Director's Corner
by Darlene Quinn
At Tracy Interfaith Ministries (TIM) we
continue to provide
food and clothing to low-income individuals and families in our
community as we
have since 1988. Our clients average 1,000 visits each month and enough
food is
distributed to prepare about 52,000 meals. Approximately 3,800 people,
almost
half children, receive food monthly. Our organization has always been
operated
by a 100% volunteer staff and operating expenses are minimal. After
almost 2
years of rather steady activity, we have experienced a steady monthly
increase
in clients and their visits since late last fall. 2007 will no doubt be
a
record year for us.
This organization is widely supported in
our area by service
organizations churches, businesses and individuals.
Among our supporters are United
Way,
Emergency Food and Shelter Program, City Block Grant funds, Tracy
Hospital
Foundation and GWF Tracy Charitable Foundation. An affiliation with the
Salvation Army allows us to distribute motel vouchers and bus tickets
when
needed.
Several years ago the organization outgrew
its present
location and began looking for a new facility. After a fruitless search
for an
affordable rental property, Tracy Interfaith entered into an agreement
with the
City of Tracy
for a long term lease on park land and the authorization to construct a
building on this property.
TIM launched a capital fundraising effort
and succeeded in
raising 1.1 million dollars and many promises of material and labor
contributions. In the belief that this was enough money to complete the
project,
ground was broken in February of 2006. We were wrong.
We have a 10,000 square foot building that
is about 2/3rds
complete. It is designed to meet our needs for now and well into the
future.
There is a play area for children to stay in while the parent is
getting food
or clothing and there is ample parking for both volunteers and clients.
All
work completed to date was either donated or has been paid for.
We are short approximately $440,000 needed
to complete the
stucco and the interior. We desperately need to complete this building
before
the November/December holiday season. Our, mostly senior, volunteer
staff is
working in a building without adequate heating or air conditioning.
There is
little parking for clients or volunteers and every day little children
are
dragged across a busy street mid-block to get to our facility. Once
here they
must wait in a too small waiting room to obtain assistance.
We are seeking donations of cash,
materials and/or labor to
get this building completed.
For more information please contact
Darlene Quinn, Director
at 209-836-5424 or e-mail info@tracyinterfaith.org.
.
Yours in
the Lord’s service,
Darlene
