This November we give thanks to those who made our Fall Ball a success, to an expanded transitional housing program that will allow us to serve an additional 25 men, and to our volunteers who help make Thanksgiving a special day for clients.
Spread the word to help homeless men and women return to permanent homes in the community.
Junior Board's Fall Ball a Tremendous Success!
Junior Board from left: Amanda Tomasello, Robin Lee, Jenny Sharfstein Kane, Vijay Desiraju, Colin Meagher, Jeffrey Kirshenbaum, Christopher Smajdor, Nicholas H. Hemmerly and Frederick H. Volp with President & CEO Mitchell Netburn.
Almost 500 guests (our most ever) filled The Bowery Hotel on November 11th for a wonderful evening of music provided by DJ Kelle Calco, raffle prizes, dancing, and cocktails. The tremendous support helped raise over $43,000 to fund life-saving programs that help homeless men and women return to permanent homes in the community.
Thank you to our Junior Board and Event Host Committee for their enthusiasm, hard work and networking. A special thank you to our beverage sponsors: 3 Amigos Tequila, Mark Minter, Santa Teresa Rum, Stella Artois and Svedka.
A picture album is posted on Project Renewal's facebook page. We encourage guests to tag themselves and continue to spread the word about Project Renewal!
A Renewed Renewal House
Renewal House opens in its new location in the Bronx this December. Dewett Wilson, the Program Director for Substance Abuse tells us a bit about the "new" Renewal House and its mission to end homelessness.
"The old Renewal House was for 24 men. This new facility has 25 units with two men to a room so it's double the size. The average length of stay is about one year. The mission of the old Renewal House is still there: men still have to work through the Times Square Business Improvement District (BID), they have to be enrolled in an outpatient counseling program and there is still that sense of community - sharing meals together every night.
The mission of Renewal House is to get clients geared towards the mentality of being employed while working on their recovery and integrating back in to society. It's like they say, 'teach a man to fish.' Whether they get employed through the Times Square BID or find work with our vocational counselor - we're pushing them to gain a sense of independence so that when they do move on from Renewal House they don't head back to where they came from."
Getting Ready for Thanksgiving
Comfort Foods gets helping hands from BT volunteers all this week as the catering staff of 23 prepare an extra 3,000 Thanksgiving dinners for shelters and senior centers. The BT volunteer program has been running for 5 years now under the direction of BT staff member Bernie Shaw. She coordinates a weekly rotation of employees to make sure that Comfort Foods has extra help before the weekend meal service. Thank you to Bernie and BT volunteers!
Bernie Shaw (right) with volunteers Rob Digges, Susan Harber, and
Shelter, food, family, a steady job, and good health... Share your thanks with men and women struggling to rebuild their lives. Make a gift today in honor of Thanksgiving.
"The old Renewal House was for 24 men. This new facility has 25 units with two men to a room so it's double the size. 
