Changes in the communities needs and funding priorities have made it necessary for the organization to broaden the scope of services into other areas, such as support programs for young adults who are at risk of poverty and incarceration. Through our direct experience it became apparent that the children of parents with HIV/AIDS were left with a serious void. More often than not these children were facing adolescence without the necessary life skills needed for the transition into adulthood. Due to this lack of support during this formative time, these young adults now face formidable barriers in building successful futures. They are also less prepared educationally and have a harder time embarking on productive careers. Without corrective and early intervention they were more likely to be involved with drug abuse, alcohol and the legal justice system.
Based on evolving community needs, COPWA revised their mission: to provide comprehensive services for young men and women at-risk of poverty and incarceration by implementing a series of Life-Skills Trainings created specifically to address social and economic barriers leading to self-sufficiency. Thus in 2002, COPWA assumed the d/b/a Guiding Light to allow for an expansion of services that will serve the current needs of this at-risk young adult population.
Guiding Light recently created NEW BEGINNINGS/THE CLOSET, which is a new initiative involving program participants in community service activity and instilling in them a sense of community responsibility. This initiative comprises of a CommunityFood and Clothing Distribution Program, sponsored in part by Feed the Children and various retail donation programs, with six distributions held per year. Also, inclusive is an Annual Christmas AngelTree(Clothing & Toys), which is sponsored in part by the Broadway Community - "Clause With A Cause." The program began as part of our Bridging The Gap Program, later incorporated into the There's No Stopping Us NowProgram, with much success and is now formally known as New Beginnings/The Closet.
To be eligibe for The Closet distribution, please download application, fill out all information and mail to COPWA/Guiding, fax (347) 326-8081 or email toLbridgingthegap@COPWA.org.
The New Beginnings/The Closet program is by invitation only. Be sure to fill out all required information on the application, otherwise it will not be reviewed and you will not be contacted for the closet distribution.
