This podcast is presented by the Miami Rescue Mission bout Outreach Centers, also known as The Caring Place www dot Caringplace dot org.
Welcome to Mission Possible, the Good News program brought to you by The Caring Place with centers in Miami and Broward. Those centers are known as Miami Rescue Mission Centers and Broward Outreach Centers. The Caring Place has been serving the homeless, hungry, abused, and needy families for over one hundred years. They continue to feed the hungry, care for the poor, and help rescue and change lives every day by showing God's love
in practical ways. Now, welcome our hosts for today's program, Marilyn Brummett and Leanne Navarro.
Good morning, South Florida, and welcome to Mission Possible, the Good News program brought to you by The Caring Place with centers in Miami and Broward. I'm Marilyn Brummer at the Carrying Place and i am your host of this program, and it is so great to be with you this morning. And you know, here at the Carrying Place, we have been caring for the homeless and the hungry and the abused and needy families. For over one hundred and three years and we will continue on a daily basis helping
those in the greatest of need. Well, once again, I'm here with our wonderful co host lee and Navarro, and lee Anne has her whole team. They have been getting ready for the amazing event that's going to be out on the street. It is an outreach to the homeless and the needy where we serve people right out on the streets in Miami and Broward. And it's called Thanksgiving on Good Friday, so it's on Good Friday. And this
is a tradition here at the Caring Place. I remember I actually started this one back in two thousand and seven, and we also were able to incorporate washing of the feet of our homeless, which is a very very special section of it. It's just something it's hard to even explain.
And we do that to follow the example of Jesus as he ate Last Supper, which was Passover with his disciples, and as they came into the room, he Jesus their rabbi, took off his outer garment and took a towel and washed the feet of his own disciples, showing humility and that he was there to serve, not to be served, and so that is the example will be following on this very very special day. Well, Leanne, you have so much to talk about as you get ready for that.
You do need help from the community, So please tell us what's going on, absolutely.
And you don't want to miss out. Okay, only a week away, five days away, right, I mean we want to hear back from you. This is a very special event on Good Friday. You mentioned the food washing, I mean it's so special, but how about the clothing giveaway, the hygiene giveaway, the Eastern baskets for all the children in attendance. All of our community around our centers in Miami and Brower County are being invited to join us.
And this is a combination right of homeless individuals, men, women, but also low income families right that are struggling that financially they cannot maybe buy an Easter basket because you know that's not a priority, right, I mean.
You have a family, you have to play the bills.
You have to make sure that the light fields, you know, still on an Easter basket for your children. Sometimes that's either at the end of the list or not on the list at all, so we want to make sure to bring some joy to the children. We even have in Miami. We have the Easter Bunny. This is a very special family that you know. They they're Santa Claus in December and then they're the Easter Bunny for the Good Friday event. He comes just to bring joy to
the children. Right, we take pictures with him. We have entertainment. We have the most amazing, tense giving meal that we're giving them. Everyone in attendance, it doesn't matter who they are. We are celebrating in what I am celebrating at the end of this event, right, is how many individuals are going to say, you know what, this is a great program, this is going to save my life. I'm gonna get information, I'm going to go in and I'm going to have a brand new.
Life starting today. Right. That's the highlights for me.
So the celebration is good because of course, this is how we bring them in. This is what we give all the blessed things we have for them. But at the end of the day is how many are going to change their lives because of this event that we're hosting. So we still need volunteers at the Miami Center Broward is good to go, but the Miami Center we still have a couple of spots available. We need donors, We
need sponsors for this event. We need people to call me and get more information because there is much needed to be able to have an amazing and successful event.
Well, tell us more about the sponsors. And I also know there's going to be a great radio sharethon on that very same day of Good Friday on w IOD where people get to give and have their money match. But they can actually give ahead of time and we can put that towards that day, so we can kind of have a head start on that. And you need sponsors the bigger amounts of money that will be the
match for that day. So if someone can give, tell us the different levels there they can give and be part of that bigger match that when those that call in to give, you know how many meals they can sponsor that day, it'll be matched. So tell us about that.
Yes, yes, absolutely, and then will be broadcasting lives right from our center.
And so we are looking for sponsors at any.
Donation five hundred dollars or more, right, I mean think about making a difference for this event.
But the ones that will be matched.
We want you to go to carinplace dot org slash radio Okay, because this is once you make a donation of that amount five hundred dollars or more, we will be not only having a thank you banner display at the event for all of our volunteers to see, but your name will be mentioned throughout the radio show. Right, and again this is Life Reporting Life from Miami. We're
going to have our friends from w IOD. They're going to be here early in the morning, and we want to be able to mention the name of your business, maybe the name of your family, right, I mean, maybe you want to do it in honor of someone in your life, or you know, whatever your choice may be. But every donation counts and we are counting on you to help us for these events on April demed on Good Friding.
Yeah. So the sponsors are the matching gifts that come in the larger amounts and then they're put into a special pool. And then those who come in you know that your donation is being matched, and so that is really very special. So depending on how much comes in
into the sponsorship is what we can match to. So it's very very important to have those matching gifts, So I know Leanne would be very grateful if you would be part of the larger pool of match You know, it really gets exciting on that day because I've done it for so many years and now passing the baton onto you all, and as I have done it in the past, I know on that day as the people calling in because of the radio charrathon and they are so excited to say, I'm so glad to be part
of this and to hear about what went on on the street because they actually could hear the explanation of what was being seen. And really thousands do come to this event. These are the neediest of the need needy in our own community, in our own backyard in Broward and in Miami. So there's two events going on at the same time. We call them Outreaches a closed down the street. Tables are set, it is beautifully decorated. This is all done by volunteers and it's just so beautiful.
And then you have your foot washing station, and then you have clothing giveaway, and you have a hygiene that's being given away and also the Easter baskets for the children, and it's just an amazing amazing time. So it's our way of honoring the passover Easter season and also being able to take care of those who are really in need. And as you say, Leanne, your favorite part is to see those that had come to the intake table and
actually come into our centers into a program. We call it the Regeneration program, which is just a beautiful program that helps people go through that restoration and transformation, which is part of our four core values, and that's.
What we want to see.
We want to see people restored, transformed, going back into society, you know, excited knowing they have a job, a place to live, and they have relationships in the community. So I'm going to be interviewing even later in the program, Leanne, You've got a couple of wonderful interviews coming up as well. So we'll just come with more exciting mission possible.
Lean Navarro here the assistant director of Community Development at the Caring Place with centers in Miami and Broward County. So excited, Diday, we have on the phone with us Idania Ferrata, the CEO and founder of His Hands and Feet. Welcome, Idania, Welcome to the show.
Thank you so much for having Melian.
Oh, you know what a great, great, great pleasure. I know we haven't met in person, but I've heard great things about your organization. One of our associates, Raphael, told me all about it and he's like, Leanne, you guys need to connect. You know, you guys are doing both great things. So I'm like, oh, my god, yes, I want to meet her. So so thank you, thank you so much for agreeing to be with us here today. And how did you get connected with us?
Well, my family and I have served with what was Miami Rescue Mission.
It's the caring Place.
First several years, but recently I started my nonprofit about a year and a half ago. I had fifteen years of experience in community engagement and I've worked with the homeless population, prison Ministry under Resource Families, and I had recently the opportunity to go to a place that they were donating some items for me. And as I'm walking out, I bumped into a really nice gentleman, Jeffy. He stopped me and he looked at my shirt and my shirt sets his hands and feet and he goes, what are
you about? And I told him and he goes, here, take my card and we're going to connect. And immediately I received that email and of course he copied you in and that's how everything began and how we were connected. It's just in the most random places. Yeah, and I was able to meet him and he was a great, great gentleman.
Yeah, thank you, thank you. He said the same thing about you.
And yeah, the name actually that is something that we say a lot, right, because we are faith Christian. You know, you do a Christian organization, and of course we were all about His hands and Feet, right panels about what you do.
Of course, Well, His hands and Feet was inspired by faith and a calling to serve, and I transitioned from a ten year career to launch it and to provide direct to support to those that are in need. And we're dedicated, like you said, to be the hands and feet of Jesus serving the underprivileged individuals with of course dignity, care and compassion. We like to focus on providing essential support through food, hygiene products, school supplies and resources for them.
