Chattanooga Room in the Inn Announces Launch of Aftercare Program
We are excited to announce the launch of our new Aftercare Program! This program is designed to provide continuous support for one year after our clients move into permanent housing. Our goal is to ensure stability and ongoing success in housing, employment, health, finances and family for both our clients and their children.
Each month, our dedicated team will check in with graduates to provide tools and resources tailored to their specific needs, whether it be for children's services, mental health support, career development, and more. We understand the move to permanent housing can bring new challenges, and we are committed to being there to address any issues that could threaten our clients' stability.
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We Are Trauma Informed
And all services provided are through that lens as our staff receives regular training on Trauma Informed Care. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach that aims to create welcoming and engaging environments and services for people experiencing trauma and the staff who serve them. It's based on knowledge of the impact of trauma and values all experiences and needs, including those of caregivers. A recent staff training was facilitated by Sonya Reaves from our community partner, Family Justice Center.
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Chattanooga Room in the Inn Announces Future Thrift Store
We are excited to announce our plans to open a thrift store in the coming months! We will take donations from the public of gently used household goods, furniture, clothing, and decor while 100% of the proceeds from the store will bolster our mission of empowering women and children experiencing homelessness to rebuild their lives by providing transitional housing, support, and hope. We are in the planning stages right now and are looking for the right location and building for our store, but you can receive updates and sign up to volunteer at the store below!
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Volunteer Appreciation
We are eternally grateful for the folks who choose Chattanooga Room in the Inn as their worthy cause where they spend precious time making a difference. We held a volunteer appreciation event in which volunteers got to tour our facility and see what they've been supporting with their efforts. Volunteers can be churches, company groups, or individuals who provide food for our residents (residents receive a meal every night), help coordinate children's activities, work the front desk, life skills instructors, and more!
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Child Advocacy Open House
On Wednesday, September 18th at 12pm, we are hosting an open house for anyone interested in becoming a child advocate! In this meeting, we'll delve into volunteering procedures, techniques for supporting children with trauma, and the required paperwork for volunteering eligibility.
Child Enrichment is a time when our youngest residents grow and play. Every Monday night from 6:30-7:30, our kiddos get to participate in a number of enriching experiences for both body and mind such as gardening, crafts, yoga and movement class, group counseling, and, of course, playtime! Weekly volunteers are an integral part in our child enrichment success! As the holiday season approaches, our volunteer needs grow and we hope you're by our side advocating for the children in our program.
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Child Advocate Volunteer Opportunities
If you are a current Child Advocate Volunteer, sign up to volunteer on one of our upcoming enrichment nights by clicking the button below.
Child Enrichment Schedule for September:
- September 9th - Yoga and Movement class and group counseling
- September 16th - Free play outside
- September 23rd - Board game night and group counseling
- September 30th - Fall garden planting
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It’s been one of our busiest months in several years! We’ve had a record breaking number of children ever under our roof and the increased number of residents means we are going through cleaning supplies and basic-need items at record speed! Drop off donations at our facility or shop our Urgent Needs Wishlist on Amazon. | |
Meet Our New Director of Development
It is with great pleasure we announce the hire of Adrienne Koon in the new role of Director of Development. Adrienne brings with her nearly a decade of nonprofit leadership experience such as fundraising, donor relations, marketing, and management. Adrienne's expertise and track record of success will be a prodigious asset to Chattanooga Room in the Inn.
Prior to joining CRITI, Adrienne most recently served as Director of Administration at Humane Educational Society where she was at the helm of customer service, thrift store operations, a majority of the organization's marketing, and she held a focus on major event and community fundraising.
"I'm thrilled to join the CRITI team because my passions of connection, compassion, and growth are combined in this role. However personal the mission is to me because of my own story, the stories of the unhoused women and children in our program will become my own as I expand the organization's current fundraising and connect important supporters to this worthwhile mission."
Please join us in welcoming Adrienne to Chattanooga Room in the Inn!
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Five of our staff attended the United for Working Families Summit on August 27th which was organized by United Way of Greater Chattanooga where various topics related to family-friendly practices in the workplace, including flexible working hours, parental leave policies, childcare support, and more were discussed. | |
Emerald Dove Photography raises more than $2,000 for Chattanooga Room in the Inn with Empower 40 & Beyond Portrait Series | |
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A note from Emerald: The intention of the Empower 40 & beyond portrait series aims to shift the narrative around beauty and aging. Creating powerful imagery that celebrates the challenges, breakthroughs, and wisdom that we cultivate as we grow older and more comfortable in our skin as women. The project was launched in August 2020 and culminated in an Exhibit on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024. I photographed 47 women for this series and each woman holds a very special place in my heart. I wanted to pay it forward by partnering with a local female focused nonprofit to donate a portion of the proceeds to. When I discovered CRITI and began to learn more about them and their mission I knew it was a cause I wanted to support. CRITI is advocating and supporting women who need uplifting the most in our community. When we as women empower each other it gives us that comradery and that inner strength to keep going. So grateful to have the opportunity to give back to a cause that I deeply believe in.
I'd like to thank my sponsors for the event: Dr. Dave at Tonal Spine and Medicare Misty. Thank you so much for your contributions! And I'd also like to thank Clearstory Arts for hosting the event. Rosy Ruby Events and No hard Feelings for the delicious food and beverages. And to Rik Herman my gallery curator who did a beautiful job with the display of all 47 portraits.
Gratefully,
Emerald
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Southern Champion Tray to the Rescue
Hands up to a wonderful group of maintenance mentees at Southern Champion Tray. Volunteers completed several repairs in and around the facility, AND replaced CRITI's deteriorating railing with a new one!
Southern Champion Tray has been a supporter of CRITI's for years and we are honored to have them advocate on our behalf.
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