Christmas in the City

Description

Our major event of the year is a Christmas party for the children. We currently host 2500+ children and their parents, where we feed them, provide games, rides, entertainment and a personalized present for every child. We have year round programs which include distributing birthday presents for the children, and seminars for parents. Parent seminars have provided expert lectures given in the shelters for such topics as child safety, nutrition and financial planning. We have also helped start a day care center at the Lifehouse Shelter that is managed by the residents. In 1995 the Adopt-a-Family program was started. The impetus was to create family intervention with lasting and concrete results. The program enlists volunteers to "follow" a family when they leave a shelter. The volunteers develop a relationship with the families and help them with financial management and other day-to-day questions they need help with. Intervention has included day-to-day support, jobs, financial and legal advice, health club memberships, transportation, daycare, clothes, food, furniture, and odd jobs around their house or apartment.