We also like to collaborate with other organizations. It doesn't just stay with me or with this organization or what the Lord has entrusted me with. You know, we also you know with other organizations and ministries to support their mission to serve those in need. One of the organizations
that we work closely with is domestic Violence. It's called actually Domestic Violence Ministry because that's how it began, and the lady that runs it has been doing it for over twenty years and we love supporting her and the mission that she has. So it's all collaboration and everybody together serving the community together, being the handsome feet of Jesus in the community together, because I think we could do so much more together than we could do separate.
Absolutely, I mean we believing the same thing.
I think collectively, right all the organization's main job is to help those that are in need. What caught my attention from what you shared with me is that you help a lot of the communities down south right, Yes, tell us more about that.
Yes we are.
I believe that we have, you know, like the downtown area the north side has a lot of services, which is such a blessing and is so amazing, and I could list so many of course you guys are one of them, you know, And there's so many organizations that are on that side. But unfortunately in the south and the deep South. We're having an increase of homelessness of unhoused individuals, and there's not a lot of services offered
on this side. So as we came along, I'm not this huge organization, but like I said, if so many organizations get together, we're able to serve them. And one of the things that we do do is we have what's called the Haven O Hope Pantry, and we're focusing on schools pretty much in this area that are alternative or Title I schools, and we provide food and hiding products and school supplies for students, not just for the students,
but also for their families. And so you know, we restock them every month because we know that there's a need and they could take some of that home. We also have our street outreach and family because you mentioned it as well, reuniting these families. I think sometimes what hap weapons is they just take a left turn and things just happen, and sometimes the shame and just the
embarrassment does not allow them to go back home. And knowing that that home that those people, it could be parents, it could be brother, sister, uncle, aunt, whoever it is that's waiting for them on the other side, still loves them and wants to help them. But sometimes I think the individuals just have such shame, which they shouldn't, but they do. And if we're able to come along and just have conversations with them, what is your desire? Do
you want to speak to your parent? Do you want to speak to your aunt, to your uncle, to your brother, to your sister, to even your child?
Yes?
I do, and sometimes I think people just need that little come on, I'll hold your hand, let's do this together.
I think it's loved.
I love it, and it is important because we do experience some of the same things. Right, some individuals, they just want to be heard. Just recently, I got a call and attentive and was telling me the whole story. And I did try to tell him, listen, let me transfer you to one of our case managers in community development. I'm more on the other side of things. He continued to talk and I realized that that's all he wanted. So you know what I said, what is five minutes
of my day? So I allowed him to tell me the whole story, and then, of course, you know, the end was that I transferred him to one of our case managers. And that's why it's so important that your organization, my organization, all the organizations in the community that are working to help individuals right that have no home, that have no family support at this moment, that they're just hungry.
Right.
I love using the term food in security, but I also like hunger. When you are hungry, where can we direct them to who can help them? So it's all about having the resources, about having a community that wraps around you. Idania, all this work that you're doing, everything you're doing, do you do it with the help of volunteers?
How do you get this support?
Well, I will tell you that the best volunteers I have is my family.
I love it.
They run with me with all my craziness. They both with me and the beautiful thing. And it's not because it's my family. They have a heart for serving. Each of them have a different love. Like my husband loves to serve anything that has to do with children. My middle son loves the homeless community like it even brings him. He's twenty two, but he's a very quiet and his heart really is for the homeless. And he goes, mom, Mom,
what can we do? And I go, this is what we're doing, and he'll go with me and he'll do what he needs to do. But honestly, my biggest volunteers is my family, and of course, you know, I have several people that have been with me for a while, you know, because like I said, I was working at an other place, and once I was done there, I started my nonprofit. And there's people that are still there that will come and they will serve and they will
help tell us what we need to do. Do we need to start clothing, Do we need to go take something somewhere, do we need to restock? What is it that we need to do.
That's truly amazing having that community, Danny, I don't want to run out of time. If our listeners want to know more about your wonderful organization, how can they find you?
They could go to our website, and our website is hha FI dot org again FI dot org, and you can email through there. You could connect with me. You can see what we're doing. And as the nonprofit continues to grow and we continue to serve this beautiful city and we're able to work with other organizations such as yours, we're going to continue to add more and just see where the Lord takes us because it's all about obedience.
