The Calvary Connection
September 2021
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Last week Team Calvary kicked off their training for the In This Together 5k. Women who live at Calvary get together to go for walks and cheer each other on as they work towards bettering their health and completing a 5k during the week of September 27th.
One resident decided to try out the walking group last week but was unsure if she could keep up. However, by the end of the walk, she had committed to completing the 5k, saying, "My kids are going to be shocked when I tell them I'm training for a 5k!"
You can join Team Calvary and walk/run/bike to support women working to end their homelessness.
Register today! Race registration is $25. You also have the option to become a fundraiser as an individual, as a part of a team, or you can create your own team.
Find out more about the 5k here, and follow us on our Instagram to keep up with Team Calvary as they continue training for the big event!
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Four Seasons Hotel Hosts Workshop with Step Up DC |
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Last month, Calvary Women’s Services was excited to welcome Nellie Mercado from the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, to lead a workshop through our Step Up DC employment program. For the past few years, the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC has partnered with Calvary as part of Step Up DC’s Career Fairs. Due to the pandemic, we have not been able to host in-person events for participants in this program and have worked with our partners to connect women virtually to potential employers, as Nellie did.
Nellie shared, “Being able to have a one-on-one workshop was great because I was able to better connect with the women and see how they were engaging with us. It was great seeing women taking notes and asking questions.” She continued, “We were not only looking to fill positions but also be able to share tips from the hiring process and support them as they work towards their career goals.” For Nellie, this workshop was not only about recruiting women for open positions but about the greater support she could offer to the women at Calvary.
Read more about the workshop and partnership with the Four Seasons Hotel.
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Volunteer Spotlight: Catalina Castro |
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In the fall of 2019, Catalina joined Calvary Women’s Services as a volunteer teaching Spanish. While working with Elaine Johnson, Senior Manager of Education and Programs, it was clear that it would be a great addition to the Life Skills, Education, and Arts Program (LEAP) for Catalina to start teaching a yoga class.
Catalina had just started teaching a weekly yoga class in the spring of 2020 when everything changed, and we stopped our in-person programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It took a little while to pivot, but staff found a way to move these classes online, and Catalina began teaching live virtual yoga classes over Zoom. The willingness of LEAP volunteers to move their classes to a virtual setting meant that we could continue providing access to LEAP classes to women throughout the pandemic. When so much was uncertain, we were thankful to have the continued support of volunteers like Catalina.
Teresa, who lived at Calvary’s Reach Up Transitional Housing program at the start of the pandemic, said, “The ladies at Reach Up really enjoyed the yoga classes. She helped us relax. We all were going through a tough time; many women were not working. Yoga helped strengthen our minds, bodies, and souls. Catalina was so patient and made the atmosphere very relaxing. We always looked forward to those Tuesday classes.” Another resident said, “It was so relaxing and good for me when I had tension in my back and neck.”
Volunteers, like Catalina, provided space for women to continue growing and working to change their lives during such as difficult time.
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In This Together 5k: Team Altria |
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At Calvary Women’s Services, the In This Together 5k is not only an opportunity for Calvary supporters from around the country to help raise critical funds for our life-saving programs, but to remind the women we serve that they are not alone. Fundraising teams are a way to bring people in your network together to support this work.
We connected with John Hoel, a team captain from last year’s 5k to talk about how you can create a team to support Calvary’s In This Together Virtual 5k. John was the captain for Team Altria, which had 14 members participate in last year’s event.
Lisa Buchs, Senior Manager of Institutional Giving, said, "Altria has an incredible commitment to the community and has been a dedicated partner for many years. Whether they’re hosting events, supporting our programs, or creating a team to complete the In This Together 5k, we’re so grateful for everything Altria does for Calvary Women’s Services!"
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Did you hear? Calvary has launched an Instagram handle! Follow us at @calvarywomendc to keep up with the latest on Team Calvary for the 5k and other happenings.
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Calvary Women's Services
202-678-2341
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