Richmond Friends Of The Homeless Ltd

TO SERVE THE HOMELESS AND UNDERPRIVILEGED UTILIZING THE SERVICES OF 1,000+ VOLUNTEERS. MEALS ARE SERVED FIVE DAYS A WEEK AT TWO SEPARATE LOCATIONS. BOXED LUNCHES ARE SERVED ON WEEKENDS AT A THIRD LOCATION. OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE COLLECTING AND DISTRIBUTING CLOTHING, BLANKETS, SHOES, PERSONAL HYGIENCE AND OTHER ITEMS. THERE ARE SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH EMERGENCY NEEDS. AN EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON SERVING CHILDREN.

OUR LARGEST PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FOOD. MEALS ARE SERVED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. IN SPITE OF COVID, NUTRITIOUS MEALS ARE SERVED MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT TWO LOCATIONS. BOXED LUNCHES ARE SERVED ON WEEKENDS AT A THIRD SEPARATE AND DIFFERENT LOCATION. OVER 3,000 MEALS ARE SERVED EACH WEEK. WHILE OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE IS THE ALLEVIATION OF HUNGER, THERE IS ALSO A BENEFIT FROM INVOLVING SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS FROM CHURCES, SYNAGOGUES, BUSINESSES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER GROUPS. EACH OF THESE GROUPS PREPARE AND SERVE MEALS. TYPICALLY, A GROUP WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A SPECIFIC DAY (EG. THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH). BESIDES SERVING DAILY MEALS TO LARGE GROUPS, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FOOD BASKETS TO FAMILIES IN TEMPORARY CRISIS SITUATIONS. WE CONTINUED TO SERVE AND ARE SERVING THROUGHOUT THE COVID CRISIS.

OUR SECOND LARGEST PROGRAM PROVIDES CLOTHING, BLANKETS, SHOES, AND OTHER COMPARABLE ITEMS. THERE ARE COAT AND CLOTHING DRIVES AT SPECIFIC TIMES OF THE YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, ITEMS (ESPECIALLY CLOTHING) COME IN REGULARLY AND ARE DISTRIBUTED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE GROUPS BRINGING FOOD ON THEIR SCHEDULED DAY WILL OFTEN DO MORE THAN FOOD BY BRINGING CLOTHING AND OTHER NEEDED ITEMS. THESE INCLUDE WARM WINTER ITEMS, CLOTHING, SHOES, SLEEPING BAGS, TOILETRIES, AND OTHER ITEMS WHICH BRING COMFORT TO OUR GUESTS.

WHILE OUR FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM IS OUR THIRD LARGEST PROGRAM AS MEASURED BY EXPENDITURES, WE FEEL IN MANY WAYS THAT IT IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT. SERVICES INCLUDE MENTORING, PROVIDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND BOOK BAGS (BOTH AT BACK TO SCHOOL TIME AND AS NEEDED), FUNDS FOR FIELD TRIPS AND GRADUATION ACTIVITIES, AND ASSOCIATED EXPENSES FOR AT RISK CHILDREN. WE MONITOR PROGRESS IN SCHOOL AND TRY TO REWARD GOOD GRADES AND PROGRESS WITH A TRIP TO MCDONALD'S OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. IF WE FIND A CHILD WITH ATTENDANCE ISSUES IT MAY BE AS SIMPLE AS THEY AREN'T GETTING UP IN THE MORNING AND WE DO SOMETHING EQUALLY AS SIMPLE - PROVIDING AN ALARM CLOCK. AT TIMES THIS HAS HELPED. FOOD IS ALSO PROVIDED THROUGH FAMILY SHOPPING TRIPS AND CLASSES ON NUTRITION ARE HELD. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS PAID TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS - ASSISTING THEM WITH FEES FOR CAP AND GOWN, PICTURES, PROM AND SENIOR TRIPS. WE ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS AS THEY ENTER COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL.