Board Chairman, Eric Hess

Volume 1, Issue 1

Foundations For Living, Inc .

Laying Foundations Today For a Brighter Tomorrow

As Waupaca County becomes more aware of addiction is-sues, FFL continues to broad-en the scope of services to help those in need.

In my short time as Executive Director, one thing that stands out above and beyond all else is PASSION. Each staff mem-ber, volunteer, and donor cares deeply and genuinely for others. I am honored to be in such a committed community. I have a great appreciation for the dedicated, hard-working volunteers and staff that make FFL such a wonderful organi-zation. Without your effort and support we would not have been able to help so many in need.

This year we opened our warming center on Nov. 1st, and have already been able to

assist ten guests. Our front office has given assistance to over 410 individuals and fami-lies in 2017. It is so unfortu-nate to have this need in Waupaca, but the majority of families are only one or two paychecks away from financial disaster. I’m so glad that FFL is alive and well in Waupaca County.

I am very excited about plans for the next year that include additional education work-shops and support groups that will focus on addiction recov-ery. Most of you are aware of the impact that addiction has had on our community. FFL is striving to offer activities that provide growing support to those struggling in recovery. Whether drugs, alcohol, food, video games, or etc, our sup-port groups and workshops

News from the Executive Director

FFL Executive Director, Mary Robin Hess

reasons for homelessness in our area and found substance addiction to be one of the major causes. FFL is excited to be moving forward in the area of offering addiction recovery support . As with all commu-nities, there is a rapid increase in substance abuse, and Waupaca has not been im-mune to this epidemic. This issue will most likely touch every family in the Waupaca, Waushara, and Portage county areas in some way. Substance addiction does not discrimi-nate whom it seeks to destroy. This and other addictions are seeking out our loved ones and eroding our communities. FFL looks forward to being part of the solution.

(continued on page 4)

Hello From The Board of Directors Chairman

are geared to encourage and create a positive atmosphere.

Additionally in 2018, FFL plans to add financial work-shops that will help the many who are struggling paycheck to paycheck. Providing new tools and individualized budg-et plans, FFL will assist in building skills that can im-prove the day to day stress of money issues.

I am committed to listening to your input and can’t wait to see how much we accomplish together. Please ask how you can join us in service to OUR community. Best wishes this Holiday Season.

“And seek the peace of the city ... and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you

will have peace”. Jeremiah 29:7

My name is Eric Hess, and I am the new Chairman of the Foundations for Living (FFL)Board. I come with many years of ministry and business experience that I trust will be an asset to FFL. Having worked for years side by side in ministry with my wife, Mary Robin, we share enthusiasm for the mission of FFL. As a volunteer last year in the warming center, I found that there are more people that need prayer, encouragement, and above all hope than I ever imagined. I look forward to

the coming year and the im-pact FFL will make in our community and surrounding areas.

I would like to take this time to thank Mary Gengler for her hard work and dedication over the years serving on the board in assorted capacities; most recently. the Board Chair. Mary has been a wonderful leader, and her expertise will be greatly missed.

As you may already know FFL is expanding upon our well-known ‘help the homeless’ ministry. We will by no means abandon our focus on home-lessness, it will remain our flagship ministry. With the FFL team, we investigated the

Stigma; a mark of disgrace or infamy, a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation. We have all experienced this sometime in our lives. I re-member as a kid the neighbors saying "Oh, stay away from that fami-ly, their nothing but drunks". I would think to myself, I'm in third grade, why am I being blame for something one of my parents is doing.

Final Thoughts With Mary

Clothes Closet Director, Theresa Williams

dope head. As a mother I cannot explain to you the emotional wreckage that the stigmas regarding my son's issues caused my son and my family. He lost all his friends, people in the neighborhood were gossiping. The stigma made my son feel shame, guilt, and blame. This made it hard for him to seek or want any type of treatment because he didn't want people

I felt shame, like I was a sec-ond class person. This ate at my self-esteem for a long time. I thought everyone was better than me. Fast forward 25 years, my son came back from Iraq with some mental health issues and is/was addicted to substances. He was considered a hero for servicing his country, but I heard people calling him everything from a nut job to a

Former FFL Board Chairperson, Mary Gengler

Three years have come and gone since being elected as Foundations for Living (FFL) Board Chairperson. During my tenure, I was blessed to work along with dedicated staff and volunteers, each helping through selfless efforts to support the FFL Mission of helping people in need. I’ve had the pleasure of work-ing with a dedicated board of directors. Their motivation to help FFL grow was outstand-ing. We stood strong with many challenges that were put forth to the entire organization. Since 2014, I am proud to say that board members have helped direct the following initiatives: SWOT-C Analysis /A com-prehensive list of FFL’s strengths, weaknesses, op-portunities and capabilities. This program helped to serve direction for the many tasks that lay ahead of us. We worked on community aware-ness and increasing our fund-ing and lowering our expenses. We began a major capital cam-paign to purchase the property

we were already occupying. This presented FFL with an opportunity to lower our monthly rental expense by becoming building owners. The board revised the current by-laws helping to set direc-tion for a better future. We initiated an Executive Board which meets every month for discussion on new possibilities before we go to the full board for approvals. As a team, we owe so much to the many volunteers that helped with our fundraisers over the years. Many thanks to Mary Jo Wanty for chairing the annual Hope For the Homeless Banquet. Her marketing skills brought us to a new giving level, and it became our signature fundraiser. We came to appreciate the Waupaca businesses and single donors who have encouraged us with their support. We moved forward in new possibilities in getting our feet wet with grant writing oppor-tunities….thanks to our new Executive Director, Mary Robin Hess.

