Baby Born in Homeless Camp

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Merry Christmas and the Latest Updates

First of all, Merry Christmas!! Here is some of the latest news regarding the Jacob’s Well project.
1. Lake Forest Park Pres. has committed to the clearing with the support of Matt Howland at Howland Homes. They are also considering taking on the earthwork, grading, transport, excavation and export. This would be a huge blessing.
2. Another group is currently considering taking on the foundation.
3. Adam Blackner from Precision Site Works is currently working on a bid for the other pieces of the site work.
4. Liza Lange, Joan Neiman and Dan Pica have all agreed to support the project management efforts.
5. Joan Neiman and Susan Camerer will be meeting with the architects on January 6th to finalize the project specs.
6. Mars Hill Shoreline, Aurora Nazarene, Calvin Pres and several other churches have fundraising efforts taking place. Please send updates when you have them.
7. Pam Jackson, Margo Serrano and Emily Olsen are heading up the prayer team.
8. Jim Manker, Gary Kingsbury, Bill Bear and Linda Rutowski are working on Recruiting.
9. Judson Bartels, Justin Schaeffer and others are working on communications.
10. Bill Sunderland from VisionSynergy and Gary Kingsbury have both done an excellent job facilitating this effort.

Please fill in with more detail if you have it!! Thanks. Susan Camerer, Executive Director

Notes from Dec. 3rd Meeting

Below are notes from the Vision House Shoreline Project (Jacob’s Well) meeting on 12/3/09. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or corrections. Thank you for all your support and interest!

After reviewing the project’s history and overview, recent
commitments from Calvin Presbyterian Church, Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church, and Aurora Nazarene Church, and Mars Hill Church were shared. Vision House appreciated these churches’ efforts to financially support this project and provide examples to others!

Each group discussed next steps to support the project:

1. The Prayer Support Group bathed the project and this meeting
with prayer. They will be communicating prayer requests and responses on a regular basis. A prayer walk on the project property was conducted after the meeting. Contact Pam Jackson p.jackson@thegrowthcoach.com

2. The Recruitment Group will be contacting 300 churches by the
end of January. They would appreciate any assistance with this effort and any leads to specific churches. Contact Jim Manker jim@auroracommunity.org or Bill Bear flyingbear2@gmail.com

3. The Communications Group is working on various tools to
support the project – Power Point Presentation, Project Graphic Puzzle, Project Video, and Press Releases. They asked everyone support with viral marketing through Face book, Twitter, and You Tube; as well web site links with Vision House. Contact Judson Bartels judson.bartels@mysoundchurch.com

4. The Construction Group reviewed the talents and resources in
the group. A three-member project management team has been formed. There are still needs for a construction supervisor and captains for each construction phase. The group discussed various ways to involve vendors for assistance with labor and resources. Vision House can provide L&I coverage for volunteers, liability coverage for venders, and tax donations. Building permits need to be pulled by February and construction needs to start within the year. Contact Susan Camerer susanc@vision-house.org

“The City” software will be used for project activity. Vision House needs email addresses of interested parties to incorporate into the software. This software will be used for events/calendars, group activities & communications, as well as tracking commitments, resources, and requests. Once you are connected with The City, please join all interested working groups.

The next gathering is planned for the first Thursday in March at Schirmer Auditorium again. More details again.

Thank you for sacrificing part of your morning!

Gary Kingsbury
Vision House Board Member
gary.kingsbury@comcast.net
cell: 206-962-1496

Jacob's Well Planning and Construction Meeting

Please join the group to plan the construction of the Jacob's Well comples for homeless single mothers and their children. The complex will include 20 apartments for homeless families, a child care center and program space.

Date: Thursday, December 3

Time: 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, Coffee and Pastries provided.

Location: Shirmer Auditorium, Kings School Campus

Action Items:

Invite others from your church and other churches that would be interested in learning more about this very worthy project.

For more information contact:

Gary Kingsbury, Vision House Board Member

gary.kingsbury@comcast.net

(206) 962-1496 cell

(206) 542-0826 home

Benefit Concert Raises Funds and Awareness for Homeless Kids

Anni Korpi and Friends perform at the Vision of Hope concert to raise funds for the Jacob's Well project to provide housing and support services to homeless moms and kids. Here is a link to the finale piece. www.youtube.com/watch?v=grcHKbB-rWg Thanks so much Anni, Friends and Calvin Church!

Recap of JW Construction Planning Group

The meeting had 28 participants, representing 15 different organizations. Background information on Vision House and the Shoreline (Jacob’s Well) project was shared. Participants discussed their possible involvement in the project, commitments, questions/issues, and next steps. A special group on construction issues was formed.

Key items from these discussions were:

• The need for more networking activities to increase the number of participating churches and other organizations. Jim Manker challenged the group to bring someone with them to the December 3rd meeting, doubling our numbers! Please let me or Vision House know if you need any support or materials to do your peer-to-peer recruiting.


