Sondy Blain 1951-2010

Sondy (seen above at the last Peace & Love picnic on the Green in Lebanon - a picnic in honor of Tyler, her son and the work he created through 10 Bricks) lost a short battle to cancer this January. She was an employee of the Lebanon School District for the last 15 years as the go-to person for all the schools needs. See the following article for a great memory of Sondy from the Lebanon School...

"...We just received the news that Ms. Sondy Blain, secretary to the principal, passed away Wednesday afternoon. All of us here at Lebanon High School are deeply saddened about this loss. While there are very few in the Upper Valley who didn’t know Sondy and her work at LHS, LISTEN Center, and 10 Bricks, we here at the high school feel a particular sense of loss, since Sondy has been at the center of Lebanon High School for the last 15 years. She was a true friend of education and advocate for students.

In short, Sondy Blain was a woman of great dignity and stature, a dedicated employee, an advocate for children and the homeless, and a friend of education.... We will keep the memory of Sondy alive in our hearts and minds; we will keep our love of her fresh; we will continue to see her with the eyes of memory"

It's tragic and beyond sad that Sondy would leave us at this point in our work. When we are on the cusp of seeing great things happen as the shelter Tyler, I and the rest of the 10 Bricks board visualized is going to open in May. We will miss her visits here to the office...but her spirit has to live on with us.

Donna Hutchins 1949-2008

On August 13th, 2008, Donna died after a valiant battle with cancer. She too was a founding member of 10 Bricks and the Lebanon City Human Service Director for 25 years. How do I even begin to tell you about Donna? Donna was the first person I met in the Upper Valley when I began my work as an outreach worker 13 years ago at Listen Community Services. She called me an "idealistic brat". Over the years, we grew on each other. We learned to love, laugh, and work hard together. I remember one 'conference' in Nashua we attended together. It was so boring, we bailed and shopped all day! When we first started 10 Bricks, Donna was sitting in the chair next to me at the Upper Valley United Way's unveiling of the 2003 Needs Assessment, poking me saying - "do it! do it! say something!" Lebanon is a better place for who Donna was. Donna spent the first winter of her retirement worshiping the sun in Florida. Upon her return, she became a regular volunteer at Listen. She was tough, relentless, firm, demanding but never without compassion. She is survived by 4 biological children and thousands of adopted ones.

Donna receiving her Headrest community service award in 2007

Ned McCarthy 1937-2008

Ned & Sondy at the 1st Congregational Church Beef Stew Benefit for 10 Bricks

It is with great sadness that we lament the passing of one of our founding members. On June 18th, 2008 Ned passed away after 1 week of illness. Ned is survived by his wife Jane, also a founding member and his two children, Kevin and Megan. He carried the 10 Bricks message and mission to the board of the Haven as a representative of our values to their endeavor to create an adult shelter. This was just one of the MANY ways Ned brought his love to the community.
We can't begin to tell you how much Ned meant to the Program of 10 Bricks and to its workers. His wit, his kindness, his generosity and even his special brand of sarcasm will be missed. We will keep him close in our hearts forever and move forward.

Tyler Blain May 23, 1978 – May 29, 2006

The Story of 10 Bricks, Ruth & Tyler

In 2003 a group of people came together to fill the gap in services to those experiencing homelessness in the Upper Valley. Tyler’s role as a homeless outreach worker made him the natural fit for this group.The organization’s name came about when Ruth Emery, a good friend of Tyler’s, had a dream of him describing a journey. In his journey, Tyler happened upon a field filled with people experiencing homelessness. Tyler took 10 Bricks and started a foundation for a fire for the homeless to gather and warm themselves.This is the spirit of 10 Bricks. That it should be a foundation for people to gather and find comfort in their time of need. Tyler's mom and dad are both 10 Brick Advisory Board members now. NH 2006 Annual Report on Homelessness was dedicated to Tyler

Ruth & Tyler in the old office at Listen

From Joie - Things I learned from Tyler…

1. Careful thought brings good decisions
2. If that doesn’t work, use the magic 8 ball
3. Licking a spoon makes it officially clean
4. Driving slower keeps your passengers from throwing up.
5. Only Sondy can call him Ty – and if anyone else called him this, he didn’t really like it
6. Naked is good
7. Swimming naked is better
8. Siestas are vital, daily.
9. I make a good bad copy to his good cop.
10. Paper airplanes are good silence breakers
11. Two people with bad backs shouldn’t move wood stoves.
12. Penmanship does not make the man
13. If the person in your car wants to eat crayons, let him
14. If the person in your car sees Jesus in the trees, Jesus is probably in the trees.
15. When approaching a homeless tent site, knock first.
16. Underwear just creates more laundry
17. Love more and love often
18. Swimming in the rain is pointless, fun, but pointless
19. If you’re going to be a bear, be a grizzly!
20. It’s okay for guys to be sensitive and cry.
21. Love life, serve without judgment and walk along side those who need you the most.
22. And if all else fails, consult the magic 8 ball again.

The abridged version of the Desiderata. The unofficial Homeless Outreach Worker Prayer

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story….
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.
Do not be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment love is as perennial as the grass.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, there is no doubt that the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive her to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."