Let’s Spring2ACTion Together!
It is that time of the year again! We are so excited to be part of Alexandria’s day of giving, Spring2ACTion!
Spring 2 ACTion is an opportunity to unite Alexandrians around causes in which we truly believe and help nonprofit organizations, like us, connect to the larger community. Spring2ACTion officially starts on April 15th, but early giving starts today! If you want to donate, please visit our page on the Spring2Action website. To learn more about our story, and how donating will help our families, please read below.
Our goal this year is to raise $50,000 within 24 hours on April 15, 2020 to support our families and to fund our programs. For over 33 years CLI has provided a safe and stable place to support Alexandria’s families and their goal towards independence and self-sufficiency. Our 45–units of affordable housing is home to 159 low–income individuals of which six units are set aside for families experiencing homelessness who have been referred to us from the local shelters. Our out of school time programs, tutoring, mentoring and summer enrichment camp provides over 200 at-risk children an opportunity to participate in programs throughout the community. Participants have experienced homelessness and poverty, language barriers, and economic instability. With COVID-19 disrupting normal life, these families need our assistance now more than ever. Your gift will allow Community Lodgings to help families with rental assistance, to put food on the table, and to fund childcare and other daily necessities.
While lack of access to these basic needs quickly rises to crisis proportions, the families we serve at Community Lodgings are increasingly vulnerable. Many Americans benefit from paid sick leave, health insurance and built-in childcare while working at home, but our families do not have these privileges.
In addition, Community Lodgings has suspended our after-school programs to keep children healthy. Families rely on our programs to give their children with a meal, help with school work and provide time to visit with their peers. Without our programs, families are suffering even more. With your generous contribution, we can fill in these gaps, so parents can pay rent and medical bills, feed their children, and maintain a safe home environment.
Despite these unusual times, Community Lodgings continues to look ahead with hope, thanks to our donors. As soon as the social distancing restrictions are lifted, we want to expedite a return to a more normal life by starting summer camp earlier than usual. We plan to provide a safe and fun learning environment for over 75 children. Will you give a child the gift of Summer Enrichment Camp this year?
The families in our Arlandria neighborhood work hard to give their kids the chance they never had for a solid education in a safe environment with adequate food. But we need your support to keep them coming to our Summer Enrichment Camp when parents are working and children might otherwise be on their own.
Community Lodgings offers two camp sessions each to help students maintain and develop their skills in reading, math and science, the foundation for their future success. But, we don’t forget the fun! Group enrichment activities such as yoga sessions, running club, art class, and swimming lessons let kids be kids in a safe environment.
Your support today will help vulnerable families as we all deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. Your support today will help us keep looking forward with hope for the children that our programming will start again soon and give them a much needed sense of normalcy.
