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June 2021 Leadership Changes for St. John Center 
After 13 years serving as St. John Center's Executive Director, Maria Price has announced that she is stepping down from her role on September 30th.
"We are a different agency now than we were when I began serving our mission in this capacity," Maria said. " St. John Center has a bright future with even more exciting potential and evolution ahead, and new leadership skills will serve us best." Maria began her time at St. John Center as a volunteer in 1995. In 2006, she joined the staff as the Development Director and assumed the role of Executive Director when the SJC's founding director, Sister Mary Kathleen Sheehan, retired in 2008.
During her time here, Maria oversaw the launch of the Permanent Supportive Housing Program and the development of the Street Outreach Team. The Day Shelter and Social Services Center has grown to include employment counseling as well as a housing counseling program that helped 141 people move from homelessness to permanent housing in the first 141 days of 2021. During her tenure, the staff has grown from 9 to 35 full and part time staff as programs have grown to meet community need.
The Board of Directors has opened the search for a new Executive Director with the hope of having a replacement identified before Maria leaves in late September. You can learn more about the position and qualifications here.
"It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to work with and for our clients, staff and volunteers," Maria said. St. John Center has deepened and enriched its work under Maria's leadership. She leaves an organization that is fully focused on meeting its mission to end homelessness for good. 
Legacy Society 
When you join the Sister Kathleen Legacy Society you become part of a powerfully compassionate group of people. By planning for a legacy gift from your estate, you ensure that St. John Center will provide a safe and affirming place for people who are homeless to seek help, find hope, and move home for as long as we are needed. Learn more about how to make a legacy gift by clicking on the link below. 
Board Spotlight 
Susanne Binford is a licensed clinical social worker with the Veterans Administration. She has been involved with SJC for many years, and is completing her first year serving on the board. "SJC provides services in such a thoughtful way," Susanne says. "They are never afraid to try new things or consider different ways to provide good services. It is exciting to be a part of that. " From the Archives 
We've been sustained by this community since the day we opened in 1986. This photo shows part of the first donor ledger, recorded in Sister Kathleen's handwriting. Although we've updated our record-keeping technology in the last 35 years, the bottom line is still the same - we could not do it without YOU. Wish List SJC is currently in need of the following supplies:
You may also consult the Amazon wish list or visit our website for more details. For more information, contact Jim Fulkerson at jfulkerson@stjohncenter.org or 502-398-3505. Thank You 
An outpouring of love inspired by the memory of Phil "Skip" Reinhart resulted in the largest Virtual House Party, with 121 guests. Thank you! 
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May 2021 Every Day is A Good Day to Move Home 
Our favorite days at St. John Center are the days someone moves home. Between January 1 and April 22 of 2021, 105 guests of St. John Center moved into permanent housing of their own. That's because every day we connect our guests to jobs and landlords. We help them address old debts and obtain copies of their birth certificates and other identification. But more critically, we serve as a hub of connection with a wide network of support.
Some of the 105 met with the Legal Aid Society at St. John Center to file for social security income or to expunge old criminal records. Some met with the Veterans Administration to learn about special housing vouchers for people who have served in the US Military. Others met with the Continuum of Care’s Common Assessment Team to evaluate the need for housing with supportive services. Some reconnected with family. And many of the 100 people who moved into housing of their own did so because the Louisville Metro Housing Authority prioritized moving people off the streets during a pandemic by using Disaster Relief funding.
With this network of resources -- and with your support -- we are seeing more and more of our favorite days at St. John Center.
Stories of SJC All year, we'll be sharing stories of St. John Center on the 35th Anniversary Blog. In April, volunteer Alan Johnson shared memories from our opening year and Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager Whit Stodghill shared a reflection about cooking with Genio. In May, we'll hear from former Associate Director Charlotte Hazas as she reflects on her time with Sister Mary Kathleen Sheehan, SCN, our founding director. Check out these stories and more at the link below. Board Spotlight 
Matt Berrian is a Director with BKD CPAs & Advisors and is finishing his sixth and final year on the Board of Directors. He was introduced to St. John Center through several friends in the homeless community he met during his time serving at Sojourn Community Church. He initially served on the Finance Committee and has served as Finance Chair, Governance Chair, and Chair of the Board of Directors in the last six years. Matt says he is grateful to have seen firsthand the growth of SJC, especially the building expansion and new services. Thank you for your leadership, Matt! Thank You We are grateful for the support from these organizations.
From the Archives 
This photograph from 1986 shows some of the progression of St. John Center's physical space. A few offices line the west wall. As SJC added employment and housing counseling, the office space expanded. When we opened, we offered a "clothes closet" on the east side of the building. Within a few years, the clothes closet shifted to the Schumann Center and the Health Clinic moved into that space. The choir loft was still open space in 1986. Today, the enclosed loft space houses the Permanent Supportive Housing team of five case managers, a peer support specialist, and the program's Manager, Sarah Buckler.
