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GRACE center inc.
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N E W S L E T T E R
Third Annual “Glow With Grace” Walk Brings Support from Local Officials
On Sunday, March 29, 2015, the
Grace Center Inc. held its third
annual “Glow with Grace” candlelit
walk to raise awareness for its
mission to help those in crisis on
Cape Ann. Founding Executive
Director Rev. Tom Bentley, opened
the evening with an enthusiastic
and compelling talk about the
impact that Grace Center is making
on the Cape Ann community. He
spoke about the benefits and the
cost-effectiveness of the program,
noting that the organization is run
primarily by volunteers.
Also, present were Senator Bruce
Tarr and City Councilman Paul
McGeary. Both officials emphasized
the positive contributions Grace
Center has made in such a short
time.
Following the 10 minute walk from
A Graceful Return
Itʼs always a great day at the Grace
Center when a guest visits us with
good news. One of our most frequent
guests, John, had been conspicuously
absent for months. When he returned
to Grace Center on a Thursday at
Trinity Church, he told us that he had
been clean and sober for over a year!
He stated, “At the time I was picked
up and taken away I was drinking
between a 5th and a litre of vodka
every day. I started drinking in high
school for just something to do; it
helped with my anxiety. I had social
anxiety really bad. I didnʼt know I was
suffering from depression till later. I
lived to drink. I was outside most of the
Senator Bruce Tarr Speaks to the Crowd at our Annual Walk
day. Having to be at the shelter at 5
pm interfered with my drinking so I
slept outside a lot.”
When asked what worked for his
recovery this time that hadnʼt in the
past, he replied, “A longer time away. A
quick detox isnʼt enough to stay free of
addiction.”
“What helped me most,” he says,
“was getting into and staying in
treatment. I was first detoxed at
Addison Gilbert, then went to Bayridge
Transitional Support Services. The
staff at Bayridge extended my stay
three times before getting me into a
halfway house. Now Iʼm in a residential
program where rent is on a sliding
scale based on income. At night there
Gloucester High School to the
Fisherman Statue, Mayor Sefatia
Romeo Theken greeted the walkers
where she also spoke of the
benefits of the Grace Center. The
Mayor stressed the increased need
for the Grace Center to be open
more days of the week, and pledged additional funds if a space
for operations could be found. Presently the Grace Center
program must rely on donated
space in three churches which are
only able to offer one day each per
week. Sen. Bruce Tarr echoed the
Mayor's appeal and also pledged to
help secure additional funding if
possible.
The evening concluded with Rev.
Tom Bentley offering a prayer, and
guiding the participants in singing
“Amazing Grace.”.
is transportation to get to meetings. I
owed over $500.00 in court fines, and
the warrants were the motivation for
me to get a job. I now work in a hotel
as a dishwasher. I have no desire to
move up say to cook position. Iʼd be
too stressed out.”
John continued, “My life is 100 times
better sober. I have a girlfriend now. I
talk to my family more, and sometimes
stay at my dadʼs house.”
“The Grace Center helped me just by
being a place open during the day,
especially in winter. When I came in
to see everyone here, people who
knew me before, were really glad to
see me and canʼt believe how Iʼve
changed. Iʼm a different person.”
“The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you can alter, even by a millimeter,
the way people look at reality, then you can change the world. “ -James Baldwin
the unique circumstances and needs
of each person. And it is important
for a volunteer to enter without an
agenda. The ability to lend an ear,
unencumbered with a specific
motive, is the most effective gift we
can bring to the Grace Center.
Frank Freedman
Volunteer Spotlight
Operation Uplift a
Great Success!
I first heard about the Grace Center
last fall thanks to an article in the
Gloucester Daily Times about the
photography exhibit showcasing the
talent of the homeless population.
Struck by the originality and creative
edge of the project, I made it a point
to get involved with the Center.
I am always impressed by the
intellect and intelligence of the
people in this city who are homeless.
I return each Wednesday for the
experience afforded the volunteers an opportunity to listen to folks in a
relaxed and open environment. If
there is a long-tern goal in mind, it
would be to foster an understanding,
a connection, an empathy, that
prompts continued action. It sounds
obvious, but I believe emphasis
should be placed on acknowledging
Donations were put together by
sizes, and privately each woman
was able to select what she needed.
This included all Grace Center
guests, not just those at the shelter.
Each woman received at least one
bra, three pairs of underwear, three
pairs of socks, and one tank top. The
sincere gratitude of each guest when
meeting one on one was
overwhelming!
"Supporting" our
ladies is so important, so another
"OPERATION UPLIFT" will be held
the end of September. If you would
like to be on the email list to
contribute this fall, please send your
email to [email protected]
Sheila Maguire
Bowl Painting at Grace
OPERATION UPLIFT, as it became
known, took place on March 19 as a
result of a casual conversation with
three female guests residing at the
s h e l t e r. T h e y m e n t i o n e d t h a t
donations of underwear are mostly
for men, not women. I had an Ah-Ha
moment that led me to reach out to
our female volunteers who I knew
would be sympathetic to their issue
– OPERATION UPLIFT was born.
A request, via email, to all female
volunteers and board members
quickly provided what was needed!
For the third year, artist Anna Lane led
Grace Center guests in painting bowls
for the Open Door Empty Bowl
fundraiser held on May 14. The guests
got a chance to create beautiful art and
give back to the community in our
afternoon art program.
Grace Center Inc. Drop in Day Program
Locations and Hours of Operation in Gloucester, MA
Unitarian Universalist Church, 10 Church Street * St. John’s Episcopal Church, 48 Middle Street * Trinity Congregational Church, 70 Middle Street
Tuesday 8:30-4:30
Wednesday 8:30-4:30
Thursday 8:30-4:30
For more information about our program contact Christine Bobek at (978) 675-6240
To make a donation contact The Rev. Tom Bentley at (978) 973-2362
To learn more about volunteering contact The Rev. Rona Tyndall at (978) 857-9305
There are many ways to give to the Grace Center. In-kind gifts such as paper products, cleaning supplies and arts and crafts materials
are always welcome. Financial contributions may be payable to Grace Center, Inc. and mailed to P.O. Box 135, Gloucester, MA 01930
Visit us at www.gracecenterinc.org