WINTER 2012

A Place for Everyone Priscillas Story From Our Executive Director The Chilling Costs of Winter Q & A with Volunteer Deb Pasculano Funny Women...Serious Business Ways to Give

Priscillas Story
Priscilla is a single mother who lives with her 12-year old daughter in a modest, yet comfortable apartment in Boston. She works two jobs to pay her bills. It is tiring, but she is thankful for the work, remembering how it was not so long ago. In 2008 Priscilla lost her job and her car and could not afford to pay her rent. With nowhere to turn, she and her daughter found themselves homeless. She turned to Rosies Place for assistance with meals and met with our advocates to get back on her feet. She and her daughter lived in family shelters until 2011 when she was approved for Section 8 housing. When she moved into her apartment, Rosies Place provided Priscilla with furniture, making sure she had all of the comforts of home. She and her daughter moved into their new home shortly before Christmas. Priscilla wanted to make the holiday special for her daughter, but could barely make ends meet and had no money for toys. She again turned to Rosies Place. Priscilla shopped at the Rosies Place Toy Store for her daughters Christmas gifts. She was able to select gifts that she knew her daughter would love and was excited to put the presents under the tree for Christmas morning. That Christmas was the best Priscilla and her daughter ever had. Priscilla is very proud of how far she has come. She refers others to Rosies Place telling them that they can change their situation if they have hope and if they believe in themselves.

A Place for Everyone: Holidays at Rosies Place

For some, holidays mean a special meal. Others think of decorating the house, singing songs and welcoming friends and family. And for some, the holidays are all about the twinkle in a childs eye when he opens that special gift.
At Rosies Place, the holidays are all of these things and more. According to Ruth McDonough, Dining Room Manager, Our guests want the same things that we do. And we try our best to give it to them. We want to make sure everyone enjoys the holidays. Everyone should have a roof over their headsgood food in their belliesand be among friends. No one should be alone on the holidays. On Thanksgiving and Christmas, our Dining Room is open all day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to more than 350 women and children. Decorated for the season, the Dining Room fills with music, conversation and laughter. Staff spend days cooking more than 12 turkeys and all the fixings and a crew of more than 40 volunteers assist in serving meals. Each year, the women delight in the days special menu. Lady, a guest who has taken part in several holiday celebrations, described them this way, The food is exceptionally good. Everyone looks forward to it. By dinner were all stuffed but we make room! People are up and dancinga good time is had by all. Over the holidays, the 20 women staying in Rosies Places Overnight Shelter are given extensions, ensuring that they are safe, warm and in good company during these days that can be so daunting when spent alone. Debbie Conway, Manager of our Overnight Shelter said, Holidays are really hard for our guests who dont have a place to go or dont have family to spend it with. We try to make it like a home up here. We get a tree. We decorate. We make it festive! The guests really look forward to the food, the activities and the little gifts we give them.

Our guests want the same things that we do. And we try our best to give it to them. We want to make sure everyone enjoys the holidays. Everyone should have a roof over their headsgood food in their belliesand be among friends. No one should be alone on the holidays.
For poor and homeless mothersthe holidays are often another reminder of what they cant afford to give their children. Thats where Rosies Place can help. Every December, 150 mothers come and shop in our Toy Store. Here, guests dont receive pre-packaged and prewrapped gifts chosen by someone who has never met their child. Instead, mothers enjoy finding the gift that their child has been asking for all year or discovering a puzzle, toy or kit that they know he or she will love. Erin Miller, our Director of Advocacy, says that mothers really appreciate this very rare opportunity to shop for their children. The Toy Store gives guests a sense of normalcy. It lets them personalize the gifts. And when they wrap them up and write out the tags, no one will ever have to know they came from an organization. Each holiday season, Rosies Place strives to give poor and homeless women and their children, something everyone wants and deservesdays to look forward to and remember fondly.

