CAMBA And Park Slope Women’s Shelter Honor Volunteers At Tree Lighting

The Park Slope Women’s Shelter (1402 8th Avenue at 15th Street in the Park Slope Armory / YMCA) held its 19th Annual Tree Lighting festivities on Tuesday, December 8. The event was bright, festive, and focused on community volunteers who have been engaged in their dedication and outreach.

PSWS opened in 1996 and is operated by the non-profit agency CAMBA. The shelter provides temporary housing, nutritious meals, and comprehensive services to 100 women. The shelter enables women to stabilize conditions and move toward permanent and/or supportive housing.

In addition to CAMBA’s President and CEO Joanne M. Oplustil, speakers included Emily Rentas, PSWS Site Director; Candace Bowen, Recreation Coordinator; and volunteer Alice Braziller with her resident poets.

The festivities were also attended by Jody Rudin, Deputy Commissioner of Adult Services, and Bill Distefano, Program Administrator of the Department of Homeless Services.

Of the many volunteers and supporters, PSWS recognized the following individuals and organizations:

• Sydelle and Stephen Gansl, PSWS Guardian Angels: Among the Shelter’s first volunteers, Sydelle and Stephen have remained tireless supporters, providing funding for move-out kits, arts and crafts groups, and gifts for clients during birthday celebrations and holidays.

• Alice Braziller, The Power of the Written Word: Alice has led a writing poetry workshop with PSWS residents since 2009. She gives participants the gifts of self-empowerment, confidence and self-expression.

• Ann Rosen, Captured in a Photo: A retired art teacher, Ann has created portraits of PSWS residents. Her art transcends stereotypes, and she works with residents to create beautiful books to take with them to their permanent homes.

• Resurrection Park Slope Church, Social Service: Congregates have been volunteering for years, assisting in everything from mock interviews, to gardening to arts and crafts, baking and more.

• Youth Service Opportunity Project (YSOP), Community Building: YSOP provides many services from assisting with this year’s tree-lighting to cooking meals and hosting a social event on a monthly basis for our residents.

In addition to these organizations, volunteers provide services to PSWS including yoga, fine art and drawing classes, meditation, dance, theater workshops and onsite performances, dinners both on and offsite, writing workshops, donations of clothing and housewares, resume-writing, interviewing skills, hand-made quilts, a vegetable and herb garden, and more.