By Karen Griner
If you drove or walked by Pathways' downtown shelter on Richard Arrington, Jr. Boulevard in December, you may have noticed a beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby, decorated with blue and gold ornaments and white lights.
The tree was a gift from Energen, who received it from Children's Hospital. It was designed by the Alabama Chapter of the International Internal Design Association. Pathways would like to thank these donors for this wonderful gift.
In case you missed it, don't worry - the artificial tree will be back in the Pathways' window next holiday season.
Janis Evans, Pathways' Volunteer Coordinator, reported that the women really enjoyed getting made over.
"There were lots of hugs and thank yous," she said. "We may do this annually."
Karen Griner is the Development Director at Pathways. She can be reached at 205.322.6854 or karen.griner@pathwayshome.org.
By Karen Griner
When Joshlyn stepped inside a closet at Pathways, she was moved by tears by what she saw: A pile of presents stacked up as high as her chin, all for her five children.
"I didn't know where was all going to come from; I just kept praying," she said, describing her worries of how she was going to provide Christmas gifts for her 15-year-old twin sons, 11- and 13-year-old sons, and a 7-year-old daughter. "I can't find the words."
Employees of the engineering department of El Paso Corporation, a company that has strongly supported Pathways over the years, got together this year to adopt a Pathways family. They heard about the program through Pathways' website, contacted the agency, and were given a wish list for Joshlyn and her family. Together, they were able to purchase everything on that list, said Tony Garcia, an El Paso employee.
In addition, El Paso's IT department built a computer for Joshlyn, who is currently studying radiology at Jefferson State Community College. She said the computer will be invaluable in helping her complete her schoolwork.
El Paso also donated $5,000 to Pathways to support its services, which include providing transitional housing, life skills classes, and a day center, where homeless women and children can receive shelter, a hot meal and clothing seven days a week.
This year, with the generous support of individuals and corporate donors such as El Paso, Vulcan Materials, and UBS Financial, Pathways was able to provide gifts for all of the families who had stayed at its shelters this year as well as purchase most items on the wish lists of its single women residents. Donations were also compiled into gift bags for visitors to the Day Center.
El Paso employees wanted to meet the family they adopted, so on Friday, a group came to Pathways to personally present Joshlyn with the gifts. In between several tears and even more hugs, the group helped her fill two vehicles with presents.
"It was a challenge and it was a lot of work," El Paso employee Tommie Hill said. "But it was very rewarding."
by Karen Griner
Many of us take for granted that we have a toothbrush and plenty of soap to make us feel fresh and clean each day.
Not the students at William James Christian Academy.
When they learned that people at their school have experienced homelessness, they decided they wanted to help by making a donation to Pathways. At first, they wanted to conduct a canned food drive, but opted instead to collect toiletry items when they heard there was a greater need for those items.
The fruits of their efforts - over 3,000 items ranging from toilet paper to high-end lotion - was featured on Fox6 WBRC.
The initiative was headed up by the WJ Christian Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.
Students were excited to receive a visit last week from Fox6 news reporter Sarah Verser, who interviewed several of the honor students about the toiletry drive. They told her how they now have a greater appreciation for things like toothbrushes and soap and how they understand that others are less fortunate.
"There's actually a person who works at this school who had to live at Pathways once," said Sandra Pickens, a teacher at WJ Christian Academy who helped the students with the drive, told Fox6. "This person told me about the face of homelessness; she said there were students from this school who actually had to receive services from Pathways."
Using the Alabama-Auburn rivalry, the honor students motivated the entire school to get involved with the drive. Each student's team of choice would receive one point for every item donated. Whichever team got the most points earned a day of wearing team paraphernalia.
Alabama won.
"A homeless person is not necessarily someone you see on the sidewalk or sleeping on the street," Maria Dickens, Pathways' Executive Director told Fox6. "It's someone who gets up every day and goes to their job."
The items collected by WJ Christian Academy students - which filled the large Pathways van to full capacity - will make a tremendous difference to the women and children who live at Pathways' shelter and who come to the Day Center each day.
"(The donated toiletry items) make the difference between going a day without a shower, without brushing your teeth and having a day where you're clean," Dickens told Fox6.
Karen Griner is the Development Director at Pathways. She can be reached at 205.322.6854 or karen.griner@pathwayshome.org.
If you are interested in making a donation to Pathways, please contact Karen or Janis Evans, Development Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator, at janis@pathwayshome.org.
By Karen Griner
Janis Evans, Pathways' Volunteer Coordinator, reported that the women really enjoyed getting made over. 
