Transportation program begins with providing bus vouchers

By Gail Parsons, Dec 19, 2017, Abilene Reflector

Adequate transportation can stand in the way of people maintaining a job, participating in their child’s school activities, paying bills, even eating properly.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor has secured funding from the Community Foundation of Dickinson County to provide vouchers for people with temporary transportation needs.

Sister Loretta Jasper, Neighbor-to-Neighbor project manager, said the vouchers are good for one round trip to locations the Abilene Public Transportation services. On a case-by-case basis, she has the option of extending that to a week’s worth of passes.

“Some people are dependent on their vehicle to run errands, or get to and from work,” Jasper said.

But vehicles break down, people run out of gas, one-vehicle households can’t always share a ride, and some people simply cannot drive because of any number of reasons. The vouchers are meant as a temporary means to help in a tight situation, but they are part of what Jasper sees as a larger transportation program.

She is working on putting together a system to get volunteers who are willing to give rides to people who need them. The Abilene bus runs Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 5 p.m. within city limits, but needs are not confined to those days, times and location. For example, she said school programs are often in the evenings and if the family does not have transportation the child and parents miss out on the opportunity to participate.

With a group of volunteers who are willing to provide transportation, people can get out and about a little more. While the volunteers would drive, those utilizing the service would be asked to donate to help cover the volunteers’ expenses.

Jasper said the biggest hurdle to getting the program started is working through liability.

“(The volunteer) would be taking responsibility for the safety of the person they’re transporting,” she said. “We would need to screen people, do an interview process – be safe for everyone.”

Another component to the transportation program could be a car pool system to help people who work or have other appointments outside of Abilene. Throughout the day, people are making that trip down the interstate, at the same time others are looking for a way to make the trip.

As Jasper starts putting this program together, she is looking for people who can help at any part, whether it is formulating the details of the program, helping on the backend, or to be a volunteer driver.

“We are looking for people who are willing, able, and available to be part of the start of this,” she said.

If anyone is interested or have ideas on how to work through the logistics of the program they are asked to call Jasper at 785-200-6750, email her at [email protected], or stop by Neighbor-to-Neighbor at 803 N. Cedar St.

NtoN-Abilene has free books

By Emerald Brown For Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene, Dec 13, 2017

An Abilene High School senior dedicated her service within her church to collecting books for Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene.

Now the public can stop by Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene at 803 N. Cedar St. Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and “shop” for free books for all ages.

The collection offers options from Dr. Seuss to Harry Potter; from Clifford to science series. The books range from almost new to used quality.

Get ready for a good read during Christmas break, on cold days and during “alone” time. The only prerequisite is that these books are not for re-sale.

Builders Club helps decorate for holidays

Special to the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle, Dec 7, 2017

he Abilene Kiwanis Builders club from Abilene Middle School recently took part in their first service project of the year.

After school 15 students from the club went to Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street to help decorate the house for Christmas and the Abilene Homes for the Holiday tour. The builder’s club works in conjunction with the after school program and aims to get kids involved with volunteering within their local community. Being linked to the Kiwanis club, the Builders Club members are able to volunteer at the events that are put on by the Kiwanis club throughout the year.

Rob Wild, who is the advisor for the club, collaborates with Kellee Timbrook at the Rec Center. He said it is key for the kids to get out there and come up with their own projects as well and that getting the kids to engage with the community is great to see.

“A lot of the time you find that the kids are surprised by how much they enjoyed volunteering, especially when they get to do it with their friends and this will only encourage them to continue to serve in their community as they move on through into high school,” he said.

Their next service project is to be the bell ringers at Country Mart from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 7 to help raise money for the Salvation Army. If any organizations in the local area feel that the Builders Club would be able to help them with a service project, they are encouraged to contact Kellee at Abilene Parks and Recreation

Special barn quilt hangs on garage

Special to Reflector-Chronicle Dec 6, 2017

The Dickinson County Arts Council has gifted Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene with the wood frame and the paint to create a double bow tie barn quilt. The pattern was chosen because of its significance to the philosophy within the Neighbor to Neighbor program.

Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene is a place where women of all walks of life and no matter about their situation socially, emotionally, physically or financially, and who may or may not have children, are welcome to come for as little or as much time between Monday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to help, to be helped, to interact, to learn or to rejuvenate skills from their past.

Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene is a safe place, thus the basis of the double bow tie, which communicates safety. This symbol was one of many used in the 1800s to communicate what to expect for the enslaved who were traveling along the pathway from oppression and slavery.

These symbols were hung on fences, oftentimes in the form of a fabric quilt. The meaning of the symbols was unknown to many yet always visible. They served as a way to let persons who were passing through what to expect.

The double bow tie barn quilt block which is mounted on the west side of the garage is a visible reminder that Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene at 803 N. Cedar St. is a place where each person who crosses its threshold can be assured of safety. Safety to be who one is able to be, to engage with others as one is able and to learn new skills, be it craft, cooking, painting or financial planning.

Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene welcomes women of all ages, from all walks of life to a safe, secure and welcoming environment. For more information, call (785) 200-6750.

Builders Club helps

by Gail Parsons, Dec 6, 2017, Abilene Reflector

Fifteen members of the Abilene Kiwanis Builders club at Abilene Middle School pose for a photo at the Neighbor to Neighbor house on Cedar Street, where they recently took part in a service project. Tthe club members helped decorate the house for Christmas and the local Homes for the Holiday tour. The builder’s club works in conjunction with the after school program and aims to get kids involved with volunteering within their local community. See more photos and an article on Thursday’s schools page.

Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene receives Jeffcoat award

Nov 2, 2017

Abilene’s Neighbor to Neighbor program was the recipient of a $5,000 Jeffcoat Foundation Award. Hank Royer (left), administrator of the Jeffcoat Foundation, presents a check to Sister Loretta Jasper (center), executive director of Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene, and Joe Nold (right), president of the Neighbor to Neighbor board of directors.

