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The “Thank-You Story” Collection
When we send monthly receipts to donors, we include in each envelope a little vignette we call a Thank-You Story. It occurred to us that the rest of you might also like to read these stories so you can have a better idea of how we help change lives here at Vine Maple Place. Enjoy!
The March 2006 “Thank-You Story” When a windstorm knocked the power out at Vine Maple Place’s apartments, Candy’s* family went to bed as usual, but her daughters were too concerned to sleep. Finally Candy told them, “Instead of getting all worked up about it, we should pray.” So 5-year-old Ellie* said, “Lord, I’d really like it if you’d turn the lights back on.” At that very moment, the power returned, and they blinked at one another in astonishment. Thanks to donors like you, homeless single-mother families have shelter from the storms of life and a place to learn about God’s provision. (*Not their real names)
We appreciate you!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The April 2006 “Thank-You Story” Recently our office staff looked out a window and saw 11-year-old Landon* showing 9-year-old Stevie* how to throw a long pointed stick like a javelin. When Child Advocate Marcia Robinson went to check it out, Landon quickly assured her, “It’s okay, I’m just teaching Stevie some guy stuff.” Thanks to donors like you, children have a safe place to make friends and learn many valuable life lessons—with caring adults to look out for them. (*Not their real names)
We appreciate you!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The May 2006 “Thank-You Story” Little Trisha (not her real name) loved helping herself to office snacks. Dana Grimm, office administrator, kept reminding her to ask permission first, but finally had to hide everything, Trisha was not amused. Soon afterwards, Dana brought refreshments for a meeting and set them down to attend to an urgent matter. Meanwhile, Trisha and her mom entered the office. After they left, Dana discovered that a tray of muffins was also gone. Hunting, she found one muffin in a corner, another behind the computer, others on various furniture ledges…. “It was like an Easter Egg hunt!” she told the rest of us. Thanks to donors like you, homeless families have a place to live, and the children can learn to trust that they’ll always have something to eat.
We appreciate you!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The June 2006 “Thank-You Story” Recently Child Advocate Marcia Robinson and 2˝ year-old Kenny (not his real name) were sitting on the swings when Operations Manager Ron Starr walked by. “Where’s Ron going?” Kenny asked. “I think he’s on his way to the shed,” Marcia answered. “Does he have a puppy in there?” “I don’t know. Let’s go see.” Although there was no puppy, the next time Kenny saw Ron pull up in the Jeep, he grinned, called out, “Hey, Ron!” and gave him a big thumbs up. Thanks to you, boys in single-mother families at Vine Maple Place are afforded a kind, loving, masculine role model at a crucial time in their lives.
You are making a difference!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The July 2006 “Thank-You Story” When Suzie* came with her mother to life-skills training, Child Advocate Marcia Robinson asked, “Can you take Binky out of your mouth so I can understand you better?” “Sure!” said Suzie, handing the pacifier to Marcia and running off to play with the other children. Marcia set Binky where Suzie could reach it, and it lay undisturbed until 8:00 p.m. when her little inner clock indicated the session should be over. Since mommy was late, she popped it back in her mouth for comfort. The day will soon come, however, when she won’t need it at all. Thanks to your generosity, the moms have the wisdom and support of a child advocate as they rear their children while increasing their own stability and self-sufficiency. And we are deeply grateful. (*Not her real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The August 2006 “Thank-You Story” Fran*was discouraged by serious economic difficulties. “Let’s pray,” suggested Linda, the case manager. They did. About a minute after Fran went out the door, a stranger entered the office, holding an envelope. “This is for the lady who faithfully walks to the bus stop every day with her little girl.” She described Fran and left. Soon afterwards, Fran happened to return to the office. “Here,” the staff said. “This is for you. Open it!” Inside, she found a note of encouragement and some money “to buy lunch.” Her face broke into a smile at the tangible sign of God’s love and care. Thanks to the generosity of people like you who probably don’t even know the moms personally, the residents of Vine Maple Place are learning about God’s faithfulness in their lives. What a blessing you are! (*Not her real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The September 2006 “Thank-You Story” Fran* plans to enroll in school, but first, she needs to establish a consistent work history, so she got a night-shift position at a local warehouse store. While not her favorite time to work, she has stuck with it, doing her best. After one month on the job, her boss called her in for a favorable review. “You’re helpful to customers, you’ve accomplished more than people who’ve worked here much longer, and we want you to become a supervisor,” he said. Today Fran walks with her head up, shoulders back, and a new sense of confidence. Thanks to your generosity, we are able to provide subsidized housing for Fran and other single moms while they improve their ability to earn a living wage so they can eventually support