According to Shared Housing Center Board President Suzanne Felber,
“As the President of the Board for Shared Housing Center, there is almost nothing I wouldn’t do to help the many homeless women with children and older adults who enter our homes and hearts. At this time of the year when we get busy with our own families and festivities, what better way to remember our clients but to include them on our holiday shopping list! Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanza or other celebrations, I encourage you to share in the spirit of your tradition this year.
Shared Housing Center*
“Becoming homeless is life-challenging whenever it happens. But as the holidays roll around, it becomes even tougher – especially for the kids. As those of us more fortunate celebrate the season with festivities and gifts, these children often endure the holidays wondering if there will be food on the table or a warm bed. And the joy many of us share at this time will be experienced instead by these families as sadness for things lost – a home, friends, even family.
“Our commitment at Shared Housing Center is not simply to ensure that our families are able to celebrate and share in the joys of this season. More importantly, it is to provide them with temporary and transitional housing solutions and with skills and resources that can once again mean for them independence, empowerment and self-sufficiency.
Suzanne Felber and friends*
“Over the years of serving as a volunteer and board member I have had many wonderful opportunities to work with our clients, volunteers and staff: seeing the face of a child light up as she was able to use her $10.00 gift card to buy her mom a pair of house slippers; watching our moms gain a sense of satisfaction as they learn new skills and advance in their jobs; feeling a sense of pride along with other board members as our new 24-unit facility begins to take shape. In all of this, it is an honor to be a part of this work.
“Our current holiday needs for our families are unwrapped new toys for boys and girls (valued at $10.00 to $20.00), $10 & $20 dollar gift cards to Walmart, Target, & Payless and $25.00 donations to purchase 5 daily bus passes per client. Our adults would love to have a new set of sheets and bedding for their twin sized beds, and we always need bed pillows.
“We are also starting a music program and would love to get donations of musical instruments for the kids and people to teach them how to use them.
“Please help us bring smiles and happy memories to homeless children and their parents! To learn more about my favorite agency, please visit our website at www.sharedhousing.org or call our Executive Director at 214.821.8510, Ext. 116. Thank you for sharing the holidays with us.”
– Suzanne Felber, Shared Housing Center Board President
* Graphic and photo provided by Shared Housing Center