On behalf of Second Story’s staff and program participants, we thank YOU! You helped us make a difference in so many young lives over the past year, especially during the holiday season.
Some of the young people in our programs wrote handwritten notes to share, in their own words, how your support made their holidays a little brighter. Our program managers also wrote updates so you can hear directly from them about how your support made an impact across all Second Story programs.
Together, we accomplished a lot this past year and we enjoyed sharing our 50th Anniversary celebration with you. We look forward to an exciting year ahead and wish you a very Happy New Year!
Second Story for Teens in Crisis
“During the 2022 Calendar Year, Second Story for Teens in Crisis saw an increase in the number of residents we served from 57 in 2021 to 66 in 2022. To help support this growth, we received countless food items, hygiene products, and new clothing to keep the facility running as well as our clients fed, clean, and clothed. To continue to improve the program and services offered, many groups came forward to provide much-needed help and improvements to the program. These included, but are not limited to, a kitchen renovation, a planted and maintained vegetable garden, a new patio, a cleaned and organized basement and pantry, and newly built and painted backyard furniture. We benefited greatly from the support of our community this year and are so appreciative of all the help we received. The support allows us to improve our services and continue to serve our youth and create a safe space for them year in and year out. Thank you all for all the hard work you have done to help us!” -Lauren Luberda, Program Manager, Second Story for Teens in Crisis
Second Story for Young Mothers
“As we wrap up 2022, Second Story for Young Mothers (SSYM) is grateful for the continued community support we received this year. The support of the community is a vital part in efforts to assist the young mothers and their children navigate their lives and overall goals. These supports were recognized through many monetary donations that provided carpet cleaning and a new vacuum, Uber gift cards to assist our young mothers traveling to important appointments, and tickets to local social events to provide much needed respite for our mothers. Additionally, our moms received clothing, diapers, wipes, and other supplies to assist with their needs. A local company provided SSYM residents with training on CPR and First Aid at no cost. We also appreciated the ongoing residential home maintenance support, child care assistance from volunteers and local organizations, and assistance cleaning and organizing so SSYM could continue running optimally. We want to sincerely thank everyone for their continued support, and look forward to partnering in 2023.” – Kesha Taffe, Program Manager, Second Story for Young Mothers
Second Story for Homeless Youth
“This past year Second Story for Homeless Youth has been flooded with applicants. Our low numbers from the pandemic seemingly reversed overnight especially with youth returning to school. We continue to do a hybrid mix of Zoom/Facetime and in-person meetings. Our clients have continued to rely on us for basic needs such as household items, hygiene products, food, and cleaning supplies. We are grateful for our donors’ continued support. We even had a donor buy several twin beds and sheets for new clients moving in when our furniture connection fell through. While we continue to build on and strengthen our connections and partnerships, we have also added new relationships. We have connected with Project Belong’s “Don’t Go Alone” program that offers life-long mentors for our youth. They also connected us with a local church based in McLean that has been a vital resource with furniture as well. With rent costs increasing, staff has had to be creative with how we approach new landlords and we have had to assist more in rental support. While the year has been a busy one, and our team has had to overcome obstacles alongside our clients, we end it on a hopeful note as we hand out holiday gifts and look to the new year. I am proud to be a part of such a dedicated and caring team that goes above and beyond for these clients. It will make a difference and empower these young people to write their life-changing second story.” – Angel Cregge, Program Manager, Second Story for Homeless Youth
Second Story in the Community
“Second Story in the Community would like to sincerely thank all of our donors, volunteers, and supporters who truly make a difference in the lives of the youth we serve and their families. We have been able to keep all of our after-school programs, Family Resource Centers, and other community initiatives open and impacting the communities we serve in a grassroots way. We have continued to support our youth academically and in their personal lives through our mental health workshops, Career Days, health literacy programming, tutoring, and mentorships. In our Family Resource Centers, we were able to connect community members to needed services such as accessible health insurance, food, rental assistance, English classes, social services, and “Community Conversations” classes where we hosted guest speakers to offer important information relevant to their community and empower them to improve their own lives.
All of our efforts and services could not have been the same without those who provided their time, financial assistance, and service to keep us running and expanding our reach to those who need it the most during the lasting effects of pandemic recovery. We were especially pleased to offer our annual back-to-school events where more than a thousand brand-new backpacks and supplies were distributed. With your support, we also provided Thanksgiving baskets filled with food items to help families have a Thanksgiving dinner, as well as holiday gifts for children. Thank you from all of us from Community Based Services for a great year!” – Kimberlyn Pena, Program Manager, Second Story in the Community