Project Hope is a tzedakah project that offers direct service to families in Washington, D.C., empowering families and individuals to maintain permanent residences, and expand job and educational opportunities.
Because, since 1988, members of Fabrangen helped in the D.C. community,
- A mother of seven, who was homeless, moved into her own apartment.
- A mother and her four children were sustained during difficult times.
- Multiple children were tutored weekly for two years.
- A young adult began a stable life in her own apartment.
- Several young women maintained steady jobs.
- One applied for and graduated from college,
- One obtained scholarships for graduate school.
These were major steps in the narratives of D.C. families who continue to overcome many obstacles of homelessness, job loss, and lack of education.
One young woman helped by Project Hope says
My interest in the social work profession stemmed from my exposure to poverty and violence during my childhood. Growing up in a single parent household with six other siblings, I experienced life in Anacostia, D.C. that was far from easy. Many nights my sisters and I went without water and electricity, some nights not having food to eat, and our lights being turned off every other month.
I experienced what can only be called “culture shock” when I left Anacostia and arrived at a four-year state university as a freshman. There were few support mechanisms for the emotional, social, academic, and financial obstacles. Fabrangen Project Hope helped.
Working as a Crisis Counselor has given me the opportunity to put my knowledge into practice in concrete and challenging ways. My duties include crisis counseling, risk assessments, safety planning, & providing referrals to callers. I am often the first resource survivors will use for support because the anonymity often makes it easier to talk about their experience. This allows them to obtain resources and information they need to progress in the healing process. As a Crisis Counselor, I am given a chance to save a life just by being on the other end of the phone.
From Bracha Laster, Project Hope volunteer for over 20 years:
CJ is the fourth of seven children and the only one to matriculate at a four-year university. Her family and some Fabrangeners were proudly present at her college graduation. Not only did CJ have to navigate the new arena of academic rigor when she went to Delaware State University, she had to find her way in a new social world. Most of the other students had families who could drive them to college, had two supportive parents, or had financial resources. CJ had none of these advantages. She had to learn about applying for financial aid, buying textbooks online, doing research and writing academic papers, reading difficult textbooks, dealing with demanding roommates, staying healthy, and many other character-building endeavors. The progress that she made is truly admirable and now Project Hope will continue to help her as she attends a local university for a graduate degree in Social Work while continuing her job as a full time counselor for homeless and abused women.
Give to Project Hope
Your tzedakah has important, lasting effects. Contact Richard Gladstein or Bracha Laster at projecthope@fabrangen.org to learn how you can get involved in making a difference.
Give to Project Hope
Your tzedakah has important, lasting effects. Contact Richard Gladstein or Bracha Laster at projecthope@fabrangen.org to learn how you can get involved in making a difference.