Alternative House Newsletter
News from Alternative HouseNovember 1, 2011
In This Issue
Breakfast Sponsors
Cheery-oke for the Holidays
IGive.com
Work Place Giving
HYI
Holiday Adoption
Holiday Food Baskets
Socks and Underwear
Breakfast Sponsors
 

Alternative House

2011 Benefit Breakfast

"Opening Doors for Children"

 

A Special Thank You

to our Sponsors

 

Freddie Mac Foundation

Teel Construction

Gannett Foundation

Ernst & Young

Reed Smith

Rotary Club of Tysons Corner

Navigant Consulting

Lafarge North America

Apple Federal Credit Union

Cochran & Owen

Interstate Hotels and Resorts

Architecture + Design Associates

Segue Technologies

PNC Bank

SBIS

MicroTech

 

Quick Links...
Join Our Mailing List
Cheery-oke for the Holidays
 

Join us on December 7, at 5:30pm for a Cheery-oke for the Holidays party. Success in the City will be hosting a karaoke fundraiser for Alternative House. What could be more fun? For more information or to register go to

 Cheery-oke

Help Alternative House While You Shop
 

Are you planning to do some on line shopping for Holiday gifts soon? Visit IGive.com
to raise money for Alternative House, every time you shop online at any of their 712 participating stores a percentage of your purchase is donated to Alternative House. Create your free iGive account, select Alternative House as your charity and check out their stores.

            With 712 stores in the iGive Mall it's easy to find the things you need and raise money for Alternative House.

Charity Navigator 4 Star logo
 
 
 
 
Work Place Giving

 

Please remember Alternative House during your work place giving campaign.

 

United Way #8893

CFC #41814 

 
                Our Annual Benefit Breakfast Opening Doors for Children was a huge success. Many thanks go out to all of the people who helped us raise more than $65,000 for the children and youth in our programs. Despite pouring rain, almost 300 people attended and heard inspiring stories from four youth whose lives have been touched by Alternative House. Thanks to our breakfast sponsors, all of the money we raised will go directly to assisting vulnerable young people. We continue to see an increased need for help among the young people we meet. Our food distribution remains at record levels and despite increasing the number of beds we can provide for homeless young mothers and their children, we still can't meet the need. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all those who joined with us and committed to make a difference in young people's lives.- Judith 
Homeless Youth Initiative

 

"Dean" was a typical carefree teen until his adopted mother passed away. Almost immediately his life began to turn upside down. His mother's new husband was unable to maintain the mortgage payments and they lost the house. Dean then moved in with a pregnant family member and her family. Living with 2 adults and 5 other kids in a 2 bedroom apartment was no easy task. With no place to sleep but a walk in closet and little food to go around Dean began spending more and more time at friends' houses after school. His grades suffered and he often wandered the hallways at school as he struggled to focus. A school social worker became aware of the situation and called Alternative House. Alternative House's Homeless Youth Initiative helped Dean find a room with a family who lived near his school. We provided help with his rent through a small subsidy. Dean was able to get back on track at school, took advantage of free tutoring services, and graduated on time with the rest of his class. Dean is now in a program that will help him with housing while he attends vocational training.

It's time for Holiday Adoption 
 
For many of the young people in our programs the only Holiday gifts they will receive are those donated by people like you. If you, your office, faith group or family would like to adopt one or more of our young people for the Holidays we will supply you with a Wish List that each of our young people have filled out. Then you can select the gifts and deliver them to us by December 11. We will even do the gift wrapping for you. Each of our clients has selected three gifts under $30 each. For more information on this program please call me at 703 506-9191 or email Gina Cocomello

 

Holiday Food Baskets
Turkey Dinner
 

Each year, Alternative House works with community members to make the holiday season special for all of our young people. We are asking individuals and groups to donate Holiday Food Baskets for Thanksgiving and the December Holidays that will provide a delicious meal for a family of six.

 

To ensure that the young people we serve are able to enjoy a complete holiday meal, we have created a specific list of Holiday food items for you to add to your basket. If you have any questions regarding the Holiday Food Baskets, please contact Gina Cocomello at 703 506-9191.
 
As always Thank You for your support! 
Wish List Socks and Underwear
 

Many of the teens who come into our Emergency Teen Shelter arrive with just the clothes on their backs. To make their stay here just a little bit more comfortable we are always in need of new socks and new underwear for them. We need new socks for teens in all sizes and styles. New underwear for teenagers is desperately needed; boxers for the boys and underwear and bras for the girls in all sizes would be very helpful.

 

On behalf of Alternative House we would like to thank all of our donors, sponsors and volunteers for your continued support. We couldn't continue to provide our programs and services without you.
 
    Please feel free to contact us at 703 506-9191 or [email protected] for more information.
Sincerely,


Gina Cocomello                                          Judith Dittman
Development Director                                 Executive Director