Newsletter Spring 2015
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” -William James
Our shelter season is over, but
our work is not done.
Last season, PACEM placed
seventeen of our guests in
affordable market rate housing.
Another seventeen were placed
with rapid re-housing money in
April (during TJACH’s Spring
for Housing).
Two people
exited PACEM to transitional
housing options, and 53 moved
in with family or friends. And
there are more statistics, but for
many of this season’s guests we just don’t have enough information. We do
know however, that each winter PACEM shelters the majority of
Charlottesville’s most vulnerable homeless individuals, and that some of these
friends are still living in public places not meant for human habitation. We
still have much work to do. After all, our mission includes not only shelter,
but also compassionate support and access to services as well.
During the summer months, PACEM staff work with those newly housed
individuals to support their transition, follow and assist those who were not
able to find adequate accommodation, and prepare for next years shelter
season. Our Journey Volunteer program continues—stronger than ever—with
a doubling of existing support groups. These are volunteers committed to
supporting our PACEM guests individually and year round. PACEM has
provided linens, pillows and some beds to our newly-housed guests. Our
friends at The Haven are collecting other household goods and gently-used
furniture (for details visit www.thehaven.org).
As we near the end of our fiscal year, we are hoping for an infusion of muchneeded funding to support our ongoing mission. Our shelter season ends, but
our work continues!
Summer Work
BEHIND THE SCENES
Want to feel good about our community?
Just spend a day at PACEM.
Here are just a few snapshots:
 A teenage volunteer fixed an electronic
database.
 A dentist offered to provide free dental
care to our guests.
 A guest gave her luggage to another guest
who was finally travelling home.
 Faith leaders and congregants arrived
through falling snow and in the dark of
night to assist the guests of PACEM.
 A stranger visited our office on a whim,
then suddenly reached into his pocket and
made a donation.
 Guests shoveled snow for a hosting
congregation.
 A property owner requested information
on how he might turn his property into
affordable housing for our guests.
PACEM is both honored and blessed
to be surrounded by such generosity!
FIRE performed again on Sunday, May 10th in the sanctuary of
Holy Comforter Catholic Church, 208 East Jefferson Street in downtown Charlottesville.
As always, the performance was offered as a benefit for PACEM.
FIRE’s semiannual concerts raise almost 2% of PACEM’s yearly budget. These talented women are friends indeed!
SPRING IS HERE
On behalf of PACEM I want to thank you for your
extraordinary efforts this winter. Thank you for your
generosity, your work, and your continued supportive
presence in our shelters. Thank you for your financial
support. We truly couldn’t have done it without you.
The newsletter of PACEM is published
twice each year.
Call 434-973-1234 x121 or
address inquiries to:
PACEM
P.O. Box 14
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Email: [email protected]
Visit us at www.pacemshelter.org
All contributions to PACEM are tax deductible. Donations from the community
are what make this program possible.
CVC #03345
Board of Directors:
Tim Sams, Chair
Susan Mueller, Vice Chair
Cindy Proffitt, Secretary
Michael Weiner, Treasurer
Mary Farrish
Rev. Al Horton
Lynn King
Rev. Robert Lewis
Josh Manzano
Margurite Murray
Rev. Ben Paige
Salaried Staff:
Dawn Grzegorczyk, Executive Director
Jesse Boeckermann, Program Director
Adriana Nicholson, Case Manager/
Advocate
MISSION
To bring together the faith community
of the greater Charlottesville area in
providing temporary shelter,
compassionate support and access
to services to individuals who are
homeless so they can move to a stable
housing solution. This work can only be
achieved by forging partnerships in the
larger community.
Together we provided 7,465 nights of shelter for our
neighbors—hundreds more than we provided last year.
Together we served over 200 individuals. And together
we made sure that those without a home had a warm and
welcoming place to go on those frigid nights when no
one should be outside.
The average length of stay in our shelters was approximately one month. Our
case management team worked hard to link individuals with necessary resources
so that they might support themselves going forward. Our Journey Volunteers
walked with and supported our guests. Congregants of many faiths went the
extra mile to show love and give assistance to our neighbors in crisis, often
linking them to whole communities of support.
Thank you for making this possible in our community. Because of your efforts,
PACEM is an extraordinary safety net, a place where those needing a hand up
can access it. My friends, you are wonderful people!