Partners in the local neighborhoods

By Sister Loretta Jasper Director, Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene, Nov 2, 2017, Abilene Reflector

It is Autumn 2017. Produce from local gardens is plentiful and household pantries are filled. Our neighbors in Abilene and elsewhere in Dickinson County continue to provide Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene with their abundance of cucumbers, squash of multiple varieties, tomatoes, peppers of all sizes and zest, white and sweet potatoes, onions, zucchini, watermelon, herbs, apples, mulberries, rhubarb and pears.

The abundance of canning supplies and jars we received continues to provide us with the ability to process and store these luscious foods for year-round use in our daily lunches, cooking classes and fundraising booths.

In addition, individual church groups, local organizations and gatherings offer us the extra foods remaining from events, which we then make available on Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene Facebook for take-out in homes.

Cliché isn’t worn thin

The expression “it takes a village” is much larger than a cliché worn thin when referring to the relationship that has been created between NtoN-Abilene and our neighbors who live in Abilene, Dickinson County, and outlying areas.

Before our doors were opened to guests in mid-February, many volunteers. Families, individuals, church and social organizations from all walks of life walked through our door to clean, to sort and organize individual areas within this gorgeous 22-room house at 803 N. Cedar St., endearingly referred to as “the orange house.”

Many individuals have worked in the yard, the basement, the garage and the enclosed porch to help create a welcoming environment for any woman from any walk of life who crosses our threshold. The Boy Scouts scraped paint on the exterior of the house one evening. A mom and her children stopped by during spring break 2016 to clear the yard of overgrown bushes. Many people offered furniture and household furnishings for use in this special place. One family continues to mow and trim the lawn. This same family’s middle-schoolers bake and carry in cookies and garden-grown bouquets for us to share with our guests.

One high school student completed her community service by organizing our donations. Another student helped to clear a rock ravaged part of our yard, and helped plant that same space with donated flower bulbs and tomato plants. Teenagers continue to help provide hospitality and child care when we have on-site events.

‘Village’ provides needed items

Early in 2017, the “village” within and beyond Abilene and Dickinson County began to provide needed appliances, furniture and window treatments and supplies for arts, crafts, painting, sewing and cooking classes. Fabric, yarn, threads, sewing supplies, crochet hooks, knitting needles; paints, art paper, supplies for card crafting; household paper and laundry supplies; bathroom and kitchen linens have continued to cross our threshold.

Our two child care rooms, two kitchen units, sewing center, library, living room and front entrance area are each furnished with either the memories of loved ones or the delight that donations will be cared for re-produced or re-fashioned in some way.

Thank you friends and neighbors!

Neighbor to Neighbor-Abilene welcomes women of all ages, from all walks of life to a safe, secure and welcoming environment. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call (785) 200-6750.

N2N neighborly partnership in Abilene

By Sister Loretta Jasper Director, Abilene Neighbor to Neighbor, October 5, 2017, Abilene Reflector

Several weeks ago, the 150th celebration of the Chisholm Trail, which included the parade of Longhorns along Seventh Street to the Heritage Center, marked a lovely weekend in Abilene.

Not to overshadow the Longhorns, on Sept. 15 a six-car wagon-stroller train comprised of moms and pre-schoolers from Parents as Teachers rolled down Cedar Street headed for 803 N. Cedar — Neighbor to Neighbor Abilene — for the second time since February. A spectacular sight to see! The driveway became a full-blown parking lot within a couple of minutes.

Some moms were carrying infants and diaper bags. Other moms and the older pre-schoolers were either directing traffic or piloting the wagon train. Each child was carrying either a leaf, a flower, a twig or a black walnut to add to the table decorations for the lunch table.

An adventure for all, which began from the moment each person entered the wagon train. Ten moms and 15 children were present at Neighbor to Neighbor. Meta West, PAT parent supervisor, designed this outing with a focus to teach turn-taking, following directions and socialization for both moms and children. Being in the NtoN setting offers a safe, secure and welcoming environment for families, states Ms. West.

Resource networking is one of the services provided by PAT. It provides an opportunity for parents to connect to the community and discover the resources available to them. West said when the PAT staff learned about NtoN, “we were excited to introduce families to another resource for moms and children in our program. NtoN has provided many benefits to our program. After being introduced, our families are very enthusiastic about” what NtoN offers: crafts, painting, sewing, knitting, cooking, canning, etc., and child care when the caregiver is present.

Some moms have become involved in the monthly Fishing for Words book-club for pre-schoolers. Some moms reserve one day a week to spend at NtoN. Overall, this is “a welcoming home environment” West said. It is a place where women feel like they are valued members of a group. It is a place where they are able to socialize with moms who may/may not have pre-schoolers.

West said that moms have a voice in upcoming activities and events and many have become involved in projects that allow them to give back to the local community. This is a definite partnership: a win-win situation.

Molly Veach, a certified parent educator, oftentimes brings her moms and pre-schoolers to NtoN for an individualized class. Veach noted that the self-esteem for many women has skyrocketed in the process of the partnership between PAT and NtoN.

Neighbor to Neighbor Abilene welcomes women of all ages, from all walks of life to a safe, secure and welcoming environment. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (785) 200-6750.

Women assemble kits for disrupted kids

By Gail Parsons [email protected], Sep 25, 2017

When trouble occurs and a child is taken out of the home on an emergency basis, often the child does not have an opportunity to grab much on their way out the door.

“When children are removed from the home, a lot of time they go with their belongings in a plastic bag or a paper sack,” said Sister Loretta Jasper, director of Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street.

She and Terresa Kohman, with HOPE Center and Salvation Army, have partnered to provide the children with comfort kits.

