SUMMER 2012
What’s Inside Join Us:
Harvest For the Homeless 2012 Volunteer and Donate Page 2
Learn:
How to become a Shelter Provider About our current and new programs Page 3
Thank you:
Volunteers In-Kind Donors Shelter Providers Page 4
Volunteer at AAHS! Our weekly and monthly dinner and child care volunteers are an integral part of our program. Without your contributions of time and service, we would not be able to serve families in need. To become a volunteer, email volunteer@ helpathenshomeless.org Don’t forget to keep up with us all year at our blog, on Facebook, and through Twitter updates!
This summer, PLACE (promoting local agriculture and cultural experiences) has been working in our gardens to provide the shelter with fresh produce, herbs, and spices. This month we’ve got watermelons growing! Thanks so much to PLACE for working with our families here at the shelter!
A letter from the director Dear Friends and Family of AAHS, Wow what a summer it's been here at the shelter! We've said goodbye to residents as they move on to permanent housing and welcomed in new families, said goodbye to beloved staff and welcomed in wonderful new employees. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to present a workshop at a national conference in Denver this past July, and we have a new program up and running here at the shelter as you can see, it's been a busy, busy time at AAHS and we're so excited to be moving forward.
I'd like to welcome Katie Smith, our new Shelter Director. She has taken over for Kerri Steele, and while Kerri leaves behind huge shoes to fill Katie has already proven herself up to the challenge! If you're involved with the shelter through volunteering, you're probably already familiar with Katie's smiling face, as she interned here while completing her MSW. We're so thrilled to have her stay on board. Our new program, Going Home, is now up and running. Through this program, we'll be able to offer case management support as well as
See LETTER on Page 2
www.helpathenshomeless.org
Summer 2012
Harvest for the Homeless 2012 Join us November 2 at the Classic Center! Join us at our 9th annual Harvest fundraiser for hors d'oeuvre, live music, a silent auction and our annual raffle for 52 gift certificates to area restaurants! Tickets can be purchased on our website or by calling 706-354-0423.
Letter rental and utility assistance to families that have successfully completed our Almost Home shelter program. AAHS will provide scaled support over the course of the program, with the clients gradually increasing their own level of responsibility until they are fully independent. We're also excited that we'll be able to collaborate with Interfaith Hospitality Network with this program, assisting some of their clients as well. As always, our goal at the shelter is to look below the surface at root issues, working toward sustainable solutions. Going Home is a huge stride forward in this direction, truly supporting families in gaining permanent independence!
Images from Harvest for the Homeless 2011
Thanks so much to UGA’s Communications 3600 class for fundraising and marketing for Athens Area Homeless Shelter as their class project this summer! Check out our blog for posts on a percentage night at Menchie’s frozen yogurt and for a carwash to benefit the shelter’s programs! We’re excited to announce that we have received a grant from the Junior League of Athens which will allow us to purchase new tables and chairs for our dining area! With this grant, we’ll be able to provide seating for all of our residents to eat dinner at the same time and as families.
Wish List • Large trash bags • Size 3, 4, and 5 diapers and wipes • High efficiency laundry detergent • General cleaning supplies
Finally, I'd like to ask you all to please mark Harvest for the Homeless on your calendars! Our major fundraiser is just around the corner, Friday November 2nd, at the Classic Center, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. We really need your support this year with our new program, a shelter that is bursting with women and children, and a waiting list that is far too long. And it promises to be an evening packed with fun! We'll have the Athens Swing Band and lots of dancing, a silent auction offering everything from a getaway in the north Georgia mountains to an Athen's Food Tour package, and the best raffle in town - win 52 gift certificates to local restaurants and eat out on us weekly for an entire year! There will also be a wine tasting and other fun, so please come out and support the women and children here at Athens Area Homeless Shelter. I look forward to seeing you all there! Best, Shea Post Executive Director
Visit our website for an up to date list of needs!
2
www.helpathenshomeless.org
Summer 2012
Almost Home residents participated this month with Project Safe, Inc. and ARTini’s Athens on a domestic violence awareness month art project, Through an Open Window. These paintings done by our residents, along with other art inspired by stories of domestic violence struggles, will be on display at ARTini’s for the month of October in recognition of domestic violence awareness month.
