April e-News
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Spring2ACTion 2021
Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s Online Giving Day, is the time Alexandrians come together, uplift one another, and support the organizations that serve our community in the best of times and during challenging times.
Spring2ACTion is an indispensable platform for local nonprofits to engage the community and raise critical funds. On April 28th, we are celebrating 11 years of Spring2ACTion. Join in by giving back to the community we love and let generosity shine!
Last year, when everything else began to shut down, we had to keep our doors open for our homeless neighbors in need, individuals we knew would be most affected by the pandemic. And with our most important fundraising events cancelled for the second year in a row, we are depending on virtual fundraisers like Spring2ACTion to close the funding gap.
Last year we raised $62,000 through Spring2ACTion. This year we aim to raise $65,000! We already have $12,500 donated in matching funds, from the Mason Hirst Foundation at $10,000, the MacRae Family Foundation at $2,000 and the Rita Susswein Gottesman Fund at $500. Another fun twist, every dollar that is given for Spring2ACTion gives us additional chances to win bonus prize money to benefit the Shelter. This event is the perfect time to support the Shelter and directly benefit our residents.
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Exciting Volunteer
Opportunities/Help Needed!
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| Volunteers and Staff ready to work! |
If so, Carpenter's Shelter has numerous committee roles that may be the perfect fit for you! Our committees meet regularly (usually monthly) by ZOOM while the pandemic continues. If you are interested in being considered for any of the committees listed below, please respond with the following:
- Which Committee you are interested in?
- Your resume and/or a description of your qualifications for the committee.
- If you have direct, lived experience with homelessness, please do mention that if you are comfortable. That perspective is very helpful with all of our work.
Carpenter's Shelter Committees:
- Audit
- Development
- Finance
- Operations
- Programs
- Racial Equity
- Strategic Planning
The information will be reviewed to match interested candidates with skills and perspectives needed for a committee assignment. Where there is a match, you will be contacted as committee positions become available. As always, thank you for your support, which makes the work that we do here possible!
If you would like to get more information, contact JamilaSmith@CarpentersShelter.org
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...And Counting!
Sign Up to be a Shelter Helper Today!
Consider becoming a Shelter Helper by making automatic, monthly donations in lieu of an annual gift. Individuals who participate in our monthly giving program ensure that we have funds to provide our clients during our greatest times of need. Our Shelter Helpers provide consistent, sustainable financial support to the Shelter. It's an easy way to donate! You will receive a final detailed report of all of your gifts each year in January.
A monthly donation of $25 would provide clean sheets for one of our 60 beds, $50 would provide a Metrocard for one week of job searching, and $100 would provide two weeks of after school snacks. Shelter Helpers are able to set the specific amount that works best for them. We have donors who give $5 a month to donors who give over $200 monthly -- it’s whatever works for you!
Changes can always be made to donation amounts and donations can be stopped at any time. Please consider giving an invaluable gift to our clients today. We appreciate your support of our mission! To give today please go to https://carpentersshelter.org/give/. To learn more about being a Shelter Helper email Sienna Brown at SiennaBrown@CarpentersShelter.org or 703-548-7500 (ext. 204).
Thank You to The Motley Fool!
Zoom call with the Motley Fool.
Thank you to The Motley Fool for raising $10,200 for Carpenter’s Shelter!! The Motley Fool has served as a long-standing supporter of Carpenter’s Shelter. Through serving meals, helping with our New Heights redevelopment project, bringing comforters to our guests as the weather got colder, The Motley Fool is one of our amazing corporate partners! We were surprised and thrilled when they announced we had been chosen to be their workplace charity for the month of February. The Fools generosity knows no bounds and we are so grateful for all of the donations employees brought in to support our mission.
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Some New Furniture Has Arrived!
This month's building update features the new furniture that was recently delivered and set-up.
We continue to outfit the office with the new furniture that was specially ordered for each space. The shelter continues to evolve and come to life and we are so thankful for everyone's support and help. We're getting closer and looking forward to the day when everyone can walk through the front doors and see how magnificent the building is.
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| April 2021 |
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Quick Calendar
April 1st: April Fool's Day
April 4th: Easter
April 15th: Tax Day!
April 20th: Volunteer Orientation! Please join us for our monthly volunteer orientation. If you would like to attend, join our Community Relations Manager Jamila Smith between 6:00-7:00 pm on Zoom by clicking here.
April 22nd: Earth Day
April 28th: Spring2ACTion 2021 mark your calendars now for Alexandria's Online Giving Day! You don't have to wait until the 28th, early donations start on April 14th.
April 30th: Arbor Day
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Guess who visited the Shelter yesterday? We are so grateful for the opportunity to show Governor Northam, former Governor McAuliffe, Senator Adam Ebbin, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, and Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn our brand new shelter!
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Helping to make a
wish come true for two little girls and helping a rescue cat find a new home too!
We have some exciting news! Thanks to the excellent work of our case managers and through the efforts of the Alexandria Animal Shelter (AAS), Wendell (pictured above) is now happily living with his two new best friends in their new home.
Two little girls who were homeless with their mother asked if they could have a cat. In their culture a cat is considered good luck, and they really wanted some, good luck. So, through the collaboration of Carpenter's staff and the AAS, they found Wendell, a 6-month-old stray who needed some luck of his own.
We can't convey enough the enormous gratitude the family (especially the two girls) have expressed for the help they received making their dream a reality. We have turned a dark period in their lives to a joyful one with a simple act of kindness. They are so incredibly grateful.
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"Even the Smallest person can change the course of the future"
Apologies to JRR Tolkien, but we wanted to make a point. Oliver, took the time and energy to send in a donation to us. $40 is a lot of money to anyone and yes Oliver, it will help the people at the shelter.
We're always grateful for any donation we receive but this one really struck a note with us and we wanted to share it with all of you. We're blessed to be in a community that cares and wants to change the course of the future for all those who are less fortunate!
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A gift from the
Alexandria Masons
We had a wonderful visit with Rick Cady, Master - Andrew Jackson Masonic Lodge #120 (pictured above with Shannon Steene). He dropped off a donation from the members of the lodge and had a quick tour of the shelter. He was happy to see the progress made on the new shelter and was impressed by the quality and craftsmanship in the building.
From all of us here, we say thank you to our Mason Brethren!
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Here are a few
items that we need!
We are always in need of items to help our clients time here in shelter and in their new homes. Here are a few of those items:
- Individual boxes of cereal
- Individual coffee creamers
- Individual packets of
condiments of all kinds
(bbq, ketchup, mustard,
creamer, honey, mayo,
salad dressing, etc.)
- Large Ziploc bags
- Neosporin
- Reading glasses from the
dollar store
If you would like to make a monetary donation please email Development Associate Sienna Brown.
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