#SPICares: Vogel Alcove - 5.13.22
#SPICares: Vogel Alcove
Volunteer Work
Written by Lily Turner
June 30th, 2022
It's no secret that Vogel Alcove is one of SPI's favorite nonprofit organizations to give back to. SPI supports Vogel Alcove because we believe they truly make a huge difference in the lives of the most vulnerable population in our direct community, the homeless children and families of Dallas.
Dallas, TX, where SPI's main office is located, is ranked #3 for child poverty in the US.1
Currently, of the 100,000 children born in Dallas and growing up in poverty, more than 3,000 of them are homeless.2 3
This is where Vogel Alcove steps in.
SPI Principal, Jennifer Warder shares what Vogel Alcove means to her:
“Over the course of 35 years in Dallas, Vogel Alcove has continually improved the services they offer to move families out of a cycle of poverty and homelessness and into sustainable stability. Their focus on the children in families who are overcoming homelessness is unique. They don't just focus on providing a quick fix. Everything they do for the children and the parents is aimed at achieving a permanent solution and breaking what they have found to be a generational cycle by rewiring brains and repairing hearts. I can't speak highly enough about this organization. Every time I have had the privilege of volunteering there, new services are being offered that amaze and astound me. And, every time, these beautiful children touch my heart."Back in December of last year, SPI gave to Vogel Alcove in celebration of their 35th anniversary in the form of a cash donation. But, this year, SPI wanted to give back a more meaningful gift in order to continue to show our support for all the amazing things this wonderful organization accomplishes… the donation of our time.
On May 13th, 2022, SPI’s Dallas team spent the morning volunteering at Vogel Alcove's Downtown Dallas headquarters.
When our Dallas office showed up, the staff split us up into groups of 2-4 team members and paired us each 1-on-1 with a child aged 1-3 years old. Before each group went their separate ways, we were instructed that our task was to entertain the children and assist any staff and/or volunteers with the scheduled activities prepared to keep the children busy and active that day.
In turns, each of our groups was sent to take their kids on a field trip across the street from Vogel Alcove to the Dallas Heritage Village to walk around and look at the historic buildings and farm animals. During the mini field trip, other groups stayed behind to play outside on the basketball court with toy cars, scooters, basketballs, and bubbles.
“I think I held over 10 kids that day…at one point, a line of kids begging me to pick them up and hold them started forming,” shared Lily Turner, SPI’s Marketing Coordinator. “Something about the eagerness in these children to reach their tiny hands to the sky towards a complete stranger pulled at my heart strings. I wanted to show them all as much love as I possibly could.”
SPI’s Accounting Coordinator, Kara Perez shared a highlight from her day volunteering at Vogel: “My joy and privilege on our Friday morning at Vogel Alcove was playing ball with Dakota on the blacktop. It didn’t matter if we were rolling & chasing the basketball or aiming for the hoop, as it was all great fun for him. All the children were beautiful and eager for attention, but Dakota captured my heart the most. Watching him chase and grab hold of the basketball and then witnessing the sheer joy spread across his face each time made my week.”
After several hours of activities, the Vogel staff had decided that the kids had received enough opportunities to wear themselves out, so we took the kids inside to their respective classrooms for lunch. After lunch, the Vogel staff changed diapers, cleaned, and got the kids ready for nap time, which was our time to depart. We were all very impressed with the work we saw being done at Vogel Alcove, and every team member was touched by the children we had the privilege of spending time with that special day.
Sources:
1. https://childpovertyactionlab.org/2. https://www.dallasnews.com/fwddfw/2021/02/08/child-poverty-action-lab-gets-a-multimillion-dollar-boost-for-dallas-county-kids-ages-3-and-under/
3. https://vogelalcove.org/about/at-a-glance/
About Vogel Alcove
Vogel Alcove is a Dallas-based non-profit founded 35 years ago with the purpose to provide homeless Dallas children & families with services centered around fostering & rehabilitating their physical, intellectual, emotional, & social wellbeing after facing the traumatic effects of homelessness. Since the organization's inception, Vogel Alcove has helped over 17,000 homeless children & families in the Dallas area by providing services like onsite access to medical care & therapy and daily daycare services that include two meals & a snack, lessons, playtime, nap time, & other activities. Vogel Alcove also offers family support by means of providing 1:1 case management, diapers & clothes, housing & employment assistance, professional development, educational resources, & more.
If you would like to learn more about Vogel Alcove, Click here.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO VOGEL ALCOVE, CLICK HERE.
Vogel Alcove Needs Your Help.
VOGEL ALCOVE IS CURRENTLY ASKING FOR DONATIONS TO HELP SUSTAIN CAMP VOGEL, a summer camp that provides Homeless Dallas children in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade a safe & nurturing environment to gather during the summer months.
At Camp Vogel, the kids enjoy “sports activities, swimming lessons, arts and crafts, S.T.E.A.M. programs, Technology Clinics, dance classes, a chess program, yoga lessons, social/emotional skill building, field trips, and so much more!” In addition, Camp Vogel kids receive a healthy breakfast, lunch, and a snack, every day.