From the President

Dear Friends,

As the New Year begins, we are hearing a lot about volunteering. The United Nations has proclaimed 2001 as the International Year of the Volunteer and is challenging all Americans to give of their time and talents to help build strong communities.

The United Nations proclamation comes at a time when the term "compassionate conservatism" is being used to rally the concern and moral indignation of Americans in an effort to solve serious social problems, wherever possible, without the intervention of government. And in the last couple of years, a new acronym has entered our vocabulary: FBO. Faith-based organizations are being encouraged to build on their religious traditions to mobilize volunteers to help those in need. For some Americans, these may be new concepts, but for IHN volunteers, this is "business as usual."

Each and every day, volunteers do whatever it takes to help families get back on their feet. They transport beds, cook meals, stay overnight, rock babies, read stories to toddlers, help write resumes, help search for housing, celebrate birthdays, and, above all, offer words of encouragement and support and listen with care and concern.

I continue to be inspired by the energy of our volunteers and by their quiet acts of kindness that go above and beyond what anyone could expect. Some have become Godparents; many have stayed in touch with families long after they have left the Network. They have donated cars, provided apartments, and employed guests in their businesses.

I was interested to note that the Independent Sector (an organization of national nonprofits) recently re-leased a study that calculated the monetary value of the volunteer hour at $14.89. If this were applied to our IHNs, our volunteer time would total well over 18 million dollars! But a dollars-and-cents accounting could never express the worth in human terms of what our volunteers do every day.

The strands of compassion underlying each and every act of our volunteers link all of us together in a great web of hope and promise for the future. We are the IHN family-70,000 volunteers and 2,000 congregations strong-and together we are making a real difference.

As always, the staff of NIHN joins me in thanking you for all you do for families in your community.

Sincerely,

Karen Olson
President

Four-Footed Volunteers "Paws Awhile for Love"

On a recent evening in the Hunterdon County, NJ Network, a wound up five-year old boy had a tough time getting ready for bed, while his mom grew increasingly impatient. Not an unusual problem, but on this particular evening, a special volunteer provided a unique solution.

Nicky, a registered Therapy Dog, along with owner Suzanne Tamm, sat on the floor with the youngster to read. As the child leaned in to cuddle with the 115-pound "gen-tle giant" German Shepherd, Suzanne read the classic story, Are You My Mother? Within moments, the boy calmed down completely and the room was so peaceful that other guests and volunteers approached and listened also. At the book's end, Suzanne quietly said: "Okay, now Nicky has to go to bed so you need to go to bed too." The boy quietly slipped away to his room.

Nicky and Suzanne are members of Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI), a nonprofit organization that certifies handlers and their dogs for visits to medical facilities, social service organizations, and anywhere else where dogs are needed and welcomed. Clinical studies show that interacting with well-behaved animals relieves stress, lowers blood pressure, and eases depression. Any dog owner will also tell you that they offer comfort, companionship, and just plain love.

Therapy dogs undertake a series of tests including the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test, temperament tests, and specialized tests to insure that the dogs remain well behaved even in high-stress environments. Once both handler and dog are certified, they receive a picture ID, a collar tag, and handler's t-shirt and hat so they are readily identifiable as a therapy dog team.

Nicky had already been visiting a medical facility when Suzanne read an article about a therapy dog visiting a homeless shelter in the midwest. Suzanne had heard of IHN so she got in touch with Tammy LaBar, Director at the Hunterdon Network.

"Tammy wasn't sure at first if this would work for IHN," remembers Suzanne. Now, Tammy says she asks guests at intake if they'd like a visit with a therapy dog. "Guests are often guarded at first," she says. "We've found that the dog helps people relax and sometimes helps them to speak more freely. And kids just love Nicky. We always ask first though, in case they're afraid or not interested."

One guest-who arrived in poor health and greatly stressed-said she'd love to see Nicky. During the visit, it came out that the woman loved dogs and had worked for a vet at one time. "After Nicky's visit, the woman felt more confident that she did have some valuable training and options," comments Tammy.

In the Cincinnati Network, volunteers Rick and Ozzie Foreman have worked with their therapy dogs in schools, nursing homes and hospitals since 1975. About four years ago, their congregation joined IHN and Rick and Ozzie were recruited to spend evenings and overnights. Bringing the dogs just seemed natural.

The Foremans own two Newfoundlands, two American Staffordshire Terriers and a Shetland sheep dog. (Not all the dogs go on each visit.) If you know dogs, you know those Newfies are 150 pounds each of kid-loving animal. "They are big," says Ozzie, "and sometimes kids hang back at first. But the dogs can take whatever's dished out. In fact, we have to be sure that the kids don't hurt them." The dogs offer a wonderful way to teach children about respecting animals and behaving appropriately around them.

Often, the dogs put on an "obedience show," a delight for guests and volunteers alike. The best part, Ozzie says, is "when people start talking to the dogs, they actually tell the dog what's going on in their lives."

The Foremans' dogs also serve as volunteer recruiters. At a recent "fair" to promote different volunteer opportunities, one of the dogs "manned" the IHN booth. Guess which booth drew the most participants?

Ozzie concludes: "The dogs give unconditional love. They don't care if you're old or sick or homeless. When we leave, people smile and say, 'Hey, that dog really liked me!'"

For more information about therapy dogs, contact TDI, Inc., at 973-252-9800 or www.tdi-dog.org.

Fourth National IHN Conference

Why Should You Join Us For the National IHN Conference in Denver?

If our fabulous keynote speakers, Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake and Ernesto Cortés, Jr.; a wide variety of workshops for directors, board members, and volunteers; a plenary on the role of faith-based organizations and social services; an inspiring interfaith service; and an opportunity to talk and share with colleagues from across the country aren't enough-Did you know that.

