Outreach

Clara’s House Food Pantry is dedicated to Felicia Champion’s mother, Clara Lee Venson. Together, they had a vision to help the less fortunate in the community. In November 2001, the Champions saw a need to feed the poor in Fauquier and surrounding areas. They renovated an old house on the CTI property and called it Clara’s Faith House Food Pantry.

Since its inception Clara’s Faith House Food Pantry has fed thousands of people. The food pantry provides food for the hungry in Fauquier, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Orange, Madison and surrounding counties. The food is purchased and donated from the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and other donation sources. Clara’s Faith House Food Pantry solicits and stores food products donated by supermarkets, wholesalers, USDA food, food processors and local farmers. Many people and businesses in the community enjoy making donations to the food pantry as well. Donated food is redistributed to the less fortunate and nearly half of the food recipients are children. When a child does not eat properly, they lose concentration, are less productive and suffer from malnutrition. Last year CTI fed over 2,473 people through this outreach.

Community Touch Inc. is a Service Provider that offers Emergency Housing Assistance with government grant funding. Prevention funds are provided to families and individuals who meet the requirements of the program and are facing homelessness in 14 days or less. The program is designed to divert clients from homelessness and if necessary, provide financial assistance for back rent to keep them stably housed. Case management is provided on a monthly basis to help clients retain housing stability. This could include budget and housing counseling, developing a housing service plan or referrals to needed resources.

To qualify for these services each individual must start with the Foothills Housing Network - Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission intake process by calling (540) 724-6630.

Victory Transitional Housing

The Victory Transitional Housing is a one-year program that offers transitional housing to homeless men, women and children who have a broad range of needs. The program helps individuals achieve and sustain a higher quality of life through resources and various training opportunities. This program provides an opportunity for homeless individuals to save money for a future residence, gain information and resources, and acquire access to services that they need. Individuals meet with assigned financial mentors every week and participate in structured programs where they learn new skills and are connected with resources to meet their needs.
The Victory Transitional Program offers specialized services and referrals to individuals based on their needs (see examples below). Every resident develops goals with his/her assigned mentor and establishes a service plan for success. In the case of job loss, each individual is assisted in identifying and obtaining stable income. Last year, this program housed 359 homeless people.

Every resident is provided a case manager and financial mentor to assist with the following:

• Housing Service Plan
• Goal Setting
• Life Skills Sessions
• Money Management
• Debt Reduction
• Savings Plan
• Job Search Services
• Community Resource Referrals

CTI staff empower those they serve to live a life of self-sufficiency during and after they leave the program. This is accomplished through promoting productive activities, as well as by providing encouragement, education and support. The Victory Transitional Housing program collaborates with other agencies in the community in order to assist individuals in obtaining the most effective, beneficial services available.

Rapid Re-Housing

Culpeper Housing and Shelter Services helps provide homeless families and individuals the financial assistance to move into permanent housing with rapid re-housing funds. This assistance can be for a security deposit and first month’s rent to help them secure housing. Case management is provided on a monthly basis to help clients stay in stable housing. Case management could be budget and housing counseling, referrals to needed resources, and helping with employment opportunities. Rapid Re-housing clients must be literally homeless to qualify for this program.

To qualify for these services each individual must start with the Foothills Housing Network - Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission intake process by calling (540) 724-6630.

Noah's Ark

Noah’s Ark Outreach accepts donated professional, business, outdoor and children’s clothing for the underprivileged. It also accepts washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves and other household items that will assist the less fortunate in having their needs met. This in turn helps them to live a content and meaningful life. All donated goods are given free of charge through a CTI voucher program for qualified low-income individuals who need assistance.

CTI’s goal and belief is that it is essential for people to possess important necessities which provide peace and stability to the family. Last year CTI distributed clothing and housing items to 880 people through this outreach.

Many community members in need use Noah’s Ark Outreach to obtain business attire for job interviews, rugged clothing for outdoor labor, dresses and other appropriate work attire, as well as toddler or children clothing for school dress. Large and small appliances are given to individuals who live in apartments or homes that do not have the necessary appliances for success in everyday life. Noah’s Ark Outreach has furnished whole households who suffer the tragedy of their house burning down or the misfortune of divorce. This outreach program supplies the necessary items for these parents and children to live a content life.

Residents who graduate from the Victory Transitional Housing program are permitted to shop for furniture to furnish their future residence, free of charge. Community Touch also moves the furniture via a truck donated by the Jesse & Rose Loeb Foundation to the resident’s house or apartment.

Noah’s Ark Outreach supplies appliances, office furniture and miscellaneous items to local nonprofits and small businesses that are in need, free of charge. CTI is grateful for donations that community members make in the form of gently used goods that can be recycled and gifted through this program.

The Noah’s Ark Outreach voucher system helps get necessary items to people in need. To participate in the voucher program, community members may contact either Fauquier Community Action, Fauquier Family Shelter, Hand of God Ministries, Salvation Army, Vint Hill Transitional Housing, Piedmont United Way, Fauquier County Food Distribution or St. Vincent de Paul. We work in partnership with these service oriented non-profits to meet the needs of the community.

In April 2009, the Noah’s Ark Thrift Store took shape in a Bealeton, VA, shopping center to meet the needs of low to middle income community members who seek to purchase affordable furniture and clothing. It has since moved to a Marshall, VA shopping center. Items available include donated furniture, in-season clothing and shoes, and household items such as couches, loveseats, dressers, microwaves, washers and dryers, small and large TVs, dishes and books.

All proceeds from the retail store go towards the mission and vision of Community Touch. In order to continue serving individuals and families in the region, Community Touch continues to need slightly used donated items in these categories. Your gift, either financial or via donated items, enables Community Touch to provide people with stoves to cook on, couches to sit on, and clothes to wear for jobs, school and everyday life. The store is operated by paid and volunteer staff and managed by Community Touch.