How Life Skills Can Help Maintain Stable Housing

To maintain stable housing, life skills such as time management, financial planning and workforce development are helpful, not only to assist managing one’s own place, but maintaining it once it is secured. Stronger life skills assist an individual in an improved quality of life in areas such as wage gains, job opportunities and even health.

Four women, including Liz Fenning, have dedicated their summer mornings to engaging children through Camp Discovery at SERVE Family Shelter by teaching them everything from STEM to art.

Volunteers from Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge continued to host a nature camp, where children at Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center learned about the environment and participated in nature-themed art and educational activities.

Thanks to Desiree Mehbod and Dast2Dast for providing a meal to the guests at Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter (BCCS) and restocking BCCS’ pantry so guests have continued access to nutritious meals and snacks. We are also especially grateful to George November for single-handedly preparing and donating a home-cooked meal for more than 50 shelter guests every month. George is also a regular volunteer at BCCS on holidays!

Anita Eggleton of Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) is hosting a series of ongoing nutrition and cooking classes for families at Hilda Barg. VCE volunteers are also educating shelter guests on using SNAP cards at local farmers’ markets to access fresh produce. Thank you to Anita and the VCE team for supporting our shelter guests on their quest to good health!

We also have kudos from BCCS:

• Clark Concrete installed a brand-new flagpole, and both Clark Concrete and WBB Consulting spruced up the grounds and gardens.
• Long & Foster and Dulles Society for Human Resource Management presented workshops on rental readiness and obtaining and maintaining employment.

And kudos from SERVE:

• Quest Diagnostics volunteers gave the main conference room a much-needed paint job, and Audi volunteers unloaded donations at SERVE’s Hunger Resource Center.

On Tuesday, Aug. 1, BCCS hosted National Night Out in Bailey’s Crossroads to promote positive relationships between law enforcement and the community. BCCS shelter guests were also in attendance, along with more than 50 other attendees, enjoying an evening of mingling, games and BBQ.

BCCS Shelter Director Jimmy Rogers stated, “Our goal was to provide transparency and communication between everyone, and [the event] was very effective.”

Special thanks to Red Barn Blankets for donating weighted blankets for children with special needs, to former Washington Redskins player Ken Harvey for reading to our Head Start kids, Usborne Books and all donors to Usborne’s children’s book drive for NVFS, and to all who have contributed to NVFS’ Back-to-School drive!

NVFS is happy to accept donations of all kinds; however, this month’s top donation needs are as follows:

Hilda Barg: Sheets, pillows, kitchen items (pots, pans, small appliances), lightweight blankets, shower curtains/liners, towels, air mattresses, new socks and underwear (men’s, women’s, and children’s)

BCCS: New t-shirts, new underwear (men’s and women’s, all sizes), new socks, office supplies

SERVE: Feminine products, toilet paper, diapers, baby wipes, laundry detergent

If you wish to donate other items, a complete wishlist can be found here.