During the 2009 holiday season, CWS and community helpers created
a “New Beginnings Gift Card Drive." Its goal was to collect
$10,000 in gift cards for client aid.

For it's first year, we were pleased with the results. We reached over half our goal, which is enough to provide gifts cards to shelter and community-based clients, as well as a small allowance to our youth group program.

We will run a smiilar program for the 2010 Holiday season.

Over the course of the year, we will post updates so you can see the way these cards were used: gas for participants, groceries, teen group motivators, items for setting up new households, etc.

The chart below shows our initial distribution of the cards; our shelter program received the most, with our community based services receiving a large chunk as well. The volunteer program received another allotment, and admin held back a few for emergencies.

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