Riley,
Your loyal support as part of our Quaker Voluntary Service community means so much, especially in light of this turbulent year. As the year nears a close, I am left feeling a mix of emotions – energized, exhausted, surprised, and hopeful — as I imagine you are feeling too. This year was challenging, often forcing each of us to shift our plans and priorities time and time again.
Quaker Voluntary Service, like so many other organizations, had to be adaptive and nimble to respond to this challenging and growthful year. The important practices that ensured QVS’ early success have become vital touchstones during this year of crisis. This year's successes demonstrate the strong foundation you helped us to build.
Read Hilary’s entire end-of-year letter on our blog.
|
|
|
December News & Highlights!
|
|
|
Check out QUNO's new People's Climate Empowerment Series written by QVS Alum, Detmer Kremer. The series offers 7 concise "2-siders", which cover different aspects of international climate action, why they matter, and how to get involved.
|
|
|
This time of year Fellows experiment with Sabbath practices, setting time apart from the culture of productivity and busyness for rest and reflection. This might look like going on fall retreats, leading a house worship, or hiking in the woods.
|
|
As the winter days grow colder, we are eager to highlight site placement partners focused on supporting families and individuals secure stable housing and transition out of poverty.
In the Twin Cities, we partner with Bridging, an organization that provides quality furniture and household goods to those transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. Bridging has hosted a QVS Fellow every year since 2017 (when we first expanded to the Twin Cities). They are the largest furniture bank in the US.
Curious to read more about what Fellows do at Bridging? Check out blog posts by Eli and Kirsten, to former Fellows. |
|
|
|
Kirsten, last year's QVS Fellow, is bundled up in a hat, gloves, and heavy coat, and poses in front of the Bridging truck.
|
|
|
Earlier this fall, all three QVS Fellows who have been placed at Bridging MN just so happened to be working in the warehouse at the same time — a rare occurrence!
|
|
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, we are partnering with a new site placement this year: the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta. The Furniture Bank depends heavily on large volunteer groups to help build furniture, and would typically have 20-60 volunteers/week. COVID-19 forced them to no longer have large volunteer groups, so this year their QVS Fellow has stepped up in a big way to help build furniture for and schedule appointments with families moving out of homelessness. |
|
|
|
Asa, an Atlanta QVS Fellow, sits beside his supervisor at the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta's warehouse front door. Both are masked and waiting to support clients who scheduled furniture pick ups.
|
|
|
Asa works in the warehouse to build a dresser. In addition to building furniture, Asa helps coordinate client appointments and small groups of volunteers.
|
|
|
In each QVS city, we match young adult Fellows and their vocational leadings with professional positions at service and change organizations. With COVID-19 and uprisings for racial justice, this work is more important than ever. With this model, we expand the capacity of community-based non-profits and offer young adults immersive experiences in existing community-led work.
|
|
|
Special Matching Opportunity
|
|
Now thru December 31st, generous Friends will match gifts from new donors, and double-match the annual amount for any new or increased monthly gifts.
Thanks to so many of you, we are just $8,000 short of this $25,000 matching challenge. If you haven't made a year-end gift, we hope you'll consider making a special gift today.
Have you already made a gift this year? Can you encourage one new Friend to support QVS, so that, together, we can do more for young adults and our vital service partners in 2021?
Thank you for your time, prayers, home-cooked meals, and generous financial contributions to support the young adult Fellows serving this year. Thank you so much for being a part of our beloved community.
|
|
|
|
|
