AEC Supporting Services for DreamCatcher Youth Shelter
The Zimmerman family and AEC Living have been longtime sponsors and donors to The DreamCatcher Youth Shelter. On Saturday, May 21st, AEC Living attended a fundraiser honoring Dwayne Chenevet’s 16 years of service, support, and inspiration to the Shelter kids. The event was held at the stunningly beautiful home of Jeannie Graham, a longtime board member for Alameda Family Services, the organization that oversees the shelter. Food was generously donated by a host of local restaurants, Dragon Rouge, Angela’s, Trabocco, Bowzer’s Pizza, Thai Noodle House, and Venga Paella. Other sponsors made major donations to help the kids such as Alameda Firefighters/Alameda Education Association, Gregory Canales & Cameron Geddes, Schnitzer Steel, Oakland Police Foundation, and so many others. We are honored to be a part of these kind people and businesses in keeping dreams coming true at DreamCatcher.
Since 2000, DreamCatcher Youth Services has been the only safe landing for homeless and disconnected at risk youth in Alameda County who are between the ages of 13-18. Over 90% who have been through DreamCatcher have moved directly into stable housing, further education or employment. DreamCatcher’s short term, Emergency Youth Shelter provides beds, food, and the support and intervention of a skilled, caring and empathetic staff.
DreamCatcher’s Drop In Support Center provides a free dinner, computer, laundry, staff guidance, support and legal services to any and all youth who come through the doors. It is often the only safe ‘living room’ for youth who are surviving by couch surfing. The DreamCatcher youth exit to greater safety and go on to futures they didn’t have the energy to imagine when they first came to us. Over a third of our staff are graduates of our program who returned as adults wanting to give back for all they received, for the ways their lives changed.
Though each member of AEC Living is a separate entity, we consider ourselves a community. Our community is bigger than that though, we are a part of Alameda’s wonderful community, part of the larger Bay Area community, and a part of the global community. We believe that our actions have an impact on our community, and we take that into consideration when making decisions.
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