FROM OUR

The Chilling Costs of Winter For Our Guests

All too often, the holidays become filled with to-do lists, shopping lists and unrealistic expectations. Theres so much pressure to have the perfect holiday, the perfect meal, the perfect gifts. Our guests and their families feel these same pressures. But they are compounded with their day-to-day worries such as: How will the rent be paid? How can I afford groceries? And in our unrelenting New England winters, how can the heating bill get paid, if I make a special holiday meal or buy that special gift for my child? For many of us, the consequence of a holiday splurge may be going on a diet in January or paying off credit cards until March. But for our guests, one more bill or one special purchase can mean the difference between stability and the streets. In the winter, a high heating bill adds extra costs to an already tightly stretched budget. Guests have to choose between heating their homes or buying groceries. Often the debt snowballs and the balancing act crashes. By spring, Rosies Place Advocates see an increase in guests who are in danger of having their utilities shut off or of being evicted. Rosies Place has responded to this critical need by offering assistance with utility arrearages. We also provide winterization workshops to help guests decrease their winter heating costs. Through our Dollars and Cents program, we help guests set budgets and incrementally build their savings. And with our new cooking class, guests can learn creative and money-saving strategies in order to make nutritious, delicious and cost-effective meals for themselves and their families. Rosies Place believes that winter living expenses arent indulgent splurges, but necessities. With your help, we will ensure that our guests arent left out in the cold this winter.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends: Holiday time at Rosies Place means the pace picks up. More guests, more volunteers, more phone calls, more people interested in lending a hand. From the minute after Halloween to right after New Years Day, the bustle of the holidays takes over every corner of Rosies Place! Ruthie makes a dozen turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner, and Alev is signing the women up for art workshops to make holiday centerpieces. Katie is working with WBUR on our Christmas Carol fundraiser, and Erin is already figuring out when our holiday toy store will open. We always move fast at Rosies Place, but the pace picks up at this time of year. Holiday time at Rosies Place means something special is going on. Celebratory meals, extra food in the food pantry, gifts for the women in our shelter. We decorate the dining room, the living room and the lobby. Holiday cards get pinned to the bulletin boards, and the Operations staff breaks out the snow shovels. Someone always donates tickets to the Nutcracker or Black Nativity for the guests, and our friends from Worcester Square always invite us to their tree lighting party. We always make sure we offer a welcoming and warm atmosphere at Rosies Place, but theres something special in the air at this time of year. Holiday time at Rosies Place means remembering our guests might be facing extra sadness. Gifts that are too expensive to buy, memories of bad holidays in the past when addiction, illness or poverty interfered, sorrow that someone special is not around anymore. At Rosies Place, we remember that sometimes the holidays are the hardest times for our guests. The reminders of what theyre missinga home, a familycan make November and December the hardest months of all. So we offer a hug, a hand and a smile to every guest to help her shoulder the sorrow and come out smiling. We always offer comfort at Rosies Place, but we open our arms even wider at this time of year. Twelve months a year, Rosies Place is there for our sisters who struggle against odds that would set most of us on our heelspoverty, illness, homelessness, job loss, isolation. And were there because youre there for us. You remember us rain or shine, winter or summer. Your help and good wishes make it possible for our guests to see beyond the hardships, to lives of dignity and hope. I wish you a wonderful holiday season, full of family and friends. And a hopeful and healthy 2013, in which we can continue to create a community that shows the world how justice looks. With faith,

To help support Rosies Place or make address changes, please contact the Development Office at 617.442.9322

Q & A with Veteran Volunteer Deb Pasculano

For ten years, Deb Pasculano has been a devoted volunteer at Rosies Place. She has helped out at the front desk, in the Food Pantry, in the Dining Room, in our Dollars and Cents program and has also served on our Board of Directors. Deb shares the experiences and insight that come from a decade of service at Rosies Place. What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about Rosies Place? When I talk to people about my work at Rosies Place, theyre amazed at how comprehensive the services and programs are here. So many people still think Rosies Place is just a shelter or it just serves meals. And when I tell them about programs like Womens Education, Homelessness Prevention, Public Policy, Self-Advocacy, and the Wellness Centerto name just a fewtheyre blown away. What do you see that you have in common with our guests? Much more than I first realized! At the front desk I see firsthand how busy Rosies Place guests are. Making appointments and juggling all the things they need to do to find housing, talk with a counselor, or get job helpit takes a lot of work and running around, and I could relate to that. And I see it now when were working on budgets together in Dollars and Cents. When youre making a budget, youre setting priorities and goals and theyre similar to the ones I have. They want to be able to take care of their households by paying bills and buying groceries. And they want to be able to give their kids the things they need. We all want the same thingsgood health, stability and to provide for our kids the absolute best that we can. What keeps you coming back to Rosies Place giving so much of your time and energy? Over the years Ive seen so many success stories. Whether its a woman who gets off the street and into an apartment of her own, or a student learning English in the Womens Education program or even a guest who writes her first poem in the Arts programthere are all kinds of successes at Rosies Place. And I count myself lucky to be able to witness them and by volunteering, contribute to them. What are three words that best describe you? Organized, compassionate and loyal. What are three words that best describe Rosies Place? Welcoming, respectful and busy!