Each kit is packed in a book bag and contains a handmade pillow and blanket set in a matching tote bag, and a small stuffed animal. Each bag also contains other products to match with the age and gender of the child it is being set up for. Products include such items as hygiene supplies; a small kit with paper, stickers and crayons or colored pencils; and a T-shirt donated by Last Chance Graphics.

The partnership started when the two ladies learned they each were trying to do a similar project.

Kohman had money from the Salvation Army. Last year she had purchased $500 worth of book bags for the Kids in Crisis back-to-school project. This year KIC declined her offer to provide book bags again.

She remembered a project another group had started working on to create comfort kits. Those efforts had died out, but she still thought it was a good idea.

Meanwhile, over on Cedar Street, Jasper was working with a group of volunteers to make the pillows and blankets with matching bags.

“Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street has been so wonderfully blessed with the gifting of fabric,” she said. “I was visiting with our neighbors at the Methodist church. They make blankets for people in Hospice and they mentioned the fact that the kids in distress are not being served and maybe that was something we would want to do.”

It was the exact kind of project she had been looking for. Many of the guests of Neighbor to Neighbor are familiar, either personally or through friends, with the situation the children are put in.

“This was a great way to involve our neighborhood,” she said.

And, it was a great way to use the large amount of fabric that had been donated. They started making 45-inch square blankets, pillows, and the tote bags. Some of the volunteers do all of the cutting and put together kits while others will pick them up and bring them home to do the sewing or work there at Neighbor to Neighbor.

As this project was getting underway, Jasper put out a call for hygiene items, to which Kohman replied.

She was able to help with the hygiene items but also knew book bags were perfect for the comfort kits. The tote bag with pillow and blanket fit nicely and there is plenty of room left for other incidentals.

“We are calling them comfort kits because when they go from the home, they often don’t have anything,” Kohman said. “This is some that belongs to them; they can have something of their own.”

As the kits are put together they are marked to indicate which ones are appropriate for the different ages and genders, but the women said they do need to work a little more on getting supplies for the bags suitable for older children.

While the project is great for the children, it is also turning out to have a secondary benefit.

“It is involving our philosophy – Neighbor to Neighbor is available to women of all walks of life,” Jasper said. “It involves all people.”

There are plenty of opportunities for people who would like to donate hygiene products or help sew the quilts and tote bags.

To learn more, people can call Jasper at (785) 342-1692 or Hofman at (785) 263-4673.

Women reveal why they return to N2N

By Kaleen Knopp, September 7, 2017, Abilene Reflector

Women who participate in the varied activities at Abilene’s Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) House on Cedar Street often return because they feel welcome, like it is a second home filled with friendship and people who care. When asked why they like to come to the orange house on Cedar Street, many share similar experiences.

Jolene Bryan, who recently moved to Abilene with her husband and family, wrote about why she values Neighbor to Neighbor:

“Moving to a new town where we no longer had family close and didn’t really know anyone was very intimidating and scary. I was introduced to Neighbor to Neighbor through the Parents as Teachers playgroup. We were very excited about this wonderful, free resource and it quickly became a place we loved to visit.

“We started participating in the monthly activities. We have enjoyed painting, sewing, writing, glass etching, monthly storytime for the kids, and many lunches there. When you walk into the house, it just feels so warm and inviting. Visitors are always greeted with a smile.

“As moms with young children, it can get a little lonely, and we rarely get down time. At the Neighbor to Neighbor house, it just feels like a place where time moves a little slower. There is a calmness about the place where we can just sit and relax while enjoying good company. We have made some wonderful friendships and memories, and I love the mentorship of the older ladies there.

“My kids absolutely love to visit and never want to leave when we do. Neighbor to Neighbor is a blessing for our family and has become like a second home. I can’t say enough good things about it.”

Amanda Brown, another woman who enjoys being at Neighbor to Neighbor, explained how N2N enriches her life:

“I was first introduced to N2N on Cedar Street in May. My Parents as Teachers group took a walk and stopped there to learn about it and to eat lunch. While we were there, Sister Loretta mentioned that a painting class was being offered, so a few friends and I decided we could do that. We are all stay-at-home moms, and we all agreed that we could get out of the house on that day to paint; plus, childcare was provided for free.

“The painting workshop, as it turned out, was not able to be done that day, but I went anyway and had a blast. I signed up for the next class, and the one after that, and the one after that. I was hooked. It was such an inviting atmosphere, I knew I had to come back.

“During one of the times I was there, Sister Loretta discussed making Care Bags for kids in crisis or emergency situations. My two friends and I came one Thursday morning and wanted to help out. They picked out fabric to make the blankets, and I dug through yarn to find a skein I liked to make a stuffed animal. I finished that one fairly quickly and decided to make more.

“Not too long after that, Loretta told me about the storytime she was offering and asked me to share the word on Facebook. We talked a bit and I decided to make little Amigurumi as prizes for children who came to the storytime. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures.

“Things started to snowball from there. After the first storytime, I wanted to give back more, so I asked Sister Loretta if I could do a craft for the next time. She was enthused about it. Now, I continue to make stuffed animals for the kids who come; when they come 3, 6 and 9 times, they receive a different animal as their prize. A grand prize will be given to children who were able to come at least 11 times.

“Neighbor to Neighbor has really helped me meet and interact with new people. I am kind of an introvert at times and have a hard time initiating the meeting of new people. After the first few painting classes, I knew a handful of participants, and we considered ourselves family. They love my boys like their own. My oldest, who is almost 4, has to give everyone hugs when we leave.

“Our only family who live close to us are my in-laws. Our other closest family is 40 minutes away. Coming to Neighbor to Neighbor gives me the feeling of having family close, even though none of us are blood-related. I have told Sister Loretta several times that I would spend every morning, all morning, at N2N if I could, but then housework wouldn’t get done.

