Our early Christmas present (our little Hanukkah miracle!) came as a result of a Benjamin Moore Paints initiative called "Color Care Across America." This project partnered with the US Conference of Mayors to identify one deserving homeless shelter in each of the 50 states (and Washington, DC) and to give each facility a makeover of color and beauty.

Benjamin Moore donated paint and supplies, John Neill Painting contributed their expertise and labor, and Trevor's residents and staff benefitted from an infusion of color and brightness with newly-painted halls, stairwells, offices, rooms, classrooms and dining hall. The color makeover had an uplifting emotional impact on residents who have seen their living environment improve.

Christmas came early for Trevor's residents this year! We got a jump on the holidays with a JOYOUS CHRISTMAS gift when a crew of 30 professional painters from John Neill Painting in Merion Station arrived to completely redecorate the interior of Trevor's Place. Part of the team of painters that donated three days of work in November is seen in the accompanying photograph.

As the calendar turns and 2012 arrives, we are expecting a bright, promising, productive HAPPY NEW YEAR for the nearly 200 women and children who stay with us this coming year. Our optimism is based on having a caring, competent staff doing work they love with needy Philadelphians and a network of community resources providing life-changing services and programs to Trevor's residents.

We have PHMC offering parenting classes to adults and Ages & Stages screenings to children. Temple University provides Functional Family Therapy and Drexel University sponsors GED classes. The Homeless Advocacy Project donates legal services to residents and GPC supplies free babysitting to working or studying mothers. Keystone Mercy promotes health seminars for families and Lincoln Financial offers budgeting workshops to adult learners. Our comprehensive services to help Trevor's clients reestablish their lives also include linkages like QIC's vocational training and People Emergency Center's job search workshops.