Amen.
Amen, no, I love it all. I cannot wait to get more connected with you. To our listeners. If you were driving, if you were not able to get that website from Idania, I have all the information. I will be happy to provide you with all the information for her and that website again. It is www dot hha fi dot org.
Thank you with Dania for joining us this morning.
En Navarro here, the assistant director of the community Development team at the Caring Place with centers in Miami and Brower County.
So excited we have.
On the phone with us today our wonderful caring friend Francis Sebag from wife Ceramics.
Welcome to the show.
How are you doing and doing wonderful?
Ah, that's wonderful too.
Here listen before we start talking about the wonderful things you're doing. Thank you, thank you, thanks, thank you for your amazing support for choosing us every time that you do these wonderful things you do. We're so grateful, Friendsis. We really love you and all of our supporters for.
All that you do.
And without further Ado, tell us ABOUTI ceramics and.
My wife Ceramics is a pottery studio.
Studio.
It's we work with pottery on the wheel, on the potter's wheel, also handbuilding with clay. We do mosaics and we have also a class classes and glass using that are rather unique. We have painting on pottery. We're very much a community studio. So we're excited about this upcoming event. We've been working on it since the beginning of January.
Actually, yes, yes, and we are excited.
I know that you always kindly benefit the shelter by by donating some of the profits from that event. So before you tell us all about the event, I want to tell our listeners, right, I mean it's important to support all events in our communities, right, I mean it's important. But when you see an organization, a company that is not only doing a beautiful event, but also sending some of that money to organizations that are helping others like ours, right,
we're helping the homeless community. So thank you and please, you know, support the event in every way that you can. Francis, I know this is going to be on April twenty seventh, tell us more about the event.
This is an event that we've done yearly for you guys and it's something that's actually proudly done by ceramic studios across the nation. It's called empty balls, and it's simply where the artists in the studios start making balls out of clay, whether from the potter's wheel or building a by end. They work for quite a few months to gather up amazing, amazing works of art, and then we take one day where we open up our studio to the public, invite them in, where they purchase one
bowl and we feed them a fantastic meal. The proceeds from that, of course go only to borrow it outreach. We are excited about doing it again. It's a yearly event that we do.
We did have missed.
We missed one during COVID and then we missed one sadly when we had to change our location. We have a new location now at sixty seven to ninety one calf Street in Hollywood. It's a gorgeous location, a lot of parking so that we can get a lot of people to come to our event.
Absolutely, and that is on April twenty seventh. Now, for those that are listening, and I'm sure they want to have more information, I know it than Hollywood because that's where the studio is at.
How can they register for the event.
Sure, the event will be holding it on a Sunday, the twenty seventh of April, from eleven am to five pm. Right now, we already have online at our website MIY Ceramics dot com. At our website we have where you can register ahead of time. So even if you don't make it to the event, we'll hold one of the ceramic balls for you. You just need to let us know. It's only forty dollars a ticket, and each ticket will get you a ball and an amazing meal.
And a feeling of giving back, right, I mean when you support an event that it goes beyond what you are receiving tangible. So you're getting the ball, you're getting the meal, and you are actually helping a homeless person in our community.
Frank, absolutely, I love you. I love what you guys do.
All of our listeners please register today MIY Ceramics dot com. If you were driving busy at the moment and you were not able to get this information, I have it, Okay, I can introduce you, I can plug you in. I have everything that I for this event, all the information. April twenty seventh, eleven to five. What a great way to give back to our community. Thank you for joining us, and thank you for all that you do.
Friendsis, can you help to change a life by sponsoring meals for the Hungry?
Sponsor ten meals for twenty seven dollars a month go to Karinplace dot org slash possible.
Then, Grace, I'm helping to Carrie Place. Well, I'm Marilyn Brumma, and once again we're at the part of the program where I am told over and over again that this is the favorite part of our programs as we air, because we're listening to stories of real people who have gone through something very difficult in their life. But what the good thing is, there is a good outcome. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and I have with me today, I have Iven with me. So
welcome to the program. Ivan, Thank you, thank you very much for having me. Well, Ivan, do you want to go back into your childhood or where would you like to start your story about, you know, what happened in your life and possibly what actually happened to bring you to the Miami Rescue Mission.
