donor Hunger Relief Fund of Wisconsin Gerald and Elaine Mainman

$2,500 - $4,999 Gardner Foundation, Nonprofit Management Fund, United Way of Greater Milwaukee Donor Choice

$1,000 - $2,499 Johnson Controls, Community United Methodist Church - Elm Grove, Christ Church Episcopal - Whitefish Bay, Silas Johnson, Kuehl Family Foundation, Mike and Ginny McBride, Ab Nicholas, St. Joan of Arc Parish - Nashotah

$500 - $999 Gathering Memorial Fund - Greater Milwaukee Foundation, GE Foundation, Claire Greene, Eugene and Gwendolyn Lavin, Daryl and Kim Lueck, St. John Chrysostom Episcopal Church - Delafield, Marilyn Schlosser, Seaman-Goes Family Foundation, Maureen and Gary Shebesta, Will Ross Memorial Foundation

$250 - $499 Joe and Marlene Bruno, Peter and Elizabeth Gottsacker, Greg and Jackie Johnson, MKEfoodies, Dr. David Paris, Dick and Betty Peterson, Luciano Sanchez, Trinity Episcopal Church - Wauwatosa, Teresa Trostmiller

Youth Volunteers at The Gathering

Youth actively promote the Gathering’s mission. They participate by: raising money for meal programs at school fundraisers, sharing their unique talents, volunteering on a regular basis and spreading the Gathering’s mission to friends, family and more. I want to introduce you to two of the groups of youth who are helping out the Gathering this summer: YouthWorks and Micah 6:8 Summer Work Camp.

YOUTHWORKS:

Every summer, YouthWorks—an international organization—coordinates service trips for over 30,000 jr. high and high school students and adult leaders in North America. One of their trip destinations is Milwaukee, where they work at various social service organizations throughout the city, like the Gathering. When they are not doing hands-on service, the youth participate in educational activities, evening gatherings, explore their faith and more.

Every Wednesday throughout the summer, various YouthWorks volunteers serve dinner at the Gathering’s south side site. While volunteering with the Gathering, the groups focus on building relationships. “If you don’t hear people’s stories, you can’t relate and you won’t understand why you’re here,” explained Zach, one of the trip’s leaders.

Grace and Morgana hand out sandwiches in the serving line

Morgana, a youth in Zach’s group said that guest interaction was the most important part for her as well: “I am excited most for the face to face interaction. It’s an opportunity for me to be more social,” she explained.

MICAH 6:8 SUMMER WORK CAMP:

 In June, a group of youth from three different churches in the Mukwonago area: St. James, St. Peter and St. Theresa Catholic Church, formed the Micah 6:8 Summer Work Camp. Different teams of teens and their adult supervisors worked tirelessly for three afternoons to improve the Gathering’s St. James location—site of our Monday-Friday breakfast program and a Saturday lunch.

Some of the work they did included: scrubbing, cleaning and painting the kitchen’s walls and ceilings; repainting the nurse’s office; repainting an orange stripe to brighten up the guests’ hallway; building and donating a little free library; cleaning closets, appliances, chairs, tables and walls; replacing door knobs and locks and even more!

The groups name is based on the bible verse Micah 6:8, which calls us, “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The group’s service first approach left the Gathering’s breakfast site looking fresh and clean.

Micah 6:8 workgroup--worked hard, played hard

Fresh Produce Preservation Project Update

The Fresh Produce Preservation Project (FPPP) was started in 2010. Milwaukee area food sources donated large amounts of extra produce and the Gathering staff and volunteers froze and preserved the produce to be used in winter meals. Since 2010, the FPPP has relied on many volunteers who have preserved approximately 5,938 pounds of corn, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, basil, bell peppers, apples, onions and more.

As someone who came into the project with a lot of interest but not a lot of answers, I am amazed when I think about all I have learned in my first year with the FPPP. From freezing, canning and food handling courses to practicing recipes and interacting with some really positive and motivating volunteers, it has been a year of real growth. In the off season this year, I have been lucky enough to meet with a lot of Milwaukee area food preservationists and food justice organizations. Everyone I have come in contact with has been supportive of the FPPP’s mission and has offered to circulate information or help with produce donations. Through these connections I hope to strengthen the project’s presence in Milwaukee as well as increase produce donations.