Become a Shelter Provider Over the course of a year, what can $25 per month do? • Provide one month of childcare for a homeless infant • Provide five months of transportation for a homeless job seeker • Provide three months of diapers for a sheltered child
How to Become a Shelter Provider
Visit helpathenshomeless.org to participate through PayPal OR Contact your bank to have a direct deposit sent each month OR Fill out and return the form below.
YES! I want to be a Shelter Provider! Enroll me in your monthly budget plan. I authorize my bank to transfer to AAHS each month the amount selected: $5
$10
$15
$20
$25
Other_____
Please write a check for your first shelter provider gift. Beginning the second month, your bank will automatically receive notice to charge your account
Name:
______________________________________________
Address:
______________________________________________
City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________ My authorization to charge my account at my bank shall be the same as if I had personally signed a check to AAHS. This authorization shall remain in effect until I notify my bank or AAHS in writing that I wish to end this agreement and my bank or AAHS has had reasonable time to act on it, or until my bank or AAHS has sent me ten days written notice that they will end this agreement. A record of each charge will be included in my regular bank statement and will serve as my receipt. cut out and return to 620 Barber Street, Athens, GA 30601
Learn Since January 2012, JobTREC at AAHs has offered supportive employment services and case management to over 100 individuals. In 2012, AAHS has provided housing and assistance to 16 mothers and 34 children. While moms are out working or going to school, their children spent their summers at YMCA Camp, the Boys and Girls Club, and summer programs at a local day care. We’re excited that school is back in session and we know our moms are too! AAHS is happy to announce that we have received a HUD grant that will allow us to offer Rapid Re-housing assistance to shelter residents. This program, Going Home, helps us continue to assist residents as they move to ensure stable, permanent housing solutions. In August we enrolled our first two clients into the Going Home program and are excited about expanding our services! Shelter Providers who donate $25 or more per month receive two tickets to our annual fall fund raiser, Harvest for the Homeless.
Go Green! Sign up at helpathenshomeless.org to receive our newsletters by email. 3
Signature:________________________________________
Athens Area Homeless Shelter 620 Barber Street Athens, GA 30601
The Athens Area Homeless Shelter, Inc. (AAHS) is a 501c3 non-profit organization serving homeless individuals and families in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. Our mission is to provide collaborative, comprehensive services to homeless individuals and families working toward sustainable independence.
Summer 2012
www.helpathenshomeless.org
Our Shelter Providers
Special thanks to:
Our loyal volunteers! Athens Academy, Athens Area Association of Realtors, Athens Area Home Builders Association, Devotion Farms, University of Georgia Students, Ashford Church, Anchor st Church, 1 AME Church. CC of Israel, Hill Chapel Church, Winterville First Baptist, and so many more!
Our in-kind donors! American Pest Control, Sentry Self Storage, Handy Andy Home Repair, Southern Distinction, Jackson Spalding, Athens Technology Partners, Stanfield Air, Charter Communications, William Hurt, Junk-South Junk Removal, Butch Palmer
JoBeth Allen, Darnell Arford, Athens Parent, Inc., Hortense Bates, Upshaw Bentley, Tamara Bowman, Anne Brightwelle, Elizabeth Bryant, Samanta Carvalho, E. Scott Coulter, Larry B. Dendy, Andrea Dennis, Emily Carr and Dale Hoyt, Paul Heald, John E. Hocking, Thomas P. Holland, Hue and Carole Henry, Joel Siebentritt and Carter Vest, Patrick and Stephanie Jones, James and Nancy Kissane, Eric Loffland, Richard Martin, Bryan and Alison McCullick, Julia A. Nathanson, Michael Odom, Paula J. Schwanenflugel and William B Whitman, Maxine J. Beaks, Enrique Pineda, Kathy Prescott, Lucy W. Rainey, Jeffrey Rattray, William and Susan Reese, Martha Schimmel, Catherine and Allen Syemour, Smalley, Brad and Jane Smith, Alice Vernon, Eleanor Walker, Trixie Ware, Jennifer and John Wares, Natalie Wellman, Juergen Wiegel, Will and Tommie Farmer