AUGUST 2021
NEWSLETTER
NATIONAL NONPROFIT DAY
August 17, 2021
August 17th is National Nonprofit Day and Amistad has partnered with Kendra Scott for the second year in a row to celebrate! Beginning Tuesday, August 17 through Wednesday, August 18, shop online or in-store and Amistad will receive 20% of the total purchases through the Kendra Scott’s Give Back Program. All proceeds will go towards our Client Health and Welfare Fund (CHWF), which helps us provide funding for a variety of programs across the agency.
National Nonprofit Day is observed to recognize the positive impact nonprofits have in our communities and across the world. Nonprofits create awareness on different causes and provide aid to those who need it the most. At Amistad, we strive to provide the best services and resources to all our clients, and help meet their needs by assisting them with transportation to medical appointments, mental health counseling, utility assistance, general
assistance and more. Join us in continuing our mission to advocate, connect and deliver social services to communities, ensuring a dignified and meaningful life for all.
Here are three ways you can make a contribution to Amistad’s mission:
-
Shop online at kendrascott.com and use our code GIVEBACK-AHOYV at checkout
-
Shop in-store at 6801 N. Mesa St. #A7 and mention Amistad at the checkout counter
-
Join us at Amistad for a pop-up event!
AMISTAD MEANS FRIENDSHIP
Happy National Friendship Day!
National Friendship Day is celebrated every first Sunday of August, and this year, it is August 1. The friendships we build throughout the years are each unique and bring meaning to our lives. At Amistad, we consider ourselves a friend of the communities we serve, always willing to lend a helping hand to those who need it the most and creating a positive impact in their lives. In honor of #NationalFriendshipDay, you can also be a friend to El Pasoans in need by donating to Amistad today!
AMISTAD CARES UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DEADLINE
Amistad continues taking applications for the AmistadCARES Utility Assistance Program. The program can provide up to 12 months of assistance to cover past-due water, gas, and electric bills.
Who qualifies?
Households with incomes no more than 80% of area median income (AMI)* meeting the following conditions:
One or more individuals in the household has:
- Qualified for unemployment benefits OR
- Has experienced a reduction in household income,
- Incurred significant costs,
- Experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic, AND
- Has received a past due utility notice
Requirements:
- Must reside within the City of El Paso limits
- Have an active and verifiable account with the utility company
- Must reside within the property for which the assistance is being requested
- Must NOT be receiving utility assistance from other sources
*AMI income limits depend on the number of persons in family. Based on El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area:
1
$33,000
2
$37,700
3
$42,400
4
$47,100
5
$50,900
6
$54,650
7
$58,450
8
$62,200
How to Apply:
- Download the application online and fill out
- Call 915-298-7307 (select option 1 + option 1 + zip code) to schedule an appointment
Deadline extended through August 30.
AUGUST 3, 2019 MEMORIAL
August 3, 2019, marked our community forever with the horrific crime committed at Walmart. Chaos and fear instantly spread throughout the city, followed by shock, anger, and sadness. In the face of adversity, our great El Paso community came together in solidarity to help in any way possible, showing the many kind-hearted people we have in our city. On this day, let us remember and honor the lives of those our community lost and those who have been deeply affected by this tragedy. As our community continues to heal, let us remain united and strong as ever, #ELPASOSTRONG.
“Grand Candela” Memorial at Walmart – Cielo Vista honoring the lives lost on August 3, 2019
Amistad lighted 23 luminarias in honor of the victims who lost their lives on August 3rd.
CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET
AND SUPPORT AMISTAD!
Clean out your closet and help raise funds for Amistad!
We have partnered with FUNDrive to help raise funds for our Client Health and Welfare Fund. Donate your gently used and clean clothes including coats, shoes, scarves, handbags, wallets, fashion accessories, ties, belts, backpacks, etc.
You can also donate household textiles including bedding, comforters, blankets, sheets, towels, linen, tablecloths, curtains, etc.
We will be collecting donations from June 28 – August 6, from 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday, at 3210 Dyer St.
Please drop off all clean items in tall kitchen trash bags or large yard trash bags.
Donations are tax-deductible.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY
August 26, 2021
“In 1973, the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as ‘Women’s Equality Day.’ The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality.” (Source: National Women’s History Alliance).
