Volunteers – One of Our Greatest Assets!
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Volunteers
It’s been a busy summer at Covenant House Missouri, especially with an influx of new volunteers. People young and old are looking to make a difference for our youth, from a few hours one day to being a regular, weekly volunteer. It’s a wonderful experience to have someone share their skill and time in helping us fulfill our mission.
New volunteers are making a difference already…
Beckah is assisting a youth on Mondays nights with math. Because of her, one of our young men is now re-motivated to complete the GED program.
Sonya is helping our employment counselor, Ms. Eileen, on a weekly basis with administrative duties. Her involvement is now giving Ms. Eileen more time to focus on new classroom projects.
Leslie has been a vital member of the front desk, welcoming people in the afternoons. She is now shifting her talents to help staff with administrative projects, a never-ending duty.
We appreciate each and every person for what they bring to our organization! Volunteers do make a difference for both our youth and staff. If interested in sharing your skills and time with us, please visit our volunteer website and complete the online application. You can also contact Jeanine Simnick with questions at (314) 450-7685 or jsimnick@covenanthousemo.org.
Meet Our New Tutor
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Covenant House Youth, Volunteers
Maurice - our new volunteer tutor
We had a new GED tutor start today at Covenant House. He’s pretty special for a few reasons. First of all, he’s an English teacher and we’re always grateful to have teachers working with our youth, but maybe more notable is his affiliation with CHMO. Maurice lived at Covenant House – like all our residents, he began in the crisis program and then progressed into our transitional living program where he thrived. He was part of our Youth Advisory Council and served as an ambassador for CHMO on several occasions. He also kept us all up to date on what was happening here through a newsletter he wrote and produced. Last December, he graduated from Harris Stowe University and moved into his own apartment. He works with ninth graders in the writing lab at Hazelwood Central. It’s great to see him in the halls of the Cov again.
Tags: CHMO volunteers, Covenant House Missouri, Youth Success
“Fresh Start” Garden Project
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Covenant House Youth, Volunteers
Thanks to volunteers Phil Blahut and Gordon Gosh, the Covenant House garden project is in full swing. Phil is a farmer and Gordon is a Master Gardener at the Missouri Botanical Garden. They’ve been teaching CHMO youth the benefits of growing their own food and the basics of gardening. Teams of youth and staff have planted boxes filled with veggies, herbs and fruits in hopes of a bountiful harvest. The garden was funded last spring by a group of volunteer students from SLU through a “Learn to Teach” grant. J.R., one of our youth, chose the name “Fresh Start” to reflect the way she feels about the fresh start she’s received from CHMO. Another youth, Terrell, has already noticed how working in the garden is bringing him peace. Truly a project with many benefits. We are grateful to all our garden participants!
Tags: Covenant House Missouri, learn to teach grant, Volunteers
Service Learning, Villa Duchesne
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Volunteers
Creative Therapy
A group of juniors from Villa Duchesne High School chose to do their service learning project at Covenant House this year. The girls came several times and did everything from scrubbing walls to making decorations for our upcoming Valentine’s party. They’re pictured above working with our youth in a creative therapy session. We appreciate all they accomplished and hope their time at CHMO was an opportunity to learn more about the struggles of their homeless peers. Thanks girls!!!
Tags: Covenant House Missouri, covenant house volunteers, Villa Duchesne High School
Eileen C’s Volunteer Story
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Volunteers
I came to Covenant House on that particular Monday morning in December because I knew that I had told myself throughout the year that I was going to visit and see firsthand what it was like before 2010 was over. My husband and I had been monthly contributors to Covenant House for many years and I had read the letters out of the New York Covenant House. I had always felt drawn to help these teenagers that hadn’t had the stable and loving home that my boys had had to grow up in. I have also taught in high school and couldn’t imagine how hard it had to be to live on their own at the age of my past students.
I was impressed with the friendly, caring attitude of the people I met and how much good they were doing for these teenagers. When I was talking to the personnel I started feeling a tug at my heart that said to me that I was supposed to be there that day. When Eileen, the Employment Counselor invited me to stay for her Job Skills Class that day, I knew I was supposed to stay.