Sue Marsh

ROSIES PLACE NEWS is a publication designed to inform our friends about the activities happening in our community at Rosies Place. Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for poor and homeless women to maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives. Executive Director Sue Marsh Director of Development Leemarie Mosca Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations Jamie Doyle Director of Volunteer Services Marty Wengert Editor Lori M. LaDuke Design Big Red Chair Consulting

FUNNY WOMEN...
SERIOUS BUSINESS

WAYS

As winter arrives, the days get shorter and colder for the thousands of poor and homeless women we serve each year at Rosies Place. The temperature drops, and the need for a hot meal, a warm coat, a place to sleep for the night and basic medical care only rises. This holiday season, there are many opportunities for both individuals and organizations to support the women and work of Rosies Place: Donate winter coats, hats, scarves and mittens. Lead a Food Drive to stock the shelves of our Food Pantry. Donate toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion and toothbrushes. Give twice, when you do your holiday shopping at Rosies Place: Buy beautiful jewelry from our Womens Craft Cooperative. Youll be giving a unique gift to a loved one while supporting Rosies Place, too. Purchase Rosies Place holiday cards. Give a gift in honor of someone special. For that person who has everything, make a donation to Rosies Place in their name. Make a monetary contribution so that we can continue to provide hope and help to the rising numbers of women who need us this holiday season. For more ideas and details on ways to give, please visit the Giving section of our website, at www.rosiesplace.org.

to GIVE

Not even a hurricane could stop Rosies Place supporters! The day after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, nearly 1,300 supporters gathered together at this years annual Funny Women...Serious Business luncheon on October 30th and raised almost $500,000 for the guests of Rosies Place. Special thanks go out to our Headlining Sponsors: Bank of America, Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare Foundation and Liberty Mutual, along with Presenting Centerpiece Sponsor Neiman Marcus Natick for helping to make this years Funny Women...Serious Business such a success!

In October the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC) held their second Community Service Day at Rosies Place. More than 35 firms of the AGC helped us improve the Front Desk, Lobby, and Wellness Center at Rosies Place. Everyone at Rosies Place was impressed with their efficiency and enthusiasm. Most of all, we were amazed that such a large group could so seamlessly come together and accomplish so much in such a short a time. Both our guests and staff continue to praise the changes and improvements.

winter
WISH LIST
As the days turn shorter and the weather turns colder, Rosies Place is in need of new or gently used hats, gloves, scarves, mittens and socks to help our guests fight the cold. We are also in need of winter coats, size 16 and up. New underwear and bras (especially large sizes) are always in demand throughout the year. Once inside, guests appreciate a cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa to warm up. Single servings of hot chocolate mix, tea bags, coffee beans and individual packets of instant coffee are appreciated. Coffee mugs are also welcomed. With your help, we can continue to make the cold months a little warmer for our guests. Donations can be dropped off at Rosies Place between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Directions are online at www.rosiesplace.org.

Looking for that special holiday gift for a family member, teacher or friend? Consider a gift from the Womens Craft Cooperative.
The WCC offers unique handcrafted jewelry and gift items that everyone loves to give... and receive! The Womens Craft Cooperative has added several new products to our online store, including new bracelets and necklaces. We have also created our first ever crystal ornament which comes in several color palettes. These delicate ornaments look pretty hanging on a tree or decorating your home. To view our collection, shop the WCC online at www.rosiesplace.org. You can also shop our one-of-a-kind items at the WCC Boutique at Rosies Place, 47 Thorndike Street, open Monday through Friday 10:00am-5:00pm. Call 617.318.0282 before you come, so we can welcome you! The Womens Craft Cooperative will also have a booth at the following holiday fairs: SWEA Yuletide Fair, December 15 Boston Center for the Arts 539 Tremont Street, Boston Bazaar Bizarre, December 16 Boston Center for the Arts 539 Tremont Street, Boston

DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT WITH ABLEBANKING

Rosies Place is proud to partner with ableBanking, an online-only savings program that gives great rates, charges no fees and gives each new customer $25 to designate to any charity they choose (including Rosies Place). Our partnership with ableBanking will end on December 31st, but before that happens, ableBanking will DOUBLE the impact of any new accounts when you choose Rosies Place as your charity! When you enter the code 25250, ableBanking gives an additional $25 for you to designate! This offer is only available until January 1st, so start saving and giving with ableBanking today. Visit www.ablebanking.com to sign up now!

SAVE THE DATE

HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP @ CAMBRIDGESIDE GALLERIA THANKSGIVING through CHRISTMAS EVE Rosies Place is looking for volunteers to help at our holiday gift wrap booth at the Cambridgeside Galleria Mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. All proceeds support Rosies Place. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Marty Wengert at 617.318.0218 or mwengert@rosiesplace.org.

FRIENDS OF ROSIES PLACE NETWORKING EVENT MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2012 SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, BOSTON Put your networking hat on, bring your friends and learn more about Rosies Place at this fun shopping night in Boston. For information or to RSVP contact Ben Weisman at 617.318.0232 or bweisman@rosiesplace.org.

WBURS A CHRISTMAS CAROL TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2012 OMNI PARKER HOUSE, BOSTON WBUR 90.9 FM will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its reading of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Join your favorite WBUR personalities at Bostons historic Omni Parker House, the site of Dickens first reading, as they bring this timeless tale to life. Tickets are $50 and all ticket sales benefit Rosies Place. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.rosiesplace.org

www.rosiesplace.org 889 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02118

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