The Metanoia Project Celebrates 10 Years of Serving Cleveland's Homeless Population
Organization to Focus on Outreach Efforts Throughout Summer Months
Cleveland, OH, May 26, 2017 --(PR.com)-- The Metanoia Project Celebrates Its Tenth Anniversary Assisting Cleveland’s Homeless Population.
Organization To Focus On Outreach Efforts Throughout Summer Months
This summer, The Metanoia Project, a Cleveland-based non-profit organization celebrates its tenth year of combating homelessness in the Cleveland community by providing authentic, mutually-transformative relationships for its guests. The organization, which operates out of St. Malachi Parish, is best known for its work during Cleveland’s traditionally harsh winter months - providing a safe-and-secure respite for more than 80 guests a night – open Thursday evenings through Monday mornings. This past winter, the organization provided more than 10,000 meals as well as personal care items, clothing, and direct access to on-site medical professionals.
However, The Metanoia Project finds that some of its most rewarding work is done outside of managing its “shelter season.” This would be the organization’s ever-evolving one-to-one outreach work.
“Our outreach efforts in addressing the homeless population change season-to season,” said Megan Crow, Executive Director of The Metanoia Project. “We understand that the work we are best known for takes place in the winter, during our shelter-season but we also know that our guest’s needs don’t end when the weather gets warm. So we work towards meeting the needs of our guests during the summer months.”
These efforts find the staff shifting into providing self-directed group therapy sessions, mentorship, vocational training, as well as advocating healthy eating and living initiatives – which include community gardening and group yoga.
“We run a community garden which we try and get as many of our guests involved in,” stated Crow. “The process of literally planting seeds and watching what comes from the soil is in many ways transformative for our guests. They see the investment of their labor pay off into something that is healthy for them.”
The needs for providing these outreach services is largely defined by the guests the organization serves.
“Our guests, who have all endured extreme hardships brought on by being homeless share a perspective that we simply don’t possess, so it is natural that they very much have a voice in how our organization operates,” stated Paul Sherlock, Board President of The Metanoia Project. “We work with some of the most difficult cases of homelessness, individuals who have at one point or another made decisions that have gone against their best interests. Through our ongoing outreach efforts, letting our guests know they are cared for, valued and worthy of respect we work to establish mutual trust – which is where transformation can begin.” Sherlock, who has largely been involved with the organization since its inception added: “through the course of our work we have seen the transformation of our guests; ultimately allowing us to change with them - by becoming more compassionate individuals ourselves. To me, this is, and has always been, the ultimate measurement of the effectiveness of our work.”
With a dedicated staff, board, support from St Malachi Parish, and diverse outreach efforts where would the Metanoia Project like to see the program grow towards over the next ten years?
“Combating homelessness isn’t a seasonal task, so ultimately we would like operate a facility that provides shelter for our guests seven days-a-week, year round,” stated Crow. “In the meantime, we will work with our guests in ways that we can directly impact their lives outside of giving them a safe place to stay – by showing them support and helping them get their body, mind and spirit right.”
To learn more about The Metanoia Project, where you can also directly help the organization meet its goals of expansion and continuing to provide for its guests through a tax deductible donation, please visit their website http://metanoiaproject.org
Additionally, consider following the organization on Facebook or on Twitter.
Contact: Tom Sarago
Spruce: Communications For Brand Growth
216-269-9673
tom@spruceagency.com
Organization To Focus On Outreach Efforts Throughout Summer Months
This summer, The Metanoia Project, a Cleveland-based non-profit organization celebrates its tenth year of combating homelessness in the Cleveland community by providing authentic, mutually-transformative relationships for its guests. The organization, which operates out of St. Malachi Parish, is best known for its work during Cleveland’s traditionally harsh winter months - providing a safe-and-secure respite for more than 80 guests a night – open Thursday evenings through Monday mornings. This past winter, the organization provided more than 10,000 meals as well as personal care items, clothing, and direct access to on-site medical professionals.
However, The Metanoia Project finds that some of its most rewarding work is done outside of managing its “shelter season.” This would be the organization’s ever-evolving one-to-one outreach work.
“Our outreach efforts in addressing the homeless population change season-to season,” said Megan Crow, Executive Director of The Metanoia Project. “We understand that the work we are best known for takes place in the winter, during our shelter-season but we also know that our guest’s needs don’t end when the weather gets warm. So we work towards meeting the needs of our guests during the summer months.”
These efforts find the staff shifting into providing self-directed group therapy sessions, mentorship, vocational training, as well as advocating healthy eating and living initiatives – which include community gardening and group yoga.
“We run a community garden which we try and get as many of our guests involved in,” stated Crow. “The process of literally planting seeds and watching what comes from the soil is in many ways transformative for our guests. They see the investment of their labor pay off into something that is healthy for them.”
The needs for providing these outreach services is largely defined by the guests the organization serves.
“Our guests, who have all endured extreme hardships brought on by being homeless share a perspective that we simply don’t possess, so it is natural that they very much have a voice in how our organization operates,” stated Paul Sherlock, Board President of The Metanoia Project. “We work with some of the most difficult cases of homelessness, individuals who have at one point or another made decisions that have gone against their best interests. Through our ongoing outreach efforts, letting our guests know they are cared for, valued and worthy of respect we work to establish mutual trust – which is where transformation can begin.” Sherlock, who has largely been involved with the organization since its inception added: “through the course of our work we have seen the transformation of our guests; ultimately allowing us to change with them - by becoming more compassionate individuals ourselves. To me, this is, and has always been, the ultimate measurement of the effectiveness of our work.”
With a dedicated staff, board, support from St Malachi Parish, and diverse outreach efforts where would the Metanoia Project like to see the program grow towards over the next ten years?
“Combating homelessness isn’t a seasonal task, so ultimately we would like operate a facility that provides shelter for our guests seven days-a-week, year round,” stated Crow. “In the meantime, we will work with our guests in ways that we can directly impact their lives outside of giving them a safe place to stay – by showing them support and helping them get their body, mind and spirit right.”
To learn more about The Metanoia Project, where you can also directly help the organization meet its goals of expansion and continuing to provide for its guests through a tax deductible donation, please visit their website http://metanoiaproject.org
Additionally, consider following the organization on Facebook or on Twitter.
Contact: Tom Sarago
Spruce: Communications For Brand Growth
216-269-9673
tom@spruceagency.com
Contact
The Metanoia Project
Tom Sarago
216-269-9673
http://metanoiaproject.org
Tom Sarago
216-269-9673
http://metanoiaproject.org
Contact
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