Sixth Street Shelter

As the new year begins, we want to thank you. Your enthusiasm and generosity help us navigate through challenges. Your contributions have brought smiles to the faces of our guests at the Shelter!

As we look forward to a brand new year in 2024...we are ready to embrace new challenges and joys. ❤️ We wish you and your family joy and good cheer this New Year!

Check out this amazing art of our fearless director, Robbie, by our VISTA employee at the Shelter, ! Victoria is just one example of the shining talents we have here! Go check out the rest of her amazing art 😊

We have been blessed with an outpouring of support for our families this holiday season! Thank you to all the groups who have supported us this year to make the holidays brighter for our guests. There is still time to make your year-end gift and make a difference in the lives of families in our community.⁠
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Click the link in our bio or visit SixthStreetShelter.org!

THANK YOU to our community who contributed wonderful gifts for our residents this holiday season! 🎅🏼 Our Santa's Workshop display was a huge success, offering parents a delightful selection of surprise gifts for their children. Thanks to your generosity, many families will experience a magical Christmas filled with joy this year! 😊

As the festive season arrives, we're reminded of strength and family. We have overcome obstacles and care for our community. ❤️As the year ends, we thank you for your enthusiasm and generosity, aiding us in facing the challenges of homelessness. Your contributions have brought joy to our Shelter guests, and the families here are deeply touched by your kindness. In this spirit of collective care, we're grateful.⁠
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Looking ahead to 2024, we embrace wisdom and are ready for new challenges and joys. 🎄From all of us at the Sixth Street Shelter, we wish you a very happy holiday!

Thank you so much to the Free Spirits women's group for making a massive group donation to the Sixth Street Shelter! ❤️ They brought SIX carloads of children's holiday gifts, new bedding, air fryers for every apartment, and brand-new bicycles of all sizes.

"It's the Free Spirits way... always encouraging and motivating each other to do more."

At the Sixth Street Shelter, our dedicated caseworkers are committed to empowering our residents. They provide essential support and guidance, fostering personal growth, family unity, academic achievement, and career development. Our goal is to help each resident secure stable, affordable housing and realize their full potential for success. Join us in celebrating their journeys towards a brighter future!

We had a great annual Shop With A Cop event! 🎅🏼 Thanks to the Allentown Police Department, this group of kiddos embarked on a magical shopping adventure at where they collected presents for their siblings, parents, and maybe a few treats for themselves! 😉 And the fun didn't stop there! Afterwards they headed to for a festive celebration of pizza, hanging out with Santa and Melvin from the , and wrapping all their new presents together.

It was a day of holiday bliss, creating treasured memories and spreading Christmas cheer in Allentown! 🎄 Thank you,

Join our team at the Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown and be a part of positive change! We have announced three job openings: Case Management Supervisor, Office Administrator, and part-time Relief Caretaker. 👏🏽 This is your chance to impact the community and support families experiencing homelessness...Apply now through CommunityActionLV.org/careers to make a meaningful difference!

Spread the magic of the season! 🎅 Join us in brightening the holidays for kids at Sixth Street Shelter! We're on a mission to ensure every child experiences the joy of unwrapping a gift on Christmas morning, surrounded by their families.

We need your kind donations of new/unused toys! Check out our full holiday wish list at SixthStreetShelter.org/DonateSupplies.

Drop-off days are Tuesdays & Fridays between 10am and 2pm, or easily ship gifts to our doorstep at 219 N 6th Street, Allentown! 🎄 Your generosity will create unforgettable moments and bring endless smiles to children's faces this Christmas. Thank you for sharing the spirit of giving!

🎄 This holiday season, let's bring joy to the hearts of children! Join us in supporting the Sixth Street Shelter, where numerous kids are eagerly awaiting Christmas gifts. 🎁Unfortunately, their families are facing financial hardships and can't afford many presents.

Check out our current wish list! 📜 We're seeking new and unused items including sports gear, diverse dolls, creative art supplies, and educational electronics. Your generous donations will light up their holiday!

Donation drop-offs are on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10 AM to 2 PM at 291 N 6th Street, Allentown.📦 Or you can conveniently order gifts online and have them shipped directly to the Shelter!

Your contribution will spread warmth of Christmas cheer throughout our Allentown community. 🙏 Thank you for your kindness and support!