themselves and their children. What a blessing! (*Not her real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The October 2006 “Thank-You Story” When the board approved money from the Children’s Hope Fund to buy kids’ school clothes, Child Advocate Marcia Robinson asked the moms what stores they preferred to shop at. The consensus was Fred Meyer. One mom said, “Just five minutes ago I was asking God where I’d get the money to buy their clothing, and then you called!” Before Marcia could get the cards, however, a man who had been to a recent Vision of Hope Tour came by. Without knowing the specific need, he’d purchased a $100 gift card for each family. And the store he chose? Fred Meyer. We’re convinced that whether he realized it or not, that gentleman had heeded a divine nudging. Thanks for also being so responsive with your generosity. We appreciate you!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The November 2006 “Thank-You Story” Those of us who work in the Vine Maple Place office enjoy special perks. I mean, where else can you be greeted by jabbering toddlers who are thrilled to see you and who sometimes call you grandma or grandpa as they wander from desk to desk, dragging toys behind them, during their mothers’ meetings with the case manager? Even while we answer phones, send faxes, and crunch numbers, we are very aware that your generosity enables us to help change lives every day. During Thanksgiving month, we thank God for each of you, our special friends!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The December 2006 “Thank-You Story”
From a resident’s Perspective
I am very thankful that Linda is working at Vine Maple Place as case manager. Recently, I had a disturbing call from my attorney. When Linda asked how I was doing, to my surprise she let me vent about it. That was quite possibly the best thing anyone has ever done for me. She validated every emotion I was going through and gave me suggestions on how to make things easier and not worry or be so stressed out. Now every time I meet with Linda, she gets the real story on how life is and what is going on because I know I can trust her with my emotions. I don’t think you could find a better person. She has helped me tremendously, and I hope she knows just how much she is appreciated.
Laura Vine Maple Place Resident
Thanks to your generosity, we are able to provide case management services to help single mothers become stable and increase their self-sufficiency.
The January 2007 “Thank-You Story” Resident VMP moms learn how to budget their limited funds. This year, one creative mother decorated inexpensive nesting boxes and placed homebaked cookies inside along with a note of appreciation to the recipients. For the children too young to value—or even read—such precious notes, generous donors made sure the families had a bountiful Christmas anyway. Some even gave up their own gifts so the single-mother families wouldn’t be left out. Like the couple who didn’t buy presents for each other so they could purchase a $50 gift card for each family. Or the father who brought in his three young children, had them watch our video, and asked if they would be willing to give up a toy in exchange for something for a VMP child. They did. It is a privilege to be associated with such caring people like you. My prayer is that each of you will enjoy a prosperous New Year, knowing that you make a real difference in the lives of those who are working hard towards self-sufficiency.
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The February 2007 “Thank-You Story” Office administrator Dana Grimm recently saw one of our resident families at the grocery store. As Dana greeted the mom, she noticed 3-year-old Nathan* in superhero pajamas. “Hi, Spiderman!” she said. Nathan frowned in thought, then brightened. “I know you!” “Where do you know me from?” Dana asked, smiling. “You’re from the office,” he announced. Then he pointed to himself. “I’m from the house!” While the apartment units we offer may be modest by some standards, they are safe, real homes to the homeless children and parents who live there. Thank you for your generous gift that makes it possible. (*Not his real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The March 2007 “Thank-You Story” This year, each woman in the office got a Bob-the-Builder Valentine from a secret admirer. So secret, in fact, that the 2-year-old sender didn’t even know he’d given them out. Like all the single mothers at VMP, Maria* doesn’t have much to spend on non-essentials while she works at increasing her stability and self-sufficiency, but that doesn’t stop her from extending a hand in friendship—and teaching her toddler to do the same. We may have received fancier Valentines in our lifetimes, but no card has ever given us more hope for the bright future of homeless families than does the little Bob-the-Builder note that still sits on each of our desks. Thank you so much for your generous support that makes that hope possible. We appreciate you! (*Not her real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The April 2007 “Thank-You Story” Nathan* loves to make cookies in the Children’s Resource Center with Child Advocate Marcia Robinson. One day Marcia informed him we were out of butter and eggs for the dough. “I’ll have to get some at the store,” she said. The next day however, Marcia was home sick, so during his mom’s case-management meeting, the three year old amused himself by racing around the conference table. When a staff member trying to work there remarked on Marcia’s absence, he replied, “She’s at the store.” Later he searched the refrigerator for butter and eggs in