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
AMISTAD BEHIND-THE-SCENES
The role of a Guardianship Case Manager (GCM) can be very rewarding as they build strong, trusting relationships with our clients and ensure their medical, physical and social needs are being addressed and met. Our GCMs are on call 24/7 and are available when our clients need them, most who are elderly.
Inevitably, every year we have clients who lose the battle to illnesses. Sadly, in 2020, 52 clients passed away, 11 being COVID-19 related. As the guardian of our clients, the GCMs arrange funeral services. San Jose Funeral Homes has been a partner to Amistad and has assisted with the funeral arrangements for our clients.
The Guardianship Department took a tour of San Jose Funeral Homes, to learn more about the work that goes into the funeral process. The tour helped the GCMs learn and become familiar with the behind-the-scenes of a funeral home.
A YEAR OF CHALLENGES & SUCCESS
As Amistad’s Fiscal Year comes to an end this month, we reflect on some of the successes and challenges the agency has faced. Unlike any other year, COVID-19 posed many unexpected obstacles, but we pivoted and adapted turning them into success.
Successes
- COVID Operations – remained open, safe environment, BoderRAC PPE donations, Virtual Learning Center
- Continued operation of all programs throughout the pandemic
- Beacon of hope/lighthouse for the community
- OSHA Compliant
- Essential business
- COVID-19 transportation
- Overcoming staff shortages
- Cited as COVID best practices from City Compliance Officer
- COVID Vaccine Clinic for the community
- Successful 45th Birthday Fundraiser – nearly doubling $45,000 goal!
- Best of El Paso – 2020 Best Nonprofit
- Strong community partnerships
- Community outreach events- Fresh Produce Program, MLK Food Drive, Sock Drive, Diaper Drive
- Website Redesign
- Extended outreach through PSA’s with community partners
- Partnered with the City of El Paso for All-America City Awards
- Local dignitaries expressed the value of Amistad
- Volunteers/Interns
- First time receiving funding for agency outreach efforts and a Donor Engagement Campaign
- Generous donations by corporate sponsors for our Client Health & Welfare Fund
- Access2Care call center contract
- AmistadCARES Utility Assistance Program – assisted over 4,000 families
- SafeRide Contract
- Increased social services funding/renewals
- Virtual Court hearings saved time and expenses
- El Camino a CASA funding and building relationships with homeless providers
- 14 proposals submitted to different funding sources for sustainability efforts
- AARP is reinstated
- Ending the year fiscally healthy
- Utilization of iPads available for check-out to clients of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD)
- Peer Support Specialist (PSS) Program for training and mentoring
- Morale activities conducted by VISTA team
- Paycheck Protection Program loan
- Successful quarterly blood drives
- Flu Shots for staff
Challenges
- Fear of COVID – adjustment to PPE/face masks, social distancing, staff testing positive
- Labor market/reduced workforce/hiring challenges
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act compliance
- Spontaneous visits by Compliance Officers
- Managed Transportation Organization Program transition losing revenue
- Decreased ridership during the pandemic
- Increased costs due to pandemic
- Additional responsibilities for staff under new programs while maintaining existing programs
- Restrictions at state facilities limited the work of Guardianship Case Managers and TCDD Peer Support
- Specialists (PSS) in mentoring their assigned mentees
- TCDD PSS trainings transitioned to virtual, some PSS did not have the appropriate technology to participate
- Locating suitable housing, lack of mental health programs, landlords not willing to work with population related to the homeless
- System-centered approach to homelessness as opposed to a client-centered approach
- Unable to conduct/attend outreach events
- Working with subcontractors
- Annual audits
- HVAC System repair
- Roof/wall/facility repairs
- Storage limitations for clients’ items and files
TAKE OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY
As we prepare for our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, we are conducting a 2021 Community Survey and we’d like to hear from you! Your input is very valuable to us. We would like you to take the online survey linked below, which will take less than 10 minutes.
We invite you to share the survey so that others can share their perspectives, too! Please invite your board of directors, constituents, clients, consumers, partners, and others living and working in the County of El Paso.
Thank you in advance for your participation and please let us know if you have any questions.
Amistad Celebrations
Employee of the month
Martha Gallegos
Guardianship Case Manager
5 YEAR MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY
Scott Whittle
Veterans Navigator
THANK YOU TO OUR VISTA TEAM
Thank you to our VISTA Team, Valeria Pimentel and Chris Brooks for all their hard work at Amistad. The team assisted with employee morale events, volunteers, donations and more. We wish them the best of luck in their next endeavors!