BCHC Invites You to 2017’s “Sixth Annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon”

October 30, 2017 joe Leave a comment articles, press

Note: This is an archived article about a past event. There may be more current information about a related recent event at the following link: http://brunswickhomeless.com/banquet

The Sixth Annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon

Basic Information

Observing National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov 11-19, 2017), The Brunswick County Homeless Coalition invites you to attend the Sixth Annual Hunger & Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon
on Nov 18th in Leland, NC. There is no cost to attend; a lunch of homemade soups and bread will be provided.

This year’s program will be held at BSRI’s Brunswick Center in Leland, NC, located at 121 Town Hall Dr. NE, Leland, NC, 28451, at the corner of Village Road and Town Hall Drive. [Click or tap for Driving Directions.] The program, scheduled to run from 10am to 2pm, is entitled “Ending Homelessness in Brunswick County.” Doors open at 9:30am.

Besides the delicious soups, you will hear the powerful stories of local formerly homeless men and women, information from local leaders about what’s being done to address the problem (and how you can help), and a presentation from special guest Terry Allebaugh, Community Impact Coordinator for the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness.

You are invited to pre-register for the event on the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition website’s registration form to help us prepare for the appropriate number of guests. There is no cost to register or attend; donations of any amount are appreciated and directly go to help the hungry, homeless, and at-risk population of Brunswick County.

2012: the First Annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in an event held each November which began at Villanova University in 1975. It’s an annual program across the country to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness. Held at more than 700 locations each year, with hundreds of thousands of participants,
this event has raised millions of dollars for local service providers across the country. Participating groups spend the week holding a series of educational, service, fundraising, and advocacy events. The Sixth Annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon is Brunswick County’s registered National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week event, held to raise awareness and work toward solutions here at home.

The Sixth Annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon is organized by the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition. The Coalition meets the second Tuesday of the month at the BSRI Senior Center in Shallotte, NC. You can find out more at the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition website.

Publicity

Your help in getting the word out about this event is very much appreciated. The more people that are able to attend, the more support can be gathered and the more resources can be mobilized against the fight against hunger and homelessness right here at home.

Person to person, word-of-mouth publicity is very effective–and today, with e-mail and social networking, it has a potentially much larger reach. The sharing buttons at the bottom of this page can help you to share and spread the news using Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, StumbleUpon, and e-mail.

There are also promotional printables and promotional graphics in the form of printable 8.5×11″ flyers and .jpg graphic files. You are encouraged to download these and share them online, and print them to post publicly, to share with friends and family, or to share with your civic, church, or worship group.

“If You Join
Us” Flyer –

8.5×11″
Format: PDF

Press Release
Immediate Release

8.5×11″
Format: PDF

Small Flyer
(Obverse) –

2.75×8.5″
Format: JPG

Small Flyer
(Reverse) –

2.75×8.5″
Format: JPG

Black & White
2-up Flyer –

8.5×11″
Format: PDF

Color 2-up
Flyer –

8.5×11″
Format: PDF

Box Graphic
For Online

400×234 pixels
Format: JPG

Black and
White Flyer –

8.5×11″
Format: PDF

Four-Color
process Flyer –

8.5×11″
Format: PDF

Black & White
Simple Poster –

8.5×11″
Format: PDF

Color
Simple Poster –

8.5×11″
Format: PDF

[Basic Info]
[Driving Directions]
[Share This]
[Promotional Flyers]
[Top of Article]

If your computer can’t open PDF documents, you can get a free PDF reader from the PDFReaders.Org website.
If you have trouble downloading the .jpg graphic files–if they just show a larger version when clicked–then right click the larger version and select “save image” or “save picture”.

Brunswick County Homeless Coalition

PO Box 7411, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469

1-888-519-5362 for info or assistance

brunswickhomeless.com

Town of Leland Declares Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

October 23, 2017 joe Leave a comment articles, press

(L-R) Joe Staton of the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition, Leland Mayor Brenda Bozeman, Barbara Serafin of BCHC, and Councilman Mike Callahan participate in the reading and presentation of the proclamation. (Photo: BCHC/JAJ)

At their October 19th, 2017 Town Council meeting, the Town of Leland showed their support of the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition by inviting us to receive an official proclamation of Hunger and Homelessness awareness week, November 11th – 19th, 2017.

