the Benjamin`s House Bulletin

1107 Heart Island Parkway
Rice Lake, WI 54868
715.736.2437
www.benjamins-house.org
September 2015
Rice Lake Celebrity Charity Classic
This summer Benjamin’s House Emergency Shelter was a part of the
Rice Lake Celebrity Charity Classic Golf and Walk at Turtleback Golf
Course. This event was the first of its kind in the Rice Lake community
with a goal to raise over $100,000 to help support nonprofits in the
area. The event hosted a golf portion where teams were made up of 4
players and a celebrity. Celebrities included Packer and Viking football
players, television/radio personnel and semi golf pros. The walk
portion of the event involved community members in a walk along the
cart paths with the opportunity to win prizes for pledges brought in.
The day was a great success and BHES will glean just over $12,500 for
their portion. Thank you to all of the sponsors and volunteers that
made the day possible. Looking forward to an even bigger and better
event in 2016!
Don’t Forget!
Benjamin’s House can always use your donations,
whether it be in the form of time, money or items.
We appreciate the help and support from all of our
community members! You can always visit
our website for the most up to date list
of current needs.
Our Annual Budget is
$231,800
TOTAL AMOUNT of
GIFTS RECEIVED
1st Half: $150,294
YTD:
$213,636
As cold winter months
approach we can use
donations of warm socks
and NEW underwear –
kid’s sizes and adults!
Our Mission: To work together as a non-profit agency with community organizations and individuals to provide
housing opportunities for the homeless population.
From the Desk of
the Director
executivedirector@benjamins-house.org
Bob & Brenda
November is Homeless Youth
Awareness Month and November 14-22
is National Hunger and Homelessness
Awareness Week!
All sessions booked at Monet & Merlot in the month
of November (excluding the Fall Festival) will procure
a donation to Benjamin’s House Emergency Shelter.
HOW IT WORKS: A talented artist will guide you through each
step of the featured painting. Materials are provided including
the canvas, paint, brushes and apron. You will leave the session
with a masterpiece!
Grab a group of friends, gather the family, bring your
sports team…. PAINT WITH A PURPOSE and support
Benjamin’s House today!
Book a session by visiting:
http://www.monetandmerlot.net/
The Honeymoon period is over…and I
still love my job! I have learned a lot
more than I ever imagined in my first
five months here. I came to this job not
realizing the amount of poverty and
homelessness in our area, you just don’t
see it every day on the streets like you
would in a big city. But sadly it is here.
I was hired to help raise money and
involve the community in support of the
shelter, but I’m doing so much more. I
told my mother after my first few
months “I didn’t know I had such a big
heart but I do, I REALLY DO”. Having a
heart makes this job very tough some
days as there are times I just want to
scoop a resident up, take them home
with me and fix everything for them. I
see so much potential and often failure
and it is hard to watch. I know we
need to teach every person to be selfsufficient but does that mean they still
have to do things on their own? People
are always worried that by helping
someone we are enabling them, but
don’t all human beings need help here
and there? I know I couldn’t raise my
kids alone or do my job without my
team. The help from the community is
what makes this shelter a great place
to work and stay. Thank you for all
your help in supporting a “home” that is
so needed in our community!
~ Lori Bowman, Executive Director
Or call 715.736.4444
Be sure to choose PAINT
WITH A PURPOSE
Our Mission: To work together as a non-profit agency with community organizations and individuals to provide
housing opportunities for the homeless population.
Your Support Matters
Bob & Brenda successfully completed the program in July 2015
A letter from Bob & Brenda:
We came to you as a last resort. We had no income
and our very last penny for a bottle [of booze]. You
gave us shelter, food, the most comfortable bed ever
and resources to accommodate our needs. In return,
all you asked for was to follow your basic rules, i.e.
daily chores, job search, housing search and respect
for others. Immediately we looked for jobs. Which
unfortunately we both could only keep very short
term due to health issues.
To compensate for no job, bob took it upon himself
to do extra chores. Brenda could not do as much
due to shoulder surgery.
We personally did not realize
what a problem homeless-ness
is in our community
There were a lot of obstacles all the way to the
end of our stay.
We personally did not realize what a problem
homelessness is in our own community. It is
unfortunate and it makes us want to give more to
the less fortunate who are willing to help
themselves and not take such a much needed
facility for granted.
We would like to thank you all form the bottom of
our hearts for your support, generosity and sincere
thoughtfulness.
What a beautiful sanctuary to collect your inner
thoughts and reflect on what you can regain for
yourself. Rachel, Lori, Sarah, Stacey, Christina,
Rhonda, Nicole, Rachel and Joe…thanks for the
memories… You will never be forgotten.
Sincerely,
Bob & Brenda
Slumberland donates $10,000
Craig & Annie Antonson, owners of the Slumberland
Furniture store in Rice Lake, recently donated $10,000
to BHES. Antonson’s combined resources with four
other Slumberland stores in the region to make the large
donation possible.
“Giving back is part of who we are as well as a huge part
of the Slumberland culture and this is a great match for
Benjamin's House. We admire the efforts to help people
and families get back on their feet and into better
lives. Helping people is just simply why we are here!”
Thank you Craig & Annie!
Our Mission: To work together as a non-profit agency with community organizations and individuals to provide
housing opportunities for the homeless population.
Join us for a fundraising event like no other!
Benjamin’s House Emergency Shelter and Barron County Restorative Justice Program will host a
fun night of music, laughter and fun!
Tickets
$25/individual, $50/couple
$40 premier seating (includes reserved seat, one song request, & $6 food/drink ticket)
$200 reserved table for 8 (guaranteed seating)
Sponsorship opportunities available!
To order tickets or for more info contact Lori Bowman at BHES 715.736.2437
Presorted
NonProfit
U.S. Postage
PAID
1107 Heart Island Parkway
Rice Lake, WI 54868
Rice Lake, WI
Permit No. 243
Our Mission: To work together as a non-profit agency with community organizations and individuals to provide
housing opportunities for the homeless population.