Melville Charitable
Trust:
Spring 2015
MASH
MYSTIC AREA SHELTER & HOSPITALITY, INC.
MASH AT WORK
Ending family homelessness, one family at a time
Working Opportunity
Ending Family
Homelessness
Do you have a job? Does your job center you in the community and support
you and your family? Have you ever experienced the stress and anxiety of
being without a job? Many families in our community are precariously
housed due to unemployment or underemployment. A relatively minor
financial crisis can cause them to become homeless.
On the Housing Front
Letter from MASH
Executive Director
2
Letter “HOME”
Bulletin: Board
HBS Community Partners
Complete Pro-Bono
Analysis
3
Local Largesse
MASH services focus on empowering our clients to achieve permanent, stable
housing and employment is a critical part of the equation. That’s why when
MASH recently welcomed a young mother into the MASH shelter, we quickly
assessed her employment potential. A kind and gentle woman, her dream
had always been to work in nursing. Towards that end, she had saved her
meager earnings to complete a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course
shortly before her world turned upside down. She lost her job and a family
conflict caused her to lose the home she shared with relatives.
As soon as she came into shelter, she worked with MASH on her resume and
MASH helped her find a part-time minimum wage job, but her future was
uncertain. Fortunately, MASH had recently been awarded a grant from the
Melville Charitable Trust to support a number of families transitioning from
homelessness to housing. The program goal is to provide the education and
training necessary to secure and maintain a steady income through
employment. The obstacle to a CNA position for this client was the cost of
the exam. Thanks to the grant, MASH was able to pay for the cost of the test,
as well as the transportation and childcare necessary for the client to take the
exam. She proudly reported that she had passed.
Within weeks she got her dream job at a local assisted living facility, with the
income necessary to secure stable, permanent housing. We wish her every
success in her future career and are excited at the opportunity offered by this
innovative grant.
Wheels to Work
Family Foundation Grants
3
Arts and Homelessness
Maintaining
Shelter
On January 11th, the Paddington Bear movie previewed to a full house at the
Avon Theatre in Stamford, CT. Sneak peak ticket sales benefitted the CT
Coalition to End Homelessness Be Homeful project, a special campaign
designed to help CT families that find themselves on the cusp of
homelessness. The event raised much needed funds and brought greater
awareness to the plight of family homelessness.
Spring Cleanup
Check out this video of Dallas artist Willie Baronet’s efforts to change the way
we look at homelessness throughout the country.
Supplies Needed
2
http://hooplaha.com/2014/11/eclectic-artist-brings-homelessness-tolight-through-thought-provoking-collection/
Spring 2015
MASH
Ending Family Homelessness
On the Housing Front
Re-housing clients in economically
viable housing is a daily challenge for
MASH Housing Coordinator, Noreen
Zupnik. According to Zupnik, “What
we think of as affordable housing is
quite simply beyond the reach of our
client families.”
This is true
throughout CT, where there is an
effort to redefine what affordable
means to homeless families.
Until “deeply affordable” housing
becomes available, MASH is exploring
more creative solutions to housing our
clients, including roommate sharing
opportunities.
Dividing expenses
between two families makes housing
more affordable and sustainable.
A Connecticut Coalition to End
Homelessness training brought this
idea to the forefront, where it is being
piloted in urban areas with the
homeless single population. MASH
will initiate a partnership with other
area providers in exploring roommate
sharing with families.
Letter “Home”
Because of your support MASH can
give local homeless families hope. In
thanking MASH, our clients thank you.
Maintaining
Shelter
Letter from MASH
Executive Director
Dear Friends,
There are many times throughout our
lives when we feel compassion for
others. We feel compelled to act, but
then life gets in the way. In 1997 Rev.
Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter acted on his
compassion. Deeply moved by the
plight of a homeless woman sleeping on
the steps of the church where he
ministered, he gathered together
members of the community to assess
the extent of the problem. Because of
Ken Carpenter and because we live in a
community that truly cares, MASH was
formed.
st
That’s why on May 1 , we will celebrate
community support for our mission and
honor the difference that our founder’s
actions have made in the lives of
countless families.
I hope you will join us at this year’s gala
“There’s No Place Like Home”. With
your support, we can continue Ken’s
vision and continue MASH’s work to
end family homelessness. Every family
in our community should have the
comfort and belief that there is no place
like their own home.
“None of this would have been possible if
it wasn’t for your guidance and helping
hands along the way.”
“A year ago I would’ve never thought I’d
be where I am let alone grateful for it but I
can say with an honest mind and open
heart that I truly have never felt the
gratitude that I felt today.”
“I can’t imagine how many people you
have helped throughout the years. I’m
blessed to be one of them and hope that
someday I can give back to the world as
that has been given to me….”
Denise Collins
MASH Executive Director
Special thanks to our Event Committee for
their brilliant ideas and the countless hours
st
spent planning MASH’s May 1 Gala.
David Cruthers • Melinda Elliott Carlisle•
Debra Chamberlain • Quincy Clayton • Laurie
McElwee • Laurie Finan • Irene KoenigKluepfel • Laura Manfre • Michael Mondello •
Betsy Moukawsher • Bonnie Nault • Bill and
Betty Smith • Allisa Young
Spring Cleanup
Middle school students from the
Groton Bible Chapel will spend a
Saturday in May sprucing up the
MASH shelter. Thanks to their
efforts, the signs of a long, hard
winter will be raked and swept
away. Also on the “To Do” list is
reorganizing donated bedding
and household items stored in the
shelter. Thanks to the students,
MASH’s shelter will continue to
shine inside and out. 
