As we celebrate the tenth year of our Free Roof for the Holidays program, we are excited to award two free roofs this year.
Our first free roof recipient is Anne Harris. Anne lives in Leesburg, where she was born. We selected Anne due to her resilience and unwavering optimism in the face of tragedy.
Anne first lost a sister to cancer—a sister whose children she is raising. Tragedy struck again last year when Anne lost her husband, who bravely battled cancer.
Despite her struggles and her own health issues, Anne cares for her elderly father who has colon cancer. Anne was widely nominated and clearly touched the lives of so many.
Simply put from one of many who nominated Anne: “Home is truly where the heart is and even the most humble of homes deserves to be a dry one for these hardworking folks.”
Our second roof will be given to Doorways for Women and Families in Arlington. Doorways is a safe house for women and families fleeing from domestic violence and potentially life threatening situations.
Doorways offers people a place to live without fear. It provides support through financial independent training, therapy, counseling, and parenting advice—ultimately transitioning the amazing women to safety and independence.
Doorways can house up to 11 women and children 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also offer a 24-hour domestic violence hotline.
Last year alone, they sheltered 67 women and children and counseled close to 1,500 people through their hotline. For countless women and children, Doorways has been a safe haven of love and support. We can’t imagine a more deserving candidate to receive a free roof.
As one person wrote: “The roof which covers them is like a hand of warmth, protection, a promise that there is a place for them in this world where they will be safe and loved.”
