Dear Light House Community,
Much in our world has been put on hold recently, but
I wanted to let you know about the many positive steps The Light House has been able to take thanks to the love and generosity of our community.
Because of YOU we are still moving forward!
Below you can learn more about how we have supported each other as a community and how you can continue to be a part of our Light House mission.
I want to assure you that at this time all staff and residents both on-site and off are doing well and remaining healthy. I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy as well and that you will continue to keep your neighbors at The Light House in your thoughts and prayers.
With deepest gratitude.
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Jo Ann Mattson
, Executive Director, The Light House
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We have a LOT of good news to report
, and none of this would be possible without the hard work, love, and generosity of our staff, volunteers, and donors!
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In March, less than two weeks after starting our current B.E.S.T. employment training class, our instructors made the right call to put the health and safety of our students and staff first by temporarily postponing classes.
Since then, our Workforce Team has been working tirelessly to problem-solve and shift to a full online curriculum. We're excited to announce that our instructors successfully started their virtual classes!
"Postponing this class indefinitely until this crisis passes just didn't seem right, because we know what an incredible impact these classes have on our students. New dreams and a sense of purpose fuels positivity, especially during times like these when everything seems at a standstill.
Our students were so motivated and excited to begin this next chapter of their lives and we didn't want this crisis to take that away from them.
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- Chef Linda Vogler, Light House Director of Culinary Services and B.E.S.T. Culinary Instructor (pictured above with a few of our new B.E.S.T. Culinary Students and staff)
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Pictured Above: Resident Assistant Mamie working at our Light House front desk.
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Our Light House staff are heroes!
Whether on-site or off, our staff are working harder than ever and we are so grateful for their dedication. Our Resident Assistants are still working their around-the-clock shifts to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents.
Our Case Managers are still providing life-changing case management to those who need it most, including our shelter residents, Safe Harbour Resource Center community clients, and our Workforce Development clients. Even despite the odds we have still been able to move residents and community clients into safe and stable housing!
We want to also thank the many other staff members in all areas of our organization who are keeping our programs and services going strong!
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Our Food Pantry is still distributing thousands of pounds of food each week!
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Last month, we had to shift to a completely outdoor food pantry distribution system.
We are happy to report that this new process has been working well! Food pantry clients can either receive bags through our drive-up option or through designated walk-up spaces that are at least 6 ft apart.
A big thank you to all who have donated food and other supplies to us, including St. Mary's Parish of Annapolis, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Annapolis, Holly Poultry, LLC, and the many others. We could not do all this without you! Together we are ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbors are able to have the healthy nutritious food they need to get through this crisis.
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Our Light House Bistro social enterprise temporarily closed its doors last month, but we are still doing all we can to help our most vulnerable neighbors.
When this crisis began, our first priority was to ensure that our residents and community clients had adequate food and other basic needs. Light House Bistro has been preparing hundreds of meals to be delivered daily to our residents at our shelter, in off-site hotel rooms, at transitional properties, and to other community clients in need of hot meals. Light House Bistro has also been preparing meals for our Safe Harbour Resource Center staff to bring with them as they regularly visit local homeless tent encampments to deliver hot meals and other basic needs items including clothing, blankets, non perishable food, and face masks. Through a partnership with Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT) and many other local restaurants, Light House Bistro has also been preparing and delivering meals to other food insecure neighbors throughout the county.
While we have been awaiting government reopening instructions, we have been slowly able to start limited restaurant operations by offering a delivered breakfast package, bags of our home-made granola, and other ways our loyal patrons can continue to support our mission! Many local groups have also been sponsoring our Heroes Breakfast Package for those working on the front lines during this crisis. We recently delivered to staff groups including Anne Arundel Medical Center, the Annapolis Fire Department, and SPCA of Anne Arundel County!
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Darlene Gaffney, with help from Joe Sin, Timber Creek neighbors, and Steve Fowler of Red-Eye Apparel, donated 100 hand-made masks!
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Over the past few weeks, individuals and groups have donated masks to our residents, community clients, and staff!
Having enough masks is an important step to keeping our Light House environment safe and we are so grateful for these thoughtful donations.
Thank you to Annapolis Quilters Guild, Darlene Gaffney, Hobo Bags, Light House and Friends of The Light Board Member, Jack Prouty, and the many others who donated masks! Thank you also to Jensin Sommer of Underway Creations for organizing an incredibly generous and creative online fundraiser for The Light House. Jensin donated her sewing talents to those who contributed to her fundraiser and raised $985!
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Karl Bieberich of
Hemlock Farms Christmas Trees
organized a mobile food drive and online fundraiser for The Light House this month!
Hemlock Farms has been a long time supporter of our programs by donating a percentage of their Christmas tree sales each year and we are so grateful that they organized this new way to support us during this crisis.
Participating neighbors signed up and left grocery donations at the end of their driveways to be picked up by Hemlock Farms and delivered to Light House. At the end of their week-long donation drive they dropped off a large cartful of food and raised over $600!
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Our neighbors experiencing homelessness and poverty will be those hardest hit by this crisis.
Here are a few ways to ensure that good news keeps coming out of The Light House in the months to come:
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With our fiscal year coming to a close at the end of June, the best way to stand by our residents, vulnerable community clients, and staff at this time is by making a gift
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Raise funds for our program and services by creating and sharing your own personal online fundraising page! This is a great way to share your support for The Light House with friends, family, and other groups who want to rebuild lives in our community.
Click here to start fundraising!
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The Light House
A Homeless Prevention Support Center
10 Hudson Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 | 410.349.5056
United Way #5173 | MCC #2396 | CFC #98311
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