Hours Update On May 3, 2021 St. John Center returned to pre-pandemic hours of 7 AM - 3 PM. We are open every day of the week.
Wish List SJC is currently in need of the following supplies:
You may also consult the Amazon wish list or visit our website for more details. For more information, contact Jim Fulkerson at jfulkerson@stjohncenter.org or 502-398-3505.
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April 2021 A Legacy of Volunteerism 
From our earliest days, St. John Center has been guided by a community of people who work every day to create the "St. John Center Way." In the weeks before we opened our doors on April 14th, 1986, volunteers gathered to clean, paint, find supplies, and envision and prepare this space to welcome our homeless brothers and sisters.
In a typical year, over 150 volunteers fill seventeen 2-hour shifts 365 days a year. Volunteers staff the sign in desk and telephones, provide towels and toiletries so that guests can shower, pour endless cups of coffee, and create an atmosphere of love and acceptance for each person who enters.
Of all the difficulties of this last, pandemic year - working without daily volunteers was perhaps the most challenging. Today, as vaccines are more and more available, volunteers are returning and, once again, warmly welcoming the people we serve. For 35 years, volunteers have been the very heart of St. John Center. Welcome and thank you! 
Join Us! On April 14th we will mark our 35th Anniversary providing services in this community with a streamed program. Please join us at noon on April 14th. Board Spot Light 
Whitney King is a West Louisville native and is a Community Home Lending Advisor with Chase Bank. She was introduced to the St. John’s Center while working at the Legal Aid Society. She is in her second year of serving on the SJC Board of Directors and believes that SJC offers an invaluable service assisting clients with removing the barriers that keep them from essential housing. Wish List SJC is currently in need of the following supplies:
You may also consult the Amazon wish list or visit our website for more details. For more information, contact Jim Fulkerson at jfulkerson@stjohncenter.org or 502-398-3505. Congratulations On March 6th, at Raisin' the Rent, our Board Chair Russell Smith pulled the winning raffle chances. We offer our congratulations the winners of these great prizes!
Thank You
An outpouring of love inspired by the memory of Phil "Skip" Reinhart resulted in the largest Virtual House Party, with 121 guests. Thank you!
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March 2021 Join us at Raising the Rent Tomorrow is the Big Day - Raisin' the Rent 2021. We hope you will join us for a short program -- with a big impact -- on Saturday, March 6, from 7:30 - 8 PM. You can log on through our Facebook Page or by using the link below.
Seafaring Man by Whit Stodghill, Shelter Case Manager 
I work at St. John Center, where many of the guests we serve live with severe mental illness, often coupled with substance use issues. “Jason” reminds me a of an old-fashioned seafaring man. He is bearded and burly and in cold weather wears a thick wool fisherman’s sweater. His dark whiskers cover his chin and the sides of his face but not his upper lip. He often comes in from the cold to the sign-in desk where I work with a big smile, shaking off the rain or snow stuck to his toboggan and covering the shoulders of his coat. Jason sleeps outside. He needs the space and has been barred from the overnight shelters for fighting with other guests or staff.
Jason’s usual behavior at the shelter is to be outgoing and noisy, gregarious and constantly in motion. One day I noticed him seated on the floor with his back against the wall, his knees bent and pulled in tight and his head and shoulders bowed down so that he was curled into a ball. It was a protective posture, not a restful one, and I sensed he was in a great deal of pain. I saw his face a few times. All the light and warmth drained from it. His eyes looked sad and hopeless. He stayed that way for most of the morning.
Eventually I approached him, and softly touched his forearm. He looked up and I held a short note for him to see. It said, “You look so sad. Is there anything I can do that would help?” He shook his head no and curled back up in his ball again. I left him alone.
The next day when I came back someone handed me an envelope with my name on it. Inside was this note written on repurposed Christmas card, “You are a bundle of joy! You give me hope. I can’t be the only one. Love, J.”
Funny, that’s exactly how I feel about him.
Thank You 
St. John Center is profoundly grateful to the people and organizations who supported Raisin' the Rent 2021 this year. We especially want to thank Atria Senior living, our presenting sponsor. Sponsors of Hope 
Rising to the Challenge 
On Tuesday, Charles Price and the Price Foundation issued a remarkable challenge to the St. John Center community. The Price Foundation offered to match every Virtual House Party or Fund the Mission gift $2:$1 up to a total of $30,000.
The St. John Center family came together fast to meet the challenge. By Wednesday afternoon, with the support of the Price Foundation, we raised $90,000 to Raise the Rent and meet the daily challenges of providing care, shelter, and new opportunity to people without adequate housing. Thank you! Wish List SJC is currently in need of the following supplies:
You may also consult the Amazon wish list or visit our website for more details. For more information, contact Jim Fulkerson at jfulkerson@stjohncenter.org or 502-398-3505.
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