All I Want for Christmas is $75,000

We're heading into the busiest month of the year for PACEM, and last week we launched a fundraising drive to raise all the cash we need to keep our doors open through the end of our winter shelter season in March.

If anyone reading this is in a particularly charitable mood and/or is looking for a good end-of-year tax write-off, please keep us in mind! (I'm pleased to say that since we launched our drive we've already had about $20,000 in donations come our way -- not all of which were in direct response to this appeal, but still, every penny counts and every penny helps.)

Merry Christmas!

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December 18, 2007

PACEM Launches Month-Long Fundraising Drive to Ensure Winter Shelter for the Homeless

Group Seeks to Raise $75,000 by Mid-January So No One in Charlottesville Has to Sleep Outside this Winter

PACEM (People And Congregations Engaged in Ministry) has launched a month-long fundraising drive to ensure that no Charlottesville-area resident has to sleep outside this winter. "If we are able to raise $75,000 in donations and pledges from individuals, businesses, congregations and philanthropic groups by mid-January, then we will be able to keep our doors open to the homeless through the end of our shelter season in March," said Downing Miller, PACEM Board Chair. "All donations to PACEM are tax-deductible and are used in a cost-effective manner to provide shelter and support for those of our neighbors who would otherwise be sleeping out on the streets during the dead of winter."

Since its inception in 2004, PACEM has operated a low-barrier shelter program for homeless men and women who have nowhere else to sleep at night, with local congregations providing shelter space and meals in their fellowship halls for 1-2 weeks at a time during the cold winter months (November-March). PACEM also offers emergency lodging to homeless families with children through short-term stays at area hotels.

During its first three winters of service, PACEM provided over 16,200 nights of shelter and over 45,000 meals to over 500 different homeless individuals. On average, PACEM houses between 40-50 men and 10-15 women each night at two separate shelter sites. Over 50 Charlottesville-area congregations are involved with PACEM at some level. In the past three years, PACEM has raised over $500,000 from a combination of grants, congregational donations, and contributions from individuals, civic organizations and businesses.

"The money's been very well-spent," said Dave Norris, PACEM's Executive Director. "Last year it cost us $30.46 per person per night to ensure that each of our guests had a warm and safe place to sleep, three meals to eat, and year-round assistance in accessing vital community services. Compare that to the cost of keeping someone in a hospital bed (approx. $1,000/day), a mental health facility (approx. $750/day), a jail cell (approx. $80/day), or a hotel room (approx. $60/day just for the room), all of which are routinely used as 'shelter' for the homeless, and I think people will see that PACEM is a good investment on the part of our community."

Donations to PACEM can be sent to:

PACEM
P.O. Box 14
Charlottesville, VA 22902

Or you can make a secure on-line donation via Donor Town Square at:

http://www.donortownsquare.com/donate_redir.aspx?ai=415&qs=TMC3C

PACEM is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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