“The friendships we started will last a lifetime. We are all human and God
created us all equally. Peace to our brothers as they move back out into the
world. Peace to you as you move in your walk of faith. We have all been
blessed by being a part of the PACEM program this year…”
Justin Kinsey, Key Volunteer at Spring Hill Baptist Church
, John
Thank you
John Corlett is a professor at UVa. with
20 years experience in teaching and
organizational consulting, and 25 years of
work with the CIA. He became
acquainted with the work of PACEM
through membership in our local
Sojourners United Church of Christ
(a PACEM host site), and when John
made an appointment to ask what more
he could do to support PACEM, well, we
found work for him.
Yes, this can be read as a cautionary tale, but we are so grateful! His administrative
work in our office every Tuesday and Thursday makes the work of PACEM
possible. John enters data into numerous databases (some infinitely more user
friendly than others) and frankly, assists with almost every aspect of our
organization. John Corlett has become an honorary staff member, and we appreciate
his work, his sense of humor and his company.
“Peace and best wishes to all involved in PACEM—it is a lovely, important ministry of love
for our community from which we all benefit, regardless of our part in it.”
Margaret Edwards, Key Volunteer at Church of Our Saviour Episcopal Church
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Tom Eckman is the Key Volunteer at Church of the
Incarnation, a church that has hosted our homeless men two
weeks every season for the past 10 years. Tom works through
Thanksgiving, makes sure that each of our guests has a
comfortable pair of walking shoes, and is responsible for
countless acts of kindness both large & small.
Tom started as an overnight volunteer and became
progressively more involved. "It just touched my heart, "
said Tom. "The place becomes alive. Before the men arrive,
it's just an empty building, but once the men get there it
becomes a very exciting place.”
Tom enjoys helping people who are down on their luck, providing a safe, comfortable,
and loving atmosphere. "It's kind of changed me for the better," said Tom. "Little
miracles happen, behaviors change, and we learn from each other. We're all human, and
at this point in time, we're friends."
Tom notes that barriers to understanding get broken down between guests
and volunteers, and that PACEM becomes an inspiration for all: church,
volunteers, and guests. Tom sees PACEM as a door into our guests'
lives and enjoys providing compassion, encouragement, and direction. He
believes PACEM gives people a chance to find themselves. "What we're
doing is working. I can't think of anything better."
driana
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Welcome
Hello PACEM friends!
I’m Adriana Nicholson, the ‘new’ Case
Manager/Advocate at PACEM.
Our hosting of the men is always so
special. These men really were
comfortable and really got along with
each other and cared for each other. It
was wonderful seeing men roaming
around in pajamas in the evenings.
They did feel safe and comfortable. It
was two great weeks, and our
building became a magical place.
There was so much positive energy
from the men, volunteers and staff.
Tom Eckman, Church of the Incarnation
I was part of the team that created
PACEM in our community and I served
on the original board. At the time of our
founding, I was a Lay Minster at First
Presbyterian Church. In PACEM’s
second season I began work as the Guest Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator and remained
on staff until 2010. I feel like I’ve come home!
I have a BS in Counseling and I’m working on my Masters in Pastoral Care/Spiritual
Formation. My husband, Mike, and I have called Charlottesville home for 18 years. We have 2 daughters and 3 wonderful
grandsons, and we share our home with a spirited Corgi and a Great Pyrenees.
I love being part of PACEM. I have a friend of 11 years who made his home on the streets for over 30 years. He has been
homeless for a variety of reasons, but in April I had the honor of handing him keys to his very own apartment. We both shed
tears of joy. He wondered if he deserved a home. Of course he does; we all do. Thank you for allowing me to serve these
friends. I receive far more than I give.
“The PACEM guests were most appreciative of all, and one guest came to our church service February 1st and spoke during the
‘Joys and Concerns’ segment of our service to express his appreciation to the congregation! That was a first for us.
I feel blessed and grateful for all the great teamwork from so many in our churches and community helping with PACEM.”
Maury Early, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 14
Charlottesville, VA 22902
www.pacemshelter.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
For every $1 contributed, PACEM’s
congregations provide almost $3 in
donated space, meals and labor.
PACEM will be one of the proud recipients
of proceeds from the Annual
Thursday, May 21, 2015
12:30 pm Shotgun Start
Tande
m
Ford’s Colony
240 Ford’s Colony Drive
Williamsburg, VA 23188
For more information go to http://birdeasepro.com/vhda
UVA
Covenant
May thy ball lie in green pastures... and not in still waters!