Visit us on the web: www.emergencyneeds.org

Volume 37 • Issue 2 • Fall 2012

It was a successful and enjoyable evening for all.

Wine Tasting Event to Benefit AMEN Held September 10th Are you ready to train

for a running race?

On September 10th, AMEN held a fundraiser at The Twisted Vines Bottle Shop and Bistro. Organized by Ms. Peggy Tevis, a generous friend to AMEN, the evening was hosted by Paul Jameson of the Jameson Wine Experience. Paul taught the guests about a variety of wonderful Italian wines that were paired with fabulous food provided by Twisted Vines.

Many thanks to Paul for his expertise, to the Twisted Vines of Columbia Pike, and to Massage Envy of North Garfield Street for donating gifts for the raffle, and to Peggy for her great idea of holding a wine tasting event! AMEN also thanks everyone who attended this fundraising event. It was a successful and enjoyable evening for all. n

Train for 10

and help AMEN

Plans are in the works for the 2013 Train for Ten program to start in January. Certified trainer and long-distance runner Denny Pinch will provide his expertise and experience as he leads the program. It is a great way to fulfill a New Year’s resolution to get healthy and fit! The three-month training will start in late January.

Take it from a past participant Jill Barker (pictured below along running trail), “The Train for Ten to Help AMEN program has changed my life! Now I am a confident runner, having tackled

two ten mile races in as many years with no injuries thanks to the careful instruction of Denny Pinch. The training runs begin on Saturdays in January and prepare each runner to finish the GW Parkway Classic in April,

a beautiful flat run along the Potomac. The program takes the runners into spring ready for swimsuit weather! I never ran more than a 5K and now since the training, I am healthier and fitter than I have ever been. I have also made some wonderful new friends who I run with year-round.” n

By December, more information will be on the AMEN website

www.emergencyneeds.org and Facebook page. You can also

contact the AMEN office at amen@emergencyneeds.org.

Four Train for 10 runners after successfully completing the 2012 GW Parkway Classic race. Denny Pinch, at left with clockwise Richard Brigham, Allen O’Neill and Hanna Eun.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORWithin one week, Arlington was featured twice in the Washington Post. The first piece reported that Arlington County is the third most affluent county in the US (Thursday, Sept. 20). Two days later the Post reported that poverty in Arlington County increased sharply from 5.9% in 2007 to 7.7% in 2011. Sadly, our experience at AMEN reflects the increased poverty in Arlington. We have served more clients than ever this year at AMEN, providing essential funds for many of our neighbors.

With the support of our generous donors, we have worked diligently to try to keep up with the increased demand for emergency financial assistance. AMEN’s participation in the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless program has been a key component, allowing us to serve the growing needs of our clients. Last year, AMEN raised 32% of its non-County income through the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless program. This year, Fannie Mae has scaled back the Help the Homeless program and, unfortunately, most expect Fannie Mae to continue scaling back its support in future years.

The challenge AMEN faces in 2013 and beyond is raising the funds needed to fulfill our mission in Arlington. AMEN staff and Board members are initiating long-range planning activities to address this challenge. With you, the Arlington community, as our partner, we will meet this challenge and continue to help all Arlington residents thrive. n

~ Gerry Shannon

AMEN STAFFExecutive DirectorGeraldine Shannon

Administration ManagerTaffy Brandt

Development ManagerRebecca Ely

Program ManagerNory Flores

BOARD OF DIRECTORSOfficers

President: Bob ZawackiVice-President: Diane Weisz Young

Treasurer: Hanna EunSecretary: Jill Barker

MembersCandy FowlerEvelyn Gee

Charles KleinVicki Shteir-Dunn

Andres Tobar

The AMEN Corner

is published twice annually by Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs, Inc.

P.O. Box 7429 Arlington, VA 22207

Telephone: 703-558-0035Fax: 703-527-3037

amen@emergencyneeds.orgwww.emergencyneeds.orgEditor: Geraldine Shannon

Volume 37 Issue 2 Fall 2012

Friend us on Facebook Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs, Inc.