One particularly interesting connection the FPPP has made this year has been with the Cultures and Communities Program office at UW-Milwaukee, thanks to a Community-University Partnership grant. With this grant, the Gathering will be teaming up with Dr. Phillips (Program Coordinator of the Conservation and Environmental Sciences department) on a project entitled, “Practical Approaches to a Sustainable Future with the FPPP.” Through this project, twenty students will be growing their own produce in garden beds on campus. The students will then harvest the produce and, through a preservation session with The Gathering staff and volunteers, will preserve it and donate it to the FPPP where it will be used in winter meals.

Special Thanks to everyone who volunteered last season!

People That Make The Gathering: Ed Kowach

Ed pictured at the Gathering's south side dinner site

If you’ve spent any time around the Gathering’s sites recently, you probably know Ed. Ed Kowach has been involved with the Gathering for the past thirteen years. Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ed to hear how he got involved.

About fifteen years ago, Ed became unemployed and homeless. He stayed in a shelter for two years. Life at a crowded shelter was overwhelming. To combat the difficulties, Ed stayed busy.

“I used to get up bright and early because I liked to get out and about. At that time, The Gathering was a means and a way for me to make sure I had something to eat. I was new to being homeless and not very knowledgeable about other programs, until I got to know people.”

One of the people that Ed got to know was Lee Easter. Lee was a cook with the Gathering for many years before Ed came into the picture. “Lee adopted me, he was like a stepfather to me” explained Ed. Lee showed Ed the ropes, helped him make connections and even helped Ed find an apartment to live in. He has been housed ever since. With the guidance of Lee, other volunteers and the Gathering staff, Ed began volunteering about three times a week at the Gathering’s St. James Site. He soon graduated to volunteering almost six times a week.

At the time, Ed also volunteered with a meals-on-wheels program and St. Ben’s meal program. With 30+ years experience working in the food industry, Ed makes a great addition to any meal program. Plus, he is no stranger to hard work. Ed has been seen cooking, cleaning tables and chairs, making sure people get drink refills, helping with deliveries, etc. He once helped make scrambled eggs for 150+ people on a scorching hot summer day.

Ed is now a Gathering staff member, working as a cook and security guard at the Gathering’s south side site. All of the volunteers and staff who have worked with Ed know that he is a valuable asset, and Ed feels the same way about them. 

“My favorite part has been knowing a lot of the volunteers over the years. That’s been real enjoyable. You can’t imagine the number of groups and volunteers that have come. I’ve got to know them all well. I think I am a safe, familiar face who knows how to do the job.”

Ed’s work with the Gathering over the years made him a recipient of the George Greene Award, given for exceptional service by a guest turned volunteer. 

“It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that you’re getting recognized for giving something back, doing something for the community. It makes me proud. That’s why I continue on.”

2013 Gathering Golf Classic

The rain started drizzling down around 10:30 am, when the Gathering’s volunteers and staff members were arriving and preparing to set up for the Gathering’s 7th annual Golf Classic. Everyone was nervous to see the rain and wondered how the day would turn out. Miraculously, the rain stopped right as the event was beginning. It didn't pick back up until guests and volunteers were pulling out of the parking lot. It was a perfect window of sunshine and breeze for a fun, enjoyable afternoon of golf!

The 2013 Gathering Golf Classic was held on Monday, June 24, at Evergreen Golf Course in Elkhorn. This year’s event raised $14,245 to feed Milwaukee’s hungry and homeless. Over 80 golfers competed for two hole in one prizes—a Land Rover courtesy of Fields Auto Waukesha and a two night, three day golf vacation courtesy of Evergreen Golf. Some came close, but no hole-in-one winners this year. Many also participated in our exciting raffle.

We were fortunate enough to have many generous sponsors and donors who made this event possible. Special Thanks to our Gold Sponsors ($2500):

Twin Disc has grown up in Racine to become a world-class manufacturer of power transmission equipment. Our products manage and control horsepower all over the world—in all field equipment, airport crash trucks, military vehicles, fishing boats, work boats and pleasure crafts. Twin Disc is proud to be part of a corporate citizenry that has left its mark on the world. It is a tribute to this community and those who live and work here. WE PUT HORSEPOWER TO WORK!

