Winter Coat Drive:
Our winter coat drive was a huge success! Despite completely emptying the top level of our building and moving to our temporary offices, we distributed 67 coats and more than 80 other cold weather items to our neighbors in need. Once again, you rose to the occasion and responded with generosity as temperatures reach record lows in our area. This is particularly helpful for the many families with children needing well fitting and warm items.
Renovation Update:
Our building renovations are well underway! Already, our space is looking fresher and brighter with the old partitions removed. Our vision is becoming a reality as the framing of the bathrooms and new office spaces continue. We are so grateful for all of our donors and community partners who have contributed more than $85,000 in cash and pledges toward the spaces that will make sure that we can meet all needs.
During this interim time, we are still working out of our temporary office space and meeting areas: the lower level of our building and the conference room underneath the Shrine across the parking lot. While this has required us to move our services to be by appointment only, our staff decided that it was non-negotiable to continue to feed, house, and be present to our neighbors in need.
In particular, we are proud that our chef is working through construction to serve homemade, hot lunches from noon to two each weekday for the homeless! The frigid temperatures make this a necessary continuation of our ministry of providing respite to those without a home until our Harbor Day Shelter for the Homeless can return to its full operations. As you can see, our mission to “Be Mercy” has not stopped for renovations, but adapted. Please keep this in mind when considering a donation for our monthly second collection on February 3rd.
Winter Shelter Week:
If you haven’t already signed up to help with our shelter week, February 10-17th, please do so by emailing Ellen at
[email protected]. Due to our renovations, the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists are letting us use their space.
