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• Emergency Aid
  3/4/13
• Dear Friends
  6/20/12
• Dear Friends
  4/21/12
• Dear Friends
  1/29/12
• Season's Greetings
  12/29/11
• Sir Isaac Newton
  9/24/11

Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

Executive Director's Corner

Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

Friends of ARC

Dear Friends,

Thank you for visiting the ARC website! I want to tell you about something terrific that happened to Anne (a nickname). After dropping out of high school a few years ago, she took classes to attain her GED and then went on to get her Hair Stylist Certification.

But then the bubble burst. Despite the education, she could not find a job -- for nearly a year. When she finally did get called to a job interview, she was referred to ARC because she didn't have any money left to put gas in her car to get to the interview. At ARC Anne was given a $25 Gas Card from our "Emergency Aid Network" fund and -- she got the job!

After all the hard work to get her education, what a shame it would've been for Anne (and her son) if she had missed that interview just because she didn't have money to buy gas. We're glad that didn't happen.

At this time however:

Our "Emergency Aid Network" -- does not have any more Gas Cards. We're worried because the price of gas has recently increased in this area -- up 27 cents per gallon!

So if you're able, please go to the "Contribute Tab" on this website and make a $25 donation through PayPal. Your gift will help ARC buy Gas Cards so very low-income people like Anne can get to critical appointments like a doctor's office or -- a job interview.

We hope you have a bright and blessed Spring!

One love,
Rev. Phyllis J. ("P.J.") Leopold
203-792-9450 ext. 102

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Friends of ARC

Dear Friends,

We saw a new and wonderful thing start happening in May! For the first time in the two year history of our Food Pantry ("Comida"), a Confirmation Class adopted our pantry as their class project -- to enhance what they are learning about their faith.

The students came to our pantry in three groups of about 15 students each, they came on Saturday mornings and each group was engaged in a lively talk about "Why ARC runs Comida."

• On May 12 -- the1st group of youths donated 600 pounds of rice and beans
• On June 9 -- the 2nd group of youths donated 600 pounds of rice and beans
• On June 23 -- the 3rd group of youths donated 450 pounds of rice and beans

Several youth said things to the effect "I was so pumped for this day!" I want to publically thank:

• All the Confirmation Candidates from St. Gregory the Great R.C. Church.

They did an awesome job. They also created a new example, which we invite other religious organizations to copy by inviting:

• Your youth to also adopt our Food Pantry!

One love,
Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold
203-792-9450 ext. 102

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Friends of ARC

Dear Friends,

7 people. This is about 7 people who recently came to ARC for emergency aid, one after the other, all on the same April afternoon.

• One is a school teacher -- who ran out of oil a month ago and has been putting "diesel fuel from the gas station" in the oil tank, a little with each pay check, to have a hot shower before going to teach.
• Another is in their last chemo treatment -- and needed money to buy fresh food, to keep up their strength.
• Two fell behind on electric bills -- because the rent was raised, $200 and $400 a month.
• Two recently became disabled -- were approved for disability insurance but are waiting for the first check.
• The last person came to "say goodbye" after burying their parent -- but then the car broke down (verified by a $500 receipt), and they needed bus money to get home to Georgia.

Every person -- said they had been to place after place, municipal agencies and/or other non-profits, but no place had any emergency aid.

Each person was thankful as one person said "that ARC has not given up" and, as another humorously put it, that ARC is: "The only place still pestering! the community to help people with emergency aid."

I felt awful about something else three people mentioned. They said staff at other places had treated them "very meanly." One whispered while crying, "as if I was a piece of garbage."

That night, I reviewed our records and saw much more than I thought I would. In the last 2.5 years, this one program helped -- over 1,000 people -- and about 90% received $0 from other non-profits or municipalities.

Then I realized a "truth behind the joke" the teacher told about ARC "pestering!" Yes, we do that! I want to thank you for being part of the "pestering" parts of faith.

Thank you for the donations, announcements, sermons and prayers, because for more and more folks:

• ARC is no longer "one of several" resorts but has become -- the "only resort."