Follow us on Twitter EmergencyNeeds

DONATE ONLINE AT:www.emergencyneeds.org

Visit us on the web: www.emergencyneeds.org

Barry Shillito

Board TransitionsBarry Shillito has recently retired from the AMEN Board. Barry served on both the Board and the Finance Committee since 2007. He also served as AMEN’s Treasurer for two years. He recently retired from the federal Government Accountability Office where he served as a Senior Attorney. Many thanks to Barry for his dedicated service to AMEN. n

Rent

Utilities

Dental

Other

Prescriptions

Medical

Transporation

Clothing/Tools

$461,645$153,124

$77,456

$4860 $3842$ 35,00

6$ 52,204

$7526

Emergency Financial Assistance Provided during FY2012 Total $795,663

Visit us on the web: www.emergencyneeds.org

AMEN’s Generous Donors August 2011 through September 15, 2012

$100 TO $249

Simone Acha Frank Adamson Keith B. and F. Victoria Anderson Billie Anderton Gerald & Janet Auten Erin Baker Frederick & Gladys Barrett Ellen Bartlett - In Memory of Evelyn Wilson Erwin Bedarf Jean Berg - In Honor of Barbara Keish Kirk Betts Anthony & Ann Bloome Martha Bozman & Blair Reishcer Sylvia Brady Michael & Taffy Brandt Richard Brigham & Kirsten Wall Donna Brown Michael Buckler & Janice Beaverson Harry Campbell Jeannine Christian Clarendon Presbyterian Church Clarendon United Methodist Women Ben & Lori Clements Susan Clyde & Peter Siegwald Margaret Collier John & Donna Cornman Dolores Coutts & Mr. Richard Long Jerry Cowden John & Linda Crawford Elizabeth Creel Mary Anne Cummins Darcy & Suzanne Curran James & Dorothy Dake Tom & Elizabeth Davidson DC Bocce League Edward & Loretta Dewey John & Mary Dickson - In Memory of Loretta Boyle Theodore & Sarah Eastman Kevin & Rebecca Ely John & Mary Fantucchio Paula Pettavino & Allen Farber Kelly Ferris Sara Fitzgerald & Walter Wurfel David Foster Vic & Judith Funderburk Cheryl Gardner Suzanne Gartner - In Memory of Sarah Evelyn Gee Troy & Kristen Gilley Edward & Nadja Golding Emily Jo Goulden Cynthia M. Grabo Wade & Ann Gregory Lee Gross John & Shirley Gunning Charles & Judy Hadden Gay Hammerman

Cassandra Hanley Larry & Nancy Harrison William & Susan Hewitt Kyra Hicks - In Memory of Lyisa Hicks Brenna Hill Marjorie Hobart Barbara & Jerome Hoganson - In Honor of Steve Telkins Anita Jenkins - In Honor of Pearl Hicks Anastasia & Mark Joelson Joe’s Place Pizza & Pasta Carolyn Johnson Marcia Johnson Paul Johnson & Judith Dunn Donald & Barbara Jones Roberta Jones Richard & Elizabeth Juhnke Viola Julian David & Ellie Karro Judith Keating Allen & Gerda Keiswetter Charles Klein Marian Klymkowsky Sharon Bandy Kotok Wilma LaMee Mildred Lawson Susan Lechner Linda Lee Cherie Linko Victoria Lipnic Amanda Lomax Ben Lopatin Walter Lundy James & Ann Lunson Theodore & Willa Lutz John MacEachen Judy MacPherson William Marshall, III & Katryn Nicolai Margaret Marsh-Knight Lucia Maruska-Levendis Louis & Linda Mazawey Sheena McConnell M. Kathleen McCulloch Margaret McKelvey & William Harkins James McRae George & Jean Meek Jennifer Messersmith Ray & Karin Meyer Microsoft Giving Campaign Jerrie & Tomas Mirga Dennis & Michelle Morrissey Gale Mosteller & Keith Reynolds Michael & Ann Mulford Carl Myers Thomas Nichols Charles & Suzanne Nuckolls - In Honor of Steve Telkins Jonathan Olson Our Lady Queen Of Peace Church John & Roberta Overholt Benny & Mary Parker

Rob Pegoraro Dennis Pinch Potomac Woman’s Club Eleanor Pratt - In Memory of Evelyn Wilson Shelley Prince Ellen Radday Erik & Elizabeth Rasmussen Anne Reynolds William Rhoads William & Katherine Richardson Wayne Rippy - In Memory of Shirley Thomas Gretchen Robertson Harlan Robinson James Rogers Judith Rogers Lola Rogers Mary Rouleau Sandra & John Rouse Deanne Jackson Rudd Anne Saba Joseph Schmitz Clinton & Georgia Shaw Mary Shumann Ruth Sievers & Steven Hanft Evelyn Small & Eric Goldman Dean Snyder Karen Staha Robert Stetekluh Palma Strand Daniel & Jeanne Sweeney Pam Taylor Robert & Mary Ann Taylor Bryan & Marguerite Tomasek Robert Tuider Sean Tyler Richard & Joan Undeland Barbara & Bruce van Voorst Lynn Vasilopoulos Frances Ventis Melissa Voight Dave Voorhees Richard Wakefield Christopher Walker & Jean Im James & Sonia Wall Douglas & Evelyn Watson Anne Webb Jean Webb Andrea Wilkes Katherine Wood Susan Puska & Carol Lee Kelly Yuzawa

