August 2021 E-News
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Our Board of Directors Receives Prestigious Award
 The Center for Nonprofit Advancement has recognized the exceptional leadership of the Carpenter's Shelter Board of Directors with the 2021 Board Leadership Award! We are so proud that our hard-working Board is receiving this prestigious recognition for demonstrating “outstanding leadership, community support, and responsiveness to the people and communities it serves”. Carpenter’s Shelter will receive a $10,000 grant, community exposure, and training opportunities for the Board of Directors.
In recent years, our Board has led Carpenter’s Shelter through the extensive New Heights redevelopment project and capital campaign, formalized our commitment to racial equality, created the Innovation Fund, and of course, navigated a pandemic -- all while continuing to house and support people in our community facing homelessness.
"Being named as the 2021 Board Leadership Award Winner is affirmation that the hard work the Board has done over the last five years has been well worth it," states Edith Bullard, Carpenter's Board Chair. We greatly appreciate this tremendous honor!
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Imagine Giving Design
 We are so grateful for Interior Designer Liz Mearns and her team for designing comfortable, stylish, organized homes for people served by Carpenter’s Shelter who are transitioning into permanent housing. “When one’s home is comfortable and in order, difficult things are more easily overcome," explains Liz. "A newly designed space can help families feel safe, calm and more in control. This is especially important when they are facing the stresses associated with homelessness.”
Liz and her team of five designers created Imagine Giving Design after seeing how the pandemic adversely affected so many. They meet with transitioning residents about their preferences -- finding out favorite colors, preferred hobbies and sports, family size, and measurements of the space. “We want this to be a collaboration. We listen to their preferences and look for personal ways to incorporate those into the design for their home.” They even go the extra mile by stocking the pantry with food and the cabinets with diapers and other necessities.
The team uses mostly donated items that are refreshed and re-purposed with new pillows or a coat of paint. Local businesses have donated rugs and furniture, and the team picks up inexpensive furnishings and decor from Target and Home Goods.
Many volunteers give their time and effort to make the installations a reality. The team completes the installations within a few hours so there is as little disruption for the residents as possible. “When the residents see their newly designed space, it is fun to see them have their own little HGTV moment!”
Ms. G's 10-year-old daughter cried with happiness when she saw her newly designed home for the firsttime. Ms. G was estatic, "I love it, the furniture is so nice, everything is so spacious now. Thank you so so much!"
 The crew has designed the ten new Permanent Supportive Housing units at Carpenter’s Shelter and homes for four families transitioning out of the Emergency Shelter. Many thanks to Liz and her crew for providing this invaluable service for Carpenter’s residents transitioning to permanent housing! Visit www.ImagineGivingDesign.com
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...And Counting!
Our Octoberfest Online Auction is Approaching and we Need YOUR Support!
We are pleased to annouce that our annual Octoberfest Auction will be running from October 8th - October 22nd. 100% of the donations received from the auction go directly toward funding the programs and services at Carpenter's Shelter.
Last year, the auction was a huge success and we would like to thank all of our supporters who took part by donating to or bidding in the auction! We couldn't have done it without you!
This year, we're hoping for an even better auction! So, please mark your calendars and plan to bid on a variety of exciting items! We have a little bit of everything, from home goods to jewerly, date night packages to destination trips (just to name a few). There is something for everyone at our 2021 Octoberfest auction!
If you would like to do more than bid, please consider contributing a product or service from your business or personal collection. Your donation could be a gift certificate, jewlery, packages like a night out on the town, a weekend at your favorite hotel, air miles, professional services, or a priceless experience.
We are proud to receive ample support from our giving community and expect the auction to draw a ton of supporters! If your business contributes an item, we will feature the company name and logo of your business on the auction bidding page, our website, and our social media pages. All donations are hugely appreciated and tax deductible.
Ready to contribute to the Octoberfest online auction? Then get a donation form here or email Sienna Brown, SiennaBrown@CarpentersShelter.org. Just fill it out, send it back, and we'll take the rest from there! Completed forms can be mailed to Sienna Brown, Carpenter's Shelter, 930 N. Henry St., Alexandria, VA, 22314.
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| August 2021 |
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Quick Calendar
August 17, 6-7:00pm
Virtual Volunteer Orientation!
Please join Community Relations Manager Jamila Smith on Zoom for our monthly volunteer orientation. If you would like to attend, please register by clicking here.
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A Special Thank You to Inova Community Health Fund
Thank you to the Inova Community Health Fund for awarding a $20,000 grant to Carpenter's Shelter to support our medical clinic and mental health services for our clients facing homelessness. Pictured from left are Sienna Brown and Monise Quidley from Carpenter's Shelter, Karen Berube, Vice President, Inova Community/Population Health, and Anne Gaddy, MD, MPH, Acting Director, Alexandria Health Department.
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US Patent & Trademark Office Virtual 5K
Carpenter's Shelter is delighted to be the recipient of funds raised through the USPTO Fitness Center Virtual 5K! There were 70 participants ranging in age from 7-72.
Shannon Steene (on left) of Carpenter's Shelter accepted the donation from Georgia Epps, Treasurer for the Fitness Association of the PTO, Board of Directors, and Bill Hall, PTO Fitness Center Director. We rely on our partners like USPTO to serve our community and are very grateful for their support!
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Congratulations to our 1st Employee of the Year!
 Lawrence Smith started with Carpenter's eight years ago as a Winter Shelter Monitor, moving onto Case Manager and was recently promoted to Housing Support Manager. "I was shocked!", said Lawrence about winning the inaugural award. "I really like what I do! It means so much when the families I work with are successful in finding employment, housing, and the services they need."
Lawrence exemplifies the SEED values of Carpenter's Shelter -- Solutions through collaboration, Empowerment, Education, and Dedication to serving with respect. Shannon Steene, Executive Director, agrees this is a well-deserved award. "Our pool of talented staff members recognized as quarterly winners made it tough to select only one Employee of the Year. Amid it all, Lawrence's embodiment of our SEED values was so clear and compelling. It is wonderful to honor his role on Team Carpenter's in this way. Thank you, Lawrence!"
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We're Hiring!
Carpenter’s Shelter is in the process of hiring a Director of Programs. This position will have complete operational responsibility for our program areas including Case Management, Rapid Re-housing, Emergency Shelter, David’s Place, Winter Shelter, and Medical Clinic. Please see the complete job description here.
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Gift Cards Are Greatly Appreciated!
Residents often arrive at the shelter with very specific needs -- a child might need new shoes, or an individual may need padded gloves for a new job. We find the best resource to provide them is a gift card to purchase the needed item.  Gift cards from Target, Walmart, Amazon, and Visa in $25 increments are especially helpful. Gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to: Jamila Smith Carpenter's Shelter 930 North Henry StreetAlexandria, VA 22314
Thanks so much for your continued support of the children, women, and men, we serve!
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