by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 7, 2019 | Building a Stronger Fayette
“The first year raising an infant is often the most difficult, so our goal is to help parents be prepared, feel comfortable, and be successful during that time,” said Executive Director Andrea Pritts. Alternatives.Yes Pregnancy Support Center provides free and confidential services to women and men experiencing a pregnancy or caring for an infant. The CFFC awarded the organization a grant to support the Earn While You Learn Pregnancy, Parenting and Life Skills Program.
The Earn While You Learn program provides “Baby Bucks” for moms and dads to spend or accumulate at the Alternatives.Yes pantry after each educational session. The pantry is stocked with baby, children, and maternity clothing, as well as diapers, washcloths, bottles, food, formula, toys, car seats, and other supplies needed for raising an infant. They provide roughly 100 free classes, which follow a curriculum, using videos, manuals, and other educational materials during sessions.
Pritts said, “We are thankful for the Community Foundation being one of our bigger grantors. We always look for new funding opportunities too.” She noted their appreciation of churches that help with diaper or clothing drives, volunteers, and pantry donations that help support the educational opportunities and material items that Altenatives.Yes provides.
The mission of Alternatives.Yes is “to help those facing pregnancy and to provide life-affirming services that protect and enhance their lives, their children, and their families through pregnancy and beyond.” Learn more about Earn While You Learn and other programs at the Alternatives.Yes website!
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 3, 2019 | Building a Stronger Fayette
City Mission – Living Stones, Inc. helps about 500 homeless men, women and children annually, working step-by-step to help people achieve self-sufficiency. The CFFC awarded City Mission a 2018 spring grant, and recently a 2019 spring grant, to support the Emergency Shelters. Their services include food, clothing, transportation, case management, resident management, utility and rental assistance and referrals to community agencies.
In March 2018, the government’s Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) that City Mission had utilized for 20+ years was eliminated in favor of permanent housing initiatives for the homeless. Irmi Gaut, Executive Director, said she continually looks for grant opportunities and is working with the Board, churches and community to help bridge the gap in funding.
Emergency Shelters provide time for individuals to gather documentation for permanent housing, find employment, address root causes of their homelessness and plan for long-term self-sufficiency. City Mission also provides transitional and permanent supportive housing and operates Home Again as a therapeutic residential facility and Promise House as an independent living program, both for youth.
The men’s emergency shelter and the women’s and children’s emergency shelter both have sleeping quarters, a shared kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room and laundry as well as an office and living quarters for staff. Shelter clients may stay for 30-60 days while they work with City Mission staff to find a job and plan for permanent housing.
Staff members Michelle Lindsey, Director of Youth Services, and Kelly Snyder, Emergency Shelter Supervisor, expressed the value of maintaining facilities’ security, cleanliness and good conditions to help City Mission clients feel safe, respected and motivated to be successful. Visit citymissionfayette.org for more information.
