About homelessness
u It is difficult to know how many people are homeless in any given community. It is particularly difficult to count the number of homeless in rural areas.
u According to the U.S. census, the number of people living in Wisconsin homeless and emergency shelters increased by 9% between 1990 and 2000, a jump that mirrored the state's overall population increase during that time.
u The number of shelter nights provided by the House of Hope emergency shelter increased by 22% during 2006, going from 1,784 shelter nights to 2,179 shelter nights in 2006. (Each night that one person stays in an emergency shelter equal one shelter night.)
u Of the 90 people that stayed at the House of Hope in 2006, 46% were children.
Volunteers perform a variety of jobs:
- stock shelves
- work at the client intake desk
- clean the food pantry and shelter
- pick up and deliver food
- do yard work
- pick up donated furniture
- give rides
- take people shopping
- take care of children
- perform light housekeeping
- make telephone reassurance calls
- prepare meals
- visit with people
Our volunteers are caring people who want to help others
About hunger
u Eleven percent of Wisconsin's 5.3 million residents live in poverty.
u A family of four is considered to be living in poverty if they live on $20,000 per year or $385 per week.
u Nine percent of Wisconsin residents lack sufficient food -- 1 out of 11 households.
u 350 Dunn County households use the Interfaith Food Pantry on average each month.
u Of the 13,000 people in households receiving food from the Interfaith Food Pantry, 43% (5,600) of them are children.
About isolation
u There are over 35 million Americans over 65. For them, growing old can be a complicated and solitary journey. But across the country, volunteer programs, like Interfaith Volunteers' Caregivers Program, are relieving the isolation of many elderly in the community. Intergenerational friendships often spring up and recent studies indicate these programs can lead to longer, healthier lives.
u There are over 35 million Americans over 65. For them, growing old can be a complicated and solitary journey. But across the country, volunteer programs, like Interfaith Volunteers' Caregivers Program, are relieving the isolation of many elderly in the community. Intergenerational friendships often spring up and recent studies indicate these programs can lead to longer, healthier lives.u Volunteers in the Caregivers Program perform 1,000 acts of kindness each year for their neighbors in need.
u Caregiver volunteers drove 15,800 miles in 2006 helping their neighbors.
To become a volunteer,
contact us at 715-235-2920 or ivdc@wwt.net
Interfaith Volunteers relies on many stakeholders to accomplish our work. We are most financially stable when many people support us -- giving what they can. Interfaith Volunteers is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
To support our work, send your tax-deductible contribution to:
Interfaith Volunteers of Dunn County
1620 Stout Road
Menomonie, WI 54751
