September Lydia Place Newsletter--Cider Press, Humor for Housing, and More!

We're now beginning to dust off our cardigans and place pumpkins on our front porches, which means Fall has officially arrived to the Pacific Northwest. The changing leaves are reminding us to take a deep breath and reflect as the school year gets underway and before the busyness of the holiday season takes hold. We at Lydia Place are doing the same reflection, looking back at the year thus far and planning ahead for the future. Our mid-year newsletter is titled "Learning As We Grow" for a reason--taking that time to reflect on where you've come from and where you are going is what empowers our families, our staff, and our organization. One of our rockstar volunteers Danielle Drew (pictured above with her adorable daughter) is an amazing example of what happens when someone is able to look to their past to inspire their future. Read more about her incredibly story, the progress of Lydia Place, and how we are growing in our mid-year newsletter, available online now.

This week! We can't believe that Fall is already here and it's time for our annual Cider Press! Join us this Thursday, September 27th, for the ultimate family friendly community event of the season. Enjoy free pizza from Cicchitti's, live music from Karma Taxi, a caramel apple bar, kiddo games and activities, and of course, fresh cider! We will also be honoring those who have gone above and beyond this past year for our organization and those that we serve.

September 27th

4 - 7pm

1701 Gladstone St.

Free! Family Friendly!

Please help us be good neighbors, and park at the top of Gladstone St. on Puget St. next to Frank Geri Fields.

We can't wait to see you!

Lydia Place on Armchair Expert

We are still in shock over being mentioned on Dax Shepard's popular podcast Armchair Expert! In the beginning of a recent episode, Dax called fan Shawna, the buyer of an exclusive left-handed mug, and said he would donate the $2,000 proceeds of the purchase to her favorite charity. Her answer? Lydia Place! Listen to the episode (in fact, listen to all of them!) now to hear about her love of Lydia Place and the work we do.

Humor for Housing Tickets on Sale!

Tickets are now on sale for the third annual Humor for Housing! Sponsored by the

Pysden Team at Caliber Home Loans,

this fundraiser for Lydia Place programs and services is the not to be missed comedy show of the season! Hosted once again by the wonderful Upfront Theatre, join us on November 7th for a night of comedy, delicious food from A Taste of Elegance, and more.

Bell Tower is Being Remodeled

Our beloved Bell Tower is undergoing another

remodel--this time for our offices. We are growing our office space to not only have all of our case managers under the same roof, but to give us the chance to grow our team even more. During this four month remodel, the ever-generous Ben Kinney has offered our team space in his office. Thank you Ben for your support, and RAM Construction for helping make our Bell Tower dreams come true!

Furniture Movers Needed

We have an incredible partnership with Habitat for Humanity . If anyone donates goods to them in our name, some of the value of the items goes onto an account our clients can use to buy furniture. However many of our clients are unable to get their purchases home, so we need your help! We're currently looking for able-bodied volunteers who are available on Mondays to help. Interested? Please email ashleyt@lydiaplace.org for more information!

Save the Date--Hearts for Housing

Your favorite heart-filled evening is now ready to go on your calendar! We're excited to announce that the 30th annual Hearts for Housing Gala and Auction will be on February 9th at the Four Points by Sheraton. You'll enjoy both silent and live auctions, games, a beautiful plated dinner, and of course, stories of hope and strength from our 30 year history. Stay tuned for when tickets go on sale, but RSVP now on Facebook !

Get inspired with this impact story courtesy of Rapid Rehousing Supervisor Jeremy Caplan!

“My addiction caught up with me; I couldn’t get to work on time."

In 2016, Amiee lost her job, got clean, but then got evicted from her home. After getting evicted, Amiee was separated from her son, and began living in her car with a broken window. A few months later, Amiee moved into the Lydia Place Transitional Housing Program and was reunited with her son.

Amiee states that she had “zero confidence” when she first moved into the Transitional House. After moving in, Amiee quickly became involved in the house community and built a strong and supportive friend group. She also participated in the weekly life skills classes offered by the program, which covered topics such as budgeting, self-care, and team building. Inspired by her new friends and new skills, Amiee regularly met with a housing case manager and worked to overcome barriers to renting her own apartment such as negative rental history and no source of income. Amiee expressed her steadfast dedication to finding a stable home for herself and her son. “I only have two years left with him,” she often said. “I need to show him what life is really about."

Amiee wanted to start working again and knew employment was crucial to housing. Amiee applied for countless jobs, but experienced difficulty in gaining employment. After several months, Amiee enrolled in an intensive 4-week course that helped her identify her strengths and skills, build a strong resume, and gave her a variety of tools to help her achieve both her personal and employment goals. Amiee secured employment immediately after completing this class.

Soon after becoming employed, Amiee got an apartment for her and her son and moved out of the Transitional House on Mother’s Day weekend. “I made it two years clean and moved into our apartment. I am just really enjoying having a peaceful place to come home to. My life was so chaotic before.”

Since moving into her apartment, Amiee has continued to find success. She recently accepted a new job in a supervisory role, continues to succeed in her educational goals, and has obtained a vehicle and insurance to help her successfully balance her busy schedule. Amiee remains committed to her sobriety, and is still clean and sober today. When discussing her commitment to her sobriety, she speaks with complete confidence and says “that’s never going to change.”

Congratulations Amiee on your new job and this next chapter in your life!

Welcome Back Western Students!

WWU students are back in Bellingham, and we are so glad they are! This week we're on campus at the Red Square Info Days, and then we'll be at the Depot Market Square for the 3rd annual Paint B'ham Blue for WWU! And don't forget that every Wednesday is Western Wednesday at Wise Buys. Wear any Viking gear or show your student/staff ID and get 50% off one item! WWU pride + bargains = a great way to start Fall!

PSE Troubleshoots Your Furnace Problems

Before cooler weather sets in, now is a good time to make sure your heating equipment is operating safely. If you think your natural gas furnace, water heater or other appliances are not operating safely or properly, please call us at 1-888-225-5773 to schedule a PSE natural gas service technician for a free visit to diagnose the problem. Depending on the diagnosis, the technician can perform minor repairs for a charge.

Thank you to these individuals and businesses for supporting Lydia Place!

Network for Good | Nina Nancarrow | Pamela Englett | Patti Morgan | Pauline Carpenter

Ted Buckallen | Tom Laughlin | Tony Casale | Whatcom Beer & Wine Foundation

ENJOY 50% OFF ANY ITEM

WISE BUYS THRIFT STORE | 1224 N STATE ST

TUES THRU SAT 10AM-5PM | 360.734.0202

EXPIRES 10/31/18

CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER DISCOUNTS. MUST PRESENT COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. NO CASH VALUE.

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