One of our great volunteers, Ginny, sent me an email this morning providing me with the following update on today’s happenings with Early Seekers down at Kennedy Plaza. They are down there (and at Crossroads) every single Saturday morning handing out clothes and bagged-lunches to the homeless as they are getting off the buses (most shelters close early in the morning and the homeless have nowhere to go but the bus station). The Food Truck gets a lot of publicity, but the Early Seekers are the very essence of RI Dream Center. I hope you enjoy her update as much as I do:
We had the honor of having Bob Ekno with us this morning. He brought Clothing to pass out. He is the host of a Christian talk show In California which gives all beautiful testimonies of how God turned peoples’ lives around. He is also the author Of the book “God bless America before it is too Late.” He Also works with the homeless in Calif. He is up here visiting his family and plans on coming to PT tomorrow also. He was so touched with all we do at Kennedy Plaza . the food truck etc . Even though it was a whooping 14 degrees out , he stayed the whole time, It must have been extra cold for him as he came from much warmer climate. God bless him.
We had the honor of Christina & Randy helping on the food truck this morning. God Bless you
We passed out many bags of clothing and shoes and blankets and many lunches as well and People were so thankful.
Here are some of thing things we are thankful for…
A man we gave some clothing to, we gave him a canvas bag to put his clothing in and then we noticed that the top of the bag was torn, so I said oh wait a minute that bag is ripped We will get you another bag, we have a lot more.
He Insisted that the bag we gave him was fine he said see I just fold it over like this, save the other bags for someone else, This is good. I said God bless you he said no God bless all of you I am just so thankful for the clothing and al you do. Wow! How many of us might be hot under the collar if someone gave us a torn bag? Talk about being thankful!!!!! Beautiful people with thankful hearts. ( Brings tears to your eyes)
John a homeless man gave me $2:00 and said I want to make a donation, this is so awesome all you do here. I want to help out he said. I said God bless you, He said no God Bless all of you. ( brings tears to you eyes)
A homeless Lady came to us and said I have a whole bunch of cloth ,canvas and sturdy bags with handles on them for you to give to people to carry their clothes in. I said oh that is so very nice of you God bless you, She said No God bless all of you for the awesome work you do here. (It brings tears to your eyes) how they want to be a part of Giving and how thankful they are.
Ken: My sister Jan had bought some backpacks and supplies with her own money to give to anyone who did not get one and really needed one. Last week Ken said I don’t have anything and Jan said I will bring you a backpack with supplies in it. So she Gave it to him and he was so thankful. He opened it and found the bag of toiletries in it and came running back with the bag of toiletries in his hands and said oh my God I need these so much, I can’t thank you enough. He was also thrilled with the hat scarf gloves other supplies and the backpack. Praise God. And God bless Jan For his and all the others she gave out. They were so thankful also.
Many People were so hungry they ate their sandwiches as soon as we gave them to them and because it was the first of the month and there were not as many people there we had extra sandwiches and we gave some of them another Sandwich and they ate that second sandwich right away and said i was so hungry Thank you so very much
Many People said that they went to Praise Tabernacle on thanksgiving day for the Thanksgiving Dinner they served, They all said what an awesome dinner and that the people at that church were so warm and loving and they want to come to our church. LOVE Speaks once again!!!!!!
A special thank you Veronica, Barbara Sista, (Ginny Tom’s aunt) and Jan also the other Jan for the lovely things you donated and (Susan Jan’s daughter) for all the lovely shoes and sneakers and To Paul Jan’s brother- in – law for the beautiful leather all the jackets, hats scarfs and gloves and to all of you and your friends, coworkers and relatives Who donated clothing Etc, All went and they were so thankful . You really blessed them. God bless you. Also thanks again for your Prayers Lunch and all you do. God bless you all.
Some of the people we serve ask us to pray for them…see below:
- Sharon will have surgery on Dec 2, 2013 on her elbow ,please keep her in prayer for peace, Her surgery and a speedy recovery.
