2008 Look Cool for School
As summer comes to a close and back to school time starts to creep back up on us, so does AACH’s Look Cool for School program! Now in its 5th year, Look Cool for School has helped hundreds of families give their children that special, new back to school outfit.
Often times an exciting part of starting the school year for students is having a new outfit for the first day. Unfortunately, many of our students are unable to have this experience due to their situations. This school year AACH, with the help of volunteers, would like to provide our students with the opportunity to receive something new.
We are asking that each volunteer and/or group commit to purchase a complete outfit for the student including – a pair of pants, shirt, underwear, socks, pair of shoes, and book-bag for the child they adopt.
If you would like to support the Look Cool for School program, but are unable to adopt a student, AACH would gladly accept gift certificates of any amount to stores where clothing can be purchased (i.e.Target, Old Navy, etc.).
If you are interested in participating please let Stefanie Turner (sturner@aachhomeless.org) know as soon as possible. A formal participation form will then be emailed to you. Once your participation form is received, the matching process will begin. All donations are due to AACH by Wednesday, August 27. As always, thank you for your support of AACH and our programs.
We are very excited to implement this program again and hope that it provides a unique opportunity for you to support.
Thank you, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
Welcome
The Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. does more than offer shelter to homeless people, it provides them with a foundation to rebuild their lives. Created in 1985 by concerned citizens of Arlington and Alexandria, AACH works in coordination with public agencies, businesses and community groups to give homeless people the support, shelter, counseling and employment training they need to regain self-sufficiency.
Our 2007 Kickball Tournament was a great success
15 teams from across northern Virginia came together on a very warm August 4th to participate in the second annual AACH Safe at Home kickball tournament. A great time was had by all.
A planning committee is already hard and work making plans for the 2008 Tournament. We hope you’ll join us for this unique opportunity to have a great time for a great cause!
Local Coalition Provides Homeless with Beds, Life Skills, Hope
The Catholic Herald recently highlighted AACH. Here’s an excerpt:
It was the mid-1990s and Gerald Turner couldn’t kick his heroin addiction. A slave to the drug for a quarter-century, Turner led himself, his wife and their three children to the brink of home eviction.
Now, a decade later, Turner sits at a desk in a basement office on a side street in Clarendon, literally the face of the organization that gave him a second chance at life and that took him from no home to new home.
Volunteers Needed
Right now we are looking for volunteers to work with families in our transitional program, Adopt-A-Family. We are also looking for volunteers to lead workshops for our adult clients and weekend volunteers to accompany kids on field trips.
Before AACH, I moved from one location to another, because I was unable to afford the places I rented. There just was no affordable housing available, even though I worked every day. Although I am not one of your clients who became a homeowner (not yet anyway) or one who secured that $60,000/year job, I still feel like a success story because now I can provide a stable and nurturing environment for my children. Had it not been for AACH, this would not have been possible and I would like to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart.