The Shalom House, a longtime Harrisburg shelter for homeless women and children, needs your help today, and everyday for the rest of the month of December!
All you have to do is go online to the Pepsi Refresh Project Web site at www.refresheverything.com and vote for the “Shalom House Rehab for our Residence” campaign under the “Neighborhoods” category. The shelter must be among the top ten vote getters in that division to win big money!
The 21-bed emergency shelter in Harrisburg’s Allison Hill neighborhood is competing against 999 other charities for a $50,000 award that it wants to use for renovations and safety upgrades in its 100-year old home.
“To make a real difference in changing the course of someone’s life is a powerful gift,” said Corinna Vecsey Wilson, chairman of the board of directors for the shelter. “But we can’t do it alone. Our public funds are diminishing but the cost of operating our 24-hour shelter only just keeps going up. And it is in that spirit that we ask for your help – VOTE FOR US ON www.refresheverything.com!”
Voters can one vote each day for any one charity on the Pepsi Refresh contest site. Shalom House is asking you to vote for its “Shalom House Rehab for our Residence” entry, every day between now and December 31st!
Voters have nine other votes each day, as well. It is most helpful for Shalom House’s entry that you NOT vote for any other entrant in the “Neighborhoods” category!
Lori Hoffmaster, Shalom House’s executive director, said that Shalom House’s clients are worth voting for. “The shelter is a place of restoration and hope, a place where you can rebuild your life and start over, a place to call home,” she said.
If it gets the votes to win, Shalom House plans multiple renovation and repair projects, including the purchase and installation of bullet proof windows throughout the house due to the increasing crime in the neighborhood, bathroom remodels on the second and third floors, ceiling tile repairs, new carpeting, new flooring in the kitchen and dining areas, rec room furniture for the kids, exterior painting, kitchen renovation to update cabinets and install energy efficient appliances, and the installation of a new, insulated roof.
Hoffmaster shared a story about a recent resident to illustrate why Shalom House is worthy of the Pepsi Refresh grant.
“Jane is 20 years old,” Hoffmaster said. “Her mother is incarcerated, she doesn’t know her father, and she spent most of her childhood in foster care. She arrived at Shalom House with her toddler son — guarded, defensive, untrusting, and exhibiting little emotion. At Shalom House, we focus on each woman as an individual, and we believe that every woman has all the potential in the world!” Hoffmaster said. “So we started to get to know Jane.”
“After a few days, and with some intensive work with our professional social workers and counselors, Jane began to share her life story, and to trust us. We could even see that she started to believe that she could provide a better life for her son than the one she had,” Hoffmaster continued.
Hoffmaster said that Shalom House was able to place Jane in a permanent housing program after her month-long stay at the shelter. “When Jane saw her new apartment, she turned to us, crying and said the most grateful and heartfelt “thank you” I’ve ever heard.”
“Most of our clients leave Shalom House telling us that we saved their lives,” said Hoffmaster. “And their lives are worth saving – and you can help by voting for us in “Neighborhoods” category of the Pepsi Refresh contest at www.refresheverything.com.”