- Liz Brenda’s mother Please continue to keep her in pray for peace and a speedy recovery for completely healing and That she can swallow . please pray for Brenda as well
- Tracy please keep her and her family in prayer
- Brandon God knows
- Joseph Guilmette Cancer healing miracle
- John cancer of the lung healing miracle
- Gracie Cancer healing miracle
- Scott please continue to keep him in prayer for healing Blood clots
- Jordan God knows
- Maria healing back pain & For her family
- Barbara Needs many miracles in her family
- Robert miracle deliverance
- Bobby Healing of back pain
- Car miracle deliverance
- C miracle deliverance
- Maria healing miracle deliverance
- Brian God knows
- Christina God knows
- Paul God knows
- Hilda & Gary God knows
- Lidia & her family
- K Job & God knows
- Linda Inner healing & salvation
- Ronnie in Jail and his wife and 3 babies
- Ron complete healing
- Randy God knows
- Ken healing of his back
- Anthony finances
- Bobby finances and healing of his foot
- S&G God knows
- Kara that she gets he surgery soon and the outcome is great
- J&T God knows
- Barbara different Barbara Her & Family God knows
- Ron & Cindy on the trail for God’s protection and provision and for all they witness to.
- Billy Healing depression
- Willy his needs
- William Salvation for him & family
- Jeff God knows
- David & family God knows
- George God knows
- David Homeless sleeps out in the freezing cold
- Brian a miracle deliverance
- David needs surgery
- John his needs
- Richard God knows
- Anna every thing goes well this week
- Lenny needs Jeans size 34
- Ray family & friends Mom
- Lisa stay bright and beautiful
- George job change it to better, wants to go to school
- Elisa Family , Masa, HNA, Esteba
- Francis great week
- Estell Vega family, niece, Gunilaughil, Juan, Husband Dominigo
- Walter his needs
- Raymond healing cancer
- Andy special week
- Kenny Thanks for back pack< pray for him as he goes to court
- Nancy self
- Eugene his needs
- Lauren has stitches in her head, Her x boy friend beat her up , pray for her healing and protection , she was in the hospital in conn. and she was in a coma , she almost died
- Jose pray everything continues to go well with court & judge, so far it has worked out, he says praise God
- Brian family to stay safe
- Gary his needs
- Brian the good Bad & the ugly and girlfriends & daughters, He needs a cane
- Francis Service men & women to come home safe
- Needs a queen bedspread or comforter and blanket, And Back pack
- Willie double prayer
- Joafuir Health
- Robert His kids
- Marie Pray for her and her children
- Terrance Housing application in
- Heather Her boyfriend Jerry Got denied 5x for ssi and he is mentally disable, Because he had drugs in his back ground but has been clean for 2 years
- Jose Heart, self
- George his needs
- Mike have a good day
- Lousie Housing
- Ken peace in the world and a better year needs 2x flannel underware
- Adrian Hurey his needs
- L& R God knows
- Ron God knows
- Chris God knows
- G finances
- Bob God knows
- Morales Hunez His needs
- All the homeless
- Pastor’s & their family
- Church family and their family
- all who bless this ministry
- All ministries
- All who are sick
- Addictions to be broken
Thank you and love & prayers from the Homeless & the Early Seekers.
God bless and have a great week
Ginny
Hey, thanks for checking in!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
The RIDC is wrapping up another year, and we have sooooo much to be thankful for. This has been a banner year a for the RI Dream Center and we have been given the opportunity to help more people this year than other year.
Today, we partnered with a number of local organizations for the largest Thanksgiving Day dinner we’ve ever been a part of. A full turkey dinner with all the fixings and dessert was provided to RI’s homeless for free in a wonderful event this afternoon.
Many thanks to all the other volunteers who spent time organizing the event, setting up for the big day, driving the buses and picking the homeless up and then dropping them back off where they are staying, cooking all that wonderful food, serving graciously, greeting our guests, cleaning up throughout the event and setting the church back up after the event was over. You did an amazing job.
Thank you, volunteers and sponsors of this event – you made this day possible. Volunteers from the organizations below raised all the donations, did all the cooking, and supplied all the volunteers:
- Praise Tabernacle Church, the host of the event: www.praisetab.com
- St. Michael the Archangel Church: www.stmichaelsprov.org
- St. Patrick Church: www.saintpatrickchurch.net
- 4zero1: twitter.com/4zero1
- Thirsty Beaver Hometown Pub & Grub: www.thirstybeaverri.com
- Vanity Restaurant: www.vanityri.com
- Amos House: www.amoshouse.com
- Mary House: www.maryhouseri.org
- McAuley House: www.mcauleyri.org
One guest I met (named Darnell) was so thankful for the meal…with a great big smile he told me, “My plate was so full, I couldn’t fit any more food on it!!! I don’t want any more turkey an entire year! Thanks so much!!!”