Well, I won't go quite back that far, okay, but I'll go back to college, because when I graduated high school, I had plans to go to college. I went to college and then I didn't drink, I didn't smoke anything like that. I played football in high school, and so I guess it was peer pressure. Once I got to college, I started drinking and experimenting with other drugs, and so it became a habit, which I couldn't see it back then, but you know, going for it, it really became an issue.
But I was what you call a functioning addict to where I can hold a job, like I've had great jobs to work for American Express, at and T, the law Farm downtown, and so I've had good jobs. And you know, getting back to school was something that I always wanted to do, but I never completed it. So getting back to school was a priority to me. But I had a kid when I was twenty three years old, so I never had a chance to go back to school. I tried it a couple times, but I never was
focused the way that I needed to be. So I started working, and you know, I bought along my habits from college on into my work life, and I've the drinking increase, the smoking marijuana that increased, and so you know that just set up a whole set of problems for me. And mind you, at this time, I couldn't see it. And you know what, I in retrospect when I think back to my experience, because I got kids that graduated college. I got four kids, two boys, two girls.
My oldest kids, my oldest daughter, my oldest son. They both college graduates. So to them, you know, I was sufficient dad. But now in retrospec I really wasn't.
You actually had a family interventions.
Well, yeah, I'll tell you.
Before I came to the mission, I spoke with my dad and he says, you've been doing what you wanted to do your whole life. He said, why don't you do something for that someone else wants you to do for once? So I decided to come on to the mission. And that's after the consult on my kids, my parents, my siblings. So everybody thought it was a good idea.
I came kicking and screaming like a baby. But in retrospective, it's probably the best decision I made because it gave me a chance to look at things from a different perspective that I feel I may have never looked at things from that point of view, had I not come to the mission.
Well, that's pretty amazing actually having a family that cared about you so much that they did have a family intervention. And now did they suggest Miami Rescue mission or did that come after?
Well, what actually happened was my brother in law, he's a barber, and a friend of his works for the Green Shirt program.
Okay, and.
My brother in law had helped someone in the past, and so he mentioned it to my sister and they had spoken about it for quite some time.
Okay, So they actually then through that you found out about the Miami Rescue mission. We're going to take a short break, even but you don't want to turn that dot because you want to find out what happened to Ivan once he went through the doors of the Miami
Rescue Mission. We'll be back in just a moment. Well, we're back with Ivan, and he told in his story that he actually had one of those sit down family interventions that said, Ivan, you know, you've been a functioning addict alcohol, and but we're saying there's something wrong even though you're successful in certain ways, but it's it's hurting the family. And as you said, you have college children, children that are all going to college. So that's successful
and yet still something wrong. So you did make the decision, and as you said, kicking and screaming, you came into the Miami Rescue Mission. You told me off air, you felt like it probably be kind of cold and regimented. But what really happened once you got here.
Well, I came to the mission.
When I finally got there, you know, the staff, they were real warm, and they greeted me.
They treated me real decent.
So that was not what I was anticipating or expecting, so that that was a plus right there. And also was able to get reacquainted with school because once you're there, you all have to do a evaluation assessment test. So we took the assessment test and they felt like I'd be a good fit for the education center. So now
I'm a teacher's aid. I was going to school. Education was my major, and so now I'm kind of fulfilling that right now, which has me looking forward to going back to school once I take care of my school requirements at the Miami Rescue Mission. So you know, it's got me backsharped.
So you were one of those that kind of liked the two hours a day required to be in the education center. Many people rebel against that.
Now two hours is not even enough for me. So you know, that's one of the plus pluses or positives right there. And you know, just in general, getting my restoring my relationship with the Lord, that was another priority, because I'll bade the Gospel while a long time ago, when I was fifteen years old. So it's one thing to not know right from wrong. It's another thing to know right from wrong.
And that's another thing to actually do right.
You're absolutely right, Yeah, absolutely right. And so I mean, I know I mentioned earlier that I've had nice jobs and things of that nature.
However, if I'm just.
