The Impact of Your Support, Milestones, and H2H in the News! |
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Greetings!
Every month, we watch the impact that Hearts to Homes makes expand and multiply! The simple story is that your donations have helped us furnish over 400 apartments for youth embarking on their independent lives after aging out of foster care. The more nuanced story is that we have expanded in ways that ensure that more young adults will qualify and that those in other geographic areas can also be referred. Of the 400 young adults assisted, 110 of them aged out as parents, and your gifts helped create safe and comfortable homes for 136 infants, toddlers and young children. Our gratitude for your support of our mission is heartfelt!
Sincerely,
Mary Theresa McCombe
Executive Director
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Expanding Assistance Thanks To You! |
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We have exciting news—over the past few months, Hearts to Homes has expanded services to four new counties! Now, young adults in Suffolk, Nassau, Rockland, and Putnam counties can receive the life-changing gift of a fully furnished home after aging out of foster care. This is in addition to our complete coverage of New York City and Westchester County. More geographic expansion means that more young adults will get the help they need!
Your donations have made these expansions possible, and your continued support is more important than ever to help newly eligible individuals in need.
You can read more about the new counties and young adults your donations will reach, as well as our new agency partnerships, HERE.
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The Impact of Your Support Makes National News! |
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In October, a powerful story about aging out of foster care aired on both the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and the Today Show. These programs highlighted Christina Abraham, a young woman who received Hearts to Homes furnishing support this past August!
Christina's story is poignant and focuses on the critical needs of young adults aging out of foster care. The process of aging out is daunting, and oftentimes these individuals have very little support, so the assistance Hearts to Homes is able to provide is a crucial lifeline and affirmation that, even when you feel alone, there are people who care.
You can watch Christina's story and learn more on our website HERE.
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The Rising Cost of Creating a Home
for Someone Leaving Foster Care
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We've all seen the news — inflation rates are surging across the world and impacting our daily lives. This also means that the cost of furnishing a Hearts to Homes apartment has increased. From 2021 to 2022, the average total expense per home went from just under $2,100 to over $2,400 — a 14% hike.
Additionally, as awareness of our service and our geographic reach expands, more young adults than ever before are being referred to Hearts to Homes for critical help. We furnished 98 apartments in 2021 and have already furnished 110 in 2022. We expect to close the year at nearly 130 completed apartments - an increase of 33%. This growth is wonderful, because it means more safe and comfortable homes furnished for young adults who have nowhere else to turn for help. It means more stability and more families who will feel secure and ready to take on the challenges that come with independent lives.
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Your support is crucial!
Your continued belief in our mission and the young adults we serve means so much, especially as the price of furnishing and number of referrals increases. Please consider giving today!
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What's Next for Our Young Adults? |
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Furnishing a first apartment is only part of the transition from foster care to independence. Based on feedback from our recipients, we have a new goal to provide access to more mentorship and career services.
Lawrese Brown, CEO of C-Track Training, recently led a workshop for some of our college-enrolled and college-graduated young adults entitled "What's the Best Job for Me?" Participants explored job motivations and career paths that broadened their horizons, so a huge thank you to Lawrese!
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Save the date for our biggest event of the new year, now at City Winery! |
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Our October 20th Wings & Things event raised over $8,700. Thank you to our sponsors and attendees. You've helped furnish 3-4 more apartments! |
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SEE YOUR IMPACT!
Your donations go directly to providing the over eighty essential items needed to furnish bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms and kitchens in the new homes of young people who are aging out of foster care. Check out the recent apartments you've helped fill and the young adults you've assisted!
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Heartfelt Thanks and Warm Welcomes |
We would like to offer a big thank you to Patrick Dolan and Debbra Stolarik, two talented and caring individuals, who have concluded their terms on our Board of Directors. Their support guided Hearts to Homes as we took on the challenge of bringing essential and critical support to more young adults in need. They will be missed! Read more HERE. |
We would also like to extend a warm welcome to our newest board members: (clockwise from top right) Allison Reich, Jan Jason, Mary Leitner and Gloria Dios! These individuals bring passion and commitment to helping young adults aging out of foster care, and we look forward to working with them. Meet them HERE. |
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From Foster Care to First Home TM
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51 Lindbergh Place
Yonkers, NY 10707
(914) 400-7193
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