Some of our guests sleep at Harrington Hall, a men’s shelter on the ACI campus – Harrington Hall’s roof leaked pretty badly yesterday and into the night last night, and some of the guys told me their beds had gotten wet from the rain – and in this cold weather it makes it so much worse. Apparently, Harrington Hall is partitioned off right now, with fewer open beds than normal. I’m so glad we were able to bring some smiles to some faces today – especially knowing what they went through last night and what they have to look forward to tonight…
Thanks to all. I am truly sorry if I missed saying thanks to anyone…although from what I witnessed today, with so many volunteers coming together as one and acting as one cohesive unit, I’m pretty sure you aren’t worried about getting the proper credit…your satisfaction comes from within!
I know it really warmed the hearts of the volunteers to be able to come together as one group and serve the needy.
Thanks to all who support the RIDC throughout the year. Please remember the churches and non-profits listed above this giving season, and please support those restaurants listed above this holiday season!!!
Hope you have as much fun today with your family as we did with ours!!!
My friend Jan sent me a link today that tells RI’ers where they can donate winter coats if they have extras, and where they can get winter coats for free if they have need.
This is not an RI Dream Center event, but the cause is so worthy I just needed to share it. Some of our readers might be able to spare a coat, and I know some of our readers could use one.
Please check out the article below from Prosperity for RI’s website http://prosperityforri.com/.
2013 BND sites in Rhode Island
The 17th Annual Buy Nothing Day Winter Coat Exchange
Friday November 29, 2013
If you have a coat to give, please drop it off. If you need a coat, please pick one up.
Some see Buy Nothing Day as an escape from the marketing mind games and the frantic consumer binge that has come to characterize the holiday season. Others use it to expose the environmental and ethical consequences of over-consumption. In Rhode Island as part of International Buy Nothing Day, we hold a winter coat exchange in various locations around the state, where people who can donate coats, do so, and people who need coats pick them up.. Volunteers are needed to help with this life-affirming event.
Locations in Rhode Island
Providence State House Lawn brick patio across from the mall
Collection and give away November 29 9 AM to 1 PM
Rain location Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 15 Hayes Street Providence
Contacts Greg Gerritt: 331-0529; gerritt@mindspring.com;
Phil Edmonds: 461-3683; philwhistle@gmail.com
Pawtucket – 175 Main St Blackstone Valley Visitors Center
Coats accepted at the visitors center and many other locations in Pawtucket all through November during business hours.
Collection at November Winters Farmers Markets Wednesday evening and Saturday morning at Hope Artiste Village
Coats given away Friday Nov. 29 10AM -2PM
Contact Arthur Pitt ; kingarthur02940@yahoo.com 401-369-1918 http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/NAP-_Neighborhood_Alliance_of_Pawtucket/home
East Providence Bridgepoint 850 Waterman Ave
Coats collected and given away Friday November 29 9 AM to 1 PM
Coats collected throughout November at various locations in East Providence and Seekonk including the Newman YMCA.
Contact David or Lisa Spencer 401-965-9099 Dspencer@atlanticpaper.com
Newport – St Paul’s Church 12 West Marlborough St.
Coats collected and given away 10 AM to Noon
Contact Reverend Becky Baumann pastorbeckybaumann@gmail.com Coats also available at other church events
Wakefield –St. Francis Church, 114 High Street,
Coats Collected and given away 10AM to noon
Contact Tom Abbott 401-364-0778
East Greenwich St. Luke’s Church, 99 Pierce Street, East Greenwich
Drop Off and Exchange 10 am – 2 pm In downstairs cafeteria.
