Norwalk, CT (October 30, 2015): Wednesday night, the Junior League of Stamford Norwalk (JLSN) and the Open Door Shelter unveiled Open Door Shelter’s revitalized Family Resource Center — a cheerful after school room that will serve the approximately 20 children who are living with their families in the shelter at any given time.
“We are delighted to have hands-on help from the Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk to bring new light and life to our family resource,” Jeannette Archer-Simons, Executive Director of Open Door Shelter, said. “Children who are homeless often fall behind in school. This project will help us to assure that those who are staying here, or are served by our housing and food program, succeed in school.”
Beginning in August, JLSN volunteers remodeled the existing Family Resource Center to create new workstations, a reading nook, and a lending library.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, families enjoyed a healthy meal provided by Palmwich of Darien and Junior League volunteers spent time reading and doing a craft project with children in the shelter — the first of three literacy nights that JLSN will host at Open Door Shelter this year.
“This renovation project allows children a safe space to enjoy books, do their homework, and play games twice a week with shelter volunteers,” Laura Barbosa, JLSN Community Council Director, said. “Wednesday night the children each got to pick 5 books from the lending library. They also received JLSN goodie bags that included school supplies donated by BIC.”
About the Junior League of Stamford Norwalk
One of 292 member Leagues of the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), JLSN is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Since 2013, JLSN’s primary focus has been on improving school readiness and literacy among elementary school children while continuing to support ongoing community programs and Done in a Day service initiatives.
About The Open Door Shelter
The Open Door Shelter’s mission is to effectively address the causes and complexities of the homeless and working poor by providing shelter, food, clothing, case management services, treatment services, transitional planning for short and long-term goals, subsidized housing, education, employment and a path towards independence and success.