Spring Edition 2024
The Latest Buzz From Citizens Concerned for the Homeless For 33 years, Sand Castle Shelter for Homeless Families has provided housing, basic needs, and education to displaced families with nowhere else to go. Our goal is always to guide our families to permanent housing and sustainable self- sufficiency. We are nearing completion of an interior renovation costing $377,655. We have worked tirelessly to raise money for this project, which will result in a shelter building which is healthy, safe, and efficient, ready to serve our families for decades to come. We have received grants, held fundraisers, and currently have a grassroot capital campaign, which relies on community involvement and small- scale donations to achieve its goals. We are at a critical juncture. CCH was awarded a “challenge grant” from Health Foundation of LaPorte (HFL). For every dollar donated, HFL will match that dollar, doubling your donation. We need your help. We are at 96.3% of our goal to reach the match grant requirement with only weeks left to go. Please donate what you can and visit our website at www.cch-mc.org to donate. Your donation will make an impact and help both parents and children of Sand Castle Shelter.
Thank you,
Jim Musial, Executive Director
CCH Board of Directors
Ryan McCormick, President Rebecca Hurni, Secretary Robert Fryer, Treasurer
Margaret Botts Kelly M. Fargo Joseph Nelson Dustin Patrick Paula Switzer Kelly Woloszyn
Please visit our webpage at cch-mc.org for more information regarding CCH programs and classes.
On April 2nd, we began hearing a joyful noise coming from our beloved shelter, as the interior renovation was in full swing! Although the sounds of construction may not seem joyful to some, they are to us because it signifies the start of the 2nd Phase in a two-year renovation project. One of our interior projects includes an overhaul of the kitchen, which will feature new cabinets that are slightly larger, giving us an extra foot in each one! All four bathrooms are gutted and ready for new tubs/showers, walls, vanities and flooring. Necessary upgrades to the electrical and plumbing are in process as well. The shelter flooring is vintage hardwood that is original to the 110-year-old building. This, along with the doors and wide trim, will be sanded and refinished. Seeing the woodwork restored to its full glory is one of the most exciting parts of this journey! Sand Castle clients are tucked away at the Baymont hotel and all shelter items were taken to an off-site storage warehouse. This work of art is now a blank canvas that the contractors can bring back to life, all while respecting the unique characteristics that give this older building her charm. This will provide a beautiful and inviting space for hundreds of families as they transition out of homelessness and into their own home. Sand Castle Shelter Pardon Our Dust
Grace Learning Center
What’s Up at Grace Learning Center?
When “Wes”, first began classes at GLC, he had great difficulty focusing, but he never gave up; he continued attending his assigned classes. Recently, staff sat in on one of the mental health classes that Wes was also participating in. He seemed less agitated and truly focused on the topic the instructor was covering that day, so much so that he was sharing his thoughts with the class. We let him know how proud we are of his progress. He was very happy that someone noticed his improvement. While this might not seem like a big deal to some, to Wes it was huge. The classes identified in each clients action plan are specifically focused on addressing the most common barriers they face. We know Wes did not immediately see the benefit in taking these valuable life-skills classes, but he now understands their value. We look forward to seeing him work through the program and use our classes to bust through his barriers and move forward.
Keys to Hope Our Months have been busy but full of successes moving toward sustainable self-sufficiency. In the first three months of the year we graduated four participants from our program. Each of them worked very hard to get a job or obtain income, attend classes, work through action plan goals and save money to achieve sustainable self-sufficiency. They broke through their barriers by attending classes such as: Nutrition Education, Coping with Trauma, Coping with Grief, Plant Based Nutrition, and Banking Basics. Participants saved 75% of their income for deposits and future housing needs. They did an awesome job of holding themselves accountable in order to meet their goals set forth in the program. We are very proud of them. One Step at a Time
Food Rescue Initiative
1800 Tons and Counting
Since 2019, CCH’s Food Rescue Initiative program has provided 3.6 million pounds of food to LaPorte County residents. This translates into 1800 tons, or 1800 large SUVs! That goes a long way toward addressing the issue of food insecurity in our county, and we have had many fantastic partners walking alongside us in this journey. Whether it is our generous grantors who fund the food events we facilitate, local stores who allow us to pick up rescued food from their freezers twice a week or our faithful volunteers at the mobile food distribution events we facilitate who load vehicles in rain, heat and snow, we are extremely grateful to have their assistance in fulfilling our mission.
Did You Know? CCH Programs Make a Huge Difference!
Since 2019, CCH’s Food Rescue Initiative program has procured, rescued and distributed approximately 3.6 million pounds of food to LaPorte County!
In 2023, 77% of our Sand Castle participants successfully graduated into housing.
There were 3,806 visits to Grace Learning Center last year. What a hidden gem in this community!
In the first quarter of 2024, 31 participants at KTH were gainfully employed.
Contact Us Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc. 1005 W. 8th St., Michigan City IN, 46360 (219) 257-1110 Jim Musial, Executive Director jmusial@cch-mc.org
Grace Learning Center: 1007 W 8th St., Michigan City, IN 46360 (219) 809-9903 gracelearningcenter@cch-mc.org
Sand Castle Shelter: 1005 W. 8th St., Michigan City, IN 46360 (219) 879-2552 Tammy Rosebaum,
CCH Operations Director trosebaum@cch-mc.org
Food Rescue Initiative: 1802 Franklin St., Michigan City, IN 46360 jmusial@cch-mc.org trosebaum@cch-mc.org
Keys to Hope Community Resource Center: 1802 Franklin St., Michigan City, IN 46360
(219) 809-9903 Nicole Mitchell,
Program Coordinator nmitchell@cch-mc.org
CCH in Action
Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc. Sand Castle Shelter for Homeless Families, Grace Learning Center, Keys to Hope Community Resource Center
Name _________________
Address _______________ ______________________
PO Box 8612 Michigan City, IN 46361 219-879-2552 / www.cch-mc.org
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