March 2016 Thurman Brisben Center www.brisbencenter.org
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| Area homeschool students held a pillow drive for Brisben. |
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FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
KIM LALLY
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As of January 1 -- the halfway point of Brisben's 2016 fiscal year -- the Center had served
317 homeless individuals. This included caring for
64 children and 31 families. Supporting and providing a second chance for so many homeless individuals is possible only because of you, Brisben's contributors and volunteers. Every contribution matters!
Last year 16 percent of the Center's operating budget came from individuals -- both first-time givers and regular donors. If you haven't been a contributor please consider contributing. If you're a regular contributor, you know we make every dollar count. We thank you and are blessed by your generosity.
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Why Support the Brisben Center?
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- Brisben is the largest provider of 24-hour, 365-day homeless services in the greater four-county community. The Center serves individual men and women, families and children. These clients include veterans. In fiscal year 2015, Brisben provided 26,362 bed nights - and gave second chances to 538 homeless persons. In addition, hundreds of volunteers serve at the center.
- The Center has a decade of successful service. For the past 10 years Brisben has welcomed hundreds of homeless men, women and children -- getting them into our safe, staffed, 24-hour shelter, where they have the opportunity to regain independence.
- Brisben operates frugally. In fiscal year 2015, the average cost per resident was $26 per day. That money provides a safe and secure, staffed shelter -- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - and meals, a case manager, program services such as GED and job assistance, laundry and computer facilities.
- Your support goes to a community vision, initiative and investment. The Center's current 80-bed facility, which was built to be a homeless shelter, opened in 2005. It was created by a government/nonprofit partnership. Brisben operates on core Christian principles, with broad multi-denominational and multi-faith support, including the Jewish Temple and the Islamic Center.
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If you would like to find out about volunteer opportunities, please send an email to the Center at i
nfo@brisbencenter.org.
And THANK YOU for your continued support of the Brisben Center's mission in your community!
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Community Partner Program Launches
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The Brisben Center is excited to announce a new opportunity to be part of the Brisben story --Community Partners. Existing and new Community Partners are local businesses and organizations that choose to actively support the Thurman Brisben Center - our community's 80-bed, year-round, 24-hour, emergency homeless shelter. We are blessed by our many longtime existing business and organizational supporters, and welcome them, as well as new area businesses and organizations to become a Community Partner.
Go to www.brisbencenter.org for more information
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Meet our First Community Partners!
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Scouts Serve at Brisben
Brisben's front yard received a Christmas gift on Dec. 5, 2015, from the
Boy Scouts of Troop 907 based at Ebenezer United Methodist Church.
Kyal Lucero, who chose Brisben as the recipient of his Eagle Scout Project, and more than 20 hardworking Scouts and parents renovated the landscaping at the front of the Center. They pulled out and dug out all of the overgrown plantings around the Center's sign, removed old rocks, and then re-landscaped.
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Kyal Lucero of Boy Scout Troop 907.
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Brisben clients who live in the family rooms were blessed by the caring young women of
Girl Scout Troop 29.
The troop, led by Tracy Ramos, made and delivered many draft dodgers to the Brisben Center. Those nasty drafts from windows and doors will be sidetracked thanks to the Troop's generosity and thoughtfulness.
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| Brisben Perspectives: Meet Jonathan |
Jonath
an is a determined young man, getting his life and his family back after years of addiction, jail and homelessness. He found Brisben and a new lif
e. As Jonathan said: "Jail to homeless, God in my life, to Brisben, to full-time work and a positive attitude on life." Jonathan's been clean for six months, has steady work and has his two daughters and their mother back in his life.
To read the rest of Jonathan's inspiring story, please visit our website:
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| Meal Program Serves It Up! |
Brisben thanks one of the many groups who have served at Brisben - the Stafford County Board of Supervisors - who served dinner on January 30. In addition to their contribution of personal time and funds, the group showed leadership in the greater community.
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And a big
THANK YOU to these organizations that have joined our Meal Program (visit www.brisbencenter.org to see the entire list):
| Crossroads Vineyard Church |
Stafford County government
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| Grace Memorial Church |
Stafford Co. Board of Supervisors |
| Kingdom Cutz |
Josie Sherrel l& Frie |
| Mary Jordan & Family |
Lake of the Woods Church |
| Third Mt. Zion Baptist Church |
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Bre
tt is a licensed cosmetologist and full-time Germanna student whose goal is medical school.
She heard about Brisben fr
om her landlord and from Don Perusi, Brisben's volunteer coordinator who spoke at Germanna.
She'd been homeless herself for short periods and wanted to help. She co
ntacted Don about giving free haircuts to residents -and she's been doing that since November. Brett's always smiling and making people look sharp and feel good. Who doesn't feel great after a good haircut? Thank you Brett!
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STAY CONNECTED
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