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Living
our faith through service
for those with housing and other needs
Adopt-a-Family Program
This program provides temporary help to homeless people as they make the transition to self-sufficiency.
Working with the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for Housing (AACH), FUMC
subsidizes rents and offers moral support and other assistance to
the adopted family as needed, such as transportation, job
searches, education, and other tasks. An AACH case worker develops a plan for the family
and monitors progress.
Since 1993 FUMC has adopted six families. The Homelessness Subcommittee of the Missions Commission conducts fundraising activities and manages our involvement.
Volunteers needed: Financial contributors, contributors of household goods and clothing (on an as-needed basis), volunteers to serve as family contacts.
Coordinator: W. Sexson
ALIVE
Volunteers from 39 churches participate in ALexandrians InVolved
Ecumenically to assist Alexandria residents with temporary
housing at ALIVE House, a child development center (based on ability to
pay), emergency assistance, food, furniture, and housewares.
FUMC maintains a storage room for ALIVE housewares, and members sort and
reorganize items, and deliver them to homes as needed. FUMC has food
drives in May and September for ALIVE's food bank. Members help sort,
box and deliver the outgoing food. Members also participate in the ALIVE
Child Development Center's Annual ALIVE Walkathon, held the first Sunday
in May, by being "walking participants," staffing the FUMC
water stop, and pledging money.
Volunteers Needed: Financial contributors, food delivery drivers,
food sorters and packers, furniture warehouse workers and deliverers,
housewares deliverers, and office workers.
ALIVE website
Coordinators: The Hawns;
Furniture and Housewares: (J. Hebert)
CFC Number: 8352
Carpenter's Shelter
Carpenter's Shelter, Inc., is a private, non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to providing programs and services to meet the immediate needs of homeless
people in the Greater City of Alexandria area. The Carpenter's Shelter
itself is a 130-bed shelter for homeless men, women, and children.
FUMC members helped build and paint the
shelter. And, FUMC continues to contribute funds, furniture, food and volunteers. Residents and staff depend on the generous commitment of hundreds of volunteers to help make this house a home.
Reception desk and hospitality volunteers are needed to answer phones, greet visitors, organize the supply room, help serve meals, and other chores which make life more pleasant for residents and staff.
Donated food is prepared for resident meals that are served three times a day.
Shelter hosts assist the shelter staff by helping maintain a safe, home-like atmosphere, talking with residents, and organizing games and activities.
Children's program volunteers delight the children by opening the toy room and library for supervised play time, telling the children a story, tutoring, and planning special events.
Seminar leaders provide residents with workshops such as resume writing, career planning, job interview techniques, parenting skills and budgeting.
Special skills volunteers provide plumbing, electrical and carpentry skills to assist in maintaining the shelter.
Volunteers Needed: FUMC provides assistance in two particular areas:
On the 4th Sunday of each month, FUMC provides reception desk staff. The day (6:00 a.m. until midnight) is divided into five shifts, some 3- and 4-hours long. Two persons are present for each shift.
Coordinator: W. Sexson
On the 4th Sunday of each month, FUMC workers prepare a dish at home and deliver to the shelter at 6:00 pm. Volunteers serve dinner at 6:30 pm.
Coordinator: K. Richards CFC Number: 8228
Christmas in April
Every year, FUMC participates in the Alexandria Christmas in April project. Since 1988 a Fairlington team has
helped rehabilitate homes of elderly and low income families, and our members have
supported these families through special financial offerings.
Volunteers Needed: Financial contributors (special offering in April), and volunteers for yardwork, cleaning, painting, minor plumbing, carpentry, and electrical repairs (last Saturday in April.)
Coordinator: B. Kehoe
CFC Number: 8081
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based ministry which provides affordable housing for families in need. Land and building materials are donated, either directly, or purchased with cash contributions. The houses are built or renovated by volunteers donating their time and skills. The family selected to buy the house contributes sweat equity hours working on Habitat houses. The family makes no interest payments to Habitat for 20-25 years. The payments are then used to provide finds for new building projects.
Volunteers are needed: Members for Habitat committees (Site Selection, Building, Family Selection, Family Nurture, Speakers Bureau and Volunteer Committees). Volunteer applications can be obtained from Habitat or your Fairlington representative.
Also needed are qualified applicants for Habitat homes. Applications for yourself or others can be obtained from the Habitat for Humanity Northern Virginia Office, (703) 521-9890.
Volunteers Needed: Financial contributors, volunteers to perform yard work, cleaning, work on committees, painting, minor plumbing, carpentry, or electrical repairs.
Coordinator: B. Kehoe
CFC Number: 8319
Rent Deposit Assistance
This program provides small grants to working families who have been homeless and need one-time financial assistance to move into an apartment. Since
the program's beginning in 1990, Fairlington has assisted hundreds of families through money
donations.
The program operates through referrals from community organizations and social service agencies in Alexandria and Arlington, including Carpenter's Shelter, Arlington Temporary Shelter, ALIVE and Hopkin's House. The Missions Commission raises funds to support this program through an annual patio sale, special offerings and donations, and other events.
Volunteers Needed: Financial contributors, and those willing to annually contribute a few hours of their time or goods, for the patio sale.
Coordinator: M. Franks
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