VOICES OF Hope Fall 2016 Looking Back, MOVING FORWARD For 35 years Paxton Ministries has helped needy individuals regain lives of health and hope. Mark agreed to look back at his long, dark struggle with depression and to share how, with God s help, he now sees a brighter future ahead. Mark grew up knowing the love of his parents and the value of work. He got his first paying job, delivering newspapers in Harrisburg, when he was still in elementary school. When he was a senior in high school, Mark s mother died of cancer. Her death was hard on me, he says quietly. Still, he graduated, got his own apartment, and worked for 11 years at a store that sold newspapers, magazines, and snacks. When that store closed, he quickly found a new job as a security guard at Widener Law School and worked there for six years. My parents had instilled in us that hard work pays off, he says. I always had plans to do things for my parents when I started working to pay them back for everything they had done for me, Mark says, with a faraway look in his eyes. When my mother passed away, I didn t get to do that for her. When my dad died of a heart attack, it was really hard for me. Mark thinks his depression began after of his mother s death, but he stayed busy working six days a week. When his security job ended, he lacked the energy and drive to look for more work. He lived on unemployment, then lost his house and car because he couldn t pay his taxes. He didn t work for about ten years. That s when the depression got bad, he says. Then his sister convinced him to consider Paxton Street Home. When he first arrived in 2007, Mark was so depressed he hardly left his room. Once he did, he didn t want to be around people. Gradually, with proper medical care and encouragement from staff, Mark began to connect with others at Paxton. One resident encouraged him to join her in working jigsaw puzzles and just spending time together. Soon he started helping her by carrying her tray at mealtime, and he grieved with her when her daughter died. They started looking out for each other. Martha brought me out of my depression, Mark says. She gave me back my life. Now Mark, who once could not bear to leave his room, regularly takes the bus to shop at the mall and visit friends. Just over five years ago, Mark knew he wanted to work again; so he applied for and was hired by Paxton Cleaning Solutions. PCS has been good for me, Mark says. It s gotten me into a good routine. Mark came from a loving family who taught him a strong work ethic, but significant loss contributed to serious depression he couldn t fight on his own. He has come a long way since the bleak days alone in his room. Through the care and oversight of the staff at Paxton, new friendships, and a job, Mark has moved from the dark depths of depression onto a well-lit path of recovery. Paxton Cleaning Solutions (PCS) is a small janitorial business owned by Paxton Ministries. PCS provides high quality cleaning at an affordable cost while promoting recovery and employment for adults with disabilities. If your business, office, or church is in need of cleaning services, please contact us at paxtoncleaningsolutions@comcast.net.
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Jodie Smile 35 YEARS of God s Faithfulness This year holds special anniversaries for Paxton Ministries. Eighty years ago, on September 13, Messiah Rescue and Benevolent Home dedicated this building on Paxton Street. Messiah made it their home for 42 years, and, following a gap of a few years, we opened our doors here as Paxton Street Home on November 22, 1981. This year marks our 35th anniversary of providing a home for people on Paxton Street. Why are these dates on the calendar important? As I ve thought about that recently, an Old Testament story came to mind in which Samuel leads the Israelites in triumph over the Philistines. To commemorate the victory, Samuel erected a stone that he named Ebenezer, meaning stone of help. When placing this Ebenezer he said, Thus far the Lord has helped us. (I Samuel 7:12) At a recent devotional time here at Paxton Street Home, each of us was given our own stone. As we reflected on God s help to us, we placed our individual Ebenezers into a jar as a symbol of God s faithfulness in our own lives and in the life of our ministry. That jar of stones now rests in a special place in the dining room to remind us that God continues to help us. God is faithful. Anniversary dates on a calendar also serve as reminders of God s faithfulness over time. We couldn t do it on our own. We continue to carry out our mission of providing housing and support services to adults in need with Christ-like love because God is faithful in providing for our needs. Your gifts of time and money remind us, as well, that God is at work here. As we celebrate these milestones, we know that Thus far the Lord has helped us. To God be the glory! Jodie Smiley, Executive Director New Bold Steps: PAXTON PLACE In last year s Annual Report, we announced that we are pursuing low-income tax credits to provide funding for a new project. The process of obtaining these tax credits means that the project will have little impact on the current ministry s finances. Over the past year plans have progressed. In the next year, we will begin working on a land development plan so that we can use our vacant land in a responsible way. We plan to expand our mission by building Paxton Place affordable, safe housing for low-income senior citizens in Harrisburg. Residents of these 37 apartments will have access to amenities provided through our partnerships with Messiah Lifeways, PinnacleHealth, Messiah College, and Penn State Extension, with the goal of helping the residents stay healthy and active. We have applied for funds through another entity to begin this initial planning stage. We re excited to take these next steps and ask for your prayers that the countless details can be worked out for us to provide this much-needed housing in Harrisburg.