“There were several days that I came to N2N just to have someone to talk with. My husband works all day, so some days get boring when the only people you have to talk to can’t quite formulate full sentences yet. Sister Loretta would ask about my week and would remember things that we had discussed from previous conversations. My oldest asks frequently if we can go to Neighbor to Neighbor to play with the toys. Now, when it’s time to get in the van to go somewhere, he asks me if we are going “to neigh to neigh” (his version of Neighbor to Neighbor).

“I absolutely love how Sister Loretta treats us like family. We have always been offered water to drink, asked to stay for lunch, and she even offers to hold my youngest (age 14 months) so I can have a break as we talk. He feels so comfortable with her that he has fallen asleep on her lap on several occasions. One time, she mentioned that we were having scrambled eggs for lunch. I went to the kitchen to see what help was needed and ended up cooking lunch for the group. I was also able to talk to another participant and show her how to make scrambled eggs and how to add variety to them: something I would have most likely never done before.

“Loretta has helped me step out of my comfort zone, and I am most certainly grateful. I have an amazing and loving family by blood, but N2N has helped me acquire a new family, a family by heart. I have been forever blessed by Neighbor to Neighbor.”

Neighbor to Neighbor, the orange house on Cedar Street, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Women from all walks of life are welcome to come in and enjoy lunch, some peace and quiet, some conversation, participate in a craft or workshop, read the paper or just enjoy the opportunity to make new friends.

Nolds: Good reason to help N to N Abilene

By Kaleen Knopp For the Reflector-Chronicle, August 7, 2017

Joe and June Nold, active volunteers in the Abilene community, support Neighbor to Neighbor because they sincerely believe that we all benefit from building and strengthening relationships with others.

“There are a lot of people in this world who need help, many of whom are uncomfortable asking,” the Nolds noted, and added that “women and children from all walks of life can come to Neighbor to Neighbor and find a peaceful place to do activities, visit, learn new skills, make friends and just find a comfortable, safe place to be with no expectations.”

Joe noted that, “People should support Neighbor to Neighbor because we all need the kind of surroundings available here. We often don’t realize that we need help and community; the number one effect of addiction and depression is loss of contact with those around us.” He pointed out that “we all benefit from listening to others; if we make one another feel welcome, we all enjoy a positive return.”

The Neighbor to Neighbor Board makes it easy to visit and participate by providing free bus tickets to and from locations around the community.

For example, the nutritious cooking classes offered are popular because they use simple, nutritious, inexpensive ingredients. Joe pointed out that “many kids today have grown up without the extensive family network that previous generations have enjoyed. The opportunities here allow people to be together,” involved in positive, practical projects like the cooking project one week that featured the preparation of individual family-sized enchilada casseroles. Participants each took home a casserole ready to bake and serve to their families that evening.

Different meals are prepared twice monthly. If continued funding is available to support these courses, entries can be cooked and served or frozen for future use. Laurie Leder, working as an assistant for SNAP ED, a branch of KSU Research and Extension, teaches the healthy cooking workshops, which are partially funded by a grant from SNAP ED (Nutrition Education).

Laurie was able to provide the course for preparing and taking food home because she had funding from an existing dairy grant that is now totally spent. She can offer a demo and tasting, and her time, per the SNAP ED grant, but this grant does not allow the food to be taken home. Therefore, additional partnerships could provide funding for future courses, including a crock-pot meal class that Laurie would like to offer in the future.

Additional partnerships with funding supporters would expand the opportunities available, as new community partners would allow more options to be offered.

A unique feature of Neighbor to Neighbor is that there are no special requirements for guests to participate. No one needs to “qualify” to be involved, and the home offers comfortable rooms where women and children can just hang out. Adults can read newspapers, use the free wi-fi, do puzzles, participate in the learning workshops, do crafts, learn skills or just relax in a quiet setting. Children of all ages can play safely upstairs with supervision in the age-appropriate children’s play areas or share in the kids’ reading programs offered monthly.

Every month features a different book read aloud by a different reader. Each participating family then takes a book home. Mothers join in the reading alongside the pre-schoolers. One upcoming book is an alphabet learning book, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” by Carle and Martin.

Neighbor to Neighbor coordinates scheduling to avoid conflicts with other enrichment opportunities in the community, like the library, which also offers reading programs for children.

Neighbor to Neighbor offers information about community enrichment events, as people often don’t take advantage of local opportunities simply because they do not know about the activities available.

The sewing, crocheting, knitting and cooking classes as well as haircuts, access to shower and laundry (all free of charge) allow women increased ease with daily living. Canning produce and baking are also taught in workshops, and the small garden plot in back provides a place for guests to learn how to grow healthy produce, allowing the sharing of skills that grandmothers may not have had the opportunity to pass down to younger generations.

Individual people’s gifts have a place to be used. One neighbor, Lindsey, who has created and maintains the social media presence of Neighbor to Neighbor, said that she enjoys having the opportunity to share her skills using Facebook, Instagram and other technology tools to share with others.

Lindsey explained how she found Neighbor to Neighbor: “As an assistant Cub Scout den leader, I came to learn how to sew sashes for the Scouts in my den. It cost $15 per sash to purchase them online at Etsy.” She thought, “surely there’s a cheaper way to do this!”

When Lindsey saw that she could learn to sew at Neighbor to Neighbor, she came in for help with this project. She got her Scouts’ sashes made and has subsequently remained involved as a volunteer.

Her health condition, which prevents working a full-time job, does not present a problem when helping at Neighbor to Neighbor. Lindsey notes that her college degree in community health can also be used to benefit others. Lindsey’s story illustrates the open expectations at Neighbor to Neighbor, which provides opportunities to learn, but also to share and contribute to others’ lives.

Neighbor to Neighbor is governed by a board of directors which represents a cross-section of the community, and the atmosphere which the board strives to achieve is free from religious activities: “N to N provides a judgment-free atmosphere where we can just enjoy being around others and sharing our lives. There are open expectations and no specific schedule here. Thus, people can use their individual gifts to fit into varying needs; this provides an opportunity to give something back to others.”