Eileen’s class was much larger than usual, so I offered to run off copies needed for the extra students. And that’s how my seven day visit to Covenant House began. It seemed like I could be useful doing simple things so that Eileen’s real work of teaching job skills could progress more easily. I sat in on each of the classes and did whatever Eileen needed me to do, and was able to participate at random times when I thought it was an idea worth sharing. Sharing a little of myself and hearing a little about their lives as the week progressed helped me to connect with them. And they expressed their appreciation of my being there by their smiles, hugs and brief conversations with me. I felt welcomed and needed, so I kept coming back.
In the middle of that week I woke up with the idea that I should make Christmas stockings for the students, just like I had for my own sons and daughter-in-laws. I ran the idea by Eileen G. and a couple of others at Covenant House, and they thought it was a great idea. So the shopping for material and stocking stuffers began. When I wasn’t shopping, I was cross-stitching their names and sewing the stockings. I must admit that at times I wondered if this was a crazy idea and the kids would be wondering why in the world would anyone think they needed individualized Christmas stockings??? They weren’t little kids anymore and they could use more “practical” gifts than stockings. But I went with my original “morning inspiration” (which I personally attribute to the Holy Spirit) and continued to stitch and stuff stockings.
The last day of job skills class came and at the end of the class there was the ending comments and handing out of the certificates of completion. I brought out the wrapped box that held the eighteen stockings and asked a couple of students to open the box. I think they were really surprised and happy to receive their own stockings because there were a lot of smiles and hugs and thank you’s. They each wanted to have a picture taken with their stocking, so I am guessing they liked it. The best part of the day was our ending prayer where students expressed their thanks for their teacher and the class, and for the loving care they were receiving from the Covenant House. They felt the love and the care, and they wanted God to bless those who were giving them hope for a better future.
Tags: Covenant House Missouri, Covenant House Missouri Donations, covenant house volunteers
Women’s Health Fair
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Events, Volunteers
SLU students pursuing degrees in various health related fields provided the women of CHMO with a health fair last night. In the nutrition workshop, the girls snacked on tasty, wholesome treats while learning about healthy food choices. Menu cards were passed out so the girls could try a few new healthy dishes on their own. In the women’s health workshop, the girls learned about the importance of regular check ups and breast self exams. The exercise workshop provided some information on different types of exercise and a short session of cardio hip-hop. Thanks women of SLU for reaching out to the women of CHMO!
A food pyramid that makes sense!
Women's health workshop
Tags: Covenant House Missouri, homeless youth, St Louis University, Women's Health
Volunteer Story: Pastor Clayton Pasley
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Volunteers
Pastor Clayton Pasley is one of those volunteers whose dedication is a true blessing. Clayton has been coming to CHMO weekly for the past year to work with our youth on a spiritual basis. Every Monday at 11:00, his smiling face and good heart are a welcome sight. “I have a passion to make a difference in the lives of these youth. I want to inspire them to make good decisions. I want them to know that even though someone may have counted them out, God does not count them out” says Clayton. “My prayer for them is that God will see to it that their worst days are behind them and their best days are before them.” Thank you for your time and spirit Clayton!
Tags: covenant house volunteers
Volunteer Story: GenNext
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Volunteers
GenNext, United Way’s Young Professional group, recently spent an afternoon serving at Covenant House. Some of our own Young Professionals had the chance to meet the group, tell them about living at Covenant House and talk about their goals as CHMO’s Young Professionals. Both groups are dedicated to community service, networking and personal advancement. Pictured are CHMO youth Maurice and Mikelle with the GenNext group.
Tags: covenant house volunteers
Volunteer Story:Kurt Wagner
Posted by Sue Wagener | Filed under Volunteers
Kurt is a Washington University graduate student who’s been tutoring our youth every week since October. His favorite thing about working at CHMO is the opportunity to directly influence other lives.
“Seeing the students I have worked with grow and develop intellectually so quickly is exciting for me,” says Kurt.
He also says the experience has been humbling because he hears stories about what our kids have endured yet they continue to be motivated and optimistic. “With a little support and self-confidence, everyone I have worked with at Covenant House can succeed well beyond their own expectations.” We are so grateful to Kurt and all our tutors for their dedication and time.