y This beautiful building would not make a home if there were no good folks to make it a home. SHARED HISTORY, SHARED FAITH Almost 100 people gathered together to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the dedication of our building on Paxton Street, which was formerly Messiah Home. George Kibler, who was CEO of Messiah Home when they moved from Paxton Street to Messiah Village, reflected on our joint history of extending love and care to those with needs whether those needs are physical, emotional, social or spiritual. As nonprofit organizations, we carry out a calling inspired by our faith and by the belief that God will continue to be faithful in providing for all our needs. On September 13, 1936, when the building was dedicated, C.N. Hostetter declared, This beautiful building would not make a home if there were no good folks to make it a home. We thank God that he continues to make our building a home in which we can help others in the name of Christ. Rev. Kibler reflecting on our shared history and faith. We Welcome New Staff and SAY FAREWELL TO FRIENDS This year, several members of our staff felt God calling them to use their gifts in other places. We are thankful for the ways in which they worked beside us to carry out our ministry, and we pray that God will bless them in their new places of service. We are happy to welcome ten new staff: Chris, Facilities Loretta, Social Services Dee, Social Services Mike, Chaplain Diane, Development Netty, Social Services Hillary, Housekeeping Renee, Receptionist Justice, Kitchen Shayne, Housekeeping We look forward to seeing God s faithfulness as we all work together for His glory. Diane, Shayne, Renee, Mike
PRAYERS & PRAISE PRAISE THE LORD: Praise God for answered prayer for one of our residents who has experienced emotional healing. Join us in being thankful for new staff members who have joined us in the last few months. We give praise for the friends and family of residents who came to our Labor Day picnic and for the many volunteers who made it possible. We are grateful for our 80-year-old building on Paxton Street and the donations that help us maintain it. PRAYER NEEDS: Some of our residents are dealing with addiction issues. Pray that God will help in overcoming those habits. We have welcomed five new residents in the past few months. Pray that this will be a good home for them, whether for a few months or several years. Please pray for a quick recovery for one of our residents who is away in a rehab facility recovering from a broken leg. As the fall and winter seasons approach, pray for good health for residents and staff. 2001 Paxton Street Harrisburg, PA 17111 www.paxtonmin.org LABOR DAY FUN Once again our volunteers made sure we had a great time at our annual Labor Day Picnic! We welcomed about 200 friends and family of our residents, who enjoyed delicious barbeque chicken, games, crafts, and a dunk tank. Many residents and guests anxiously waited in line to get a chance to dunk Steve Reist, our Director of Facilities. According to Steve, since it was a warm day, he was glad to be dunked! Thank you, volunteers, for being a part of our lives.