As no criteria need to be met by any participant, women and children from all walks of life are welcome. Anyone interested in partnering with Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street as a sponsor, a guest or a volunteer should contact Sister Loretta at (785) 200-6750, send email to [email protected] or just stop in and say hello. Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street can be followed on Facebook and Instagram for up-to-date happenings: daytime, occasional evenings, and weekends.

Neighbor to Neighbor is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 803 N. Cedar St. in Abilene. Women are welcome to stop in anytime.

‘Life learning’ at N to N house

By Kaleen Knopp For Reflector-Chronicle, July 3, 2017

Judy (Montgomery) Kohardt-Hazelton first learned about the Neighbor to Neighbor house on Cedar Street while she was working in the SER office on Cedar Street.

Vicki Gieber, director of the Quality of Life Coalition, Inc., locatedin an office just down the hall from the Senior Community Employment Program, which includes the SER Jobs for Progress, Inc. program, mentioned the new opportunity being developed at the corner of Eighth and Cedar streets. Vicki thought Judy might be interested in learning about the opportunities offered at the newly painted bright orange house up the street.

When Judy met Sister Loretta Jasper, director of Neighbor to Neighbor, for the first time, she found her warm, pleasant, friendly, gracious and welcoming. Neighbor to Neighbor offers new opportunities for women and children to learn life skills of various kinds, providing a comfortable home where people can gather to hang out, talk, build relationships, sew, bake cookies, make jelly, can garden produce, knit, crochet, do needle handwork and feel comfortable showing up for lunch or for art or writing workshops.

Judy knew she was interested. Not having had daughters with whom to share the many life skills she had developed over the years — although she did teach her sons to cook, iron, do laundry, garden, can garden produce, make jelly, and such — Judy welcomed the opportunity to share some of her diversified skills with the women and children who cross the threshold of Neighbor to Neighbor. The SER program for which Judy qualified as a senior employee, in partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor, provided the perfect opportunity for Judy to join together with other folks to share life skills in a comfortable home setting.

The Neighbor to Neighbor house is a beautifully restored Victorian home with vintage woodwork and classic fireplaces in the comfortably furnished ground floor rooms. Upstairs, children can play with supervision in the age-appropriate playrooms, which feature plenty of books and fun learning opportunities.

Rooms throughout the home are designed for learning workshops, doing crafts, hanging out and visiting, eating lunch, baking, painting, playing games or doing puzzles, reading, journaling, mentoring and sharing lives in an atmosphere that resembles extended family: grandmothers teaching granddaughters to knit; mothers teaching daughters how to bake; visiting artists conducting painting workshops; professional writers offering writing workshops; sisters listening to other sisters share their life stories; and neighbors meeting neighbors who may not have found each other before.

Judy was delighted to find a young cousin whom she hadn’t seen for a long time sitting at the lunch table. The unexpected reunion was a joyful surprise for them both. Neighbor to Neighbor provides opportunities to find surprise connections with others who grew up in the area, or to meet friends and develop new relationships.

Judy parallels her experience at Neighbor to Neighbor to past mission trip experiences she has had, where she worked to “help” others, but “the mission trip participants are the ones who walk away with the real blessings.” Judy says of her work as a SER participant in training at Neighbor to Neighbor, “working with others opens our eyes to the way that other people live, seeing the living process, the living activities of people striving for the same things we all strive for: a safe and productive life where we feel valued, have safe living quarters, and people who care about us.”

Judy also notes: “People travel long journeys and are often striving to pull their lives together in spite of previous activities and life choices that have contributed to the complexity of their journeys. At the Neighbor to Neighbor house, we have opportunities to recognize our value and what we can contribute to the world. Some have encountered danger, loss, confusion, and yearn for a safe and productive life. Many of us welcome opportunities to share with others who have also travelled rocky paths in life, have struggled to overcome hardships and travel safe pathways to the future.

“We all have barriers that we have to overcome, and to see the empowerment that comes when we can help each other to see the light at the end of the road is a very powerful blessing. It’s a joy to be able to participate in others’ growth and see the moment of learning when they have accomplished a new skill. The realization that we all can learn new things from one another — no matter our ages or stations in life — is empowering.”

Judy’s goals for the upcoming week include teaching new friends how to knit handbags, oil painting wall plaques with floral motifs, and continuing to crochet baby sweaters using granny squares.

Neighbor to Neighbor is a place where women from all walks of life can find mutual support in an encouraging and safe environment. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 803 N. Cedar St,, serving all women (any age, marital, parental or work status) by offering free resources for healthy fulfilled living.

Sister Loretta not TV-version nun

By Gail Parsons [email protected], May 26, 2017

On occasion we have the opportunity to sit and chat with a person whose aura is markedly different than others around us. Such is the case with Sister Loretta Jasper, a sister of St. Joseph of Concordia Kansas and director of the newly opened Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street in Abilene.

In short time, one comes to realize Sister Loretta is not the typical TV-version of a nun, nor does she wear her religion on her sleeve. Instead, she is approachable, real, down-to-earth, and she gets things done.

Born and raised on a farm outside of Cawker City in Mitchell County – whose claim to fame is the world’s largest ball of twine, Sister Loretta was the second youngest of eight children. She was born to first-generation parents born in America; her grandparents had immigrated from Luxemburg.

“By the time I was involved in my family, my parents were financially in a better place,” she said. “My siblings were born during the depression and the dust storms, so life was meager for them.”

Having come from the farm background during a period of extreme hardship for farmers, a certain set of values was instilled from day one.

“Our ethics in my family was – if you are part of this family, you share in the responsibilities of this family,” she said. “My brothers and I would be responsible for the outside chores and me in particular during the summer when my brothers would be working in the fields.”

