Spring 2015: Joy Report
Learn how your gifts are doing great things to grow the ministry of Boaz & Ruth!
Give Thanks to the Lord. For He is good. His love endures forever. 
-Psalm 118:1
A Note from Megan

Thank you for taking the time to read about what is happening at Boaz & Ruth. We are thankful for all of our community members, volunteers and donors who work tirelessly with us to make an impact in Highland Park. This spring we are partnering with two organizations to begin a jobs program with a May start date. More information will be sent out in our next Joy Report with opportunities for engagement.  Of course, we can't do this without your prayers and provision. Please consider making a donation in honor of our work through the link below. 

Special Event 

Monument Ave 10K!

Join us near the finish line this Saturday at the Boaz & Ruth Cheer Zone at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. After the race, refuel with our 10k partners, F.W. Sullivan's or Bodillaz's VCU location check the spelling). A portion of each check will go back to Boaz & Ruth. 

 

 

Empowering Economy

Sunny Days Relocated! 

Sunny Days clothing has been consolidated into the Harvest Thrift Store at 3030 Meadowbridge Road. We are also pleased to announce that we have been in communication with three prospective tenants for the old Sunny Days building! 


 

 


 

Empowering Economy

Fire House 15 is Seeking a Tenant! 

At the end of 2014, B&R suspended operations at Fire House 15. We are engaging with local restaurateurs who are interested in opening a restaurant in the Firehouse building and expanding their brand to Highland Park.  So far, we have four serious inquiries, and are planning several open houses to identify the best tenant for the space. 

  


 

Connecting Community

Meet B&R's Newest University of Richmond Interns!

We are excited to welcome two new interns from University of Richmond's Bonner Scholars program to the Boaz & Ruth family. Jessica Atkins and Joseph Ickowski are in the class of 2018, and will be working with us at B&R until graduation. 

 

Jessica is from the Hampton Roads area and is considering majoring in history. When she visited B&R last semester, it was a natural fit.

 

"I immediately clicked with everyone who was already working here and I felt like there were a lot of opportunities for personal growth," Jessica said.

 

You'll find her collaborating with Bea Robinson to organize and market Harvest Thrift several afternoons a week, and has been posting new items on our Facebook page each week. Jessica sees the retail operation as an asset to the community in more ways than one.

 

Jessica said the opportunity to work at Harvest Thrift was appealing as "a way to mix creative expression with empowering the community."

 

Joe is from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania and plans to double major in English and Theater. Joe was originally attracted to B&R's mission of empowerment and work with returning citizens, and saw it as an organization where he could take ownership of his own projects.

Pat&Joe

 

"I liked the fact that I was going to get to do a lot of my own work, and I also love working with computers so I thought I could be helpful (at B&R)," Joe said. 

 

On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, Joe works in B&R's computer lab, using his knowledge of computers and information technology to provide technical support and assist community members with email accounts, resumes and online job applications. 

 

Joe is collaborating with Pat Rogers, a volunteer through AARP, to develop a basic computer skills curriculum for a class he plans to offer beginning in April for community members and Highland Park residents.

Special Event

Spirited Art Raises Over $800

Many thanks to the Ampersand Board for partnering with Spirited Art to organize our March 3rd event that raised more than $800 for B&R. Jessica Revely (pictured) planned the event, where attendees were guided through the process of painting a beautiful image of the sun setting over the James River. 

Connecting Community

Meadowbridge Corridor Community Work Day

From Left: RPD Lt. Mills, Jo White (B&R and Guardian Angels), Sunday Jones (Highland Park Resident) and Ryan Rinn (Storefront for Community Design)
On March 14, members of the Virginia LISC, Highland Park Quality of Life Team, Storefront for Community Design, Area 10 Faith Community, Boaz & Ruth, Richmond Police Department and Richmond Guardian Angels teamed up with Highland Park residents and got to work in the Meadowbridge Corridor. 

Volunteers worked on building improvements, community cleanup and approached local merchants about joining a Highland Park Retail Merchants Association. 

The group is organizing the "Six Points Block Blitz," this coming Saturday, March 28th. Volunteers will gather at Sunny Days before starting work on several commercial buildings around the Six Points intersection. More details are available on Facebook!

Connecting Community

Surplus Furniture Donation Brings Joy!
Last week we identified some furniture items that we needed to move off of the sales floor and offered them free of charge to whoever was interested. Long-time Harvest Thrift customer and Highland Park resident, Jeannette Washington, has a new neighbor on 2nd Ave. who needed furniture, so he was pleased to be able to come by and pick it up. Ms. Washington stopped by to thank us again on behalf of her neighbor. We are joyful to have the opportunity to use our community network to help out however we can!
 
Have you donated to Boaz & Ruth recently? Your donation helps us continue to build on the excitement happening in Highland Park. We could not do this without you.

  

Boaz & Ruth participates in United Way (code 5017), the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (code 3491) and Federal employees CFC (code 16046). We'd love to be part of your monthly giving!

 

 
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