Town Councilman Mike Callahan read the proclamation as Mayor Brenda Boseman presented it to Barbara Serafin and Joe Staton of the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition.

Support from area governments and leaders is essential in the fight against poverty-related issues like hunger and homelessness, and the BCHC would like to richly thank the Town of Leland for all their recognition and support. Leland is host this year to 2017’s sixth annual Hunger and Homeless Banquet and Soup Luncheon, scheduled for November 18th at 9:30am.

Proclamation proclaiming November 11-19, 2017 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. (Source: Town of Leland; Scan: BCHC/BJS)

BCHC Visits Seniors Helping Seniors 2017

October 20, 2017 joe Leave a comment articles

Brunswick County Homeless Coalition was on hand for Seniors Helping Seniors on October 13th, 2017 at BSRI’s Stone Chimney Road center. BSRI hosts the Seniors Helping Seniors event during the autumn season of each year as an opportunity to showcase area businesses and organizations of interest to seniors. Lots of area businesses, groups, and organizations were present for the information, the fellowship, the entertainment and the food. At the BCHC table, about 75 people stopped specifically to talk with us and learn more about problems and solutions here in Brunswick County.

BCHC members at the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition table at Seniors Helping Seniors, Oct 13, 2017 at BSRI Center Supply. (L-R Ralph Carmody, Giselle Bawab, Joe Staton, and Barbara Serafin of BCHC)

Barbara Serafin invites someone to our November Hunger & Homeless Banquet.

Ralph Carmody helps someone learn more about the homeless and what we can do to help.

Brunswick Conty Homeless Coalition’s table at the event contained information about who we are, what we do, how to get help or refer someone to get help, and upcoming events.

Rita, Giselle, and Ralph talk with the public at the BCHC table

Jim Fish and Debra Marlowe of BSRI give away door prizes to those attending the event

Resource Days, September 20, 2017 in Southport, NC, and September 30, 2017 in Leland, NC.

October 11, 2017 joe Leave a comment articles

Brunswick County Homeless Coalition was pleased to participate in Resource Days, September 20, 2017 in Southport, NC, and September 30, 2017 in Leland, NC.

Ralph, Mark, Barbara, and Mary representing the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition.

Barbara and Marc with the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition banner sign.

The event and some of those in attendance.

Mark and Paul talk with a representative from Habitat for Humanity.

BCHC gets help formulating a Strategic Plan

June 1, 2016 archive Leave a comment articles

From February 2016 until May 2016, Jeremy Croom and Joshua Barton worked with Brunswick County Homeless Coalition in the beginning stages of formulating a Strategic Plan for the organization. Both are graduate students in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). Utilizing a model taught to them in their Strategic Planning class, Jeremy and Joshua met with BCHC three times over the semester for Strategic Planning Sessions. The first session was held on February 15, 2016 and focused on Mission, Vision, and Values of BCHC. The second session was held on March 16, 2016 and focused on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of BCHC. The third and final Strategic Planning Session occurred on April 6, 2016 and focused on identifying Strategic Issues that BCHC must address. After each session, Jeremy and Joshua shared data sheets summarizing the sessions and the work that BCHC accomplished at each session. BCHC will take all the information they learned during the sessions and proceed in constructing a Strategic Plan for the organization. On May 2, 2016, Jeremy and Joshua presented their final project to their Strategic Planning class, summarizing the Strategic Planning sessions and what was learned by themselves and BCHC. Three members of BCHC attended the presentation as representatives of BCHC, Ms. Barbara Serafin, Ms. Elaine Fox, and Mr. Robert Butler.

––

Joshua Barton

UNCW MPA Graduate Student

MPA Fellow

What is Brunswick County Homeless Coalition? And what do we do?

October 1, 2015 archive Leave a comment articles

WHAT IS BCHC? AND WHAT DO WE DO?