case they could make cookies the minute Marcia returned. Baking together is a simple activity, but it builds relationships and brings a sense of normalcy to children who suffer from the trauma of homelessness. Thank you for your generous gift that makes it possible for us to help these little ones heal. (*Not his real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The May 2007 “Thank-You Story” A lady in the office was puzzled when she heard Nathan* refer to “Grandma,” knowing that his grandmother was nowhere around. Dana Grimm explained: “That’s what he calls Marcia.” The woman was surprised at the 3-year-old’s title for our child advocate, so she asked him, “You call Marcia ‘Grandma’?” He stopped playing. “The lady with the white hair?” “Yes. We call her Marcia, but you can call her Grandma.” He thought it over. “That’s because that’s her name!” he declared, returning to the toys. While the Child Advocate’s job description doesn’t include standing in for family members, it’s good to know that she can give grandmotherly instruction and support to homeless children who have no extended family. Thanks to your generosity, we can continue working hard to help every resident, no matter how young, break the cycle of homelessness. (*Not her real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The June 2007 “Thank-You Story” One little boy at Vine Maple Place is either a computer whiz or a mechanic in training. Recently, a mom was working on a resource room computer when her toddler handed her a small ball. She dropped it in her pocket, took it home, and placed it on the counter. Returning to the office the next day, she discovered Volunteer Coordinator Dana Grimm in a frantic search. “Somebody stole the ball out of a mouse in the resource room,” Dana said. The mom gulped, then laughed. “That would be us. I didn’t know where the ball came from and thought my son had found a toy. I’ll get it right now.” Thanks to your generous support, homeless children have a safe place to live, learn, and explore while their mothers develop greater stability and self-sufficiency. We appreciate you!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The July 2007 “Thank-You Story”
“This first award is for being a cooperative player and improving during the season,” she explained. Her second trophy celebrates her team’s league championship, and the medal around her neck is for first place in a tournament. Homeless children are no different from those who have a place to live. So at Vine Maple Place, we help them enjoy normal childhoods while their families work hard to break the cycle of homelessness. We couldn’t do it alone. Thank you so much for your generous support. It makes a world of difference to children like Emily.
With gratitude,
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The August 2007 “Thank-You Story” “Oh, this is so cool!” When the single mom learned recently that she and her 3-year-old daughter had been accepted to Vine Maple Place, she could barely contain her joy. Later, another single mother we accepted gave enthusiastic hugs all around the room when the case management team broke the news. We have the joy of witnessing moments that signal new beginnings for homeless children and their families. Even though you don’t get in on many of the hugs, you are still an important part of our team. We couldn’t do what we do without generous supporters like you. Thanks for your help in giving these families a reason for hope and joy.
With gratitude,
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The September 2007 “Thank-You Story”
Yes. The 7-year-old thought the children might like the pretty crystal. While not everyone gives to Vine Maple Place in the same way—some give cash, some offer in-kind gifts, some donate in other interesting ways—we know that everyone wants the very best for our homeless families. And we are deeply grateful.
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The October 2007 “Thank-You Story” While a single mother was applying to VMP, Child Advocate Marcia Robinson interviewed her three boys. The middle boy confided that his older brother was mean to him and called him names. Marcia sympathized but asked if he’d ever done the same to his little brother. “Sometimes.” “Is picking on a younger brother part of being an older brother?” He wasn’t sure. After receiving permission to do so, Marcia shared what the oldest boy had written on his questionnaire: “The best thing that ever happened to me is my two brothers.” The middle brother’s jaw dropped. “I never knew he felt that way!” Although that family didn’t end up at Vine Maple Place, we were able to help those children that day, thanks to your support. And we’re very grateful.
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The November 2007 “Thank-You Story” The official duty of Child Advocate Marcia Robinson is to watch out for the health, safety, and well-being of the children. The kids couldn’t tell you that. All they know is she cares about them, lovingly corrects them when necessary, and is a safe person to confide in. Most have never had an adult like this in their lives and don’t know what to call her. She’s not their aunt or grandmother. She explains that they can call her by her first name, but that doesn’t describe the special place she holds in their hearts. So when they introduce her to others, they say, “That’s my Marcia.” When they want to know where she is, they ask “Where’s my Marcia?” Our Marcia. Thanks to your generous support, we can share her with homeless children so they can start to heal from the trauma they’ve experienced. On behalf of the children, we are deeply grateful.
