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SHELTER HOUSE CHANGING LIVES NEWSLETTER
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SHELTER HOUSE CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM SHOP WITH A SHERIFF
(Click on the picture above to view the entire slideshow from Shop with a Sheriff!)
Shelter House was once again proud to partner with Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office for their 26th Annual Shop with a Sheriff program, which benefited the county's homeless children in support of a new academic year.
On August 15, 2017, the Sheriff's deputies paired up with 40 children from the county's emergency shelters for lunch and a back-to-school shopping trip at the Target location in Burke, Virginia. The Sheriff's Office raised enough funds throughout the year from businesses and individuals to provide each child a backpack and a $250 gift card to spend on clothing, shoes and accessories!
Shelter House children felt so special and were excited to begin the academic year with all the supplies they need to be successful!
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HAIR CUTTERY'S SHARE A HAIRCUT PROGRAM RESULTS
Shelter House was proud to partner with Hair Cuttery in their 18th Annual Share-A-Haircut program.
The nationwide back-to-school program is held for the first two weeks in August - for every child's haircut purchased at any Hair Cuttery location, the company donates a free haircut certificate to a child in need.
A
new haircut symbolizes a new start and new possibilities. Hair Cuttery shares the goal for all children to associate feeling good about themselves with getting ready to head back to school. They believe in making beauty shine from within and a new style is just what children need to start the new school year with confidence!
Due to your support, we are happy to share that Hair Cuttery received over 51,000 haircuts nationwide to donate to children in need. Shelter House is thrilled to be receiving 200 haircuts to be distributed to the children we serve as they prepared to go back to school!
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BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - KIM KENDRICK
Kim Kendrick has served on Shelter House's Board of Directors for nearly 10 years. During Kim's tenure, she has served as Secretary, Vice President and President. Kim is highly valued within the organization, as she provides countless volunteerism hours to the organization as well as great insights on our Board. Recently, Kim and other members of her sorority, hosted their annual Back-to-School Party at our Patrick Henry Family Shelter - an event Kim and her sorority has been hosting for over 10 years!
How and why did you initially become involved with Shelter House?
I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Phi Nu Omega Chapter. Our sorority is an international service organization that has a 109-year history of helping "all mankind". Our Chapter began working with Shelter House nearly 20 years ago dedicating commitment to the community. Over the years, we have donated several drives and items: shoes for children, feminine products to victims of domestic violence, pillows, hosting an annual back to school party at Patrick Henry Family Shelter, cleaning playgrounds and so much more.
Board members bring experience, wisdom and strategic thinking - what can you share regarding these attributes you posses
?
In addition to working with HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) for a number of years, I served as a general counsel to a large public housing authority with a client population that mirrors the clients Shelter House serves. I have a background for understanding a number of client issues and personnel issues that the Shelter House staff faces every day.
What are your dreams for the community?
A community that accepts everyone as a member of the community without regard to race, religion, disability or housing status.
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT - DATASTRONG
Shelter House is thrilled to highlight Datastrong, who recently organized a backpack drive to assist children at our Patrick Henry Family Shelter, donating 57 backpacks and over 3,000 school supplies of markers, binders, lunch boxes, notebooks, hand sanitizer, Ziploc bags, tissues and much more!
How and why did Datastrong
initially become involved in the organization?
For most of the years of Datastrong's existence, we have sought to give back. Recently, we came to the realization that families in our community have needs throughout the year and sought to find an organization that serves homeless families in our backyard, Fairfax County. Shelter House impressed our leadership with the various shelters the organization operates in the area and the programs that create and maintain sustained independence.
What does Datastrong want their gifts to accomplish and why is that important to the organization?
We want our gifts to ensure that low-income and homeless families are given the opportunity and tools to change their status. Our society is better when we realize that everyone needs help from time to time, but more importantly, the opportunity to prove he/she can reach his/her full potential.
What motivates Datastrong to stay involved?
The wide variety of ways in which we can contribute motivates us to stay involved with Shelter House. Whether having a work day, providing cleaning supplies or supporting the backpack drive, we are given several opportunities to show our heart. We also value that we are assisting people in our local community so it makes it easy for us to coordinate and get employees motivated in return.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT - MEET VICKI HERMAN
Vicki began volunteering with Shelter House in November 2016. Nine months later, Vicki has already given over 100 hours of service to Artemis House, Fairfax County's only 24-hour domestic violence emergency shelter. She started by organizing a new knitting group in the winter and now co-hosts an extremely popular sewing group for our clients. In addition, she is always there to provide emergency childcare when needed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Vicki has a particularly engaging personality and is well-liked by the clients in her group and by all the children that she's taken care of. Artemis House is so grateful for Vicki!