Brunswick County Homeless Coalition had its beginning Nov. 2011, after a small group hearing a lecture at St. Brendan’s Church began questioning their role in social justice. As of this writing, we have 25 members who have a passion to help the homeless and those in need residing in Brunswick County. We are a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization.

We continue our mission to serve as an advocate for the homeless and those in need by increasing awareness and educating residents in Brunswick County. In 2013 we acquired a toll-free number to assist callers to access government and community services to help them address their needs. After receiving grants and donations we are able to assist with and provide housing needs. We continue to advocate for affordable housing.

Let me paint a picture for you; During the end of January 2015 we participated in a Point In Time Count where eight members of Brunswick County Homeless Coalition along with other volunteers found 48 persons in Brunswick County that did not have a place they called home. On January 29th we found a family living in a garage with no heat or water; a senior citizen living in a hotel that Brunswick County Homeless Coalition housed for several weeks during the cold weather; at present he is in a trailer and enjoying a home that he has not had for years; and a veteran who remains in the woods and continues to be visited by Brunswick County Homeless Coalition members who assist with his needs. Many school children did not have a place called home but moved from house to house to find warmth and food. A recent statistic is 253 students in Brunswick County schools (2014-2015 school year) have no place to call home; 16.4% of Brunswick County residents have income below the poverty level and 16,856 residents in Brunswick County are receiving food stamps.

In 2014, Brunswick County Homeless Coalition helped 64 families,($4,712) who were struggling due to loss of jobs, evictions, chronic/acute illnesses, and not able to pay rent and heating bills; and for the first six months of 2015 we helped 116 individuals and families ($11,079) with housing, rent, electricity, food, and transportation. Funding sources include grants, fundraisers (golf tournament), donations we receive from nonprofit organizations, and private donations.

So our message to you is: if you are looking for a way to show your gratitude for a good life – support and join Brunswick County Homeless Coalition and help others as they struggle…become a volunteer if you have skill sets we need – writing grants and mentoring skills; answering the toll-free calls and linking individuals with resources; being an ambassador and visiting with community groups to share data and ask for support, and assist with fundraisers.

We would like to leave you with a simple prayer that we say at our monthly meeting:

when I have food help me remember the hungry,

when I have work help me remember the jobless,

when I have a home help me to remember those who have no home at all,

bestir my complacency into action,

and awaken my compassion, Amen.

Thank You for assisting Brunswick County Homeless Coalition to talk and walk its mission to help those in need and the homeless.

Barbara Serafin, President, and Brunswick County Homeless Coalition Members. 10/2015

Together WE CAN make a difference.

BCHC Investigates Lack of Public Transportation

May 1, 2013 archive Leave a comment articles

After attending a meeting convened by Yvonne Hatcher to update the Local Coordinated Transportation Plan, several people in attendance decided they would meet regularly to learn more and to advocate for public transportation in Brunswick County. Members of the public transportation advocacy group include Tom Horan, South Brunswick Interchurch Council; Barbara Serafin, Brunswick County Homeless Coalition; Fred Stephens, Brunswick Family Assistance; and Roy Tucker, Southport Oak Island Interchurch Fellowship.

The group met on April 11 with Yvonne Hatcher, Director, Brunswick Transit System, Inc, the non-profit formed to provide public transportation in Brunswick

Members listen intently at a spring 2013 BCHC meeting (Photo: BCHC)

County. The group’s consensus after this meeting was to emphasize development of a new comprehensive Community Transportation Service Plan. The State of NC says that Community Transportation Service plans should be updated every five years; however, the Brunswick County plan has not been updated since it was developed in 1996. Yvonne said that the Department of Transportation official with whom she spoke in early April said that Brunswick County is third or fourth on the list of counties for updating the plan, that they now have three consulting firms under contract to update the county plans, and that work on the Brunswick County plan should begin in late 2013 or early 2014.

The group will meet with Don Eggert, Director, Rural Transportation Planning, Cape Fear Council of Governments on April 25. Don facilitated the meeting to update the Local Coordinated Transportation Plan. After meeting with him, the group may meet with officials involved in public transportation and transportation planning in preparation for meetings with Senator Bill Rabon and Representative Frank Iler.

