You may hear it often, and you should believe it to be true, that Alexandria is a uniquely tight-knit community (almost a small town vibe) that prides itself on supporting each other.Each year at Ivy Lane Living, through our philanthropy arm, we find a project that helps uplift those in need. This year our project will be helping the Carpenter's Shelter furnish semi-permanent units on their newly renovated campus.For those of you who don’t know about the Carpenter’s Shelter, their mission is to support the homeless in achieving sustainable independence through shelter, guidance, education, and advocacy. 

“At Carpenter’s Shelter, we believe that every person has a right to shelter. No one shall be denied shelter or services on the grounds of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, or any characteristic protected by law. “

  Homelessness is an issue across the United States as well as in our own backyard. As of a count in 2018, the number of people experiencing homelessness was over half a million. The states topping the list with the highest homeless rates are New York, Hawaii, Oregon, California, and the District of Columbia. (National Alliance to End Homelessness)Homelessness is an issue that Ivy Lane is passionate about combating. We spend our days creating spaces for our clients that become a place of respite from the daily grind of life. Places that express who they are and bring them joy and happiness. Not having a place to call home seems unimaginable to us and yet we know many suffer in this situation. Our objective is to help find a solution. 

Rendering of Carpenter's Shelter's New Heights Redevelopment

 For those reasons, we have chosen the Carpenter's Shelter as our 2020 philanthropy endeavor. We hope to help give these individuals a sense of place and security. Over the next six months, Ivy Lane Living will be working towards furnishing a number of units in their new facility. We will be asking clients and friends (or anyone else who’d like to participate) for furniture or home accessories that you might like to donate to this worthy cause. We know many people have great pieces they no longer use or items that no longer fit in their space or their aesthetic. These may be the perfect pieces to repurpose. If you have furniture you’d like to donate, please reach out to our Philanthropy Project Manager, Lisa Huther at lisa@ivylaneliving.com.Together we can be a part of the solution and each play an active role in creating change! Many thanks for your consideration. 😀