ACCESS, Inc.

ACCESS would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July! 

It is July 2, which means we have officially reached the halfway point of the year! In the previous 26 weeks, ACCESS has witnessed a tremendous amount of success and personal achievements, as many of our residents left our shelter as they opened a new chapter in their lives of having a new, permanent place to call home. We are excited and hopefully to see the many wonderful things that await our residents for the remainder of 2024!

ACCESS is deeply saddened and heartbroken by the Supreme Court of the United States' ruling in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case. The decision, which allows for the punishment of individuals who are experiencing homelessness and who are sleeping in public spaces, will have a lasting and detrimental impact on those who are struggling with housing insecurity across the country. In a time when the cost of housing and other necessities are soaring, as a nation, we should not be criminalizing and reinforcing negative stereotypes of the unhoused, but we should be coming together to tear down obstacles that are at the root of the problem, such as the lack of affordable housing.

Did you know ACCESS is the only shelter in Summit County where boys who are experiencing homelessness, up to the age of 18, can remain with their mothers as they work toward the attainment of permanent housing? Help support and empower our teenage boy residents by donating clothing and other necessities for adolescents. Visit access-shelter.org/donate for more information.

This summer, Dr. Gordon Brown, the founder of A Place to Stand, is riding his bike across the country from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, raising money and bringing awareness to the issue of homelessness. As part of his ride, which is called Breaking the Cycle of Poverty, Dr. Brown selects and supports one organization working to support and empower individuals experiencing homelessness in each state that he rides through. For Ohio, he selected ACCESS! Yesterday, Dr. Brown met with our executive director Jackie Hemsworth and our director of development Brianne Neal, and presented ACCESS with a $1,000 donation that he raised as part of his ride. For more information on Dr. Gordon Brown, his Breaking the Cycle of Poverty ride and to help support his goal, click on this link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gAmkXumY.

Today is the first day of summer. Are you or a group looking for volunteer opportunities? Volunteer today to help clean up spaces, such as our playground, to ensure that our residents can relax and enjoy the summer weather. Visit https://lnkd.in/g-RYh3DM for more information.

Today is Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates ALL Americans becoming free. ACCESS is proud to celebrate this momentous holiday, but we also recognize and stand with our neighbors and those who are a part of ACCESS who continue to fight for their freedoms and equality. We stand in solidarity with all who are celebrating today.

Last week, students from Archbishop Hoban High School JAM came to ACCESS for three days and truly made an impact at our shelter and on the lives of our residents. The students decorated the door of our playroom, they cleaned up our playground so our resident children could continue to enjoy it, they added a pop of color by planting some amazing flowers, and they even cooked a meal for our residents! Thank you for truly helping to support and empower our residents!

ACCESS would like to wish all of the dads, dads-to-be and all those who provide guidance and support a very happy Father's Day!

WE DID IT! Thanks to your support and generosity, our 40th anniversary matching campaign, which was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Akron, raised over $34,000, which is 137% of our goal! Thanks to your efforts to help empower women and children experiencing homelessness, Mercedes-Benz of Akron will donate an additional $25,000, raising our campaign total to over $59,000, which will directly impact the lives of our residents! Thank you!