Women living in poverty must often give up essentials such as food in order to afford their housing. The Gathering Place supports nutrition needs by offering women and children breakfast, lunch and a hearty afternoon meal every day. In 2006, The Gathering Place served over 4,500 meals each month.
The results of our program analysis in 2003 showed that three-quarters of the women surveyed rely on the bus system as their primary means of transportation. Through a subsidized agreement with RTD, The Gathering Place provided 47,762 fares last year. Bus tokens from The Gathering Place help ensure that women can access off-site programs, get to job interviews or medical appointments, or return to a shelter at the end of the day.
In 2006 over 100 women participated in a variety of adult education opportunities available at The Gathering Place such as GED preparation, literacy tutoring, Computer Lab and Writers’ Group.

190 different artists participated in the unique program that offers women
the opportunity
to earn financial reward from
a creative endeavor of
self-expression.
 
   
Programs and Services of The Gathering Place
 SHELTER FROM HARM PROGRAMS—programs that meet urgent and
immediate needs.
          Emergency Services

OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOPE PROGRAMS—programs that support
learning and self-sufficiency
          Kids Services
          Card Project
          Adult Education

COMMUNITY OF ACCEPTANCE PROGRAMS—programs that promote community membership and public education
          Community Education

Shelter from Harm Programs
 EMERGENCY SERVICES
 The Gathering Place is a safe haven for women and children during times of poverty or homelessness.

A woman simply cannot concentrate on a search for housing if she is hungry. A woman will not be successful in gaining employment if she has no place to bathe or keep her clothing clean. The Gathering Place is a refuge that lets women and mothers address their families’ immediate needs so they can focus on the future.

Women and children who come to The Gathering Place can receive the following essential survival services:
•  three meals each day
•  emergency food and clothing
•  hygiene supplies
•  bathing and laundry facilities
•  bus tokens
•  telephones
•  mail and messaging services



Opportunities for Hope Programs
 KIDS SERVICES
Play is the most important work of childhood; kids who live in poverty don’t often have the opportunity to do that work. Mothers who are visiting The Gathering Place for the day can place their children in care of staff and volunteers in the Children’s Area. While their kids are playing, moms can attend on-site programs, take showers, do laundry, or get a much-needed break.

In the Children’s Area, we see 15 to 40 kids each day. Most children who come to The Gathering Place are under the age of 6. The staff offers age-appropriate activities that help children build self-confidence and learn creative self-expression. In the Children’s Area, kids experience stability, security and predictability as they develop a sense of belonging to a caring community.

The Gathering Place provides links to programs offering immunization and health care, literacy support and early childhood education. We refer many mothers to other community resources and support them in becoming their child’s best advocate.



THE CARD PROJECT
The Card Project provides a safe and supportive community for women to express themselves through art and to earn an income.

Women who participate create handmade notecards and receive $0.75 from each of their cards that is sold. Cards are sold at The Gathering Place for $1, and are also carried at several retail outlets around Denver.

As one in eight of the artists currently working with the project is homeless, the importance of the program to their lives cannot be overstated. The financial benefits are underscored by more intangible benefits such as increased self-esteem, the opportunity to be part of a caring community, and the chance to engage in creative self-expression.

Businesses and families place orders for their holiday greeting cards, and thousands of cards are sold at arts and craft fairs. Special orders may be placed for wedding invitations, birth announcements or other occasions.

To inquire about purchasing cards, please email Anna Inazu, Co-Director of Programs at 303.996.9042, or  email. To see a complete list of retailers
and examples of the kinds of cards available, please visit the following
links:   Card Samples     Retailers



ADULT EDUCATION
Adult Education is a key component of our Opportunity for Hope programs. Nearly 30% of those homeless in Denver in 2001 had not completed high school or obtained a GED. We know that with a high school education or equivalent reading and math skills, women have broader choices not only for employment, but also for further education.

The Gathering Place Adult Education programs provide a safe place in which to set realistic goals for individual success. During the year, an average of 100 women are participating in our Adult Education programs, including GED preparation, core skills tutoring, Computer Lab and Writers’ Group.

GED Preparation and Core Skills Tutoring —The Gathering Place offers regular individualized study sessions for students to prepare for the GED exam or build competence in core skills. Students work independently or one-on-one with volunteer tutors. Each year, about 10 women from The Gathering Place will obtain their GED. Many others will have a seed of hope planted that increased educational opportunities can be an option for them.

Computer Lab—The Computer Lab is available to any woman wishing to build confidence in computer skills or software. Working with volunteers, women develop the skills necessary to write correspondence or resumes, learn popular office software, use the Internet for housing and job resources, or learn the benefits of email. For many women, coming to The Gathering Place may be their first opportunity to have hands-on experience with a computer.

Writers’ Group—Once a week, women gather in a facilitated writers’ group. Together, they share inspiration, creativity and support. A collection of the material produced in these sessions, Gatherings Day by Day is published each month in-house. These opportunities for creative expression are vital for personal reflection and rejuvenation of the spirit.



Community of Acceptance Programs
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
People who visit us have a unique opportunity to learn about the experience of homelessness. While formal tours are temporarily suspended as we prepare to move, brief informal visits may still be scheduled. Please contact Denny Thompson, Director of Communications, by email or by phone: 303-996-9028




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