On the road to becoming a Sister

While her family was active in church and the Sisters of St. Joseph schooled her, there was never a time when a light bulb went off and she felt a great calling. Rather, her path to becoming a sister was subtle and guided by the amiable relationships she had with nuns she encountered.

She relates it to the old worn-out comments about sisters rapping children’s knuckles or being equally hardcore.

“I only had the sisters as my teachers and I didn’t’ know anything about knuckle rapping. I didn’t know anything about that because I had absolutely fine teachers — congenial teachers,” she said. “That was the drawing card for me. That was an enticement to be part of that lifestyle, part of the sisters of St. Joseph. There was just a nice congenial earthy spirit.”

As a youngster she was enticed by people who lived beyond themselves, the record breakers, the missionaries and the people who did exceptional things. It was the type of books she read and it was the type of people who served as her role models. In the Sisters of St. Joseph and the philosophies the community lived on, she saw the kind of people she wanted to emulate.

When she joined her community, she did so just as an era within the Catholic Church was coming to an end. She entered right after high school, but in less than two years the Second Vatican Council would make sweeping changes in the way the adherents were to approach their responsibilities.

“We were tasked by Rome to do a look-see on our history and our origin and not only as a church but our religious communities,” she said. “Being bound and closed in our houses after we taught school or did nursing was not our origin. Our origins, from the 17th century, was seeing needs and addressing them; here in the U.S. the needs was education and healthcare.”

Vatican II may have come at a perfect time for the young Sister Loretta. In the 1960s, American culture was shifting, but still the opportunities available to women were far different than they are today.

“Being in a religious congregation provided for education and for a life beyond marriage,” she said. “It was the single life or marriage — this was almost a third lifestyle.”

The lifestyle attracted many women, but of all the friends who joined around the time Sister Loretta did, she is the only one who is still in. But she says she never feels like she missed out on anything her peers have.

Her freedom to be involved in helping families improve their lives helped keep her from ever wanting the single life or the married life.

“It’s interesting, I never really did (miss it). I was in the midst of the families with whom I was working. I was in the schools and the parish, it was so different than being in clinical settings where you don’t socially cross the lines,” she said.

By not having the commitments attached to family, she has more freedom to move and to do what she feels she is called to do.

Honing her gifts

The sisters were no longer assigned to schools or to a hospital; instead they were encouraged to take a serious look at where their personal gifts would be best used. When Sister Loretta took inventory of her gifts she saw a pattern of creativity, flexibility and the ability to be diversified.

“As time moves on it’s less important for me to claim a spot as my own; I have grown to ‘where I am, is where I am,’” she said.

She has spent time in the elementary classroom and never rapped a knuckle. She did pastoral care and chaplaincy. She worked with addiction services in in-patient programs and as a counselor and therapist. She has worked all over the country, using her gifts to the best she knew how and moving on when the time was right.

“All the many places I have lived, people ask where has been your favorite? No place has been my favorite because every place has its special touch,” she said.

From her humble upbringing in “a little two-by-four town on a little two-by-four farm,” she has lived in and worked among the copper miners in New Mexico; in the Chicago/Aurora area where as a non-Spanish speaker she taught a class of non-English speaking children. Then she left the multi-cultural areas she had become accustomed to to move back to a town similar to her roots.

“I went to Fairberry, Neb., and it was like ‘oh my goodness, I have to wear sunglasses, this town in so white,” she recalled.

But it is the culmination of experiences — seeing and immersing herself in all cultures, which helps her understand and help people from all backgrounds.

She went on to live and work in Kirksville, Mo.; Memphis, Tenn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; and the whole metropolitan area of Kansa City, where she did clinical work in addiction programs and community mental health centers.

While in the Kansas City area she had the opportunity to pitch in and help when the Tsunami hit Thailand.

“The program I was in was looking for people to join in going to Sri Lanka as part of Heart to Heart in Kansas City. I did three trips to Sri Lanka in a year and a half,” she said. “It is a totally different culture. I worked with kids and parents in helping them move through the trauma of the tsunami.”

While cultures may be different, all people suffer, and Sister Loretta has seen her share of suffering. However, she is able to internalize her experiences in a way to build rather than tear down her spirit by understanding the importance of not personalizing her experiences.

“I am not sure how I do that. I am a disaster responder with Red Cross, so I have been in the midst of the fires and the floods. In Sri Lanka we were in the midst of the civil war,” she said. “Somehow I have a sense that everything is going to be OK and, if it’s not, it’s not. That seems like a happenstance fatalistic approach, but I really think there is a thin line between sitting back and seeing what will happen and moving along and being about something in-as-far as I see it needs to happen.”

The pain and suffering she sees isn’t limited to those who have been victim of a natural disaster or in far-off lands. Much of it is right in the small American communities, behind the white picket fences that adorn quiet streets.

“I go into the trenches when I go in the homes,” she said. “I go into homes where families are foster, reintegration,and people don’t always have lovely things in their home; the smells are often bad and their lives are broken lives.”

Knowing when it’s time to move on

Ten years ago, Sister Loretta had been working in Kansas City for about 16 years when she started thinking it was time to return to her rural roots and begin integrating some of what she had learned over the years into the underserved rural populations.

“In Kansas City, all was going well,” she said. “There are a lot of needs in the metropolitan area, but I was a dime-a-dozen in Kansas City. I am not a dime a dozen here.”

In her westward migration, she spent several years working as a military life counselor in the Geary County school district, living for a while in Junction City before renting a room in Chapman. Eventually she became associated with The Cedar House, an addiction recovery home for women.

From there, she was able to spearhead the formation of Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street, which follows the concept of a similar project the Sisters of St. Joseph started in Concordia.

As she worked on building the foundation for Abilene’s Neighbor to Neighbor, Sister Loretta said the philosophical framework and foundation of the Sisters of Concordia became evident in the framework she sees Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street being built upon.

