It Starts with a Humble Bowl of Soup
In most communities like ours, it’s hard not to notice the homeless all around us. It’s even harder for the average citizen to know how to truly help. The issues are vast and complex with homelessness often being just the most visible symptom of those affected.
In Indian River County, we continue to see more working families in crisis. The pandemic exposed economic fragility and widespread hardship that can lead to housing instability for families. One of our partners, the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council reports that an estimated 800 adults and 200 children are homeless on the Treasure Coast and that’s not counting “couch surfers” who are forced to stay with friends and family due to an inability to secure housing. Of the 57,636 households in Indian River County, 44 % struggle to pay for basic needs.
We’re fortunate because we have a network of government, non-profit and other organizations working together on this important issue. Organizations such as Catholic Charities’ Samaritan Center are making difference. For more than 30 years, we have provided help and created hope for homeless families in need of shelter. With the goal of keeping the family together, our dedicated team of professional case workers, counselors and trauma specialists provide life skills and educational programs with our community partners. It’s all about helping families embark on a sustainable pathway to independent living.
Success stories are many. They are the fuel that motivates our team no matter how daunting the task. Just recently, a single father and his two children stayed at the Center for about six months. During their stay, we assisted with case management, mental health therapy, parenting skills, and other training. This dad was able to save more than $5,000 for the family’s future housing. His words describe our work best. He said, “The Samaritan Center care team has provided my family a pathway home. They have made such a huge difference in the lives of my children. I can’t thank them enough.”
We’re making a difference in these families’ lives, but we need help. COVID made the need for homeless services more acute; housing prices in our community have skyrocketed; the cost of food and other resources for our families are all up and continue to climb.
That brings me back to the issue of most people not knowing exactly how to help. If that’s you, we’ve got an easy but meaningful way to get involved. On Thursday, November 2, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Samaritan Center will hold our annual Soup Bowl fundraiser. By donating for a bowl of soup anyone can join Samaritan Center in helping families in our community to transition from homelessness to living independently.
We invite everyone to visit the Vero Beach Heritage Center and locations throughout Indian River County on November 2 to make donations and receive a bowl of soup and/or pottery bowls made by the local artists of Indian River Clay. We ask for a $5 donation for a bowl of soup and $20 for the pottery. It’s a humble fundraiser with a huge impact resulting in housing, nutritious meals, mental health therapy, transportation, and job training for the homeless. This year, we anticipate over 20 participating locations and 1,200 hand- crafted bowls from which to choose.
This is our biggest fundraiser of the year envisioned over 30 years ago by our Advisory Committee. They created the soup bowl event to remind the community that often a bowl of soup is all that the neediest among will have to eat in a day.
We couldn’t do this event without the Bernard A. Egan Foundation, History Center, the talented potters of Indian River Clay and our many sponsors, however, what makes the day a success is the community support. Come get your soup! You’ll be helping more than you know, and you’ll get artfully crafted bowls for gifts, keepsakes, and as meaningful symbols of your kindness!
Visit Samaritan Center Soup Bowl page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SamaritanCenterSoupBowl or call me at 772-770-3039 for all event details. Thank you.
The author: Renee Bireley, Samaritan Center Development Manager
About Samaritan Center: Samaritan Center is a transitional residential facility for homeless families with dependent children in Indian River County. We help families develop skills needed for successful reintegration into mainstream society. Admission is open to families of all faiths. Samaritan Center is a core program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach and a funded partner of the United Way and the Indian River County Children’s Service Advisory Council. This event raises awareness and much needed funding for the homeless families served by Samaritan Center.