Recent Events
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Grant Received from San Antonio Junior Forum for the "Helping Women Back to Work" program.
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A rummage sale hosted by Staff, Volunteers, and Board Members on June 8th & 9th
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On 5/18/07 Staff, Volunteers, and several Board Members held a "Pre-Fiesta" Sale
During the week of August 18th
through August 22nd,
backpacks were stuffed with
school supplies, and
distributed to children and
adolescents of the
incarcerated in age from
pre-k to 12th
grade. 170 backpacks with
school supplies were
distributed to children who
have an incarcerated parent,
or who are clients of the
Alpha & Omega Graduation
On Friday, August 8th, BCDM had three clients graduate from the Alpha & Omega program; two from the HVAC program and our first ever female client graduated from the “Customer Service” program! The Honorable Judge Barbara Nellermoe was the featured speaker at the ceremony at Z-Place which honored ten Alpha & Omega graduates. We are very proud of all the graduates and will continue to work with each of them as they search for employment in their new career fields!
On Friday, June 13th, BCDM held our first annual Barbeque Plate Sale Fundraiser at Z Place, 702 Cincinnati. Our good friends, Joe Medellin, from Bexar County Juvenile Probation, and Jerry Herrera, arrived very early in the morning to start the fire. Joe and Jerry barbequed chicken and sausage all day until nearly 3:00 p.m.!!! BCDM staff cooked the beans and rice, and the GEO federal facility donated chicken pieces, pickles, sliced onions (thank goodness they were already sliced!), jalapenos, and bread. Marcus Jahns bought the firewood for us, and Quality Fence donated the barbeque grill. Our loyal Board members, staff, volunteers, and friends sold 500 tickets! Thanks to everyone who helped organize and supply for this event, and thanks to all of you who bought and sold tickets. Thanks especially to Chuck Bayne and all the staff at Z Place who let us use their kitchen and gym, once again, for a BCDM event!
We'll do this again next year!!
HVAC graduation on June 6, 2008
On June 6, 2008 two more Bexar County Detention Ministries clients graduated from the HVAC program at Z Place. Dr. Michael Gilbert, Z Place Board Chair and a member of the Criminal Justice Department faculty at UTSA was the featured speaker. One of the BCDM graduates also spoke about the opportunities created for him by BCDM and the Alpha and Omega program. Congratulations, graduates!
Z Place/Alpha and Omega graduation
On May 9th another
young client from BCDM,
Juan, graduated from the
Alpha and Omega HVAC program
during a ceremony held at Z
Place. Juan faithfully
attended class every day for
12 weeks and he even
attended several other
counseling and support
programs held at the Family
Renewal Center. Juan's
case manager from BCDM will
continue working with Juan
to help him find employment,
but we're certain he'll find
a job very soon! We
wish Juan and his family
much luck in all his future
endeavors!!
On Friday, April 11th,
three BCDM clients graduated
from the HVAC program
(Heating/Ventilation and Air
Conditioning).
On Friday, April 4th,
Bexar County Detention
Ministries hosted a
pre-Fiesta sale at “First
Friday” in the King William
area. Gloria Hernandez
graciously allowed BCDM to
“set up shop” right outside
“King Willie’s” restaurant
off
Pre-Fiesta
On Wednesday, April 9th, BCDM hosted another pre-Fiesta sale at the downtown Bank of America, 300 Convent. The tenants of the Bank of America building loved the Fiesta wreaths and jewelry and we made quite a profit! Pictured left to right are Natalia Tovar, BCDM Outreach Program Director, Lin Lichtenberg, Board of Directors Secretary, (Lin is everywhere isn’t she?), Stacy Baker, Executive Assistant, and Cindy Martinez, Volunteer. Thanks ladies! You did great! Can’t wait for Fiesta!
On the evening of Wednesday, March 19th, 2008, BCDM hosted the annual Easter Basket program for the children of the incarcerated in the gym at Z Place, Zion Family Center, at 702 Cincinnati. 150 children from nearly 60 families, and their parents or guardians, participated in this event. Another 25 baskets were distributed to children of the incarcerated who were not able to attend the Easter party.The children were treated to a visit and their picture taken with the Easter bunny, an Easter craft project, an Easter basket filled with candy and toys, and a delicious chili dog supper!!! We are grateful to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church - Selma for providing the Easter baskets, Central Texas Parole Violators Facility (GEO) for the hot dog buns and to First Presbyterian for the generous donation of $300 to purchase food, and to appropriately dress our Easter bunny! Thanks also to Chuck Bayne and his very dedicated staff at Z Place for once again allowing us to party in the Z-Place gym!!!
BCDM is excited to have been awarded $50,000 by Bexar County and $30,000 from Alamo Worksource through SER Jobs for Progress to pay for vocational training in the Alpha Omega Program at Z-Place, a non-profit agency located at Zion Lutheran Church. Our first two clients who entered the “Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning” HVAC Program on September 4, 2007 graduated from the program on November 21, 2007. These individuals have been placed in jobs with local heating/air conditioning companies. In addition to HVAC, our formerly incarcerated clients will be able to complete full vocational training curriculums in Office Skills, Customer Service, or Welding (soon to be added). We are grateful for the opportunity to offer vocational training and are appreciative of the support of the Bexar County Office of Community Investment, Bexar County Commissioners Court, and Alamo Worksource!
