Journeys of Hope fundraiser tonight in Lynnfield

LYNNFIELD – Salem-based nonprofit Journeys for Hope will hold its second-annual “Dining for a Cause” fundraiser at the Ninety Nine Restaurant in Lynnfield tonight to benefit its day program and street outreach for at-risk and homeless young adults on the North Shore.The event will take place from 5-10 p.m. at the restaurant?s 317 Salem St. location. The restaurant will donate 15 percent of any dine-in or take-out guest checks to Journeys of Hope if presented with the event voucher. The voucher can be obtained by visiting www.johma.org/events. Only one voucher is needed per party.Journeys of Hope, which just began its third program year, serves individuals ages 18 to 23 in the areas of housing and shelter, preventative and emergency health care, education, job readiness and legal advice.?While there are a large number of programs that benefit this age group, these kids don?t have a place where someone is coordinating those services. And they don?t have someone who they can count on for building up the life skills,” said Executive Director Susan Hauck.Since the nonprofit started its operations in Lynn in April 2010, it has seen 196 clients and had more than 1,300 instances of contact with those individuals, whether through in-person visits or other means, Hauck said. Journeys of Hope moved from a small space at the Lynn Shelter Association to Salem last September.At any given time, the nonprofit has 30 to 40 active client cases, Hauck said.?A large majority of our clients are in here once, twice, sometimes three times a week, with phone calls in between,” she said.Operating out of the First Universalist Society of Salem building on Bridge Street, the nonprofit holds a day program three days a week. During those four-hour sessions, nonprofit staff performs one-on-one needs assessments with new clients, follows up with existing clients and distributes emergency items such as clothing, toiletries or food.Once an individual has gone through the intake process, Hauck said, the nonprofit offers referrals to different North Shore organizations and services that can continue to assist the individual.?We?re trying to utilize resources in each community to support kids from each community, not bring them all here and service them all here,” she said.Hauck said that around 70 percent of Journeys of Hope?s clients have both mental-health issues and a former or current substance-abuse problem.?We?re really trying to work to get them connected with therapists, sometimes someone who can prescribe medication,” she said. “Once we have them stabilized with those factors, then we try to look at the other pieces.”The nonprofit?s primary case manager, Felix Colon, is also its street outreach worker. Three days out of the week, Hauck said, Colon travels around the North Shore to meet with young adults and inform them of Journeys of Hope?s services or help them contemplate whether they want support in a formal setting.Colon slowly builds a rapport with the individuals, Hauck said, and gives out necessities, like small-denomination gift cards for transportation or a meal.?If you go out with Felix, you would see that he really is not in their face,” she said. “He?s trying to meet them where they?re at in their own setting, trying to get to know them just as individuals, not looking to fix anything.”Nonprofit founding member Pat Campbell, a retired Lynn Public Schools teacher who is also on Journeys of Hope?s board of directors, said the nonprofit is gradually moving toward opening satellite programs in the different North Shore cities and towns.Hauck said the nonprofit is currently fully funded through individual donations and grants, but money from tonight?s fundraiser will bolster its programs. In addition, she said last year?s event yielded a few new volunteers and client referrals.?Our goal isn?t just to raise money, but also to expand the number of people who know that we?re here,” she said.