Bethany House Connection: February 2025
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As we turn the page on a new year, it’s natural to feel a sense of hope and anticipation. This is a time for fresh starts, renewed inspiration, and the chance to create positive change in our lives and the lives of others. We at Bethany House believe deeply in the power of new beginnings, and we’re excited to share some inspiring news with you as we embark on this journey together.
I am thrilled to announce the launch of a groundbreaking new program: Project She-Shed. Recognizing that true and lasting change comes from within, Project She-Shed is a series of daily workshops designed specifically for our guests to learn necessary life skills, participate in therapeutic activities and get further access to community resources.
Bethany House goes above and beyond providing temporary shelter; it’s about empowering individuals to achieve self-sufficiency and rebuild their lives with confidence. We are doing so by leveraging all of our plentiful community partnerships to push in and provide these valuable workshops to our guests. Special thanks to The We Care Fund and M&T Bank for their support in this important program.
We believe that everyone deserves a chance to thrive, and Project She-Shed is our commitment to helping our guests unlock their full potential. In the coming months, we’ll be sharing more about the specific workshops offered, the incredible stories of transformation, and how you can be a part of this vital initiative. Stay tuned for more information on how Project She-Shed is bringing hope and new beginnings to our community.
Katie Swanson, Executive Director
SPOTLIGHT!
Kendra Gibson has worked for Bethany House since October of 2023 as a Direct Support Professional.
She comes to Bethany House with experience in health care, direct care and administration. She was drawn to work with Bethany House by her passion for helping others and learning something new everyday.
You can feel her passion for her work from the moment you encounter her in one of our shelters- always welcoming with a smile and ready with a helping hand.
Kendra says the most rewarding part of working with Bethany House is the ability to get to know and help the guests.
For 2025, Kendra’s personal goals are to have financial freedom and finish her home renovation.
We are so happy to have Kendra on our team!
ON A ROLL!
Thanks to our dedicated and experienced case management team, our guest’s have some great things happening in the new year.
To elaborate…
• A guest has completed the Certified Nursing Assistant program from Nassau Community College on December 16, 2024. This guest is now scheduled to take her official NYS CNA written and clinical skills test to be state certified on February 27, 2025, all despite battling some potentially serious health issues. Bethany House has assisted her with transportation while in schooling and has supplied the funds to take state exams.
• A guest has obtained a full time position with NYS Child protective services and is currently preparing to move out into permanent housing. Bethany House has assisted her with train tickets to get through the training phase required for this employment.
• A guest has completed a dental assistant program from ACCESS careers this past December and is now employed with a pediatric dentist.
• A guest has obtained a full time position in HR with GR homecare.
Great work ladies! We continue to anticipate many great accomplishments in the near future!
ADOPT A FAMILY
The women and children at Bethany House would like to thank all of you who helped make their Christmas extra special through our Adopt A Family program. The gifts you bought or made for them brought happiness and joy to their holidays. We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for continuing to support this amazing program.
YOGA FOR GOOD
Karina Blackstone, the owner of Hot Yoga 4 You in Rockville Centre, has been hosting free yoga sessions for the guests at Bethany House for the past few months. Yoga offers a variety of benefits for both physical and mental health. Karina has a passion for sharing the transformative power of yoga, and this is one of the ways she remains dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment at Hot Yoga 4 You RVC.
The guests really enjoy the sessions and they have reported feeling more relaxed and less stressed after attending. We are so grateful to Karina for her generosity and for sharing her time and talents with our guests.
Karina is an inspiration to us all. She is a reminder that we can all make a difference in the lives of others, no matter how big or small. She looks forward to serving the community for years to come, providing a sanctuary for growth, healing, and connection through the practice of yoga.
2024 ANNUAL APPEAL SUCCESS
We’d like to take a moment to thank all of our dedicated supporters for their generous support of the 2024 Annual Appeal.
With your help, we raised over $30,000!
While Bethany House receives government funding to provide emergency shelter, that is not enough. We do so much more than just ‘keep the lights on’ for those who turn to us in a time of need. Our guests receive dedicated, quality case management on a regular basis to build the foundation for and achieve self-sufficiency.
We know that to break the cycle of homelessness, our guests need mental health support, trauma-informed therapeutic services, employment readiness training, exposure to life skills and more.
It is with the support from neighbors like you that we are able to provide these vital and life changing resources.
And so we thank you!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fashion Show: March 12, 2025
Garden Tour: June 11, 2025
Golf and Tennis Outing: July 28, 2025
Learn more or register, visit www.bhny.org/events