The Shelter is looking for volunteers to help with end-of-year inventory. We can accommodate a flexible schedule on weekdays. Weekends are also a possibility based on the availability of staff. Interested in learning more or signing up? Please email our Development Officer, Wendy, at [email protected].

We had an eye-opening night at Cedar Crest College last weekend at our One Night Without a Home event. 🌃 From empowering talks to painting cardboard homes and spending some time under the stars, Sixth Street Shelter and the students of Cedar Crest took a step closer to understanding the realities of homelessness. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn, empathize, and make a difference in our community.

November 28th is Giving Tuesday! Giving Tuesday is a global movement to encourage doing good.

We are accepting donations all week for The Sixth Street Shelter. As a nonprofit, we rely on donations (in-kind or monetary) to keep the Shelter running. Visit the link in our bio or SixthStreetShelter.org and click the "Donate" button today!

This Giving Tuesday, make a heartfelt difference at the Sixth Street Shelter. We're seeking NEW/UNUSED bedding essentials - twin comforters, bed sheets, cozy blankets, and pillows. 🧸 These donations help us provide welcoming, comfy beds for families as they begin their journey in our 30, 60, or 90-day transitional housing. A cozy bed on arrival sends a powerful message of safety and warmth in this season.⁠
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Donating is easy! You can order directly from Amazon and have items shipped to us at 219 N 6th Street, Allentown. 📭️ Or we welcome drop-offs at the Shelter on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10:00am to 2:00pm.⁠
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Every donation brings us closer to making each family feel at home. Thank you for your generosity!

Last year, 197 MILLION Americans went out shopping for Black Friday. 🛍️While this can be a fun tradition, it's important to remember that there are people within our own community who can't afford basic necessities, let alone luxury purchases.⁠
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This year, please consider making a Black Friday purchase on behalf of the Sixth Street Shelter or contribute a monetary donation for our families!⁠
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Check out our Amazon wish list or view our full in-kind donation list at sixthstreetshelter.org/donate-supplies. Thank you for making this holiday season special!

This upcoming Giving Tuesday, contribute to making a house a home at the Sixth Street Shelter. We always need NEW/UNUSED kitchen supplies including coffee makers ☕️ and cleaning essentials like floor cleaners, mops, brooms, dustpans, and dish towels. 🧹Our 30, 60, and 90-day transitional housing program aims to provide families with a functional and clean kitchen - a vital space where they can cook, clean, and spend time with their loved ones.⁠
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It's easy to help! Simply order items via Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/24OLGK8CTV38O?ref_=wl_share and have them shipped to 219 N 6th Street, Allentown. Alternatively, we welcome your donations in person on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00am to 2:00pm.⁠
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Your generous donation plays a crucial role in helping families rebuild their lives with dignity and comfort! 💙 Thank you!

Make an impact this by supporting the Sixth Street Shelter! As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of people like YOU to provide essential support to families in need. This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join our cause.

Donate through the link in our bio or visit SixthStreetShelter.org to contribute. Your donation, big or small, makes a significant difference in the lives of many. Let’s come together to create a brighter future for our families!

Our parent organization, Community Action, recently convened its Annual Meeting, centering around the critical issue of affordable housing in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. This year's luncheon gathered 400 local+ community members, organizers, legislators, and advocates, who collectively affirmed the principle that affordable housing is a human right.

Dawn Godshall, Executive Director, mentioned "Community Action’s Sixth Street Shelter is feeling the impact of the housing crisis. Homelessness is especially hard on children, disrupting a child's sense of stability and security, making it challenging for them to develop a sense of belonging and attachment. We are grateful, however, that because of the stellar staff at Sixth Street Shelter, there are positive stories that arise, even during these trying times."

To learn more about how you can help or to donate today, visit SixthStreetShelter.org.

In numerous cities across the US, shelters often turn away non-traditional families, creating a challenging situation for those in need. However, the Sixth Street Shelter stands out by welcoming families of all configurations, provided there's at least one child under 18 in their care.

This Giving Tuesday, let's rally behind the Sixth Street Shelter. Your support is crucial in our mission to offer equal opportunities to every family, assisting them on their journey towards a stable, joyful family life. Every contribution makes a difference. