Inaugural Shelter from the Storm Breakfast on Nov. 2 will raise funds for Volunteers of America shelter and other Northern Nevada programs
(Reno, Nev.) An inaugural Shelter from the Storm Breakfast to raise funds for the Volunteers of America homeless shelters, ReStart, and other programs in Northern Nevada will take place Friday, Nov. 2, 8:00-9:00 a.m. at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.
The one hour event will feature welcoming remarks from; invocation from Bishop Gene Savoy, International Community of Christ; and a call to action from William Macauley, PhD, Director of the Writing Center at the University of Nevada, Reno. Leo McFarland, CEO, Volunteers of America Northern California and Northern Nevada, will present a visionary plan and introduce a seven-minute video presentation about the Volunteers of America Family Shelter in Reno.
Of special interest will be a testimonial from Stephanie Taitano, a graduate of the Family Shelter program who went from being homeless and pregnant to a successful mom caring for her three year old son while working and attending classes at Truckee Meadows Community College. Her goal is to become a marriage and family therapist.
Also expected to attend are Nancy Cashell, Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, Reno City Manager Andrew Clinger, and Reno Police Chief Steve Pitts.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and musical entertainment will be provided by the McQueen High School Choir while guests are arrive. “Our shelters have been embraces by our community,” said Sandy Isham, Development & Community Relations Officer. “We see real change in the lives of the people we serve, but more needs to be done. Our families and individuals have limited options when they leave our shelters. Our goal is to raise funding to address not only the gaps in community funding for our shelter programs but to expand our services and develop transitional housing for families and individuals. Our neighbors want to leave homelessness behind for good. With the help of our community, we can get closer to meeting this goal.”
Each night in Northern Nevada, Volunteers of America, a national nonprofit, faith-based human service organization, provides emergency shelter, transitional housing and affordable housing for more than 700 men, women and children, including seniors, veterans, and the mentally ill. At the Community Assistance Center in downtown Reno, Volunteers of America operates the Family Shelter, Men’s Shelter, Women’s Shelter, Resource Center, and ReStart Mental Health Support programs, serving more than 7,700 people each year. Community partnerships are building at an excellent pace, and now we’d like to harness those relationships into a strong financial foundation that will protect and expand programs to best serve our community.
Established locally in 1896, the Northern California and Northern Nevada affiliate of Volunteers of America is one of the largest providers of social services in the region, operating programs dedicated to ending homelessness, supporting the most vulnerable populations and transforming communities. For more information, see www.voa-nv.org or contact Sandy Isham, development and community relations officer at 775.322.7143 or sisham@voa-nv.org.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Christie Holderegger
Volunteers of America Vice President/Chief Development & Communications Officer
916.442.3691; 916.213.4133 (cell); christie@voa-sac.org
Sandy Isham Volunteers of America Northern Nevada Development & Community Relations Officer
775.322.7143; 775.560.6888 (cell); sisham@voa-nv.org