An abusive and controlling relationship kept Andrea against her will. When she finally escaped, she was treated at a hospital, and upon her release, she planned to go to family in Colorado. Instead, the train stopped in Santa Fe and Andrea got off.
Without any place to go and knowing no one in Santa Fe, Andrea was told about Esperanza Shelter. They gave her a place to stay, but Andrea needed more. To cope with the abusive relationship, she had fallen into alcohol and drug addiction and wanted to get sober. She received services from Life Link and Santa Fe Recovery and made steps forward to recovery.
Like many people, Andrea’s path to sobriety was rocky, and she lost her place to sleep. Then, she arrived at the Interfaith Community Shelter. On her first night, she felt safe and appreciated the warm bed and hot meals. “Pete’s Place was good for me,” Andrea said. “They accepted me and the fight that I had with addiction.”
Sometimes, in the middle of the night, Andrea would feel anxious and needed to leave the Shelter. Yet, there were rules, and once she left, she couldn’t return that night. “But Pete’s Place would always let me come back the next night,” she said. “It was like family. I had a place.”
Andrea kept working on her addiction issues. She also took advantage of the resource days for showers, noon meals, clothes, the Open Art Studio, and the Wednesday choir with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale – her favorite!
At one point, Andrea had to fulfill community service hours and the Shelter let her volunteer. “I was glad to be busy. I worked wherever they asked me and did whatever job needed to be done,” Andrea said.
Andrea’s work ethic impressed the staff, and the Interfaith Shelter ultimately hired her full-time, first in the kitchen and later as part of the night staff. “I’ve always had to work, so I’m happy to be here,” Andrea said. “This place is like my home, and the people are like a family.” With a regular paycheck, Andrea currently lives in a subsidized apartment and is looking for permanent housing. She sees her future working at Pete’s Place and giving back to the community that was there for her.
A train brought Andrea to Santa Fe, but the Interfaith Community Shelter brought her home.
YOU’RE INVITED TO A GOURMET DINNER DONATED BY PREMIER LOCAL CHEFS
James Campbell Caruso, La Boca
Sllin Cruz, Geronimo
Ahmed Obo, Jambo Cafe
Jaime Terrazas, Eloisa
Santa Fe Youthworks Catering
Benefiting The Interfaith Community Shelter
September 5, 2019
5:30 pm Cocktails at the Rooftop Bar
7:00 pm Dinner in the Ballroom
Drury Plaza Hotel
828 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe
$175 per person ~ Limited Seating
RSVP by August 29, 2019
Purchase tickets online or call Beverly Kellam at 505-670-0632 to make a reservation.
JAVA WITH JOE AND MEET OUR MATCH!
At Java with Joe, volunteers, donors and potential donors gathered at Interfaith Community Shelter to learn about the renovation plans for the kitchen and building. Joe Jordan-Berenis, Executive Director, explained the needs that the Shelter has to better serve our guests including a bigger kitchen, storage space, an awning and other outdoor improvements including a new sign for the building. These renovations will also improve the efficiency and working conditions for the staff and volunteers.
Vahid Mojarrab and Joe Jordan-Berenis
Vahid Mojarrab, principal architect at WAMO Studio Architects, designed the original changes to the building when it was converted from Pete’s Pets and has now planned the current renovations. After showing blueprints and illustrations of the existing building and the re-design, Vahid answered questions on the plans’ details. View some of our plans here: fencing, kitchen expansion and shade structure.
The Meet Our Match campaign for the Shelter renovations has reached $58,703 of the $75,000 goal of matching the donation from the Thaw Charitable Trust. Please help us spread the word if you know individuals, businesses or foundations who might be interested in donating to our capital campaign. Donations may be made here.
THANK YOU
TO OUR DONORS AS OF AUGUST 13, 2019:
$75,000!
Eugene V and Clare Thaw Charitable Trust
$10,000 - $25,000
The Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation
Nance Nichols Lopez and Ramon Jose Lopez
$2,000 - $5,000
Church of the Holy Faith Women’s Guild
Richard and Chris Frenk
Phyllis Lehmberg
Leonard and Barbara Rand
$500 - $1,000
Thomas and Mitzi Barker
John and Janis Gasparich
John (Ned) and Elizabeth Harris
Larry and Malissa Haslam
Frank and Leslea McCabe
Jack and Clare Ratliff
David Rubenstein
Sharon Woods
$50 - $250
Constance Deschamps
Cynthia Feiden-Warsh
Stephen Gaber
Norman and Suzanne George
Frances Kean
Richard Martinez and Valerie Alarid
Kathleen Nadler
James and Carmel Owens
Curt and Catherine Paulsen
Patrick and Adele Rodriguez
Judith Seltzer
Marion Seymour
John Zipprich II
Clark and Agnes Zrakovi
LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF HARRISON & CERRILLOS ROAD
AT “PETE’S PLACE” IN SANTA FE
A train brought Andrea Quintana to Santa Fe.