On Friday, March 14, 2008, two BCDM clients graduated from the Z-Place Alpha & Omega “HVAC” program. These are the first two clients to graduate who were funded for the Alpha & Omega HVAC program by the Bexar County Community Investments Department. We are very proud of our graduates and wish them much luck in finding employment in their field! We are extremely grateful to the Bexar County Commissioners, and the Bexar County Community Investments Department for providing our clients with this opportunity.
Grant Received from San Antonio Junior Forum for the "Helping Women Back to Work" program.
On Friday, January 18,2008, BCDM Executive Director, Carol Lockett, was presented with a check for $2500 and a San Antonio Junior Forum Cookbook "Clean your Plate" by San Antonio Junior Forum members, Celia Benitez Kiger and Liz Fox. This donation will support women who are formerly incarcerated, or women with partners who are incarcerated, with specific assistance as they attempt to find employment and provide for their families. We are extremely grateful to the San Antonio Junior Forum for recognizing the obstacles these women must overcome as they struggle to get back on their feet, and for providing us with funding to assist them!!
“Light Up A Heart” Children’s Christmas Program
12/21/2007
On the evening of Friday, December 21, 2007, Bexar County Detention Ministries hosted the annual “Light Up a Heart” Christmas party for children of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. This lively event was held in the gym at Z-Place located at 702 Cincinnati. Over 200 smiling, happy children received a visit from Santa Claus and Poncho Claus, as well as pizza, cookie, punch and plenty of Christmas gifts! The children were also treated to face paining, Christmas carols sung by Camino Real Church Members, and photos with Santa!
Our very generous sponsors and donors for refreshments, and gifts include St. Luke’s Catholic Men’s Club, Camino Real Church, First Presbyterian Church, Our Lady of the Lake Criminal Justice Society, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church/St. Vincent De Paul, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Tata Software, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Purple Heart (Chapter 1836), Rangel Bail Bonds, and our good friends, Mr. and Mrs. Zeke Kennedy, Noe Garcia and Howard and Mary Linda Reed. Thank you also to Chuck Bayne and all the staff of Z-Place for letting us host this event in the gym!
12/07/07
On
Baptist Health Foundation Grant
On November 15, 2007 during a ceremony at the Bright Shawl, Bexar County Detention was presented with a check for a $62,200 grant by the Baptist Health Foundation Board. Individual therapy and support groups will be initiated at the Family Renewal Center in January 2008 by licensed mental health professionals with funding from this grant, enabling us to add a new dimension to the re-entry services we currently offer. We are extremely grateful to Baptist Health Foundation for the opportunity to expand services at the Family Renewal Center!
Volunteer Appreciation Banquet
9/13/07
Our very successful Volunteer Appreciation Banquet was held in the beautiful fellowship hall of the Travis Park United Methodist Church on the evening of September 13, 2007. Approximately 130 volunteers attended the event, enjoyed a meal generously provided by Bill Millers BBQ, and were recognized for their dedication! Rangel Bail Bonds and GEO Corporation, made this very special event possible by providing donations.
Three of our former clients provided moving testimonies concerning their previously hopeless, and tragic situations. We were very happy to hear they are leading very different, and successful lives today, largely due to their contact with BCDM staff and volunteers during their incarceration, and after their release from jail or prison.
We are extremely proud and appreciative of all our volunteers! We thank them for their commitment to carefully and gently assisting the incarcerated, and the formerly incarcerated, with finding their faith, and helping them back on their feet upon release!!!
BCDM Outreach Program Coordinator, Natalia Tovar & BCDM Chaplain, Sr. Teresa Carter, with one of our sponsors of the banquet, Attorney Ron Rangel, Roland Rangel, and Adan Rangel from Rangel Bail Bonds, and Ms. V. Tijerina, Inmate Creative Arts Program, Art Instructor
BCDM Board Member John Byrd & Executive Director Carol Lockett.
Board Member Patsy Ybarra & BCDM Board Treasurer Tom Duesing get to know some of the volunteers at dinner.
Volunteers enjoy their dinner catered by Bill Miller’s BBQ and fellowship with one another.
A rummage sale hosted by Staff,
Volunteers, and Board Members on
June 8th & 9th
On June 8 th and 9 th staff,
volunteers, and Board members
hosted a rummage sale in the
parking lot of the Family
Renewal Center from 9:00 until
4:00 p.m. It was very hot and
humid, but we had lots of
customers, did lots of great
networking with folks living and
working in our neighborhood, and
made nearly $800!!!
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If you would like to advertise in our newsletter please contact Stacy @ 210-299-4540 ext. 16
Upcoming Events
2008 |
September
Wednes
Monthly Board meeting
September
Volunteer Recognition Banquet
October
Dinner at “the Cove"
October
Monthly Board meeting
October
Rummage Sale
November
Fundraiser
November
Monthly Board meeting
December
Fri
Play/Silent Auction
December
Fri
"Light Up A Heart” Children’s
Christmas Program