• The need for an updated data base of churches and key church and community players in the North King County and South Snohomish County area. Linda Rutkowski volunteered to work with the Vision House staff to complete this task.


• The need for a prayer support group for the project. Emily Olsen and Pamela Jackson volunteered to get this group started and working.


• The need for project management/project leader. Susan Camerer is currently filling this role until other resources can take over this responsibility.


• The need for a Shoreline project video with history and story by Kurt Campbell. Steve Tompkins and James Harleman volunteered to get the resources for the video and contact Kurt for this project.


• The need for additional web-based tools. Steve Tompkins volunteered to see if Zondervan Publishing would donate their social networking tool, “The City,” to this project.


• The construction group needs a more detailed budget. Todd, Victor, Gabby, and Susan will work to get this information.


• The need for more resources and funding to do the project! Participants were asked to identify what resources and funding is available from their organization, and bring this information to the December 3rd meeting. Obviously this is a major prayer request also.

For detailed informaton about our Shoreline expansion project, Vision House Jacob's Well, go to "Download Jacob's Well Resources" on the menu bar to the right.

Vision House Giving Trees

You can make Christmas a little brighter for a homeless family this year! Vision House giving trees are a great way to rally your co-workers, family, friends, and church family around a great cause. Sponsoring a giving tree is easy! Here’s how it works:

1. Contact Kristi Slattery at 425.228.6356 or kristis@vision-house.org and let her know you would like to sponsor a tree.

2. Kristi will arrange to have a giving tree delivered to your office or church towards the end of November.

3. People will take tags off the tree that describe a Vision House child or mom and their Christmas wish. They will then buy a gift card or give a financial gift and return it to the box under the tree.

4. Kristi will coordinate pick-up of the trees and gift cards just before Christmas.

5. Gift cards are provided to Vision House families to purchase specific items as needed and are also used throughout the year to support the children and mothers in our care. Trees will be claimed quickly, so call today to reserve yours!

Vision House (425) 228-6356 www.NoHomelessKids.org kristis@vision-house.org

Here is a PDF flyer to give to others. >>> Giving Tree Flyer

Jacob's Well Planning and Construction Meeting

Please join us to find out more about our next building project – Vision House Jacob’s Well in Shoreline. This complex will include 20 apartments for homeless mothers and their children, as well as a child care center, program space and counseling offices.

Date: Thursday October 29th

Time: 7 – 8:30 AM, Coffee provided.

Location: Campbell Nelson Nissan Conference Room
24325 Highway 99 (across from the Home Depot/Costco Shopping Center)
Edmonds, CA 98026

Action Items:
Invite others from your church and other churches that would be interested in learning more about this project.
Invite individuals in the construction industry that would be interested in serving on the Project Advisory Team.

For more information contact:

Gary Kingsbury
Vision House Board Member
gary.kingsbury@comcast.net
(206) 962-1496 cell
(206) 542-0826 home

Jacob’s Well New Direction - God Strengthen our Hands

2009 has been a very difficult year for funding. Nearly every major funding source has declined our grant request. Let me assure you that it is not because the proposal lacks merit. The Jacob’s Well plans are solid and the need is great, but they regrettably just didn’t have the resources. Even funding sources that we had signed letters of agreement to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars have let us know they won’t be able to fulfill their pledge commitments.

So how do we move forward on this project? Yesterday, six local church leaders came together to see what role they can take. We have broken the project down to 47 bite size pieces. Our goal is now to mobilize 47 churches to do a smaller portion of the project and to build the project piece by piece.

If you want to learn more about the construction, please plan on attending the 7:00 AM meeting at Campbell Nelson Nissan near Costco in Edmonds Thursday, October 29th, 2009.

We would also like to invite you to the combined north and south end event which will be held at the Bellevue Hilton Tuesday, October 13th. Registration begins at 11:30 AM. We have combined this year's events to use our resources wisely. More detail.

I love the story of Nehemiah. Nehemiah wept for his people who were suffering. Their homes had been destroyed. Their city wall lay in ruins; its gates destroyed by fire. They lived in disgrace. But God called him to rebuild the city wall and he obeyed. At times, he faced such adversity that the laborers would build with tools in one hand and a sword in the other. Nehemiah kept his weapon near, ready to fight for his family, the unprotected, and the vulnerable. Ready to defend the people that he was called to protect. And I am here to tell you, we are ready for the fight. And I ask that you fight along side us for protection of the weak, the poor, the homeless and the vulnerable.

It will be difficult. It will not go quickly. But I guarantee, when you see God face to face and life here on earth is over, you will hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant!”

Seahawk's Charity of the Month chooses Vision House

Vision House is pleased to announced that we were selected Seahawks Charity of the Month!! Several public service announcements will be airing in September and the children will get a visit from the Seahawks! How fun is THAT!! GO HAWKS!!