Greater Providence YMCA’s sites
All sites collecting coats throughout November Most sites distributing Coats on November 29 9 AM to 1 PM
East Side/Mount Hope
Drop off coats throughout November Not a distribution site
Contact Christy Clausen 401-521-0155 cclausen@gpymca.org
West Bay Family YMCA Branch
Collection and distribution site
Contact Kaitlyn Rooney 401-295-6501 krooney@gpymca.org
Cranston YMCA
Collection and distribution site
Contact Mike Norklun 401-943-0444 mnorklun@gpymca.org
Bayside YMCA
Collection and distribution site
Contact Michael Squatrito 401-245-2444 Msquatrito@gpymca.org
Kent County YMCA
Collection and distribution site
Contact Patricia Driscoll 401-828-0130 pdriscoll@gpymca.org
South County YMCA
Collection and distribution site
Contact Melissa Bousquet 401-783-3900 mbousquet@gpymca.org
Newman YMCA (Seekonk, MA)
Collection site only
Contact Paula Roy 508-336-7103 proy@gpymca.org
We received a wonderful email this morning from one of the volunteers at the backpack giveaway…I hope you enjoy!
Good morning,
You will be Blessed to know that every one of the 300 plus back packs were received by the homeless on the State house lawn this morning.
We also passed out about 25 huge bags of warm clothing and lunches, coffee & hot chocolate and YOU made it all possible With your very generous donations of backpacks and all the things we put inside them, Be sides all your prayers, donations for lunches, coffee, clothing, and volunteering your time Etc.
Through your faithful dedication and very generous hearts , 300 plus lives were blessed and they were all so very thankful. God bless YOU ALL . Thank you all once again for all YOU do.
So many people said this is like Christmas !!!!! This is so awesome, we just can’t believe all you do, this Church family is just unbelievable !!!!
As they walk away carrying their house on their back with smiles on their faces in the cold weather so Grateful for the things we take for granted , It leaves us counting our blessings and yet wishing we could do so much more for them.
They are beautiful people God’s children so thankful and grateful for the love we have for them, May we always continue to pray for God’s protection and provision for them as they continue on their journey of survival!!!
There but for the grace of God go I!!!!
Please see the Awesome Praise Reports and Prayer list below!
Praise Reports:
Vinny & Melissa are on the recovery road, Vinny is addiction free 1 month Melissa is in the hospital . They both want prayer for strength on their recovery road. Vinny looks so healthy.
Sarge who served 3 terms in the Vietnam war has an apartment. Thanks for serving our country Sarge God bless you Veteran.
Joel is on the recovery Road please continue to pray for continued strength through his recovery.
Sharon She is sleeping out on the streets in the freezing cold, Jan gave her a back pack and much needed clothes and a lunch, She said oh my God this is like Christmas! I can’t believe all this stuff and all you do. where is this church I want to come. She just kept saying thank you ,over and over again. Pray for her safety and a home
Raymond looks good his cancer is in remission ,Please continue to pray for his complete healing, He is a war Veteran Who finally has housing and he comes to church a lot. Thanks for serving our Country Raymond . God bless you Veteran
Donna Jan gave her some clothes and asked her did you get a back pack, She said no, Jan said come with me and took her to the truck, Jan said anymore back packs left and they said one, Donna said oh my God I can’t believe this, Jan said yes God wanted you to have this back pack, he saved this last one for you. She was so thankful and amazed at all we do and gave, she wanted to know where the church is and said I want to come to that church. You people are so wonderful to do this.
Maria asked for a plastic bag as her son wanted it to clean up all the trash on the lawn. God bless them.
Vinny shared his lunch with a man who did not get one
So many people were so amazed at all you give and do for others
Love Speaks: So many people come running to us for a hug. They know in their hearts that our love is real. Some people were hard and cold to us for quite awhile years back,as they didn’t trust people, but we just kept telling them Jesus loves you and we love you too and we’d give them a hug. Now it brings tears to our eyes as they run to us to give us a hug. Praise God !
Praise God that He keeps blessing the vision He allows us all to serve together in!!!
