There will be a new voice leading the charge for participants of the Hospitality Center. Rev. Kevin Stewart on Dec. 1 will turn the ministry over to longtime volunteer Leif Peterson while the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee finds a more permanent replacement. “It’s time for new ideas and new energy,” Stewart said. “Leif is all […]
Tag: Rev. Kevin Stewart
Posted inCommunity
Hospitality Center Donating $39,000 for Winter Hotel Vouchers
The Hospitality Center is donating nearly $39,000 to the Continuum of Care’s hotel voucher program to help house homeless and transitioning individuals through the coming winter. After Rev. Kevin Stewart announced last January that the Center would cease overnight emergency shelter because of a lack of resources, the greater Racine community and beyond responded in force, raising […]
Posted inCommunity, Government
Hot Meal Program, Expanded Services at Hospitality Center in Question
City planning commission members Wednesday will hear recommendations from city staffers to confirm the Hospitality Center’s conditional use permit as it was first approved in 2012 and defer any amendments for six to 12 months. The reasons stated in the list distributed Tuesday to parties who will appear before the plan commission include: The HC has moved from […]
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People of Racine County Eye: Meet Hospitality Center Participant & Volunteer Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann knows what it’s like to be homeless and to be lonely. When she was just 16 and a new mom, she had nowhere to go and only $16 in her pocket, but, she told Racine County Eye, she pulled through and made it. Now, though, she finds herself struggling again because of a […]
Posted inCommunity, Obituaries
Obituary: Hospitality Center Bids Farewell to Dan Chacon
Hospitality Center participant Dan Chacon has died after a long battle with cancer. Rev. Kevin Stewart made the announcement Saturday. Chacon was not homeless and visited the Hospitality Center instead for the fellowship he found among participants and volunteers. “Dan was quiet, very quiet. The Center helped him to connect to God and to the […]
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Hospitality Center Hosting Weekly Prayer Vigils for Homeless Solution
Rev. Kevin Stewart has been thinking for the last several months about what is missing from the conversation about how to serve the city’s homeless population, and he realized the answer was simple and in front of him the whole time. “Prayer. As a man of faith who feels called to this mission, the one […]
Posted inBreaking, Community
United Healthcare Presents $15,000 Check to Hospitality Center
Rev. Kevin Stewart was surrounded by volunteers and participants Friday when he accepted a $15,000 check from UnitedHealthcare. The grant was awarded at the Hospitality Center Friday morning by Ralph Beck, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Wisconsin chief operating officer and Ginger Dzick, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Wisconsin vice president, marketing & engagement. The funds from UH […]
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United Healthcare Awards $15,000 Grant to Hospitality Center
The Hospitality Center will formally receive a $15,000 grant next Friday, but the announcement was official last week. Rev. Kevin Stewart, director of the Hospitality Center, confirmed that United Healthcare officials May 29 will present the Center with a check for $15,000 to help pay for food and other supplies needed for services for the […]
Posted inCommunity
Hospitality Center Hires 1st Program Director
Participants and volunteers at the Hospitality Center will see a new face every day now that Jackie Smith Adams has accepted the title of Program Director. Rev. Kevin Stewart has been running the program with a small army of volunteers for the past four years. Bringing Adams on-board means continuity of care for participants and […]
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Duffel Bags Filled with Necessities, Prayers After Hospitality Center Closes
When the sun comes up Wednesday, many participants from the Hospitality Center will not look forward to a warm place to sleep Wednesday night. Rev. Kevin Stewart announced a few weeks ago that the Center would cease overnight emergency shelter on March 31. The reasons boil down to the fellowship room at St. Luke’s Episcopal […]
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Hospitality Center Donations $46,274.68 & Counting
When Rev. Kevin Stewart confirmed Tuesday that cash donations to the Hospitality Center were about $38,000, he was thrilled. But, he was a few thousand dollars short. Early Tuesday evening Stewart posted an update, and cash donations received through Monday total $46,274.68. “It’s beyond amazing,” he told Racine County Eye. “I mean, my gosh, the way […]
Posted inCommunity
Lunch at Hospitality Center is About More Than Food
Editor’s Note: This article contains opinion and commentary by the author. Preparing, serving and cleaning up meals at the Hospitality Center is work; joyful work, to be sure, but still work. Volunteers get started early organizing ingredients and dividing tasks among themselves. Extra volunteers are put cheerfully to work chopping, washing, and cooking. Center participants […]
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Hospitality Center Announcement Met with Relief, Peace
Rev. Kevin Stewart Saturday morning told Hospitality Center participants that overnight shelter services will continue through the end of the winter. Pastor Holly Anderson Anderle of First Baptist Church of Racine was there and captured the moments on her phone. “I was blessed to be able to capture this picture of Kevin Stewart’s face as […]
Posted inCommunity
Hospitality Center Staying Open Through the Winter
Despite an on-going shortage of resources and the need for a permanent solution, the Hospitality Center at St. Luke’s will provide overnight shelter services through the end of the winter. “No one is going to be hurt or die outside this winter,” Rev. Kevin Stewart said. “We are not closing.” He made the announcement to shelter participants […]
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Planning Underway for Permanent Solution for Hospitality Center
The emergency shelter services at the Hospitality Center issue might have a solution in the near future now that a group of concerned citizens has joined forces. When Rev. Kevin Stewart announced Monday that overnight shelter services were ending this weekend at the Hospitality Center, he hoped it might be more of a suspension than […]