This article was originally published by the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition in the “Currents” newsletter, Spring 2013 (Vol. 2, No. 1) edited by Kitty Kesler and published by Susie Kubley.

Brunswick County Homeless Coalition Attends Brunswick County Volunteer Appreciation Fair

May 1, 2013 archive Leave a comment articles

Brunswick County Homeless Coalition (BCHC) participated in the 2013 Brunswick County Volunteer Fair & Expo and the Service Awards Ceremony. The fair was held April 17, 2013 from 3-7 p.m. at the Odell Williamson Auditorium on the Brunswick Community College campus. This event was held during National

BCHC members Barbara Serafin, Wade Fulmer, Shirley Wyzga-Johnson, Diana & Bill Hadesty, James Polino, and Callie Spidle were present at the BCHC table (Photo: BCHC)

Volunteer Week.

More than 35 non-profit and community agencies serving Brunswick County were on hand to meet with the public and promote local volunteer opportunities. BCHC members Barbara Serafin, Wade Fulmer, Shirley Wyzga-Johnson, Diana & Bill Hadesty, James Polino, and Callie Spidle were present at the BCHC table to advocate for the needs of the homeless and provide information. Other BCHC members in attendance were Fred Stephens manning the Brunswick Family Assistance table and T.K. Nowell manning the Brunswick County Sheriff’s crime prevention table.

The event was an outstanding opportunity for other non-profits and area residents to hear the homeless message and how they can make a difference. The BCHC members also talked to other non-profits and government agencies about their volunteer programs and how they could partner with each other. The program also included a formal awards ceremony that recognized the NC Governor’s Award for Outside Volunteer Service recipients.

This article was originally published by the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition in the “Currents” newsletter, Spring 2013 (Vol. 2, No. 1) edited by Kitty Kesler and published by Susie Kubley.

Volunteers Feed The Homeless

May 1, 2013 archive Leave a comment articles

Shirley Wyzga-Johnson says, “When I came to my first BCHC meeting, I knew that I wanted to do something hands-on to help those in need.” She decided to partner with Streetreach to make brown bag lunches for them to distribute to the homeless. Twice a month she and her team of 25 women from Ocean Ridge assemble bag lunches. Each lady makes a lunch and then drops it at Shirley’s house. Shirley transports the bags to Streetreach for distribution.

The lunches are a double blessing. They contain a sandwich, drink, fruit, chips, and cookies to be eaten that day, but they also contain pop-top canned foods, tuna or chicken salad kits, fruit or pudding cups, and peanut- butter or cheese crackers which can be eaten over the next few days. Everyone benefits; from the person making the lunch who knows she has helped someone, to the person receiving the meal who knows someone cares.

This article was originally published by the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition in the “Currents” newsletter, Spring 2013 (Vol. 2, No. 1) edited by Kitty Kesler and published by Susie Kubley.

Coalition Ambassadors Program

May 1, 2013 archive Leave a comment articles

The Brunswick County Homeless Coalition (BCHC) is taking their message on the road. As part of our mission to educate and raise awareness concerning the problems of the neediest in Brunswick County, we have developed the Coalition Ambassadors program. Eight BCHC members were trained on April 25 to be Ambassadors. They will travel in pairs to give presentations at civic and faith-based organizations throughout the county.
Using a computer-projector slide show, ambassadors will explain the mission and vision of BCHC, past events that we have hosted, where we are headed, and how

Using a computer-projector slide show, ambassadors will explain the mission and vision of BCHC and how the audience can get involved. (Photo: BCHC)

the audience can get involved. They will distribute a fact sheet highlighting the issues surrounding poverty and homelessness in the county and answer questions.

Many residents don’t recognize that there are homeless people in the county or how many families teeter on the brink of homelessness. Coalition Ambassadors is a program designed to dispel these myths. It is hoped that by shining a light on the problems of the neediest more people will become involved in trying to solve those problems.

County groups and organizations who wish to take advantage of the program can contact BCHC at 1-888-519-5362.

This article was originally published by the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition in the “Currents” newsletter, Spring 2013 (Vol. 2, No. 1) edited by Kitty Kesler and published by Susie Kubley.