Gala Spring Gala A Tremendous Success

On Saturday, April 24, 2010, the Friends of UCM hosted UCM's annual Spring Gala, "UCM in Bloom: Helping Our Community Flourish." Approximately 200 people came out to show their support and enjoy a wonderful evening filled with great food, great entertainment and great fun to benefit UCM programs and services. Nearly $100,000 was raised to help UCM keep helping our neighbors in need. Thank you, Friends of UCM, for once again treating us all to a night to remember!

The Friends of UCM celebrate producing

another successful event at the 2010 Spring Gala.

May 2010 At a Glance

• 2,529 individuals received Basic Needs services
• 3,175 individuals received UCM services
• 44,285 pounds of food were distributed

Volunteer Highlight: Host Your Own Fundraiser, Food or Clothing Drive

You don't need to be an event coordinator or a fundraising professional to raise money for UCM. All that you really need is the desire to help. In fact, hosting a fundraiser, food or clothing drive can be more fun than you can imagine!

There are hundreds of ways to host your own fundraiser or food drive--and each is a great way to make a difference. Supporters of all ages can help us raise funds by organizing bake sales, operating lemonade stands, or holding garage sales or canned food drives.

UCM supporter, Joni Koons, recently hosted a jewelry party where the sales person, Jean Poole, agreed to donate a percentage of the profits back to UCM. In addition, Joni asked everyone who came to bring canned items to donate to UCM's food pantry. Everyone enjoyed a lovely evening, came away with beautiful jewelry and helped UCM all at once!

UCM Volunteer Coordinator,Christine Fiske,

gratefully accepts funds and food donated

from Joni Koon and Jean Poole.

High school junior, Russell Bradley, was waiting for the bus one day when he noticed that he was the only person around who had an umbrella. Suddenly, he had an epiphany: people who are homeless frequently get stuck in inclement weather without rain gear. Over the course of the next month, he collected more than 80 ponchos, umbrellas and tarps to donate to UCM.

Holding a food or clothing drive for UCM is also a great way to help out. To get started, simply contact our Volunteer and Community Relations Coordinator, Christine Fiske, and let her know when you'd like to have the drive. We'll provide you with the signage and boxes you need to get started.

Russell Bradley with the umbrellas and rain gear he

collected to donate for UCM clients to use.
 

Do you want to host your own fundraiser or food drive? Contact Christine Fiske at 703-768-7106 ext 328 or christine.fiske@ucmagency.org for more information.

From At-Risk Mother to Nurturing Parent: Manuela's Story

Six years ago, life was very different for Manuela (not her real name). As a teacher in San Salvador, she was very active in her church and loved working with community youth. She worked hard to keep kids in her community away from gangs and stop them from using drugs.

Unfortunately, that made her a target for gangs and drug dealers. "I felt like I was in danger for my life," she says. Her older brother had moved to the United States eleven years before and urged Manuela to move in with his family. She was scared of leaving her home, but she knew that she would be safer if she left. Shortly after turning 21, she decided it was time to move to Virginia to start a new life.

When Manuela first came to the United States, it was very hard for her because she felt lonely and out of place. She did not speak English, she had no job and her brother's family was much larger and much louder than she was used to. When she became pregnant six months after she moved here, she was terrified. Her brother was furious with both her and the baby's father. "I wanted to disappear," says Manuela.

She visited the South County Health Center for a pregnancy test, where she tested positive. A week later, she received a phone call from a nurse at the Healthy Families Fairfax (HFF) program, a collaborative effort between UCM, Reston Interfaith, Northern Virginia Family Service, and the Fairfax County Departments of Health and Family Services. The program is an intensive home visitation program designed to prevent child abuse and neglect in high-risk first-time parents.

The nurse explained that Healthy Families teaches first time parents about pre-natal care during pregnancy and child development once the baby is born. Manuela agreed to be part of the program because she knew that she needed help--she was estranged from the baby's father and afraid to have a child alone. "I was scared," she says. "I didn't have any idea what to do."

Anna, a Family Support Worker, began visiting Manuela once a week. During each visit, they discussed how the baby was developing and what needed to do be done to get ready for the baby's birth. Anna was able to provide vouchers for the Back Porch Thrift Store to purchase a crib. She listened to Manuela, assessed her situation, and provided continuous guidance and support. Several months later, Manuela and her boyfriend reconciled, and later married. Manuela says that the support she received from Healthy Families made a tremendous difference. Although she was still scared about being a first-time parent, and many circumstances in her life were still stressful, she no longer felt that she was alone.

After giving birth to a healthy baby boy, Manuela continued to learn about parenting and child development through Healthy Families. As the baby grew older, Anna began visiting less frequently, but helped the family become strong and stable through teaching good parenting skills, connecting them with community resources and giving the baby developmental screenings to make sure that he was progressing normally. She also encouraged Manuela to take community classes to improve her English abilities, which allowed her to find a job in retail sales to help support her family. "Anna always was there to answer questions and give me tips," recalls Manuela. 

Last spring, at the age of five, Manuela's son graduated from Healthy Families Fairfax. From before he was born through graduation, Manuela worked hard to follow the program and learn from her Family Support Worker and the many classes and supportive services provided by Healthy Families. The positive impact was clear: her son was fully prepared and excited to begin kindergarten and he was living in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment.

When her son graduated, Manuela was still working at her retail job, but she was frustrated by the lack of opportunities for advancement. The Healthy Families' Program Supervisor, impressed by Manuela's progress, encouraged her to apply for a receptionist position that had just opened up at a nearby nonprofit. Manuela took her resume into the office and was hired soon after. The pay, benefits, and work environment are much better than what she left behind. Today, Manuela continues to work as a receptionist, is a dedicated mother of two thriving children, and is in a loving relationship with her husband.  Says Manuela of her experiences, "If it weren't for Healthy Families and UCM, I would not have my children and my family. Thank you, UCM!"

AN ORGANIZATION YOU CAN TRUST

At UCM, $.94 of every dollar you donate goes directly to programs that help people in need. Because how we use your money is as important to us as it is to you.