G I V E WHERE YOUL I V E

Visit us on the web: www.emergencyneeds.org

$250 TO $499 John Acton Arlington Church Of The Brethren Toni Arnold & Michael Niggel Edward Barrese & Jean Keeting Chuck Bean Charlene Bickford Elizabeth Brew Charles & Arlene Cocks Ann Cole Community United Methodist Church Brian Cotter Therese Cvetkovich Michael & Sharon Sharon Alfred & Lucy Denney Steven & Rhea Dola Kevin Doyle Sherry & Michael Foster Thomas & Nancy Gallagher Ella Hall Lawrence Hardy & Ms. Linda Walker Carolyn & Alden Hart Karen Heath - In Memory of Holly Perrucci John Henley Susan Kelly - In Honor of Jill Barker Cheri & Matthew McGuire Roger Morie & Lynette Charboneau Mary Jane Nelson & John Niehaus Daphne Papamichael Elizabeth Pinkston Reinsch Pierce Family Foundation - In Honor of Darlene Lawson Jonathan Scanlon James Schlesinger Michael & Susan Scotti St. Ann Catholic Church Paul Steinmetz & Linda Hill William Swedish Betsy Twigg - In Memory of Kathryn Schorry Sara Uzel Clelia Anne Walker Williamsburg Middle School Leo Club Michelle Zager

$500 TO $999 Arlington County Bar Foundation Arlington Host Lions Charities, Inc. Arlington Interfaith Council, Inc. Harold & Louise Burghart Eugene & Josephine Burns Deborah Duffy & John Whiteside Helene Ebrill Hanna Eun Galileo Consulting Group Peggy Gartner Ann Gray Joy Jacobson - In Memory of Eva Elizabeth McCoy Keith Klein & Anne Spiesman Gerald & Karen McClinch Barbara McKittrick Amy Mortimer & Eric Lotke Mount Olivet United Methodist Church Ronald Musselwhite Samuel & Jessie Napolitano Bart Naylor & Nina Janopaul - In Honor of Gerry Shannon Allen Rugg & Suzanne Boyer Ginna & Alan Schneider Kathleen Seidel Vicki Shteir-Dunn Jonathan Stoloff & Carol Sacks Clement & Sue Swisher Peggy Tevis The Woman’s Club Of Arlington Alvin & Leona Theisen Jack & Carolyn Turner Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Karen Waldvogel Weissberg Foundation Marilynn Wilson

$1,000 TO $4,999 John Andelin & Ginger Geoffrey Arlington Chapter of The Links, Inc. Arlington Community Foundation Arlington Presbyterian Church David & Laura Ayers Linda Barbour, LCDR USN Jill Barker & Michael Croswell Mary Bohan Rachel Brand Roger Brown & Joanna Miller George & Lynda Carlson Caruthers Foundation, Inc. Beth Goss Edwin & Rosalie Demoney, Jr.

First Presbyterian Church Gail Fleming Candace Fowler Alice Freeley Bruce & Cindy Gamble Victoria Goldman David & Sharon Gustafson Martha Halperin Jean Harmann Pearl & James Hicks Juanita Jernigan Kelly Johnson Kiplinger Foundation Kiwanis Club Of South Arlington James & Joan Leonard Susan McNally Tracy Walker Dennis O’Connor & Geraldine Shannon Michael Perkins William & Annette Reilly Nick Reynolds Seekers Church Barry & Jacqueline Shillito Tom & Edie Smolinski St. Charles Borromeo Church Thomas & Kathalina Stein Clint Stretch & Beth Norcross Gary & Pamela Teagno Steve & Pat Telkins The Kiwanis Club of Arlington, Inc. Robert & Susan Trice Trinity Presbyterian Church Walker Chapel United Methodist Church David Weisz Young Bob & Therese Zawacki Zeta Associates

$5,000 AND ABOVE Arlington Womens Civic Alliance Clark-Winchole Foundation Mitchell E. Davis, M.D. John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation Glenn & Gerri Ferguson Grace Community Church Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church Winifred Silverson The Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar AssociationThe Community Foundation of the National Capital Region The Theodore H. Barth Foundation United Way Of The National Capital Area Scott & Liz Vance Washington Forrest Foundation Wells Fargo Bank

AMEN’s Generous Donors continued

“We donate to AMEN because at their best, community members support each other – and that is what AMEN does very well.”

