What's New at VSC

VSC Childrens' Committee

In order to strengthen our services for the children of inmates, we have formed the VSC Childrens' Committee which includes the children of VSC staff members. The children range in age from toddlers through adults. We are asking them to provide information and services and to think creatively about other ways we can help. Among our requests to the VSC Childrens' Committee for consideration are:

Donation of gently worn/outgrown winter coats for our ongoing winter coat drive for children.
Donation of children's books for our Bedtime Story Program so that we can provide the book, along with the tape recording, to the inmate's child.
Identification of resources for children: sport teams, Nationals/Wizards/DC United game tickets, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts–events that are out there that we don't know about.
Information on financial resources.

A New VSC Publication: Out There...

We have initiated publication of an additional newsletter: Out There... This newsletter is designed to provide regularly updated information for ex-offenders who visit our office. In addition to including information on the questions most frequently asked of us by ex-offenders, it has an "update" box which will provide specific information on job fairs, job training program orientation dates, and other events of interest to this population. It will be published and regularly updated in our office–as often as once a week.

VSC selected as one of the Washington Region's "best small charities, 2009/10"

In November, we attended the Catalogue of Philanthropy's kick-off and recognition ceremony, highlighting our inclusion in this year's Catalogue. According to Barbara Harmon, President of the Catalogue, VSC was selected for excellence, innovation, cost effectiveness, and financial transparency–and for what VSC "can teach us about the extraordinary ways that philanthropy works." Available to us through the Catalogue are dozens of resources to help with fundraising and other support. The Catalogue has a portal and we regularly display our needs/announcements on this portal. For example, through the Catalogue, we are announcing a "monthly open house for volunteers." These open houses are scheduled on the first Tuesday of every month (March 2, April 6, May 4, and June 1) from 10am until 12.

Fourth Annual Holland/Horsky Celebration

It is scheduled for Wednesday, May 26th, at the law firm of Covington and Burling. Information on this event will continue to be updated on the website.

The essential piece of the puzzle...

The VSC staff continues to use "the essential piece of the puzzle..." as our theme for our work. We adopted this theme last year because of its story line and how it connects to the work that we do. The theme recognizes the role that each of us plays in our efforts to help inmates from day one of incarceration through release as these men and women return to a community we all share. The story line is as follows:

Isn't it a wonderful thing
that we are all different?
Each of us has strengths
and skills to share
And when we link
our individual strengths together
we are invincible

Can't imagine us without you!