Make your voice count! Counting your family in the 2020 census is important—it helps to ensure fair representation and increase funding for community programs like ours. The census is safe and confidential. Results are only used to produce statistics, and immigration status will not be considered. Beginning March 12, you can respond to the census…
“This place has a feeling that you have to experience,” Ben Wilborn says as he helps unload a van packed with trash bags full of books. The place he’s referring to with his contagious enthusiasm is a former freezer warehouse located behind Feeding America Southwest Virginia. Instead of storing food, the 13,000-square-foot warehouse now acts…
David and Nicole Aldridge support TAP with consistent monthly gifts. When asked about why monthly giving works for them, they shared that they practice the principle of giving ten percent, saving ten percent, and living on the rest. Their practical approach of including TAP in their budget each month has paid dividends for the community…
They say that moving is one of the most stressful events in life—but that’s not how Hannah Oakes sees it. From her perspective, it’s a celebratory occasion. On moving day, she’s been known to gather together a few helpers and a truck. She has a housewarming gift ready. Maybe there’s even a pizza involved. Moving…
Did you know that the Federal Reserve, Forbes, the National Association of Realtors, Harvard, and many more experts say that home equity (the home’s current market value minus what’s owed on the mortgage) is one of the top contributors to American household wealth? That’s because unlike other assets purchased with a loan, homes actually gain…
“We’re planting the seed of homeownership.” That’s how Carla Evans sees her volunteer work as an instructor with TAP’s Homebuyer Education Class. Carla, a realtor with Wainwright & Co. REALTORS, volunteers alongside Rob Jessee of the Jessee Realty Group brokered by RealStar Realtors. Both Carla and Rob volunteer their expertise in this class because they…
Join us for this FREE community event! TAP’s annual Black History Month celebration will be held on February 18, 2020 at 10 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The event will feature entertainment, guest speakers, and an awards ceremony, followed by a soul food luncheon prepared by Morning Star Baptist Church. This year, we’ll continue…
There’s a new leader on the scene in our Energy Conservation and Housing Rehab (ECHR) component. Bringing a unique advantage John O’Donnell took the reins of the component over the summer and has since hit the ground running. John has years of experience in the housing and construction field. Before coming to TAP, he worked…
A Conversation with Billy Weitzenfeld Billy Weitzenfeld is the executive director of the Association of Energy Conservation Professionals (AECP), a role he’s served in for 20 years. This nonprofit group promotes and advocates for energy conservation, and serves as a support and resource group for Virginia’s Weatherization Assistance Program. TAP is a founding member of…
This is the last in a series of posts about the battle against poverty, your role in the battle, and some of your allies in the fight. To read the series from the beginning click here. If you’ve been following along with this series, you’ve met your teammates in the battle against poverty, Sirois,…
This is the fourth in a series of posts about the battle against poverty, your role in the battle, and some of your allies in the fight. See first post. See next post. NAME: Taetz, M. Alias: “Hibachi Slim” D.O.B: 05/94 LOCATION: Roanoke, VA PSYCH EVAL: Experienced family trauma in youth. Wary of the…
This is the third in a series of posts about the battle against poverty, your role in the battle, and some of your allies in the fight. See first post. See next post. NAME: Sirois, M. ALIAS: “Vatic” D.O.B: 12/91 LOCATION: Roanoke, VA PSYCH EVAL: Stress, anger PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 5’10”, brown hair, brown eyes…