What programs do you volunteer with at Shelter House?
I began volunteering at Artemis House during
the winter of 2016-2017. I hosted a needlework class one evening per week and currently co-host a sewing class for interested clients.
What interests you most about Shelter House and its mission?
The services provided for the clients are amazing when considering the barriers to success, such as the crowded facilities, limited budget, and range of diversity of the clients. I have become more interested in the welfare of the children who have been uprooted from familiar surroundings. They are very resilient, but anxious when away from all family. The opportunity to provide child care has been truly rewarding.
What motivates you to stay involved?
The ongoing needs of the clients. I am grateful to be able to give them an hour of relaxing activity at a sewing machine and hopefully provide a life skill for their futures.
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HELP US BUILD A STRONGER ORGANIZATION
Help us build a stronger organization that will continue providing quality services to the community and reach out to more supporters like you! We welcome individual and corporate involvement - your commitment to Shelter House can range from a few hours to a long-term relationship!
There are many ways for you to contribute your time and talents to Shelter House. If interested in volunteering, complete our
volunteer form
.
Are you looking for a great opportunity to define your company's image, increase employee engagement and strengthen the community you live and work in? Consider partnering with Shelter House for your upcoming event to help create awareness and visibility around the challenges within our community and to support a great cause - promote that all, or a portion of, all funds raised will benefit Shelter House, a local community-based non-profit.
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OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Join us this October, in honor of the 30th Anniversary of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), to raise awareness and important funds to improve the lives of those suffering from domestic violence in our community.
You can join the fight by helping us increase awareness and visibility around this prevalent issue. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram and use the hashtag #DVAMTurns30. We hope you will also participate in the many fun activities and events we have planned to honor DVAM, which we have highlighted in our Upcoming Events section of the September Newsletter.
We have more exciting news to share with you about our plans for DVAM, so stay tuned!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Tysons Corner Community Non-Profit Day
Non-profit and community-based organizations will be participating at
Tysons Corner Community Non-Profit Day, highlighting organizations servicing Northern Virginia. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the organizations in the community and to see how you can become more involved!
September 16
Food Wine & Arts Festival
Join Shelter House at the
Food Wine & Arts Festival at Halstead Square! Enjoy food, wine tastings, art, kids activities and more - a portion of all proceeds will directly benefit Shelter House and the clients we serve every day!
September 16
Hosted by
Cooper Ginsberg Gray PLLC, the 17th annual "Chipping In to End Domestic Violence" Charity Golf Tournament is back! This year's tournament will be held at The Golf Club in Lansdowne and all proceeds will go directly to the women and children at Artemis House. Interested in becoming a Matching Sponsor? Contact [email protected]
September 29
Purple Purse Challenge
This October, the
Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge will give Shelter House and other participating non-profit organizations the chance to raise significant funds to provide life-changing services for domestic violence victims and survivors. To donate to Shelter House during this Challenge, click
here to be directed to our donation page!
October 2 - 31
Not Your Average Joe's Cause of the Month
Support Shelter House during Not Your Average Joe's Cause of the Month every Wednesday in October. Mention Shelter House and 15% of all proceeds will go directly to supporting the homeless families and victims of domestic violence we serve!
October 4, 11, 18, 25
Kendra Scott Gives Back Party
Philanthropy has become an integral part of the Kendra Scott brand and company. Shelter House is excited to partner with Kendra Scott as they host a Giving Back Party - 20% of all proceeds will directly benefit Shelter House and the clients we serve.
October 12
P.J. Skidoo's Unmask Domestic Violence Happy Hour
In support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Shelter House has partnered with P.J. Skidoo's in Fairfax. Join us as we "Unmask Domestic Violence". Raffle tickets will be sold at this event - all proceeds will benefit Artemis House, supporting the victims of domestic violence Shelter House serves.
October 27
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Do you need shelter for your family? If so contact the Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880 for assistance.
If you are in eminent danger, dial 911 or our 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline at 703-435-4940.
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