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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
JANUARY 2022
Words from the Executive Director
"2021 was a challenging year for everyone – especially for those we serve. I am so moved by the degree to which our employees and community partners stepped up to meet needs and help our agency weather the pandemic. While we had to pivot our programming to keep staff and clients safe, our agency-wide client census and direct services increased, and our community partnerships nearly doubled. As we enter a new year, my optimism remains as strong as ever, thanks to our team of employees whose talent, experience and commitment to the agency leaves me proud and honored to serve as executive director of Dumas Wesley. Here’s to hope, healing and harmony in 2022!"

-- Kate Carver, Executive Director
Well ORANGE You All Wonderful!
The Dumas Wesley Community Center received hundreds of fresh oranges, grapefruits and satsumas, thanks to the sophomore class at St. Paul's Episcopal School. Last month, the students held a service day picking over 3,000 pounds of citrus fruit at a local orchard. Orchard owners, Jack Boatman and Chandler Bramlett, donate a majority of their harvest to local nonprofit agencies each year.

“The food we picked will give families in need access to fresh fruit - something they might not otherwise get to enjoy,” said Susan Robinson, St. Paul’s Episcopal School student.
Program Highlights!
In response to the recent Covid surge, kids in the After School Achievement Program are enjoying socially distanced activities and virtual learning via Zoom. Building giant paper airplanes was a favorite among the kids. They were able to learn how the different areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) correlates with folding a simple piece of paper.

The After School Achievement Program offers free educational and enriching activities as well as hot meals, five days a week for school-age children.
Dumas Wesley Community Center's transitional housing program, the Sybil Smith Family Village (SSFV), is happy to report that the program is operating at 100% capacity. SSFV's 17 - unit apartments are currently housing 56 individuals.

In May of 2021, Dumas Wesley and its Board of Directors announced its decision that the Sybil Smith Family Village would operate independent of federal funds. The decision allowed SSFV to conduct same-day intakes and get eligible candidates housed within a 24- hour window –– bypassing the waitlist associated with federally funded programs. We are pleased to report that 75% of residents accepted into shelter in 2021 entered the program after the new intake procedure was implemented.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, Dumas Wesley Community Center's Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program has continued to provide critical services for its at-risk senior population.

In January, the SAIL program increased its homebound meal deliveries to serve 85 seniors who are isolating at home. In 2021, Dumas Wesley provided 15,536 congregate and homebound meals to participants in the SAIL program.
Lawyers Invest in Local Homeless Women and Families
The Dumas Wesley Community Center's Sybil Smith Family Village is the proud recipient of a grant from the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation. This grant will support homeless women and children as they become self-sufficient and independently housed. The Sybil Smith Family Village is a 24-month transitional housing program which focuses on accountability, case management and life skills classes. The Sybil Smith Family Village boasts a success rate that is 13% above the national average, according to HUD statistics.
Gulf Coast's Woman of the Year Finalist!
Betty Fain, former client of Dumas Wesley Community Center's transitional housing program, the Sybil Smith Family Village, has been selected as a finalist for WKRG and Gulf Coast CW’s "Remarkable Women" project. Fain overcame unimaginable circumstances that led to her homelessness over 10 years ago. Her resilience and positive outlook is an inspiration to everyone. Fain is a homeowner, an A-Class Welder at Austal USA, a member of Dumas Wesley Board of Directors and advocate for the Sybil Smith Family Village and the homeless community. Fain also teaches life skills classes at Sybil Smith Family Village. Her compassion and first-hand experience of overcoming homelessness has been inspirational to countless residents.

Fain, along with three other Remarkable Women, were selected as finalists among 80 submissions. Fain's story will air on WKRG in March. Remarkable Women is a nationwide Nexstar Media contest. One woman will be chosen as the Gulf Coast Woman of the Year, celebrating and honoring her life achievements.
Annual Golf Tournament to Benefit Local Nonprofits
The Dumas Wesley Community Center is excited to announce that it has been selected as a beneficiary of Austal USA's 2022 Charity Golf Invitational. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit at-risk youth, low-income seniors and homeless women and children. Learn more about the invitational here.