SOME’s e-Newsletter - December 2007

In this issue:

1. Trot for Hunger and 21st Annual Gala Highly Successful
2. A Season to Give
3. Housing Progress
4. Did You Know?

1. Trot for Hunger and 21st Annual Gala Highly Successful

2007 Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trotters

Thank you for joining SOME and Honorary Chair Mayor Adrian Fenty on Thanksgiving Morning for the 6th Annual Trot for Hunger! Together, we raised funds for SOME’s programs, as well as awareness of the plight of the thousands of homeless women, children and men in our community.  This year’s event showed the highest turn out in the Trot’s six year history!  If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please e-mail us at trotforhunger@some.org.  Thank you for your participation and we look forward to seeing you all at next year’s Trot!

Humanitarian Award winner Jack Griffin,
his wife and Griffin Family Foundation
co-founder Nancy Griffin and Father Adams
at the 21st Annual SOME Gala

Thank you to the corporations and individuals who supported the 21st Annual SOME Dinner Gala and Auction. The event, held at the brand new Newseum was a great success and raised funds for SOME's affordable housing programs for homeless families with children and single adults, including the elderly. 

2. The Season to Give

Your support makes a tremendous difference in the lives of the poor and homeless of Washington and we are deeply grateful for your caring and generosity.  There are so many ways in which your support impacts lives.  We are deeply thankful for the tremendous dedication and care from our Provide-A-Meal groups who provide breakfast or lunch each day at our Dining Room for homeless and poor men, women and children.  Many individuals and families support SOME by volunteering, participating in events, and by supporting SOME financially by becoming a SOME Sustainer, or by designating SOME in their company’s United Way, Combined Federal Campaign, or other workplace giving programs. 

All of SOME’s programs benefit from the support of dedicated volunteers, including the more than 13,000  that have served a meal in the Dining Room to date this year. 

Whatever your contribution is, or will be this year, all of us at SOME would like to say thank you and wish you a joyous holiday season.  We could not do the important work of caring for the poor and homeless without your support. 

3. Housing Progress

Thanks to the support of our friends in the community, we have a lot of accomplishments to celebrate!  In working towards our commitment to create more decent, safe, affordable housing for homeless men, women and children in the District, SOME purchased Barnaby House in February of 2007 and families began moving into the ten 2-bedroom units on June 1st.  In addition to the units, we were able to create a community and office space out of one of the units and the storage area was converted to the staff unit. Barnaby House was approved for the new Local Rent Supplement Program in DC as were over 200 units of SOME’s housing.  SOME is also thrilled to announce the recent acquisition of the Chesapeake St. property located right next to Barnaby House.  Chesapeake will provide 22 two, three and five-bedroom apartments for families. The renovations are almost complete at Zagami House, which will provide 12 two-bedroom apartments for families and will open early next year.  Construction is underway at Good Hope Road, 45-units for seniors opening in late spring. It has been a busy year with much to celebrate at SOME, and we look forward to the challenges and opportunities that will come in 2008.

4. Did You Know…

that we are looking for thermal long johns for men, razors and deodorant?  We are also in immediate need of men’s underwear for our Shoebox gifts.  If you can supply us with these items before the holiday season ends, please contact our Material Donations Coordinator, Brian Bilenki at bbilenki@some.org. Thank you!

you can make a holiday gift to SOME in honor of or in memory of a loved one?  Gifts to uplift the lives and spirits of those less fortunate are a meaningful and appreciated way to say “Happy Holidays.”  For more information, please visit http://www.some.org/ and click on Holiday Giving.