Christmas Gifts Spread Joy Christmas is coming! The Twelve Days of Christmas is a great way for you or your group to give fun and practical gifts to people with very little pocket money. Simply choose a day to focus on, and select items according to the theme of that day. You can pick one item and do multiples, or select an assortment of items in that category. Whatever you choose to do, we thank you in advance for your generosity! * The 1st Day of Christmas CRAFT SUPPLIES Markers, pastels, crayons, sketch pads, paint and brush sets, sun catchers, scissors, adult coloring books, craft kits The 2nd Day of Christmas STATIONERY Stationery sets, blank greeting cards, postcards, stamps, pen sets, notebooks, gel pens, journals, pocket calendars The 3rd Day of Christmas DÉCOR Picture frames, wall calendars, desk calendars, night-stand clocks The 4th Day of Christmas HOUSEHOLD Twin sheet sets, bath towel & washcloth sets The 5th Day of Christmas BATH AND BODY FOR HER Scented or unscented types of these items: shampoo and conditioner, bottled shower wash, soap bars & soap bar cases, lotions The 6th Day of Christmas BATH AND BODY FOR HIM Scented or unscented types of these items: 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, bottled shower wash, soap bars & soap bar cases, hand lotions The 7th Day of Christmas HYGIENE FOR HER Toothpaste, brushes, combs, deodorant, razors, feminine protection products, unscented body powder, hand sanitizer The 8th Day of Christmas HYGIENE FOR HIM Toothpaste, brushes, combs, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, hand sanitizer, foot powder The 9th Day of Christmas OUTERWEAR Gloves, hats, scarves, socks The 10th Day of Christmas HEALTHY SNACKS Snack-sized chips, crackers or cookies, sugar-free candy The 11th Day of Christmas RECREATION Water bottles, word search books, crossword puzzle books, jigsaw puzzles, decks of cards The 12th Day of Christmas GIFT CARDS ($5 OR $10) Walmart, Target, Giant, Dollar Tree, A.C. Moore *If you d rather not do the shopping, simply earmark any checks or cash donations for resident Christmas gifts. Thank you for helping to make Christmas special for our residents! Please drop off your unwrapped items at Paxton Street Home on or before December 13th. If you have questions, please email Diane Buckwalter at dibuckwalter@paxtonmin.org or call her at 235-5508 x126.
A Gift We Can Count On A few years ago, John Cope didn t know much about Paxton Ministries, but what he did know intrigued him. He and his wife, Helen, had made small contributions a couple of times. Then he accepted a friend s invitation to visit Paxton Street Home. "That s when I got really interested, says John. I like to observe who I m giving to, so I can see if they re really doing what I hear about. He was able to see Paxton Ministries purpose and mission in action. He really liked what he saw of the interaction among staff and residents, was impressed with the upkeep of the fine old building, and learned about Paxton s houses and apartments for residents who are more independent and volunteer or work part-time. That visit prompted us to give on a monthly basis, John says. He and Helen like knowing that Paxton Ministries can count on them throughout the year, and besides, he says, It s a good lesson in personal discipline for us. Companion CIRCLE John and Helen Cope If you are interested in making a monthly donation and joining our Companion Circle, please contact Heather Herlim at 717-236-5508 x125, or email her at hherlim@paxtonmin.org. Or you can visit our website, click the Donate button, and then click Subscribe. A Gift for the Future THE FREY LEGACY SOCIETY A new year is just around the corner, a time when we pause to reflect on where we ve been and where we re going. We appreciate the ways in which you support Paxton Ministries through your gifts of time and money. As you look ahead, have you considered creating a legacy that will continue beyond your lifetime? We receive a tremendous blessing whenever someone provides for our long-term needs through a will or estate plan. If you have already included Paxton Ministries in your estate planning, please let us know so that we may honor and thank you by adding your name to the Frey Legacy Society. There are many options for how your estate plans can help our residents. If you would like to begin a discussion on estate planning, please contact Diane Buckwalter, Director of Development at 717-236-5508, or dibuckwalter@paxtonmin.org. You can leave a legacy that will benefit our residents for years to come. 2001 Paxton Street Harrisburg, PA 17111 www.paxtonmin.org