Our budget planning has been enhanced over the past year thanks to past board member Jean Koszalinski for her efforts. In closing, I’d like to thank each member on the full board of directors for their constant support and whose participa-tion supplied directional guid-ance whether through approv-al or veto of their individual voting power...always utilizing their sound and practical judgment. The board’s constant support helped through several tough decisions over the years. Their individual caring to do the right thing help move FFL in an upward direction. I trust FFL’s future as being in good hands in aiding those in need in our community through our newest “Recovery Coach” endeavor, the Emer-gency Warming Center, and finally, our support group pro-gramming. The Clothes Closet is growing fast and still continues to offer exceptional deals to the community. Keep up the good work! God’s blessings to all.

tor in their health issues. The same goes with people that are diabetics. People should never be shamed, thought less of or degraded. This stigma needs to

stop, so the people looking for help will not be afraid or ashamed to ask for it. We are all of one race, THE HUMAN RACE. Theresa

to say he was crazy and/or talk about him. People that get heart disease from poor diet and lack of exercise are not shamed be-cause their life style was a fac-

Stigma .. . Continues

Foundations At Christmas

Program Director, Darla-rae Amundson

Some of the best years of my life were the years that I spent in college. I learned more about me in those 5 years than at any other time in my life. My faith foundation came from my Grandparents and Parents but my ministry foundation was developed in a place that taught me not to be a great leader but to strive to be a gen-erous servant.

Every Christmas while in col-lege I managed to make it home. I would travel to Wis-consin to be with my Dad and the rest of the Amundson clan or I would head north to Alas-ka to be with my Mom, Step-Dad, sister and my ever grow-ing nephews. The only time I didn’t make it home was my final year of College. I was going on my internship in Jan-uary and couldn’t afford to make the trip home. Some friends that were the directors of a mission agency graciously “loaned” me their home if I would take care of their plants. I agreed, not knowing that this would be the Christmas that would change my life forever.

I don’t remember where every-thing came from but I had been given blankets and cook-ies. Not just a couple of them but cases of Christmas cookies and a van full of blankets.

I had done some street minis-try with the kids that I was the

youth director of, but they were all spending time with family, so I made the choice in that moment that I would drive 19 miles into Seattle and give the cookies and blankets to every homeless person I could find until they were gone. I thought I was giving but I received so much more that night. I met a young man that went by the name Baer, he was as big as a bear. Baer shared his story with me and I was shaken by his honesty and his ability to forgive those who had wronged him. Baer then informed me that I was going to be safe for the night be-cause he was going to watch over me. Baer introduced me to Pops and his girlfriend. We talked for hours about their fascinating journey. Soon the sun was coming up and it was time for me to head back to Issaquah and my temporary home, but my heart was forev-er changed by the homeless people in Seattle who took the time to share their Christmas with a college student that was only homeless for a single evening.

I went on to do my internship in Glendale California and received my first call to a 5 point parish in NE Montana.

When I finally moved back to the Iola/Waupaca area in 2005 I felt that I would no longer be working with the homeless -

boy did God have other plans for me.

Who would have believed that a small community like ours would have homeless folks. That our schools would have homeless children in them. Homelessness here in rural WI looks different. You’re not going to find a tent city, you’re going to see frustrated land-lords because too many people are living in the homes they have rented. Youth leaders trying to find ways to feed kids that come to their evening programs. Mom’s and Dad’s voluntarily turning their kids over to temporary care be-cause they have no home to take them to. People suffering not only from addiction but having nowhere to lay their heads except on a friend’s couch.

Each one of us can make a difference. Foundations For Living is here to give you the same opportunity that I had all those years ago on the streets of Seattle. To reach out and change your life by touching the lives of our homeless pop-ulation right here in Waupaca.

Jesus was homeless too, I am so thankful that the Inn keeper found a place for him to stay in the over crowded Little Town of Bethlehem.

Christmas Blessing,

Gently Used Donations Accepted

between 9-3 except

Wednesdays

Serving Christ by Serving Others . . .Matthew 25:40

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9am to 4pm

Sat. 10am to

2pm

1421 Churchill Street 715-942-2725

info@foundationsforlivingwaupaca.com www.foundationsforlivingwaupaca.com

(Hello..continued from pg 1) As you consider your support of FFL, remember it will help us all, by providing stronger families, and a more responsi-ble employment force. Instead of the Waupaca area being known as a ‘heroin haven’, let’s work together to change this perception. Let it be known as the county that took back its communities, and be an example to all of Wisconsin of how a community comes together for a common good.

I appreciate this opportunity to work with FFL, and hope to meet many of you in the coming year as we move for-ward anticipating change for the better in our communities. Eric

We couldn’t do what we do without volunteers. If you would like more

information about volunteer opportunities at FFL please call

715-942-2725

“We believe in what

you are doing! God has blessed us, we want to bless others.”

- - Faithful Donor

“Foundations

For Living is a new and

fresh beginning for me.

Thank you for being here.”

- - Client

“How beautiful!

Wow! I didn’t even

know you were here. I

love it!” - - Patron of

the Clothes Closet

“I

just want to thank you so very much!

- - Client

“I don’t know what

I would have done

without your help,

today! God bless

you.”

- - Client

“Look what you’ve done! Every time I come in, it’s all changed up. Looks so welcoming!” - - Faithful Donor

“I’m happy to see the prices are low enough for those

in need to afford them.” - - Volunteer

It’s so easy to be part of what God is doing at FFL. ♥ Pray ♥ Be Willing ♥ Call ♥ Become Involved ♥

P.O. Box 564 1421 Churchill Street Waupaca WI 54981 Phone: 715-942-2725

Foundation For Living, Inc

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