Archive for September, 2010

It’s not to annoy you, social media helps families

Monday, September 27th, 2010

22 minutes on Facebook to meet a need for a family in shelter…

On Tuesday, September 14th I received a request from our Family Home.  A family in shelter needed a car booster seat ASAP.  I posted it on Facebook on 10:24am and at 10:46am I received this email:

“I saw your message on Facebook.  We have a barely used booster seat (just bought in January after I totaled my car) that I’d be happy to donate.”

BINGO. One safe child.  And this isn’t a fluke. For the past year and a half we have been encouraging our supporters, neighbors, and volunteers to join our online social network by being our Fan on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or subscribing to our blog “Beyond the Doorway“.

In the past year, through Facebook and Twitter, we have met dozens of needs within hours and raised over $4,500 in in-kind items through our Amazon registry; solely promoted online!  It is also a terrific way for us to keep you informed about Doorways work.

We need to expand our networks to others who care about our work. Will you ask a friend to be Fan of Doorways or to follow us on Twitter?

~Candice Lopez, Education and Outreach Director

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Number of Families Needing Shelter Increases

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Over the weekend, I caught up on reading this national news story on the rise in family homelessness from the NY Times on September 11th.  I couldn’t help but be struck by the parallels of what Doorways has witnessed in the rise of families needing our Family Home.  For the second consecutive year, the numbers of families seeking shelter that we could not serve rose dramatically. In 2009 we turned away 974 and in 2010 we turned away 1,352 individuals (the majority of whom were children).  And that was just the Family Home.  

The stimulus money has helped us in preventing family homelessness- but it is not enough. Often families come to us too late to prevent homelessness and shelter is their only option left.  The NY Times story is very poignantly told from the point of view of one family’s desperate journey to maintain their housing have to relocating from Rhode Island to Florida and back to Rhode Island.  

Read the story and let us know what you think.

~Linda

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The chance to be part of a difference

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Children services counselor with children at the Family Home.

At Doorways, I step out of the humdrum office realm into a world of colorful chaos that keeps me on my toes and reminds me that life can be fun and futures can be bright.  It’s easy to forget the reality of life beyond routine when you spend your days chained to a desk, motivated solely by deadlines and subjected to morning-old coffee.  This is precisely why I volunteer with Doorways: for a healthy dose of reality and a good reminder that life is out there waiting.  Sans aforementioned coffee, my full-time job is a fine job; but it doesn’t allow for much passion, energy, excitement or fun.  Rare are the days when I feel I’ve made a difference in one life, let alone in the world.  Doorways – a place where I am never just a volunteer – allows me to do just that. 

As a children’s volunteer, I laugh a lot, and I’m never bored.  After my weekly volunteer shift I have endless memories, along with some Play-Doh creations, to take with me for the rest of the week.  If variety is the spice of life, then these are my spices: dancing to music-making toys, running around outside and playing pretend.  But life needs something to make it sweet, too; and I can’t think of anything sweeter than a child excited to see you, a mom relieved to be given some time to herself and the chance to be part of the difference that Doorways is making.

~Leslie Brettschneider, Doorways Children’s Volunteer

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Homeless Youth Preparing for Back to School

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Kids returning to the Family Home after school.

Due to circumstances outside of her control, one of my HomeStart clients will have to move within the first few weeks of the school year leaving uncertainty about where her children will be attending school this year. The children will most likely have to start at a new school where they don’t know anyone and I, with our Children’s Services staff, are working to ensure they can start at their new school on the first day. The goal is to help the family find stability and reduce the likelihood that the children will have to transfer after a few weeks once they have moved.

When I delivered the children’s back to school items, a backpack with all of the supplies and a gift card for new clothing donated by our Back to School Sponsors, it was clear that having something tangible was very reassuring for them. Each child pulled out every last item describing them to me. They oooohhhed and aaaahhhed over their backpacks, lunch bags, and water bottles as if they were priceless treasures. Their excitement grew as they organized their pencils, crayons, and notebooks, eagerly talking about the upcoming school year. The security of starting the school year well prepared will help these children to overcome some of the other uncertainties in their life right now.

Thank you to all the donors who contributed to our Back to School drive this year, we greatly appreciate your kindness. Your continued support ensures that each child in our programs (62 today!) will have what they need today on the first day and into the future as they continue towards academic success!

~Kristen Barnes, MSW, HomeStart Client Services Coordinator

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Volunteers Light Up My Night

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Doorways Recent Volunteer Training Class

For some people, the highlight of their month is pay day, date night or Coconut Cream frozen custard day at the Dairy Godmother.  For me, the highlight is Doorways’ Volunteer Information Night.  I know that sounds farfetched (especially if you’ve ever tasted the Coconut Cream frozen custard at the Dairy Godmother!)–but believe me, it’s true.  I can think of nothing better than being surrounded by people who believe in their power to make their community better, safer and more just.

The information session attendees have the same demanding jobs, the same family commitments and the same 24 hours-a-day as the rest of us.  But despite all that, they step up and volunteer their precious time to help neighbors they have never even met.  It is a great night because I know that for many of them it is just the beginning of a long-term volunteer relationship with Doorways. 

They will become the volunteers who answer the hotline at the Safehouse, go grocery shopping for the Family Home and provide childcare for the kids while their parents attend important meetings at the shelters.  These potential volunteers know that the fight against family homelessness and intimate partner violence can’t wait until their job slows down or their kids grow up.  They know we have to start today.  Won’t you join us?

Doorways’ Volunteer Information Session is the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm.  If you would like to join me, please RSVP sschonenberger@doorwaysva.org or 703-522-8858 x 33.

~Simone Schonenberger, Volunteer and Intern Coordinator

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