November newsletter from FACETS

November 2011 E-Newsletter

:: Help the Homeless Walkathon

:: Opening the First Door

:: Thanksgiving Food & Holiday Gift Drives

:: FACETS in the News

:: Current Volunteer Opportunities

:: Fun on the Menu at A Taste of Fall with FACETS

Homecoming for the Ford Family

In December 2010, FACETS started working with the Ford family (not their real name) through our Family Outreach program. Ms. Ford was working as a waitress. She was trying to find housing for her family of four. Her credit history had some issues, so the options available at her price range were more limited. Her case manager at FACETS, Logan, worked with her to help her stabilize her housing situation with family and friends, staying between three different houses and motels. Ms. Ford then was able to renew her cosmetology license and started working full time in a salon. With the increased income, much determination, and support from Logan, Ms. Ford submitted many applications for housing and finally found a landlord to rent to her. In October 2011, FACETS assisted her with the security deposit, first month's rent, and beds for her family's new home.

Take a Step to End Homelessness

Help the Homeless Walkathon

Saturday, November 19, 2011, 9 AM

National Mall, Washington DC

check-in between 12th & 14th Sts., NW

Please join us for the Help the Homeless Walkathon on November 19th - in-person or virtually (details below)!

FACETS is honored to be a beneficiary of Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Program, which raises awareness of homelessness in the DC area and provides critical funds for organizations, like FACETS, working to help families and individuals in our community who are homeless.

Rally your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to lace up their walking shoes to help the homeless! Help FACETS reach our goal of 700 walkers, which will qualify us for a $10,000 incentive award. If you're unable to join us on November 19th, you can still be counted toward our goal by registering as a virtual walker.

Register on-site or at helpthehomelessdc.org; select FACETS (code VA015) as the beneficiary organization. Additional details can be found on our website.

Get to Know FACETS

Learn more about FACETS, our vision, the work we do in the community, and the people we help - or invite your friends or colleagues to join us for an introduction to FACETS to hear about efforts to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Fairfax County.

Opening the First Door:

Getting to Know FACETS

Monday, November 14, 2011, 6-7 PM

FACETS, 10640 Page Avenue, Suite 300

Fairfax, Virginia 22030

This informative program will last no more than one hour and you will have the opportunity to meet and hear from our Executive Director, Amanda Andere, along with board members and members of the professional staff. Attendees will not be asked to make any financial contribution, but we would welcome advice and feedback.

To attend the program:

Visit FACETS' website and complete the R.S.V.P. form.
Or, contact Stacy Boden at 703-352-3268 or sboden@FacetsCares.org.

Spread Some Holiday Cheer

Each year, FACETS, through the generous donations of many businesses, faith communities, organizations, and individuals, provides holiday food and gifts to the families and individuals we serve.

Please contribute to our Holiday Drives and share the joy of the holiday season with our clients. With your support, we can help meet the emergency needs of as many people as possible, work to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness, and brighten the season for many people in need in our community.

Sign up to donate boxes of Thanksgiving food or holiday gifts for children or adults. Details about what is needed and dates, times, and locations for drop-off can be found on our website, along with a form to sign up.

Give to the Max Day

Today, Wednesday, November 9th, is Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington. FACETS is proud to participate in this one-day online event, the goal of which is to get thousands of local residents to support their favorite regional charity, raising millions in donations and grants in just 24 hours, starting at midnight (12:00 AM) on November 9, and ending at midnight (12:00 AM) on November 10.

This is a great opportunity to share with your online friends why you support FACETS. We've got photos, videos, and a client's story on our profile on the Give to the Max site at http://give2max.razoo.com/story/Facetscares.

Year-end Charitable Giving

As 2011 draws to a close, please consider designating your CFC or United Way contribution to FACETS (CFC #42156, United Way #8905). FACETS would be delighted to participate in any charity or agency fairs or provide a speaker to talk about workplace giving and the needs in our community; please contact Mary Supley Foxworth at 703-352-6342 or msupleyfoxworth@FacetsCares.org.

Connect with FACETS!

FACETS in the News

The Back Page Extra, Washington Business Journal, November 4, 2011 [Look for familiar faces in photos 11, 12, 36, and 40.]

Getting A Taste of Fall, Fairfax Connection, October 28, 2011

FACETS Raises Money for Needy With Taste of Fall, Fairfax City Patch, October 24, 2011

Get Out and Give Back: Say Cheese with FACETS, Washington Life Magazine, October 4, 2011

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Below are just a few of the volunteer opportunities currently available with FACETS. To sign-up or for more information about volunteering with FACETS, please contact us at 703-865-4251 or volunteer@FacetsCares.org.

Thanksgiving Food Donation Assistants

Volunteers are needed November 16-19 to help receive, sort, distribute, and transport boxes of non-perishable food donated for Thanksgiving. Volunteers must be comfortable lifting 20 pounds. This is a great opportunity for individuals, groups, and families with older children.

Hypothermia Volunteer Staff

Volunteers are needed to assist with our Hypothermia Prevention and Response Program on weekday and weekend evenings, 5-8 PM. Volunteers for this winter shelter program will assist with guest registration, helping guests with their basic needs, and interacting with guests to make them feel welcome. Volunteers are asked to commit to volunteering regularly, at least once per month (e.g. every first Saturday), throughout the duration of the program (November to March), so our guests will see friendly, familiar, faces. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have a clean background check.

Volunteer Drivers

Volunteers are needed to drive clients to and from doctor appointments, life skill classes, and other events. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and may use their personal vehicle or FACETS' van (training provided); clean driving record and proof of insurance is required.

Holiday Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to help with our Holiday Drives and holiday events for our clients. Click here for dates, times, locations, and descriptions of opportunities.

Fun on the Menu at A Taste of Fall with FACETS

About 250 people attended A Taste of Fall with FACETS on October 22, 2011, at the Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax. The evening kicked off with food and beverage tastings from The Auld Shebeen, Bollywood Bistro, Copper Canyon Grill, Dogwood Tavern, Duk Wo, Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe, Kalypso's Sports Tavern, Lebanese Taverna, North Gate Vineyard, Rock Bottom, Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, and Zoës Kitchen. Guests sampled a wide variety of dishes - savory and sweet - as well as two local brews and four Virginia wines. The Garret Fitzgerald Band entertained the crowd as they dined, mingled, and bid on the silent auction.

The live auction included eleven exciting prizes, suited for a range of interests and styles. Before it kicked off, guests heard remarks from The Honorable Gerry Connolly and from our client, Nicole. She talked about the struggles that her family of eight faced after both she and her husband were laid off from their jobs. With help from FACETS, Nicole and her family are back on their feet: they are no longer homeless and her husband is employed again while she continues her job search.

A Taste of Fall with FACETS raised about $45,000 to help families and individuals who, like Nicole, suffer the effects of poverty in Fairfax County. We are so grateful to everyone who generously contributed to the success of this event, including the businesses who donated food and beverages for the event, our auction donors, our many volunteers, the event committee, and our sponsors (listed below). We hope you'll join us next year!