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Wish List
We are in need of the following items.
Cleaning supplies, trash bags, papertowels
brooms, dustpans, brushes, toilet paper
Diapers size 4 and 5
Gift cards to grocery stores, Target, and Staples
Donations may be delivered to our Teen Shelter on Gallows Road in Vienna any day between 9am-8pm. Thank you!!!
For our household items please see our full
Wish List |
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The Alternative House Story
Help us share the Alternative House story and mission.
Invite a friend to attend an Open Door Tour at the Teen Shelter on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10am, 3pm, and 6pm. The next tour will be November 13th.
Invite your friends to join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter.
Contact
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Come Volunteer!!
Come join us for a Volunteer Information Session where you will find out more about our organization and how you can get involved.
The next volunteer session will be held Wednesday November 7th from 6-7pm.
Please contact Christine Bartell at 703-506-9191 to RSVP and for more details. |
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Alternative House
is greatly appreciative
to the following organizations and businesses for their generous sponsorship of our 2012 Benefit Breakfast
Thank YOU!!
Ernst & Young
Teel Construction
Apple Federal Credit Union
Cochran & Owen
DLT Foundation
Interstate Hotels and Resorts
LaFarge North America
Navigant Consulting Inc Rotary Club of Tysons Corner |
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Additional Thank YOU's!
Christopher Companies was the Team Captain for the HomeAid team that performed much needed improvements at the Teen Shelter.
Lisa Helfert for her pro bono photography of our
Assisting Young Mothers and their children.
Fantastic photos!!
Licensed Professional tour guide David Murray for showing the teens from the Culmore Teen Center an awesome tour across the Mall downtown.
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 Thanks!!! Here at Alternative House we are very thankful that we rode through Hurricane Sandy with no significant damage, all of the young people we serve are safe and we were able to provide safe havens even at the height of the storm.
We are also very thankful for all of our wonderful supporters who attended our Benefit Breakfast in October to hear the moving stories of some of the young people we've helped. We raised a record $106,000 to help homeless and at-risk young people in Northern Virginia.
As we approach Thanksgiving, if you also have much to be thankful for, I hope you'll consider reaching out to those who don't have the ability to put a holiday dinner on the table. Between now and November 20th, we'll be collecting Thanksgiving baskets for disadvantaged children and their families. Our website has more information or you can call us at 703.506.9191.
One of the things I'm most thankful for is your continued concern for young people and your support of Alternative House. -- Judith |
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Toni, from Springfield, VA, recently came to the teen shelter after being referred to Alternative House by Child Protective Services. She was involved in a physical altercation with her aunt, which resulted in Toni being injured. She had been living with her aunt for two years since her mother's death, and was struggling with coping with the death of her mother, adjusting to a new environment and being teased by her peers as she attempted to make new friends.
We worked with Toni to improve her anger management and communication skills. She also learned ways to be successful despite her past challenges. While at Alternative House, we found out that Toni's aunt had begun the process of relinquishing her custodial rights. We then helped Toni locate a safe and secure place to live with a family friend. |
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Ernst & Young Volunteer Crew
On Friday, September 28th, we had the pleasure of having volunteers from Ernst & Young come to our Homeless Youth Initiative Program and Teen Shelter to do various projects. Over 20 people volunteered their time. They also provided the paint and supplies for the projects. They painted our front doors (purple), painted our trim and doors inside and outside, power washed the whole house, bought us new shutters, and organized our basement. They also did house cleaning and yardwork at our Homeless Youth Initiative home in Vienna. We cannot thank Ernst & Young enough for all their hard work and committment to supporting our efforts...Thank YOU!!!!!! |
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Volunteer Spotlight
 | | Larry L. Fickau (Mr. Lee) |
Larry L. Fickau (Mr. Lee)
After a career as a creative director in advertising design, Mr. Lee followed his passion for working with children.
In January 1998, Mr. Lee became a substitute teacher in the public elementary schools in Alexandria and Arlington, teaching all subjects. He also taught middle and high school grades.
For the past several years, Mr. Lee has enjoyed working with the Annandale Safe Youth Project at St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church. His goal is to connect with every child and instill a belief that they can succeed. He wants children to experience the joy of reading and relates to them that math can be mastered by understanding the systems.
Throughout his life he's been a photographer and fine arts painter. He has also written children's books; his first one was published in 2011.
Mr. Lee is such a caring person and with his warm smile and gentle manner; he surely is a bright spot in the young people at our Safe Youth Project!
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Culmore Safe Youth Project Adventure!!
Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program (NVTRP)
recently sponsored 8 children with our Culmore Safe Youth Project to participate in 10 horseback riding lessons. These lessons provided the children the opportunity to bond with their horses by grooming and riding them.The NVTRP staff and volunteers were great mentors. We could see the boost in the children's self-esteem by being able to take pride in their accomplishments!
We are grateful to the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program for providing our youth an adventure to remember. |
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Rebuilding Together,PricewaterhouseCooper team up to help Teens
 | | PwC volunteers outside the Teen Center |
Rebuilding Together
and PwC employees
painted the entrance of the Teen Center, repaired drywall, light fixtures, and electrical circuits. They also built shelving units, cleaned and reorganized the pantry. They even addressed the basement flooding problems by excavating a trench and installing window covers. No flooding from Hurricane Sandy!!
Now the teens have a much brighter center, and overall the center feels more pleasant to be in with all the reorganization and the great face lift it received. After all, our Culmore Teen Center is the second home for the teens we serve. It is a place where they come to have dinner, to do homework, to spend time with friends and to feel safe. A great alternative to the gangs and drug dealers in the area. Thank you to Rebuilding Together and PwC for helping us in our mission to serve the youth in our community! |
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Employee spotlight
 Teal is one of our Resident Counselors here at the shelter as well as our Resident Chef Extraordinaire. Teal goes above and beyond her daily responsibilities of making sure the teens are taken care by involving them in preparing meals. She often involves our teens in shopping, food preparation, cooking and cleaning.
Teal is originally from California where her parents owned a restaurant. Teal earned a B.A. in Psychology and a Minor is Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Teal started at Alternative House as an intern, then a volunteer, and now serves as a staff counselor. Teal has a wonderful disposition and brings many smiles to those around her. |
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