–Scott and Liz Vance

Visit us on the web: www.emergencyneeds.org

Unemployment Strains Woman’s Household Budget

“Sharon” is a fifty-seven year old single Arlington resident and had been economically self-sufficient all her adult life. When her company downsized this year, she was laid off after nineteen years at her job. She is working with the Arlington Employment Center to find a new job, but has been unable to keep up with her bills while she looks. When she received disconnect notices for both her gas and electric services, AMEN stepped in and paid these bills to keep her utilities connected. She can now focus on finding employment and getting back on her feet. n

Derecho Storm Caused Financial Emergency for Mother and Children

This young mother cried when she received just $150 in AMEN assistance. Patricia is a single mother with two young children. She struggles every month to make ends meet. At the end of June, she had all her rent money set aside for July. After the June 29 Derecho storm, her electricity was out for several days. To preserve their food during the emergency, she bought a cooler and ice, and flashlights and two battery-operated fans to keep her children cool in the extreme heat. As a result, she was $150 short of her July rent payment. She contacted the County DHS Community Assistance Bureau to ask for help, and AMEN paid $150 in rent to her landlord. This small amount of assistance meant the world to this young family. n

We are always grateful for your donations but we do appreciate help from our volunteers! You can help AMEN fulfill its mission by volunteering these ways:Daily Fund Volunteer:

• On one or two weekday afternoons per month, take phone calls from social workers who request assistance for their clients. Training is provided.

• Public Relations or Marketing Experience: Help to get AMEN’s message out to the community

• Special skills you can offer: Event planning, fund raising, database experience, videography or photography. n

Contact the staff at amen@emergencyneeds.org

Your Donations Helped AMEN to Help These Arlington Neighbors

AMEN Programs are Critical to Arlington’s Efforts to Combat HomelessnessAMEN’s emergency financial assistance is critical to Arlington’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. Arlington County’s goal of ending homelessness will be achieved through strategies and action steps that take a long-term, comprehensive approach prioritizing prevention, supportive services, income, and affordable housing programs. Arlington’s Plan to End Homelessness is a community-wide effort based on the best practice strategy of “housing first,” which focuses on preventing homelessness, moving people who do become homeless into housing rapidly, and providing the wrap-around services necessary for them to maintain their housing. See the Arlington County website for more about the 10 Year Plan at www.arlingtonva.us/departments/HumanServices/Xtend/XtendPassageHome.aspx

AMEN’s role in the Arlington effort is to prevent homelessness by providing emergency financial assistance to residents when they are in crisis and cannot pay their bills. The emergency financial assistance AMEN has been providing for over 35 years to help residents pay for rent, utility payments and other bills often prevents the eviction of Arlington households. Anita E. Friedman, Chief of the Arlington County DHS Economic Independence Division said “Keeping families and individuals in their homes is fundamental to their social welfare and well-being. Without the financial resources provided by AMEN, hundreds more Arlington residents would be homeless.”

This past year, AMEN provided $795,623 in direct emergency financial assistance to 6,225 individuals, 19% more than we served in FY2011. Of the cases served, 589 were households that had faced eviction. In each case, AMEN’s support will help clients get back on their feet after a crisis and will prevent a calamitous downward spiral, such as eviction, electricity shut-off and untreated health issues that can only worsen without treatment.

AMEN will assist any Arlington resident with an emergency financial need referred by a social worker. Our clients include the homeless, the disabled, those on fixed incomes, the working poor and unemployed. Families with children are given the highest priority. The economic downturn of the last few years coupled with the area’s high cost of living has resulted in a sharp increase in the demand for emergency assistance to pay for rent, medical and dental services, prescriptions, utilities and transportation. Even in relatively prosperous Arlington, the downturn is affecting many and it is having a disproportionate effect on the lower income residents. n

Research has shown that it is more cost effective to keep people in their homes than it is to provide services and assistance to people after

they have become homeless.

Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs, Inc.P. O. Box 7429Arlington, VA 22207

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