As I started to write about this wonderful, Richmond, VA-based organization, I realized I couldn't say it any better than they have on their website. Here is their story.
Embrace Richmond was started when a group of suburban women began to dream of ways of helping their urban neighbors. One of these women, Wendy McCaig, met a homeless woman, named Shannon through a CARITAS shelter.
When Shannon and her baby daughter exited the shelter they found themselves sleeping on the floor. Wendy recruited her suburban friends to help collect furniture for the family. In just two days these women collected enough furniture to completely furnish the family's home. The story would have ended there, but over the next few months Wendy and Shannon became friends.
One
day, Wendy asked Shannon, “What do you want to do with your life?”
Shannon responded “I want to help others the way so many people have
helped me.”
That is how Embrace Richmond got started. It was born out of the desire of a homeless woman who wanted to give back. That “pay-it-forward” philosophy is ingrained in everything Embrace does. Embrace is run almost entirely by volunteers.
More than 80% of the volunteer hours served every week are served by formerly homeless individuals.
It is the passion and commitment of the homeless families served by Embrace that gives Embrace it’s unique culture and fuels it’s vision of being a place that unites people from all backgrounds.
Embrace distributes Home Starter Packages to homeless families as they exit local shelters. Home Starter Packages consist of basic furniture items, linens, dishes and other household items. The Home Starter Package eases the economic stress of families moving in to a new home and improves the health and well-being of families.
There are numerous ways to get involved with Embrace Richmond. You can host a party to collect household items, volunteer to help move a family's furniture, become a personal shopper or even a family encourager.
Contact Embrace Richmond to learn more about ways you can help.
At this holiday time of year, when you're getting new gifts from family and friends, consider donating an old item for each new item you take into your home. It's a great way to reduce clutter while helping someone else with a hand up.
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The story would have ended there, but over the next few months Wendy and Shannon became friends.
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