Public Service and Pro Bono Committee
The Public Service and Pro Bono Committee works to identify opportunities to serve our local community in both public service and pro bono capacities and connect MRWBA members with those opportunities.
One of the ways in which the Committee does this is by selecting one local charitable or nonprofit organization to partner with each year. Partnering with one organization gives our members a chance to get to know the organization well and hopefully create long-lasting and mutually rewarding relationships.
This year the MRWBA is honored to partner with CARITAS, the largest and most inclusive homeless shelter in Richmond. In addition to providing shelter to the homeless, CARITAS also provides the support, training, and material assistance necessary to break the cycle of homelessness and restore stable, productive lives. CARITAS does this in two ways – through the CARITAS Furniture Bank and the CARITAS Works program. The CARITAS Furniture Bank is a 20,000 square foot warehouse where individuals and families transitioning from shelter life to independent living can “shop” for the basic furniture and household goods they need to get started. The CARITAS Furniture Bank has already provided almost $325,000 worth of furniture and household goods to more than 625 households and kept more than 289,000 pounds of furnishings out of the landfill and recycled back into the community. CARITAS Works is a brand new and exciting 5-week program which prepares, trains and supports those exiting homelessness in securing long-term employment and turning their lives around. For more information about CARITAS, please visit http://www.caritasshelter.org/
There are numerous opportunities to assist CARITAS, from donating furniture and household goods or building furniture in a workshop to conducting mock interviews for CARITAS Works participants. The Committee’s goal is to connect MRWBA members with these many opportunities and to find ways to make those opportunities work with our members’ busy schedules. The Committee will bring these opportunities to the MRWBA members throughout the year.
If you are interested in participating on the Public Service and Pro Bono Committee, please contact Jennifer Lattimore at jlattimore@eckertseamans.com or Jackie Sharman at JSharman@coateslaw.com for more information.