One love,
Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

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Friends of ARC

Dear Friends,

According to the News Times, Mr. Hill froze to death in Danbury on January 4, 2012.

A passerby on Spring Street found Mr. Hill moaning but still conscious. There is no indication that he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Foul play is not suspected. Mr. Hill was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. The suspected cause of death is "hypothermia" ~ a medical term which, in everyday language, translates into "freezing to death."

• In the last 6 months -- the number of people assisted by ARC's Emergency Aid Network is up 11% over last year at this time. Some people are going to work and coming home to apartments without heat. Some are putting children to bed in bedrooms without heat. They may not be freezing to the point of death. But they are very, very cold.
• Your help is needed for ARC to continue to operate the Emergency Aid Network for people in need of financial assistance for basic necessities, including ~ heating fuel.

If you can possibly help us to help people in need of heating fuel, please make a contribution now. You can make a donation on-line by going to the yellow Contribute Tab above and selecting the Donate button. Thank you.

One love,
Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold
Executive Director

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Season's Greetings

Hi Friends of ARC!

It was very nice to receive "Season's Greetings" cards from friends of ARC. But the cards also
~ made me shiver ~ as this is THE SEASON when it's especially hard to be poor.

"Robbie" (a nickname) recently came to ARC for help with heating oil and other basic necessities. Robbie is 82. Medical bills completely depleted his savings. Can you imagine being sick, without heat, and in your 80s?

Over the next 10 weeks, our programs will serve about 115 people a week; of which about 30 a week will be men, of many ages and truly scraping to get by. "ARC Angels" (volunteers) are donating time and would like to give each man a "Care Kit" with 3 items: 1) winter socks, 2) winter gloves, and 3) a knit cap.

For purposes of hygiene and dignity, all items ~ must be new ~ but purchasing these items is not within the reach of our budget. So, we are centralizing a drive and hope you help by donating winter socks, winter gloves and knit caps.

At 30 Care Kits a week for 10 weeks, the volunteers will need a total of 900 items: 300 winter socks, 300 winter gloves and 300 knit caps. Items are needed from individuals like you and from groups where you may have influence, such as a:

Religious Organization	Knitting Group	Book Club
Scout Group	College Group	Local Business
Sports Team	Civic Group	Large Company

For seniors like "Robbie" or for men who have low-income jobs working outside in the cold, the winter socks, gloves, and hats will warm the body ~ and the spirit. This is a one-time request and the cold weather is here, so please hurry!

One love,
Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

PS - Items can be dropped off at ARC (325 Main Street, Danbury), Monday thru Friday, 10am to 12 Noon. If it would help to arrange another time, please call Rachel at ARC: 203-792-9450.

Participating individuals and groups will receive a tax-deductible letter at the end of the next fiscal quarter, and will also be acknowledged on the ARC website ~ under the tab for "Special Thanks."

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Sir Issac Newton

Hi Friends of ARC!

Welcome to ARC's website! It was started in 2010 and we hope you find it helpful. The web architect has asked me to offer a "personal note" from time to time and this is the first one.

One thing I like is a good quote. Like this one:

"We build too many walls and not enough bridges."     Sir Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was a great scientist and mathematician. He was born in England on December 25, 1643 and lived for 85 years.

Isaac was raised by his grandmother. He attended Free Grammar School and then worked his way through Trinity College Cambridge. While at college, he had new ideas about gravity, motion, and light diffraction, and he wrote them in a journal Newton's ideas were so good that Queen Anne knighted him in 1705. His accomplishments revolutionized the world as they laid the foundations for modern science.

As a person whose calling was to look at the world through the eyes of math and science and as a person who thought in terms of calculations and measurements, isn't it also amazing that he would have such keen insight into the human experience writ large:

"We build too many walls and not enough bridges."

Whether from a scientific background, business background, theological or any other, if you too think Isaac was on to something, then go ahead and build a bridge! And help someone else to do the same.

One love,
Rev. Phyllis J. Leopold

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~ Music ~