The AREW Charitable Fund supports Women In Need (WIN) through several key programs including Champions for Children, greeting card sales and Secret Santa gifts at the holidays.
Overview
Can you imagine how difficult it must be on the street, homeless, with children in tow? WIN provides support, a temporary residence and helps families find permanent housing. Once they have moved into permanent housing, because families face daunting adjustments, WIN offers counseling, relocation assistance, crisis intervention, alcohol and substance abuse treatment, day care services and summer camp programs.
WIN actively combats homelessness, promotes self-sufficiency and independence and builds self esteem for women through programs that teach basic home and child care as well as job skills.
AREW members have supported WIN since the founding of the Charitable Fund. Among the first joint initiatives was funding and building a playground for WIN clients and their children
Champions for Children
Champions for Children is a WIN program that provides specialized services for children including preschool; therapeutic day care for infants, preschoolers and school-age children; a personal educational plan for each child; appropriate referrals to any other services needed; parenting workshops; and after school programs. The cost for providing this support is $1,200 per child per year.
On-site child care
This program provides an enriched, nurturing environment for children ages 6 weeks to 2-1/2 years. The program engages parents as partners, facilitates the achievement of developmental milestones and responds to emotional and physical needs.
Preschool Program
This program provides predictable daily routines; opportunities to plan, choose and carry out daily activities; skill building and program solving; relationships with peers and adults for children ages 2-1/2 to 5 years.
After School Programs
These programs provide individualized homework help, cultural and recreational activities and positive peer support and friendships. The structured Homework Helper’s Program provides young children of school age with homework assistance, tutoring, computer skills and literacy-enhancing activities.
Camp WIN
This 8-week summer day camp provides an enriched, full-day summer program for children of all ages in each of WIN’s shelters.
In 2010, the Charitable Fund initiated a “team challenge” to gather donations, enabling teams of colleagues, friends, family and AREW peers to jointly sponsor individual children. Contact Theresa Nygard or Dorothy Vermeer for more information about participating in Champions for Children.
Greeting Cards
Twice annually – during the winter holidays and at Mother’s Day, The Charitable Fund sells greeting cards designed by children in WIN residences. During the winter holidays, a card insert is also sold. Proceeds all benefit WIN.
Contact Stephanie Butler for more information
The WIN Secret Santa Program
Each year, AREW members volunteer to receive a letter from one or more children in a WIN residence. Each child writes to Santa with three wishes for holiday presents. Thanks to the generosity of AREW members, the Charitable Fund has been able to fulfill the dreams of 200 or more children annually.
Secret Santas are asked to provide at least one gift (but may purchase more) per child. In the spirit of the season, many members also choose to send a gift for the child’s mother. Contact Stephanie Butler for more information
