On Friday, November 18, 2022, participants of Dumas Wesley Community Center’s Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program were treated to a special surprise — a Thanksgiving feast prepared by local architecture and engineering firm, Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

“Holidays can be lonely and a bit depressing when you live by yourself. Last year, I spent Thanksgiving alone in my apartment,” said Clarence Clanton, Dumas Wesley SAIL participant (pictured at left.) “Holidays are meant to be spent with friends and family. When the Dumas Wesley staff told us that we were being treated to a special Thanksgiving meal, I felt overwhelmed and blessed. I won’t be celebrating alone this year! I am very grateful to all the wonderful volunteers for making my Thanksgiving a special one,” said Clanton.

GMC is celebrating its fifth annual Building Communities Day of Service. Over 500 GMC employees across the Southeast had the opportunity to go out into their communities and serve, hands-on, in the places where they live and work. “This year is especially significant, with it being GMC’s 75th anniversary year,” said Lee Walters, PWS, Regional Vice President, GMC. “Our Day of Service is just one more way that we can get back to our roots and serve our communities, as we’ve been committed to doing since we were founded years ago. We have truly enjoyed previous opportunities to partner and team with the Dumas Wesley Community Center over the years. It is rewarding for us to take a little time to try and make a small difference in the lives of the community members that Dumas Wesley serves on a daily basis. We are truly thankful for groups like Dumas Wesley for all they do to serve, care for and empower families in our local communities in their time of need and when they need it most,” said Walters.

The SAIL program provides daily enrichment activities, congregate and homebound meals, nutrition and financial education workshops and fellowship for seniors 60 and older. To learn more about the SAIL program click here.

Across the nation, students have faced interruptions to learning due to the pandemic. To address this issue, Dumas Wesley recently launched a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) curriculum to curb the learning loss and bridge the divide among lower income learners. Thanks to a recent grant from Spire, local youth will have the opportunity to explore and experiment with a variety of STEAM activities and career exploration workshops that empower students to dream and grow beyond the confines of their neighborhood.

"Spire is thankful to continue our support of Dumas Wesley’s Youth Programs which provides STEAM education enrichment for school-age children," said Aaron Schmidt, Manager, Communications for Spire. "Dumas Wesley’s After School Achievement Program is helping to build the future of our workforce. It is our hope that these students will one day want to work at Spire or in the natural gas industry. We are proud to help provide those invaluable resources to community organizations like the Dumas Wesley Community Center," said Schmidt.

Dumas Wesley Community Center's Transitional Housing Program, the Sybil Smith Family Village, provides housing and support services for women and children experiencing homelessness. The program combines housing for up to 24 months, individualized case management, life skills classes, counseling and supportive wrap-around services designed to move a family from homelessness to independence.

Since the program’s inception in 1999, Sybil Smith Family Village has served over 2,400 formerly homeless individuals, with an average success rate of 88% among residents who exited the program successfully and transitioned into permanent housing. This figure is 45% higher than the national average, according to statistics recently released by HUD. In the last six years, 0% of SSFV graduates returned to homelessness, within 2 years of program completion, compared to 19% of families who went through similar HUD programs.

Next year, the Dumas Wesley Community Center will expand its footprint into Baldwin County, with the launch of a 13-unit transitional housing facility for women and children experiencing homelessness. The Baldwin Family Village (BFV), will be modeled after the highly successful Sybil Smith Family Village, and will operate as a program of the Dumas Wesley Community Center. The BFV is slated to open in April 2023. To learn more about the BFV click here.

To view HUD's national summary of homeless system performance click here.

Olivia Puranen is a recreational therapy student at The University of South Alabama. She began volunteering in the Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program this fall.



"I have really enjoyed leading arts and crafts activities in the SAIL Program. The participants are like a tribe of grandparents that I have adopted into my life," said Puranen. "I feel like I am making a difference in the lives of the seniors at Dumas Wesley. I use arts and crafts as a fun activity that allows seniors to work on hand-eye coordination and critical thinking skills. Art has been a wonderful communication tool between us, a therapeutic benefit, and in some way, a wordless communication that brings smiles to everyone's faces," said Puranen.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Dumas Wesley Community Center click here.

The Dumas Wesley Community Center's Sybil Smith Family Village (SSFV) is the proud recipient of a $15,000 grant from the Alabama Power Foundation. Funding provides housing, individualized case management and wrap-around services for women and children experiencing homelessness. The program places a special emphasis on personal accountability, life skills classes and behavioral modification. SSFV is currently operating at full capacity, 58 individuals, and has provided 17,460 bednights for homeless women and children so far this year.

"I have lived at Sybil Smith family Village for 13 months. Before Sybil Smith, my daughters never had stability - but they do now! That's 13 months with a roof over our heads, with running water, heat and air conditioning. Thirteen months with a HOME! Sybil Smith has changed our lives. Thank you for your generosity, kindness, donations, and selflessness that has helped keep my family afloat, when I wasn't able to swim. Thank you for making our dream a reality. We're forever grateful!"

--- Shelby and Family, Sybil Smith Family Village residents

As the holiday season approaches, we invite you to consider paying tribute to a friend or a loved one by giving a gift in their name. Contributions will directly benefit homeless women and children, local at-risk youth and seniors, and the working poor in our community.