On May 10th 2012, over 300 supporters of FACETS attended the Opening Doors Benefit Breakfast and heard first-hand from Frank about his battle with homelessness. He shared how after suffering a heart attack and having all his belongings stolen from someone he believed he could trust; he became homeless. Unable to work and with nowhere else to live, Frank lived under a bridge for several days.

Frank was determined to move himself from homelessness and after reaching out to community resources he was connected with a FACETS Case Manager who began working with him on a plan to get his life back on track. At the breakfast Frank explained, "When I arrived, the staff gave me food, bus tokens and vouchers for clothing. They also slid keys across the table and told me they were to my new apartment. I was overwhelmed with relief and amazement". Frank also shared his goal, "....to give back to FACETS. To graduate from the program, get my own place and find a permanent job...".  

Today, Frank lives in Bethesda, MD where he works as a live-in health care provider for a retired Navy veteran. This position has enabled Frank to maintain his own housing, save for his future, and to continue assisting an elderly couple he built a relationship with while battling homelessness, with running errands and cleaning.  

Programming to be offered includes...

• Homework Hotspot
• Adult Access to Computer Lab 
• Halloween Trick or Treat
• Literacy Events, and
• Community Meetings

Interested in joining our volunteer community? We need volunteers to help with launching our homework help program and Friday youth activities at the Wedgewood Community Center. Please contact our Volunteer Manager, Alyson Zimbler at AZimbler@FacetsCares.org for more details and to sign-up. 

Ongoing Opportunities:

Assist FACETS' Education and Community Development Program team with homework help and Friday youth activities at our new community center located at the Wedgewood Annandale apartments. Programming will begin next Monday, October 28th.

One-Time Opportunities:

Help ensure the best Taste of Fall with FACETS yet! Join our team of volunteers and assist on event day with promoting auction items and answering guest inquiries.

Bring a smile to someone's face this Thanksgiving. We are looking for individuals willing to cook turkeys to complete a Thanksgiving meal. All meals will be delivered on Thanksgiving Day.

Want more information on the above opportunities? Contact our Volunteer manager, Alyson Zimbler at AZimbler@FacetsCares.org or 703-865-4251.

Families Learn about Eid al-Fitr

Last year our Education and Community Development (ECD) team set a strategic goal to implement the Community Voices Model-a National Leadership Development Model-within each community center. This model enables our clients to take a leadership role in the activities and programming held within their communities. After gaining consensus, community members lead or assist with organizing programming and events, and discuss educational resources they would like to access.

In 2011 FACETS received a pro bono key messages service grant from the Taproot Foundation where a group of marketing professionals spent six months learning about the issues of homelessness and poverty in our community understanding FACETS' programs to address them. They then assisted us in developing a set of compelling messages to better communicate our story to supporters, partners, clients, and prospective donors. This great experience with Taproot was followed earlier this year when we received an advanced volunteer management service grant. A team of human resource professionals spent six months examining our volunteer program and developing recommendations that will help us grow our volunteer base so it more closely matches the racial, ethnic, age, and religious diversity of our clients while meeting program needs.

Working with the Taproot Foundation has set FACETS on a continued path towards success and has been a wonderful and rewarding experience. And on Wednesday, October 23rd, in celebration of Pro Bono Week at the Up!Root celebration, FACETS was recognized for our commitment to Taproot's mission and acknowledged as a high-performing nonprofit. This is truly an honor! On behalf of the staff and board of FACETS, we thank the Taproot Foundation for their amazing support of our work to prevent and end homelessness in our community!