On December 14th, sixty volunteers and 50 agencies gathered to help homeless people in Glendale access essential services.  More to follow (including client data), but here are some photos from the event, which included the end of the Glendale Domestic Violence Diaper Drive.  Thanks to all who helped make the event a success!

On August 18, 2010 one of our very own youth employees, Seryoza Mkrtchyan (Sergio), was honored as Employee of the Year at the Glendale Youth Alliance annual luncheon. As part of the Glendale Youth Alliance program, Sergio has been working at PATH Achieve since July.  Supervised by Lucia Kung and Tanya Cun, Sergio has been assisting in the Access Center during the day and working with residents in the Emergency Housing Program during the evening. Sergio has worked wonderfully with our residents and is well liked by all, especially the children. He has been very helpful and we are all very proud that his commitment and hard work was recognized at such a wonderful event.

For four years, the monthly Thursday morning waffle breakfast had been a very popular guest chef event. And we didn’t know who enjoyed it more – the clients or the folks from Glendale City Hall who got up at the crack of dawn to prepare the meal. As Assistant City Manager, Bob McFall was in a unique position to cajole his colleagues into creating a veritable feast of Belgian waffles and toppings: yes, strawberries and whipped cream, but also syrup, bananas and peanut butter. As he retires from the City, Bob has turned over the waffle irons to Zizette Mullins, who will carry on the Glendale City tradition. Thank you Bob, and we wish you the best in your retirement!

May 13, 2010

Debra Collins, graduate of PATH Achieve’s Emergency and Scattered Site Transitional Housing programs was one of 4 recipients of the Jewels of Glendale Women of Courage Award presented at the 6th Annual Jewels of Glendale Awards Luncheon on May 13th.

Debra became homeless following a series of tragedies.  A single parent, she worked multiple jobs and cared for her dying mother.  Debra turned to drugs to keep up the pace of her hectic schedule and ultimately the addiction overtook her life. “After the death of my mother, things really began to fall apart.”  Combating depression and struggling with suicidal thoughts, Debra looked for help.  With the support of a treatment program she overcame her addiction, and then turned to PATH Achieve to address her homelessness and the loss of custody of her children.  Debra now works for Operation Hope, has custody of her children and lives in her own home. In an earlier letter to us Debra recounts, “I still remember when you gave me the key to my apartment and I felt the tears in my eyes as I looked at the key and visually could take in the awesome fact that I now had a home again.”