Windham Region No Freeze Project Amps Up Fundraising Appeal

Perhaps it’s this year’s warmer-than-average winter temperatures. Or maybe area residents are unsure if the shelter is open this winter because of its recent eviction scare. Whatever the reason, contributions to the Windham Region No Freeze Project’s annual appeal are coming in slower than expected for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. And that has members of the staff and board of directors a bit nervous about having sufficient operating funds to get through the winter and beyond.

“The shelter is alive and well and still operating every day of the week in our temporary home at 75 Bridge Street,” states Avery Lenhart, executive director of the private non-profit. “In fact, we seem to be helping more guests than average this year. We’ve been at capacity every night, keeping men and women out of the cold and the elements, and connecting them to critical human services. We’re a little over halfway through the November to April season and have sheltered 105 guests so far. All 30 beds are full every night with an average of 7 to 10 people sleeping in chairs. Our annual expenses for our year-round facility, staff and general operations are about $260,000. To date we’ve only raised $175,000 of that, leaving us about 30% below our goal.”

Last year, the Windham Region No Freeze Project used its funding – solicited 100% from individual donations, faith-based groups, and private foundation grants – to:

· provide emergency shelter for 143 adults,

· divert at least 45 people from homelessness by finding housing alternatives,

· successfully and permanently house 98 people.

· link more than 300 people to critical social services,

· provide shower facilities and hygiene-related toiletries to guests throughout the year,

· hire 7 difficult-to-place people (some formerly homeless) providing relevant and recent job experience,

· coordinate the annual point-in-time or PIT count, a census of area people experiencing homelessness.

“We completed our annual appeal mailing in December to individuals who give personally to the organization,” continues Lenhart. “As of today, this letter campaign has brought in about half the contributions it historically raises. Our event-based and faith-based fundraising are also a bit lower than normal. I’d like to remind our supporters that the need to help people experiencing homelessness is still great and present, and that their gift can truly change the life of local people, people you might pass on the street never realizing they are struggling to find a safe place to sleep.”

Lenhart has been with the Windham Region No Freeze Project since 2012, taking over as executive director in June of 2019 when Leigh Duffy stepped down from the position. Fundraising is one of the biggest roles of the executive director position, and Lenhart is working hard every day to communicate the need for financial support to area foundations, faith congregations and individuals.

Lenhart is also presently working with contacts within the town of Windham to determine a suitable new site in Willimantic for the Windham Region No Freeze Project’s shelter, assistance programs, year-round hospitality center, and offices. Over its 18-year history, the non-profit has operated in five different locations within Willimantic, a city that is home to the services No Freeze guests rely upon including the soup kitchen, healthcare programs and social services. The program will temporarily remain at 75 Bridge Street until a suitable new location -- a building the organization could own and never be displaced from -- is found and secured.

To contribute to the Windham Region No Freeze Project, visit the organization’s new website at www.windhamnofreeze.com and click the DONATE button, or mail a check payable to the Windham Region No Freeze Project to P.O. Box 46, Willimantic, CT 06226. For more information or to discuss additional ways to support the organization, call the No Freeze offices at 860.450.1346.