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The December 2007 “Thank-You Story” Right around Thanksgiving, three homeless single-mother families moved into our newly opened apartment homes at Vine Maple Gardens. We asked them to fill out their wish lists because the donors who’d adopted for them for Christmas were eager to go shopping. They were blown away. “You’re kidding!” one mom said. Another exclaimed, “Christmas shopping already? They don’t even know us!” Local tree-lot operators are providing trees, and a church group is giving the families the stands, lights, and ornaments. Our case-management team may even be able to move in two more homeless families by Christmas. This year, “home for the holidays” has new meaning for them as well as for all those associated with Vine Maple Place. Thanks so much for your part in providing peace on earth in our little corner of the world.
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The January 2008 “Thank-You Story” Every week at life-skills class, Child Advocate Marcia Robinson lets the kids share whatever they want to during “Circle Time.” A 4-year-old boy, who had been homeless with his mom and brother just two weeks earlier, didn’t waste any time. “We have bunk beds,” he began. “My mom has a bed, we have a table, and there’s mugs on the table….” He went down the list naming all the wonderful things our donors and volunteers furnished their home with—basic items the rest of us would most likely take for granted. When he was done with his inventory, he simply sat with a look of wonder at his family’s newfound wealth. Your generosity means we can provide homeless families with not only homes and furnishings, but also the hope of a better future. Thank you!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The February 2008 “Thank-You Story” When Amelia* and her children moved in, she was nearly overwhelmed with excitement at finally having a place to live. The excitement ramped up when she saw how beautifully the Decorating Divas had prepared the fully furnished apartment. After everyone left, Amelia decided to relax with a cup of coffee. “I wonder if there are any coffee filters?” she said to herself, not sure if she had enough money to buy some. She examined the coffeemaker to see what type it took, and joyfully discovered it came with the permanent kind of filter. “You thought of everything!” she told us later. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I feel so welcome here.” I’d nominate February as “We Love Our Supporters” month, except it might imply we love you less the rest of the year, and that’s simply not true. We thank God daily for each one of you. (*Not her real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The March 2008 “Thank-You Story” Alton* loves baseball. He’s also quite good at it. In fact, last year he won an award as best all-around player on his Little League team. But when a family loses housing and is struggling to get back on its feet, there’s simply no money for extracurricular activities. That’s why our Children’s Hope Fund exists. When Alton’s mother learned about the fund, she asked our Case Manager if there was any way we could help Alton join the team again this year. There was, and he did. And we don’t know who’s more excited—Alton or his mom! Thanks to generous donors like you, we’re able to help kids be involved in sports and other activities as they heal from the trauma of homelessness. The families are deeply grateful to you. So are we. (*Not his real name)
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The April 2008 “Thank-You Story” We knew kids at Vine Maple Gardens needed a fence for protection—in addition to the guardian angels we’d petitioned God to put there. So we asked developer friends if they could mark the property line. Not 5 minutes after the surveyors left, kids swooped outside, grasped the wooden-stake “swords” by their orange-painted “handles,” and began to play pirates. A panicked mom called Ron. Now it was Ron’s turn to panic. Could we ask our friends to send the surveyors a second time? The project manager laughed. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I had my ‘mom’ hat on and realized what a temptation the stakes would be. So I told the surveyors to pound in another set at the same time that couldn’t be pulled up.” We are thankful for guardian angels like her—and like each one of you. Your gifts make a real difference in the lives of homeless families.
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The May 2008 “Thank-You Story” Volunteer stories: 1) A mom needed a babysitter on Saturdays. The Child Advocate looked through the volunteer list, but before she was finished, the phone rang. It was a volunteer offering to do childcare. 2) Another lady, who was recovering a chair for the Children's Support Center, ran out of fabric. We ordered more, but it didn't arrive. Finally she said, "I need that fabric today because I'm leaving on vacation." We prayed, and in a couple of hours, UPS delivered the fabric. 3) Not too long ago someone volunteered to keep the moms' cars in running order. Wow! 4) During a children's Life-Skills class, a teen assistant joined in the discussion. "When I'm done volunteering, I'll be working at one of these desks at VMP." So you can see why we love our volunteers. We can't think of anybody we'd rather work with than the wonderful folks who support us with time and finances as we continue to help homeless children and their families.