Supplies Needed
When in shelter, our client
families are responsible for
cleaning their temporary homes.
To help in their upkeep, MASH
seeks in-kind donations of the
following items: electric brooms;
mops; dust pans and brushes. We
could also use new shower
curtains (we have plenty of liners);
bath mats and anti-slip bath liners
for the tubs. Call (860) 254-0222
to donate any of the above items.
Board of Directors:
Michael Mondello, President
Karen Roman, Vice President
David Cruthers, Secretary
Neil Kluepfel, Treasurer
Rev. Ann M. Aaberg
Jeffrey Anderson
Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter
Betsy Moukawsher
James Rosenman
William Smith
Staff:
Denise Collins, Executive Director
Marlynn Benker, Social Worker
Kathryn Keller, Office Manager
Trisha Shah, Intern
Noreen Zupnik, Housing Coordinator
2
Spring 2015
MASH
Local Largesse
Bulletin: Board
Wheels to Work
Since last October, MASH has received car donations that have helped
to change the lives of two families.
As executrix of her late mother’s estate, a friend of MASH donated a
1996 Buick her mother had rarely driven. In spite of the car’s age, it had
less total mileage than most of us travel in a year. Stacy Fournier, a
name you may recall from a January article in The Day, is a single mother
of three children who was at risk of homelessness when she lost her job
and couldn’t pay her rent back in November. Her car had broken down
and her 8-year old had been hospitalized. Getting to her Certified
Nursing Assistant (CNA) job proved impossible.
MASH helped Stacy and her
family stay out of shelter by
finding her an affordable
apartment in Norwich, paying
the security deposit and first
month’s rent, and giving her the
Buick. Stacy was so excited to
have a working car that she registered, insured and arranged to pick up
the donated vehicle in Cape Cod. MASH social worker, Marlynn Benker,
also assisted Stacy in a new job search. Having a car allowed Stacy to
consider jobs around the region rather than limiting herself to jobs she
could access by bus. Today, Stacy works well-paid per diem jobs and she
and her family are living stably.

Board Treasurer Neil Kluepfel donated his 2002 Toyota, the keys
dangling from an Eiffel Tower keychain. Although the odometer read in
excess of 70,000 miles, this car will run for a long time on the brand new
tires Neil had installed before donating the car. Neil’s
car was given to a mother with two children, who asked
to remain anonymous due to domestic violence. She
received the car shortly after leaving the MASH shelter,
at a time when she was still struggling to achieve
economic stability. With car ownership came the break
she had hoped and prayed for. She increased her shifts
at the restaurant and in turn, her income rose,
improving her ability to budget each month. And she
loved the whimsical key chain.
When asked why he left the Eiffel Tower on the ring of keys, Neil
responded, “In my experience, dreams can be powerful motivators. If
given opportunities, there’s no telling where some of our clients will go.”

HBS Community Partners
Complete Pro-Bono Analysis
Since 1997 MASH has pursued the mission of
“ending family homelessness, one family at a
time”. We have used a data-driven approach so
that we can effectively and efficiently serve as
many families in need as possible. With the
support of Harvard Business School (HBS) Club
of CT Community Partners, MASH has been
assessing its programs and services to evaluate
how our future work can have the greatest
impact on ending family homelessness.
HBS alumni Chuck Barton, Ed Harris, Jeff
Krulwich and Rebecca Wayland spent the last
four months gathering data and analyzing
options in line with MASH’s mission.
In
February, they presented an insightful
assessment of where MASH is today and how
MASH can continue its role as a regional leader
in combating family homelessness.
In the months ahead, a subcommittee of the
Board will meet to develop a 5-year strategic
plan that will reflect the findings and vision of
the assessment. Board President, Mike
Mondello stated, “We are very grateful to
Chuck, Ed, Jeff and Rebecca for their time,
energy and thoughtful dialogue. With their
strategic assessment, the MASH Board is better
equipped to map the future of the
organization.”
Family Foundation Grants
Donations from local family foundations help
MASH provide critical support to at-risk and
homeless families. Moved by our last newsletter
article about kids in summer camps, a local
donor selected MASH to receive a significant
family foundation grant for summer camp
scholarships.
This generous gift will provide added support to
client families who struggle to juggle jobs and
childcare during the summer. They’ll also enjoy
the added benefit of happy, tired kids at the end
of a work day.
3
Spring 2015
MASH
Don’t miss MASH’s Gourmet Gala celebrating
18 years of community support and our founder,
Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter
Friday, May 1, 2015 @ 6:30 pm
The River Room
Mystic Seaport’s Latitude 41
Champagne & Sparkling Wine Tasting • Gourmet Dinner & Open Bar • Mohegan Sun & Foxwoods Desserts •
Live Auction • Music & Dancing
Information and Tickets at www.mashshelter.org or (860) 245-0222
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit #7
Mystic, CT 06355
www.mashshelter.org
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Fax: 860-245-0035
www.mashshelter.org
119 High Street, Mystic, CT 06355
860-245-0222
Ph:860-245-0035
Fax:
MYSTIC AREA SHELTER & HOSPITALITY, INC.
MASH
Like us on Facebook
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Ending family homelessness, one family at a time
www.mashshelter.org
119 High Street, Mystic, CT 06355
119 High Street, Mystic, CT 06355
Fax: 860-245-0035
Contact Information
Ph: 860-245-0222
Information
860-245-0222
Ph:Contact
Contact Information
Non-Profit
Organization
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
Paid
Organization
Permit
#7
U.S. Postage
Paid
Mystic,
CT 06355
Permit #7
Mystic, CT 06355