• Denver receives 300 days of sunshine a year-more annual hours of sun than San Diego or Miami Beach.
• Denver is the "Baby Boomer" capital of America with the highest percentage of boomers of any major U.S. city.
• Denver has the nation's second largest performing arts center. The Denver Performing Arts Complex has eight theaters seating over 9,000 people.
• Denver has the thinnest residents of any U.S. city, according to a federal study.
• Denver really is a mile high. There's a spot on the west steps of the State Capitol building that is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level.

The "Prompting of the Spirit"

In many ways, Deborah Walker Cohen is a lot like other IHN volunteers. She and her husband Lee were active in the Presbyterian Church of Willingboro. Deborah served as an Elder on the Church and Society Committee, while Lee served as a Deacon. With only an interim minister, Deborah and Lee heard church members voice frustration that their congregation was "stuck." That's when Mary Lou Nelson called and invited Deborah and Lee to a meeting to learn about the development of an IHN.

Deborah realized that her church would be a perfect host site-and moreover, that this might be what they needed to help rekindle the congregation's "can do" attitude. She attended core group meetings and helped mobilize her house of worship and other congregations to participate in this important community undertaking. She joined the board of trustees when it formed, taking on the leadership position of President, and worked hard to ground the new IHN in the community. Lee signed on as the primary coordinator at their church. Deborah led the Network through those initial transition and start-up days and proudly talks about the fine reputation the two-year old IHN now boasts in the County.

This might be where the similarities with other volunteers end. To begin with, Deborah insists you call her Cricket-an apt nickname for this small bundle of energy. Along with her other contributions to the Burlington County IHN, Cricket served as interim Director while leading a search for a permanent one. Early this fall, Cricket and Lee moved to a town called Dorothy, more than an hour south of Willingboro. Yet, Cricket has worked to fulfill her responsibilities as board president, traveling to meet with trustees, staff and community members.

Just when many of us would sit back and enjoy a job well-done, Cricket is at work providing support to the already-established core group in nearby Cumberland County. "I've invested so much in IHN, and the timing seemed right. In Burlington County, we had an 'advisor,' someone who had been involved with an IHN elsewhere. It's great to serve as a resource to a newly forming IHN. There's so much we learned." Cricket is also looking to plant seeds for an IHN in her new home county. "It's almost effortless on my part," she says. "I'm simply listening for the leads, waiting for the prompting of the spirit. And it's working."

Network News

Gainesville (FL) IHN reached for a big guy to speak at their Community Prayer Breakfast. At 6-foot 5, Paul Frase is best know as the NFL defensive lineman who played with the Green Bay Packers in the 1998 Super Bowl. But the former pro played a very different role as a spiritual leader during this special annual event to bring together religious and community leaders.

Guests in the Memphis IHN were treated to a cruise on the Mississippi River, courtesy of Dale Lozier, one of their hosts at White Haven Presbyterian Church. The church had planned a congregational outing and invited their guests to join them. For many guests, it was the first time to test their "sea legs." And like a true adventure story, they even found a "message in a bottle." According to Joyce Dean, White Haven's coordinator, the crew took time to call the number listed on the message and connected to the "casters" up the river. The children could barely contain their excitement; and everyone had a tale to tell!

Roanoke Valley IHN promoted a truly uplifting partnership with their local Habitat for Humanity affiliate earlier this year. Former IHN guests and RVIHN supporters were invited to join in an Interfaith Build-working on Habitat's 99th home in the Roanoke Valley.

They call her their guardian angel. Connie Hanson, a volunteer in the IHN of Greater Cleveland , was recently featured in the Cleveland Plain Dealer for her volunteer work. Since retiring as a schoolteacher last year, Connie has made the IHN and transitional housing programs her full-time job. When a family is ready to move into their new home, Connie makes sure that they have everything they need-from furniture to kitchen utensils. Guests and Network staff alike appreciate having Connie to "watch over" them.

Thanks to a generous gift of stock shares from an anonymous donor, the Western Washington County (OR) IHN has moved into a new day center they now own outright. In fact, the donor so wanted the place to be right for the IHN that the donation was increased to meet the cost of this beautiful house. The early 1900s Victorian, located right on public transportation, allows for ample office and living space, and boasts a yard the kids just love.

The Need: By the Numbers

On December 14, 2000, the U.S. Conference on Mayors, released its 16th annual "Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities." The survey, conducted in 25 cities, examined hunger and homelessness, particularly the demand for emergency food and housing-related assistance. Among the key findings of the report:

• Officials in the survey cities estimate that during the past year requests for emergency food assistance increased by an average of 17%, with 83% of the cities registering an increase.
• Requests for food assistance by families with children increased by an average 16%-the highest rate of increase since 1991.
• 62% of the people requesting emergency food assistance were members of families. 32% of the adults requesting food assistance were employed.
• In 100% of the cities, families and individuals relied upon emergency food assistance both in emergencies and as a steady source of food over long periods of time.
• The average demand for emergency shelter increased by 15%-the highest one-year increase of the decade. Requests for shelter by homeless families alone increased by 17%, with 72% of the cities reporting an increase.
• The average demand for emergency shelter that went unmet in 2000 was 23%.
• On average, people remain homeless for five months in the cities surveyed. Half of the cities said that the length of time people are homeless had increased during the last year.

Even with a strong economic forecast, 71% of the responding cities expect requests for emergency food assistance to increase during 2001, and 72% expect that requests for emergency shelter will increase during this year. A full 79% expect that requests by homeless families will increase.