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The June 2008 “Thank-You Story”
When kids heal from the trauma of homelessness, it happens in small steps. Alton* struggled with reading, so Child Advocate Marcia Robinson lent him books on sports. His reading improved. When Alton later helped younger kids with a project, Marcia asked, "Have you thought about becoming a teacher?" No, he was interested in professional sports. Marcia explained the importance of learning other skills in addition to sports, and Alton’s interest in his Children’s Life Skills leadership role increased. "I think the kids were also a little more attentive because a peer was leading them," observed Marcia. Teen volunteer Ashley saw how Karla*, a disinterested reader, often skipped over words, so Ashley checked out library books for Karla and read them with her. Karla got excited about the stories and dramatically improved her reading level. "Our teen volunteers are having a positive impact on VMP kids," says Marcia. Thanks for helping make it all possible. We appreciate you! (*Not their real names) Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The JuLY 2008 “Thank-You Story”
One of the skills a homeless mom learns at Vine Maple Place is how to be a good housekeeper. Some of the residents have had homemaking experience before, but others have not, and it’s fascinating to watch them mentor each another in the domestic arts. For instance, the clean state of DeLaine’s* refrigerator actually inspired another mom to go home and clean out her own fridge. When I pulled into the parking lot a few days ago, I saw DeLaine on the cement patio, washing the sliding glass door. Through the tall window I could see her 16-month-old toddler making circular motions on the inside with a little rag, copying what Mommy was doing on the outside. We’re grateful for your support so that these moms—and their kids—can learn important life skills and increase their stability. Thanks so much for being vital partners with us in that process. (*Not her real name) Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The August 2008 “Thank-You Story”
Nobody realized how impatient 3-year-old Dallas* was to ditch training wheels and ride his bike like the big boys—at least not until families gathered to celebrate another child’s 7th birthday and admire his new bike without training wheels. Suddenly somebody called, "Look at Dallas!" He was riding a bike with only 2 wheels just like the 7-year-old’s. While everyone else had been busy, he’d gone to the bike shed and pulled out the smallest bike there. He climbed aboard, fell over, and got back on—again and again. Within 15 minutes he was balancing himself down the driveway, shaky but triumphant. The single mothers who succeed in our program are a lot like Dallas. They’re willing to grow beyond training wheels to increase their self-sufficiency. Thanks to your support, they’re succeeding. (*Not his real name) Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The SEPTEMBER 2008 “Thank-You Story”
“I have a skateboard,” 7-year-old Bryan* announced. “That’s great!” I said. “Can you ride it?” “Sure!” “I don’t know how to ride one,” I confessed. He looked shocked. “Didn’t you have a skateboard when you were a kid?” “There were no skateboards when I was little.” He was speechless for a moment. Finally he asked, “Did you have a bicycle?” Children don’t know the history of inventions or understand the forces that took away their homes. But they do recognize staff members who love them and work hard to help their families become stable and live better lives. Thank you for your generous support that makes our work possible. We appreciate you! (*Not his real name) Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The OCTOBER 2008 “Thank-You Story”
To help homeless families increase their stability, we provide financial training. In a recent money-management class, adult residents were given 25 beans and asked to work through a “25-bean budget.” The teachers suggested that when residents were about to spend money, they should ask themselves, “Is this potatoes or gravy?” In other words, is the expense necessary or optional? After one single mother explained the concept to her 10-year-old daughter, they went shopping. To the mother’s surprise, the girl was the one who asked, “Now Mom, is this potatoes or is it gravy?” Thanks for helping families learn how to not only survive but thrive during these economically challenging times. Your support makes it possible. We deeply appreciate you!
Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
The NOVEMBER 2008 “Thank-You Story”
Each of us expresses gratitude in a unique way. Darcy* does it by helping us share our mission with folks who don't know us yet. "I'll bet you think a homeless person is a guy on the street," she recently told a visitor at our event booth. "But I'm homeless, and I live at Vine Maple Place." As she held her daughter in her arms, her beaming smile and confident attitude expressed in a few seconds more than we could have communicated in several hours. When a volunteer was leaving the office recently, Darcy spoke up: "I want to thank you for giving of your time." Darcy's words echo our own. Thank you for everything you do to help the homeless families we serve! Your support is making a difference for generations to come. (*Not her real name) Diana Savage Kruger Resource Development Coordinator
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Vine Maple Place Maple Valley, Washington, 98038 U.S.A.
phone 425.432.2119
www.VineMaplePlace.org Tax ID # 91-2082308 Vine Maple Place is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian organization. Applicants will not be unlawfully denied housing due to their race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, familial (parental) status, sexual orientation, disability, or marital status in violation of any state, federal, or local law governing discrimination in rental housing. Send mail
to
webmaster@vinemapleplace.org with
questions or comments about this web site. Copyright 2004-2008 Vine Maple Place.
All rights reserved.
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Recently
Emily came by the office and showed off the fast-pitch softball trophies she
received at the end of the school year.
Our
case manager, Linda Pederson, was approached at church recently by a little girl
with a huge smile. “I’ve been saving money for the poor children,” she told
Linda, handing her a Ziploc bag. Inside was $10.54. Plus a rock crystal. “Is
that for the poor children too?” Linda wondered.