Federal Home Loan Bank Grant Submitted

We met the deadline for the Federal Home Loan Bank application today. The request is for $120,000. I hope you will take time to read a few very inspiring stories from women who have overcome homelessness, poverty and abuse. You'll feel encouraged! Here is the link: stories of hope

Campaign Update

The Jacob's Well project didn't make the cut for Snohomish County funding. There were over $6 million in requests competing for about $350,000. Even with this decision, we are still very optimistic. The Kresge Foundation will allow us to increase our request to them to $450,000 and we had a conversation with the Murdock Trust today which was also optimistic. Our Murdock request for $400,000 will be decided in August and Kresge in October prior to our fall kick off November 10! Please SAVE THE DATE! (see below) So of the $4.4 million needed for the project, we have raised just over $2 million. Positive decisions from Murdock and Kresge will put us well on our way. Both of these grants are challenge grants meaning we would need to raise the other amounts needed prior to them releasing their dollars. Click here for more information about this project.

Jacob’s Well Breakfast
Save the date and plan to join us for an informative and inspiring benefit breakfast to raise funds to build Vision House Jacob’s Well.
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Time: 7:30 – 8:45 a.m.
Location: Lynnwood Convention Center
3711 – 196th St. SW, Lynnwood 98036
Cost: Entrance is free to this fundraising event.

RSVPs are required at 425-228-6356

HUGE Garage Sale Aug. 21-22

You don't want to miss this amazing sale to benefit Vision House. It will be held at the Children's Village Child Care center located at 450 Bremerton in Renton, 98059.

You can also donate gently used small household items, toys and tool to help make this year’s Bargain Bash a smash hit! Contact Kristi at 425-228-6356 or kristis@vision-house.org to arrange for drop off. All proceeds benefit Vision House www.nohomelesskids.org Items we cannot accept: Broken, chipped, cracked, soiled or torn items Items missing pieces, parts, or cords, car radios, computers and peripherals

Campaign Plan

Today I am reworking our campaign plan. We didn't get the Snohomish County grant for $300,000 and just found out that most likely the state has spent all of their dollars for the next two years. (there were $6 million in requests for only $300,000 available)

So of the $4.4 million needed to raise for the first phase of the Jacob's Well complex, the team has raised just over $2 million. We can most likely raise an additional $1.3 in grants leaving a faith goal from churches, individuals and corporations of about $1 million. We are still working on the construction permits so they will be in place when God provides the finances. We are moving forward in faith.

Please continue to pray for provision and wisdom. Thank you.

Susan

Jacob's Well Prayer Event

Save the Date:
August 30th, 2:00 PM to 3:30

Local church groups will meet on the Jacob's Well property in Shoreline to pray for the homeless in the community and show support for the Jacob's Well complex. For protection of the families we will serve, Vision House does not publish the exact location, so we’re shuttling people to the property from the Aldercrest Learning Center: 2800 NE 200th St., Shoreline. Thanks to Aurora Church of the Nazarene for taking the lead on this event! You and your church can help out with clearing the property, bringing refreshments, promoting the event with your congregation, etc. For more information or to help out, contact Mary Burton at maryb@vision-house.org or 425-228-6356. We hope to see you there!
Also, please become a "fan" on Facebook at the following link: Build Jacob's Well

We have a presentation to Snohomish County this Wednesday for a grant for $300,000. Please pray for favor.

Kresge Grant Completed

We completed our grant application for the Kresge Foundation today for $300,000. If we get this, it will be a challenge grant to help leverage additional dollars. To date the capital campaign cabinet has raised $2 million toward our $4.4 million dollar goal.

Great News!

Today we recieved a $25,000 grant from the McEarchern Foundation!! They funded our full request and considering economic times, I know this was a very generous and sacrificial contribution. Their gfit is significant up front as they help to leverage other funding sources. We also met with Ken Stark yesterday, the Director of Human Services in Snohomish County to introduce the Jacob's Well project. We currently have a request into Snohomish County for $300,000 that will be decided this June. Signing our petition to the right will help show support for the project! Receiving this grant will leverage our Murdock, Kresge and State requests. We are truly grateful for your endorsement of this project.

Endorse This Project

We currently have a grant request into Snohomish County for $300,000. Your endorsement of this project carries alot of weight. We are working at getting 10,000 signatures for this project by the end of 2009. Go to this link to sign the endorsement page: Build Vision House Jacob's Well or e-mail me for a hard copy to circulate in your church, community group, amongst your family and/or friends. Susanc@vision-house.org. Your support makes a huge difference! Thanks. Susan

Meeting in Snohomish County

It has been determined that Snohomish County will allow Vision House to compete for county funds. Vision House submitted a grant request for $300,000. We have met with two council members and plan to start working on getting endorsements for the project. To endorse this project, please contact me at susanc@vision-house.org and don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions! Susan