A foreign believer, if you know the right way to live your life and you're not doing it, you may get away for a little while or for a long pereriod of time, but nothing that you put your hand on is ever gone turn the gold.
But you sound a little bit like Jonah in the Bible.
That's the truth. I had to learn that the hard way. But if you don't do what you're supposed to do, things are not going to work out the way they're supposed to. So you have to live that God fear in life, and I mean it's not bad, but once you live for the Lord, you get blessed more. Your life is not as hard. Not saying that you're not going and do a hardships because you are. However, it's just a little more easier.
So we each have our stories of how we might God have swallowed by a big fish. Big fish can be a lot of different things.
That's right, You're absolutely right.
We all have a different story in that matter. Now you are seeing off here that you actually your goal is to work with a nonprofit organization.
That is correct.
You know, when you've been given an opportunity like I have and been giving chances because it's just a blessing. I'm still here because I've had a couple close calls doing things I wasn't supposed to do in the streets, trying to sell drugs, which I really wasn't very good at. So you know, I've had chance a couple of situations where I could have had my life taken away from me.
So I know God is real.
Well, Ivan has been a pleasure for you to share your story. I'm just going to ask the listeners right now, I know some of you are are prayer warriors, and maybe some of you are not, but you can send some positive vibes, and those that are prayer warriors, please pray for the men and women who come to the doors of the Miami Rescue Mission, the Broward Outreach Centers. We are collectively known as the Caring Place, and Ivan basically has found that caring place here and his life
is turned around. Thank you Ivan for sharing your story. Okay, well, it's always exciting to talk to people like Ivan. This is where where I will say the rubber meets the road. This is what we're all about here at the Carrying Place, caring for people enough that as they come in, so broken, so hurting, so desperate, don't know where else to turn. They have come in just for that meal. Maybe they came in for a shower and clean clothes as well. But you know, standing in a line, you know, waiting
for a meal. You know you can do that maybe at a restaurant, but people don't want a long line to even eat at a restaurant. But if you see the lines, you know here at our Miami campus, you would be wow, that is amazing, and that happens every day, people standing in line to get a meal. Sometimes you see the same people in that line, so you always want to be talking to them, letting them know you
can come in. There's more here than just a meal, showers and hygiene and you know, clothing to give to you. And they also feel God's love here at the Caring Place. I think that's really that's the ultimate umbrella. That's the most important part, is they feel God's love because we do it with the Lord and we are a Judaeo Christian faith based place ministry here and we're unashamed to let people know that God loves them and has a
plan for their life. And we're encouraging people at all times to come in and get their life turned around. And that's what you heard from Ivan, and that's what you hear from so many so Leaenn once again, how could they give?
And it's not too late you want to hear from you. We are five days away. We can use your help. You can either be a donor of a monetary donation, or you can donate items, or you can still participate in the event in the Miami campus. Broward is already fulled with volunteers. They're good to go. We can still use the donations if you want to be a part of the radio Sharethon initiative that we're doing with WIOD. This is very special. We will be broadcasting live from
the event in Miami. We will be mentioning the names of those that sponsor and if you want to get involved, please either contact me or go online at caringplace dot org slash radio. Every donation makes a difference.
You know, whether you're there or not. I always believe you know, lay your treasures up in heaven. God knows what you're giving and it will help, and it will help many people come to know that there is help, there is hope and they can come into a wonderful place to get their life back together again. And those that you do not stay, they're still being fed and they are still be given so many different things, clothing, hygiene,
the foot washing station. They are going to know that there is a place in our community that they can go to get help, and when they're ready, they know where to go. When I came on board at the Mission, we had the Thanksgiving outreach, but then in two thousand and seven, I said, well why don't we do it? You know, during the Passover Easter season and it took off. It really became a signature outreach for our campuses in Miami and Browers. And so we thank you for listening
and being part of this wonderful program. So God bless you. We're praying for you during this Passover Easter season. By the way, we are uh celebrating Passover on our campuses as well. I'll be doing the Passover Satyr and so it's going to be an amazing time. So God bless you and keep listening to Mission Possible, the Good News program.
This podcast is presented by the Miami Rescue Mission bout Outreach Centers, also known as the Carringplace www. Dot Caringplace dot org.