“The philosophy of Sisters of St. Joseph is ‘unity with self, God and neighbor; and taking care of yourself, taking care of others, and taking care of the world and place you live in.’ It’s pretty basic,” she said. “It is so basic that it gets overlooked.”

As the vision for Neighbor to Neighbor began to take hold, Sister Loretta said she realized, while both serve viable needs, the missions of Cedar House and Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street were not matching.

Like so many other times in her life, she had to evaluate where she was going and what she was doing.

“Life is a definite unfolding,” she said.

Recently, the two entities split so they could each fulfill their own missions.

When contemplating any large decision, such as whether to move or more recently the relationship between Neighbor to Neighbor and The Cedar House, Sister Loretta said there is a thin line she looks close at.

It’s seldom easy to evaluate something that seems good and realize it’s not working the way it should be — for any number of reasons.

“What are the options? To relinquish one’s self and identity, or to move along and be at peace and not forfeit one’s self?” she said. “I have no regrets. I have losses, loss of friendships to philosophical differences, but no regrets.”

With change and movement come opportunities for growth and new options.

“Our intent as people is to live as best we are able. In my case, as God would have me do, as God would have me be,” she said. “And sometimes that includes letting go in order to be free to reach out for something more.”

Spiritual Core

Sister Loretta’s heart and the foundation of her being is her spiritual core — a core she keeps close to herself.

“That is why I don’t do a lot of God talk,” she said. “It is my spiritual core, it is very important that I do not forfeit the very foundation of my being.”

She compared constant evangelizing to “bringing the bedroom into the front room. It takes away from the depth of your spiritual core.”

In Neighbor to Neighbor, one might suspect, since it is bring run by a Sister, there would be obvious signs of the Catholic Church in every room, but such is not the case.

“My spirituality is very much tuned to the moments and life around me. Yes, I am affiliated with a denomination and active with my religious community; but I don’t’ do a whole lot of God talk; I never have,” she said.

Saving souls, she said, is not her job. Her job is to be the best person she is able to be.

For now, the best person she can be is the person operating a home where people can go for lunch, a haircut, a little help when needed or simply take a break from life.

While Sister Loretta has her plate full with Neighbor to Neighbor, she has no idea what’s next in her life simply because “next isn’t here yet.”

Parents As Teachers, Neighbor to Neighbor get acquainted

By Meta West, Parents as Teachers May 10, 2017, Abilene Reflector

A wagon train of children and parents recently traveled the few blocks from the Parents as Teachers office at 1101 N. Mulberry to Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street (803 N. Cedar) for lunch and a tour of the facilities. It was a chance to be outdoors, to enjoy the springtime weather and to build relationships.

Following the tour and lunch, Sister Loretta Jasper, director of Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street, explained available services. Inspired by the offering, several mothers made plans to join an upcoming painting session while others considered classes on cooking and baking, sewing and mending, knitting and crocheting.

Meanwhile, the children were eager to come back to the playroom full of toys and equipment that would entice any child.

Sister Loretta stressed that Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street is a safe place for women from all walks of life and that children are also welcome. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the program offers lunch daily.

For more information about the program, call (785) 200-6750 or stop by the orange house on Cedar Street (803 N. Cedar).

For the staff of the two programs, it was an opportunity to collaborate and to constructively explore ways to assist families and ways to help children develop their full potential in a caring, diverse community.

N2N on Cedar Street opens door

By Gail Parsons, Feb 6, 2017, Abilene Reflector

About 40 people showed up for a ribbon cutting at Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street Thursday morning.

For some, it was their first time in the 1880’s house; for others, it brought back memories, which they shared with visitors.

As they toured the house, the vision of what Project Manager Sister Loretta Jasper had in mind when she set out to replicate a similar facility in Concordia became clear.

The house, with its original woodwork, angled walls and ceilings, and built-in cabinets is quaint, comfortable and elegant. It is well on its way to becoming an active place for women to go, have a bite of lunch, take a class or just sit around with other women and chat.

“Anyone can come in; the doors are open and programs will be slowly rolled out,” said Outreach Coordinator Patti O’Malley.

Visitors admired features that have withstood the test of time, like the stained glass windows in the front doors, original hardware and intricately carved corner blocks at the top of the doorways. One feature, which had many people talking, was the doorway into an upstairs room. It is a heavy, thick door that looks like a wall with a built in bookcase when closed.

“It is gorgeous,” said Debbie Baier, who echoed the sentiments of those around her.

She came to the ribbon cutting because she has wanted to support the Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street ever since touring the one in Concordia and learning of its potential for Abilene.

“I think it is a great asset to the community,” she said.

Thelma Mills had heard about Neighbor to Neighbor when she attended meetings at Cedar House. She is hopeful people will begin to recognize the benefits of Jasper’s vision.

“I love it, I think it will be great and hope they get people, especially young people, to come in,” she said.

N2N project manager to help with dental ‘clinic’

By Gail Parsons, January 17, 2017, Abilene Reflector

The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation will have its annual Free Dental Clinic Jan. 27 and 28 at the National Guard Armory in Manhattan. For the fourth year, Sister Loretta Jasper will be there to offer assistance and comfort.

Jasper, who is the project manager for the new Neighbor to Neighbor program housed on Cedar Street, says she is trying to get the word out in Abilene about the free clinic.

“Dental health is so important for the overall wellbeing of one’s physical and mental health,” she said. “It is a bigger deal than ‘if I don’t have mouth pain, I won’t be grouchy.’ The health of the mouth to the overall body is very significant.”

One of the goals of Neighbor to Neighbor on Cedar Street is to help women find resources for themselves and their families to improve their lives.

With so many people not having dental insurance, this annual event can make tremendous changes in people’s lives and wellbeing.

The two-day event is staffed by volunteers who will treat an array of dental issues, including cleanings, filling and extractions.

As a non-clinical volunteer, Jasper has helped with directing people from one station to another, sat with people who were scared, greeted those coming in, setting up prior to opening and letting people squeeze her hand as a dentist worked on their mouth.