Wishes The Gathering continued success in its ministry of feeding Milwaukee’s hungry and homeless. Zacher Truck Services—929 W Waterford avenue, Milwaukee, WI (414) 482-4010

Big thanks as well to our silver sponsors ($1,000):

Mel & David Johnson

Mike & Ginny McBride

Ab Nicholas

Milwaukee Capital

And also thanks to our bronze sponsor ($500):

Law Office of Eugene E. Detert

In addition to our Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors, we were also blessed with twelve hole sponsors ($100/hole):

Emanuel Church, Hales Corner (1)

Advocacy investments (1)

Weber & Rick, S.C. (1)

David A. Paris, D.D.S., S.C. (3)

Ruby Isle Inc. (2)

Anytime Fitness Sussex (1)

Harry & Ellie Moseley (1)

Laura & Jason Thurow (1)

Data Financial Inc. (1)

And last but not least, thanks to our hole-in-one sponsor:

Fields Auto Waukesha

The event ran smoothly on a beautiful course thanks, in part, to Evergreen Golf Club—excellent hosts as usual. Finally, big thanks to Shane Morrison and Jim Leurquin—the Gathering Board co-chairs of this year’s event. Their behind-the-scenes hard work made it all possible.  Now that The Gathering staff is back in the office on a rainy day, we will undoubtedly find ourselves reminiscing through pictures of golf carts and sun, until next year!

Thanks again to all.

2012 Gathering Service Award Recipients

The George Greene Award for exceptional service by a guest turned volunteer is named after founder and long-time Gathering Board President. The 2012 Award was presented to John Behmke for his exceptional commitment to meal service at the South Side meal site (pictured below).

The Produce Preservation Project celebrated its first Service Milestone for volunteer Eileen Duffey, who has helped over 20 times in the project’s 3 years of existence.

The following INDIVIDUAL volunteers reached service milestones in 2012 for number of years of continuous volunteering:

30 YEARS: Rick & Mary Thickens (Rick is a Cook, both are Coordinators) 20 YEARS: Jill Ardis (Coordinator); Ruby Cross (Cook); Neil & Jane Radtke (Cooks) 15 YEARS: Jim Ardis (Coordinator), Harry & Ellie Moseley (Coordinators), John & Julie Wolf (Cooks)10 YEARS: Jerry & Connie Michalske (Cooks), Donna Seri (Coordinator), Janet Totero (Cook) 7 YEARS: Lyn Aiken (Cook), Howard & Liz Frank (Cooks), Linda Koenig (Breakfast Program), Marcus Momon (Cook), Christine Wilke (Coordinator) 5 YEARS: Roger Carroll (Coordinator), Michelle Da Costa (Cook), Roger & Linda Dickson (Cooks), Bob Heindl (Breakfast Program), Mark & Karen Meunier (Cooks & Coordinators), Richard Thickens (Cook), Jason Thurow (Cook)3 YEARS: Sarah Buell & Gordon Lasic (Cooks), Joseph Kaja (Cook & Coordinator), Kris Ochocki (Coordinator).

Nancy Kiernan and Tara Buckley

The following GROUPS reached service milestones in 2012 for number of times volunteering:

200+ Johnson Controls, Inc. 150+ Christ Church Episcopal, Community United Methodist Church, Prince of Peace School 130+ Fox Point Lutheran Church 125+ Thomas More High School Students 85+ Memorial United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 65+ North Shore Presbyterian Church 50+ Albright United Methodist Church, Heritage Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 35+ UWM Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership & Research 25+ City on a Hill 15+ Lutherdale Ministries, Northwestern Mutual New Business Department, Robert W. Baird, St. Gregory the Great Congregation, St. James Episcopal Church.

Moses and Camille

Friends of The Gathering Awards, given to agencies, groups or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional compassion and dedication to The Gathering itself or to those we serve:

Sherry Walker (Coordinator); Rick Thickens (Cook & Coordinator); Betty Reilly (Dinner Program); Mary End (Dinner Program); Mark Heffron (Photographer); Jerry Smith (Newsletter Printer); Niki Bivona (Cook & Website Designer); Robert Wargolet III (Webmaster); Robert W. Baird (Baird Gives Back Campaign); Jeff Steren-McDonald’s Restaurants (donations to Breakfast Program); St. Augustine, Wauwatosa Ave. UMC, Peace UMC, Christ Church (Bagged Lunch Donations); Julie Wolf (Shelter Meal Program nutrition consultant); Judith Van Till (Breakfast Program).

Bob Heindl with Marianne