Prayer List:
Russell Healing of a broken Hip and God knows
Joe Joe Healing & God knows
Barry Healing addiction
David Healing
Mike to live
David a place to live
Satie A home & Healing
Joslynn Healing
Mike his son Ryan
Sheri Her son, Job
Maria A job & her & her children
CHARLES A JOB
Matt addiction
Elizabeth Health
Robert miracle deliverance
Barbara needs many miracles in her family
John Culinary art Grant
Lamaze KIds, suffering
David Job & stay healthy
Mike Bear ( DOG) Get my life back
Felicia will have surgery on her vocal cords
William Dejorge Spirituality, and health
David Di His needs
Barbara God knows
Lasm suffering kids
Dennis His needs
Denise Her needs
Nicole her needs and safe& healthy delivery of her baby
Christina God knows
Andy quit smoking and deliverance of addiction
Cheryl needs a healing miracle of her Liver and pancreas ( cancer)
Cam God guides him on the right road And for his family
Rob his needs
Andy different Andy God knows
Edith needs a healing miracle Cancer Lump on her breast and lung
Joel continued strength on the recovery road
Gracie Complete healing cancer
C miracle deliverance
Car miracle healing deliverance
Viola Her boy friend David tanner needs deliverance from addiction & healing
Randy God knows
June her health Cancer miracle healing
George God knows
Paula Her son strength, needs size small men’s clothing
Maude Her children in Africa
Felicia her father-in-law almost died needs healing
Judy fractured bone will have surgery this Tuesday
Chester everything
LARRY STRENGTH
Mark his wife Roseabella self deliverance
Paul Healing of Cheryl’s legs, His sister-in-law
Ron For Al who is suicidal
Scott for his son to be born healthy
Tony has a life treating disease , Pray for his miracle, Her enjoys helping everyone, he feels blessed to do it.
Kelly for her triplet children one in college,ones a marine and one struggles
Barbara Carl died and they brought him back to life is in the hospital needs healing
Heather needs healing bronchitis Pray for her children also
Eric Family and kids
Barbara pray for her children and her mother who is raising them
Jennifer for her baby to be born healthy
Ben his daughter, good health
Jose his son and better health
Elwood get well
Lynn she has been trying to get pregnant, Her husband has low sperm count
William his Dad to get well and more direction to the Lord
Tina all who are still suffering
Mellisa Detor her needs
Carl Dunn is in ICU
A Man asked for prayer for Scott to show up
Vinny a better life and strength on his recovery road for him and his wife
All the Homeless
LIz Brenda’s mother please continue to pray for her complete healing & brenda as well
Hilda & Gary God Knows
K God knows
Ron & Cindy on the trail spreading the word that Jesus saves, please continue to pray for God’s protection & provision and for souls to be saved
Barbara Her & her family
Scott needs a complete healing of blood clots in his leg
Lidia Healing Heart problem and pray for her family as well Ronnie in Jail and hia wife and 3 babies
Maria needs a miracle deliverance
Ken finances
David his needs S&G God knows
Ronnie complete healing cancer
R&L God knows
Robert needs healing of his foot, depression & finances
J&T God knows
Joseph Guilmette needs a miracle healing cancer
Lisa Her mom needs healing cancer and her step father also needs healing cancer please pray for their miracle and for Lisa as well
Raymond God knows
William salvation for him and family
Billy needs healing miracle suicidal
Linda Healing of her depression and her mind
Anthony finances
Church family & Their’s
Pastors and Their family
You
Thank you Love & prayers from the Homeless & the early Seekers
God bless and have a great week
Well, Tuesday nights are cordoned off for me and my wife as “date night”, and we got to spend time together tonight filling backpacks for the homeless…
Every year the Dream Center hands out about 300 backpacks filled with winter necessities to the homeless in Providence, and tonight was the night they were filled. This year we filled 301.
There are any number of people who have been working diligently all year to make this night a possibility, and to them I say thanks….and Saturday morning when the backpacks are finally given out to people who really need them – your whole year’s worth of hard work will come to fruition.
It was a little crazy at first when we got there – lots of work to do and soooo many opinions on which was the most efficient way to organize the stuffings and fill the backpacks…but once we finally got going we had a blast…all the volunteers ended up working as one cohesive unit within an hour and we were buzzing like super busy bees in a beehive…it was pretty cool, because even a couple of the volunteers were formerly homeless – it felt special working side-by-side with someone who used to need this backpack I held in my hand knowing that this year he is on the other side…this year he is helping fill it for someone else!
So, in closing, I hope you enjoy these pics as much as I enjoyed my date-night with my special someone!!!
Dream Center Diaries 