“It is interesting how different people responded to getting that shot into their gums. It was such a fascination — here are these highly tattooed people and rough and tumble folks who could hardly stand the thought of getting a shot,” she said.

Spending a half-day helping with the clinic is time well spent. She said she knows she is quite fortunate to be able to go to a dentist whenever the need arises, but so many people can’t.

“I want to be available to help do my part to those who are not as fortunate,” she said. “I figure a half a day on the timeline of life is not that much.”

Doors open each day at 5:30 a.m. and people are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. As hundreds of people generally show up for both days, she recommends people plan on getting in line as early as they can.

“Plan to go early, plan to wait a long time, plan to be patient,” she said.

For those who go:

The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation released the following information for people who plan on attending the event:

• Continue taking any prescription medication as directed and bring it along so a dose is not missed should the patient have to wait a good portion of the day.

• The patient will need to fill out a brief health history, so bring a list of allergies, prescriptions, etc. to have this information available.

• Patients do not need to bring dental records or proof of income.

• Services are first come, first served and all patients must be able to wait in line — no appointments.

• The clinic opens at 5:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27 and 28, and waiting in line or determining how early to get in line is up to the patient.

• Only as many patients as can be treated that day (about 800) will be admitted and then the doors will be closed. Standing in line on Friday and not getting in does not give the patient priority the next day. It is the same process on Saturday — first come, first served.

• Be prepared to wait and potentially be there all day. About 800 patients are admitted to the clinic, so it may be mid-afternoon before a patient is treated.

• Biscuits and gravy will be provided for breakfast and a sandwich will be served for lunch for all patients at no charge. Bring snacks and water.

• After a medical screening, the patient will be examined by a dentist at KMOM and the patient’s greatest need will be treated. For example, if a patient needs extractions and fillings, the greatest need (probably the extractions) will be treated at KMOM. The patient does have the option to come back the next day to get the fillings, but they must wait in line again like everybody else. No line priority is given.

• Services provided include cleanings, fillings, and extractions. No dentures will be provided at KMOM.

• Full mouth extractions will be done if determined necessary by the examining dentist. The patient will be able to discuss treatment/procedure options with the dentist prior to care.

• After treatment, patients will be provided a phone number to call for follow up emergency care if they experience any problems regarding the treatment received at KMOM.

Cedar House Foundation opens N2N ‘home’ in Abilene

By Gail Parsons, January 17, 2017, Abilene Reflector

Mike Ade, owner of MCA Renovations in Chapman, writes down measurements taken by Justin Johnson Wednesday morning at the location of the new Neighbor to Neighbor facility on Northwest Cedar Street as they diagram the house. The Cedar House Foundation has expanded its women’s services to the Abilene house in order to reach more women. The Cedar House is located in rural Dickinson County and specializes in rehabilitation of women with drug or alcohol addictions. The N2N house will offer a wide range of support programs for all women in Dickinson County. Abilene city commissioners on Jan. 9 authorized a $20,000 contribution from its Special Alcohol and Drug Fund to help the N2N program get started.

Catholic Charities moves monthly van location to N2N facility

By Gail Parsons [email protected], Jan 16, 2017

Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas has moved the location for its monthly outreach in Abilene from the First United Methodist Church parking lot to Neighbor to Neighbor at 803 NW Cedar St.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, the van will serve as a mobile center from which people can get needed items and information and forms for several of the services Catholic Charities offers.

Executive Director Michelle Martin said Catholic Charities tries to reach out to as many of the communities as they can in the 31-county region they cover.

From this van, people can pick up an assortment of needs, including clothing, coats, food, hygiene items, blankets, diapers and other necessities.

They can also connect with any of several counseling and aid services the charity offers, including help with predatory loans, help with pregnancy issues or assistance with prescriptions and medical supplies.

Martin said they are always looking for ways to help the community but don’t want to waste time or resources working on initiatives that other agencies are already handling.

“We don’t want to duplicate services; we want to be an enhancement,” she said.

By attending the monthly Quality of Life meetings and visiting with people in Abilene, they learn what the needs are.

Services Catholic Charities offers:

• Emergency Assistance Services: Includes prescription, rent and utility assistance; food; bus passes; diapers; wipes; formula; personal hygiene items and clothing.

This program is to help those who cannot meet their financial needs for the month. They have a small food pantry and supply closet. They also offer limited emergency assistance with utilities and rent.

• REACH: Accepts applications to help individuals with mental disabilities to fund special projects they cannot obtain from other sources.

A committee decides monthly if applicants are approved and help is limited to $500 annually.

• Kelly Mead: Accept applications to help families impacted by a catastrophic illness with uncovered medical related expenses, including travel associated with treatment.

• Adoption: Catholic Charities is a certified adoption/placement agency. Currently they only place infants.

They conduct home studies, enroll parents, hold educational classes and provide counseling services to prospective adoptive and birth parents.

• Pregnancy Maintenance Initiative: The goal of this program is to help mothers maintain a healthy pregnancy and experience a safe delivery that results in a full-term, healthy baby.

Case managers in this program provide whatever services are needed — counseling, parenting plan, budgeting, financial assistance, emotional support, prenatal vitamins, baby items or other necessities.

• Counseling: Individual, family and youth counseling is provided. They accept insurance but also offer a sliding fee scale based upon income for those without insurance.

• Kansas Loan Pool Project: This program is to help those who have predatory loans. After screening, individuals are assisted in obtaining traditional bank loans secured by the agency’s certificate of deposit invested with the bank.

• Immigration: Catholic Charities is a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited agency that assists individuals with all the paperwork needed to establish citizenship, obtain legal rights to work and secure other legal residency status.

• Hispanic Services: Staff can help with translations, assist with reading documents, provide interpreting services and help complete required paperwork for international travel and other matters.

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