Support WLP this Giving Tuesday
We're kicking off Giving Tuesday one week early with our Seven Days of Giving campaign! As the holiday season approaches, so does brutally cold weather. This is an especially difficult time for our guests who are living on the street and in shelters and who struggle with food insecurity each and every day.
Starting tomorrow through Giving Tuesday on December 1st, each day we will share a way on Facebook and Instagram that you can help spread joy, hope, and comfort to the approximately 1,500 women we serve each year, most of whom have experienced trauma, abuse, and loss.
We'd like to thank you in advance for your generosity, which will help vulnerable women in the Greater Boston area get back on their feet.
Day 1: Empowerment
The guests at WLP work toward securing housing, employment, budgeting skills, computer literacy, language skills, and much more. We have continued to offer these programs, but have developed innovative outreach to ensure the safety of our staff and guests.
Over 115 women have attended our new Housing Workshops that help them gain the tools needed to plan, search for, and secure a permanent home. As we plan for the future, we have designed and implemented a technology survey to determine our guests’ ability to access classes and programs online.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Help a women plan for her future by starting a fundraiser – run 50 miles, sell seasonal treats to friends and family, shave your head, or simply pledge to raise a certain amount through your customizable, sharable JustGiving page. All funds raised will support guest programming and will help us continue to adapt and innovate to best serve the women who come to us for help.
DAY 2: Nourishment
Women who come to our shelter are being served healthy, nourishing meals six days a week. WLP was founded on the belief that no woman should go hungry. We have continued to provide critical healthy meals, pivoting from restaurant-style to takeout service throughout the pandemic. Our kitchen sources, preps, cooks, and packages over 200 meals a day to be served curbside and also prepare and distribute an additional 1,000 meals a week across the city of Boston to families and partner organizations.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Make a tangible impact in the lives of women in need. Give the gift of nutrition and nourishment by sponsoring a meal in honor or memory of a loved one. Meals sponsorships make great holiday gifts and help combat food insecurity in our community.
DAY 3: DIGNITY
Many of our guests face difficulties accessing showers, laundry services, and other personal hygiene necessities. WLP bridges that gap, providing women with the essentials needed to keep them safe, clean, and comfortable year-round. This winter, we are collecting toiletries, warm layers, and gift cards to grocery and drug stores to distribute at the shelter.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you would like to support our community by helping us provide these items, please visit our Urgent Needs Amazon Charity List to purchase toiletries, personal hygiene supplies, winterwear, and much more to bring holiday cheer to a woman in need.
Get your family and friends involved! Put together Winter Kits to deliver to the shelter for the holiday season or collect gift cards to Target, TJ Maxx, or CVS.
DAY 4: SAFETY
Many of our guests are in constant, dire need of face masks, hand sanitizer, and other PPE. Since March, WLP has distributed countless pieces of personal safety equipment and has added up-to-date, accurate information on the current health crisis to our takeout meals. As winter nears and temperatures dip, we are preparing our indoor and outdoor spaces accordingly to ensure we can continue providing services safely.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The needs of our guests are complex and continuously evolving. Consider making a gift that will help us address the unique needs of our guests. Due to the generosity of supporters like you, we have been able to adapt and best serve our guests throughout the pandemic.
Day 5: Warmth
Many of our guests' needs increase as the temperature plummets. It is more imperative than ever to support the women who come to us for help. Our Direct Care team provides winter wear – coats, hats, gloves, socks, and more – to ensure our guests are safe and warm during their day.
Some of our guests struggle with mental health and chronic homelessness, so our Direct Care team supports them by proving sleeping bags, hand warmers, blankets and more to keep them brace the cold winter nights.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Make a gift to WLP and we will provide a coat to a guest in your loved one’s honor. This thoughtful and impactful gift will be sure to put a smile on the faces of our guest and your recipient. We will even send a card to your recipient notifying them of the impact of their gift!
DAY 6: COMFORT
In this age of social distancing, many of our guests are feeling more alone and isolated than ever before. While we are delivering food and supplies to our elderly and home-bound guests to support their physical needs, we recognize the importance of supporting their mental health and wellbeing.
We have transformed our Creative Expressions program, packaging custom art kits to meet each guest’s preferences. Each day at the shelter, Direct Care offers a “mini library” to guests who can pick up books in addition to their meal. Most importantly, our staff check in with guests, both at the shelter and in remote or off-site visits. These check-ins, whether formal or casual, have been critical in helping women get through this time.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Visit our Comfort Items Amazon Charity List to purchase art supplies, crafts, and more to bring holiday cheer to a woman in need. To get your family and friends involved, put together Comfort Kits to deliver to the shelter for the holiday season.
DAY 7: SHELTER
Our guests, many of whom were already struggling to make ends meet before March, are now facing a dire situation due to the pandemic and its ensuing economic fallout and housing crisis. As unemployment rates climb, WLP anticipates a significant increase in evictions and is proactively working to help more women stabilize and maintain their housing.
For our guests currently living on the streets and in shelters, our advocates are working around the clock to help them find a safe place to call home, meeting individually and hosting group Housing Workshops so less women have to spend the coming months on the streets.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Help a woman keep her home during these difficult times by making a gift to support rental deposits, utilities, and back-rent – all common hurdles that prevent our guests from finding stability. Once a guest is housed, she is better equipped to hold down her job, access physical and mental health resources, or continue her education. Your donation will make a tangible difference in the lives of women in need.