:: Ride for Shelter 2008 ::

Meet Michelle

You'd like Michelle. Everyone does. She's a cute, smart, talkative, and funny 6-year old. She likes to watch TV, pick fights with her brother, and ride for bike. And for a time last year, she was homeless.

Despite what you might think at first, Michelle's family is a lot like yours and mine. She's got a mom who loves her and lots of people who care about her. Where her life is different is that she has spent time as one of the 10,000 homeless children in the state of Maryland. Last year Michelle, her mom, and her brother went through a rough patch and they spent a few months living at the Light House Shelter (LHS). It was just enough time for them to get back on their feet financially.

The majority of help that LHS provides is just that short-term. Homelessness is not a disease. It is not a choice. A majority of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes one bout of bad luck can mean the difference between scraping by and losing your home.

In 2007, the Light House provided nearly $34,000 in emergency utility payments. We served 11,880 bag lunches and gave away over 1,000 bags of groceries. We housed 131 individuals and 8 families with children. But, the tragic fact is that we had to turn away over 300 adults and almost 160 children because we did not have enough room for them.

After a short stay at LHS, Michelle's mom, Teresa, was able to regain her footing enough to find a home, catch up on her bills, and launch a new home cleaning business. She's a success story; one of dozens that we're proud of. Your participation in the 2007 Bike Annapolis: Ride for Shelter will help the Michelle and Teresa's of our community find a stable home. Won't you please help?



Meet Michelle You'd like Michelle. Everyone does. She's a cute, smart, talkative, and funny 6-year old. She likes to watch TV, pick fights with her brother, and ride for bike. And for a time last year, she was homeless. Despite what you might think at first, Michelle's family is a lot like yours and mine. She's got a mom who loves her and lots of people who care about her. Where her life is different is that she has spent time as one of the 10,000 homeless children in the state of Maryland. Last year Michelle, her mom, and her brother went through a rough patch and they spent a few months living at the Light House Shelter (LHS). It was just enough time for them to get back on their feet financially. The majority of help that LHS provides is just that short-term. Homelessness is not a disease. It is not a choice. A majority of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes one bout of bad luck can mean the difference between scraping by and losing your home. In 2007, the Light House provided nearly $34,000 in emergency utility payments. We served 11,880 bag lunches and gave away over 1,000 bags of groceries. We housed 131 individuals and 8 families with children. But, the tragic fact is that we had to turn away over 300 adults and almost 160 children because we did not have enough room for them. After a short stay at LHS, Michelle's mom, Teresa, was able to regain her footing enough to find a home, catch up on her bills, and launch a new home cleaning business. She's a success story; one of dozens that we're proud of. Your participation in the 2007 Bike Annapolis: Ride for Shelter will help the Michelle and Teresa's of our community find a stable home. Won't you please help?	Friends of the Light House Shelter (FLHS) is a 501(c) 3 not for profit organization created to help fund activities at the Light House Shelter. A working Board of Directors creates and organizes fundraising activities and over 88% of the funds generated are given to the Shelter in direct donations. All proceeds from this event help support the programs of the Light House Shelter, located at 206 West Street, Annapolis MD. In addition to the actual operation of the shelter, these programs include the support and running of Anchor House at 160 West Street and 1029 Smithville St., utilities cutoff support, lunches and weekly groceries for dozens of needy families, plus a multitude of small acts that make a large difference in the lives of Annapolitans in need. As the only homeless shelter in the city of Annapolis, a great obligation falls on Light House. The shelter ministers to the homeless and disadvantaged to promote self-sufficiency. We are committed to providing shelter, sustenance and resources that preserve the dignity and wholeness of individuals and families while they move toward independence. Consider these facts: There are 10,000 homeless children in Maryland. The average age of a homeless person in our state is six years old. Due to lack of space, the Light House and other emergency assistance sites were forced to turn away 2,729 individuals in 2004. The shelter provides both emergency housing and long term transitional housing for families. Homelessness does not go away in good times and intensifies during hard economic times. In 2007, the Light House Shelter had to turn away almot 160 children because of lack of room. At FLHS, we believe in our community and take pride in our city. We recognize and embrace the ideal of “One Annapolis”: a place of tolerance, understanding, compassion, and beauty. We appreciate the privilege we have to live in Maryland’s capital city and seek to share our vision of finding a home of comfort for all Annapolis residents, regardless of their circumstances. It is our hope and vision that Bike Annapolis: Ride for Shelter helps to underscore and emphasize these ideals.
For more information about the Ride for Shelter 2008 please contact Chris Stelzig, Event Chairman. Website Design and Hosting Provided by The Abel Group