First off, thank you to everyone who participated in Giving Tuesday! We raised $5,360 (plus more in pledges)! This comes at such a critical time of year, when we see so many of our neighbors in need.
As I write this, we are wrapping gift bags for the homeless and seniors in local nursing homes, as well as, preparing to pack gifts for more than 550 children! We have received lots of questions about the impact and need for renovations that will begin in January. Here are answers to just a few:
Why is renovation necessary?
Each day more of our neighbors begin taking new steps toward stability. This is a good thing, but when we combine new needs with the other existing families at various stages of stabilization, our resources are stretched. When our many programs operate simultaneously at this increased scale, it is clear that the current configuration has become an obstacle.
How will the new configuration help?
• Additional bathrooms and permanent, indoor showers will make a huge impact on the quality of care we provide during regular hours.
• A fully-functioning commercial kitchen, including much needed refrigerator and freezer space, will help us realize a long term goal of offering a daily weekday community meal cooked in-house, beginning this spring.
• Optimized storage for our Healthy Family diapers, baby gear, and shelf-stable food pantry will greatly impact how we meet immediate needs of the families we serve.
• Increased, private office space will allow Mercy Housing and Outreach Office interviews to be more confidential while other services are provided in the main space.
What will it take to make this happen?
The construction estimate came back around $218,000! While this seems like a daunting goal, you have generously provided more than $65,000 for this project already. Because we will still need to shelter, feed, diaper, and house our neighbors in need, we will need to raise the renovation money separate from our operating budget. We are quickly working on a contingency plan for a mobile office to minimize any disruption in services.
How can you help?
Mail donations to: 10 Harrison Avenue Williamsburg, VA 23185 (Check memo line: Building Fund)
Donate Online: PayPal Giving Fund
Donate Stocks, Mutual Funds and/or Your Required Minimum Distributions
All Building Fund donations will be commemorated on our donor tree, per your specification. Contact our offices at 757-229-3700.
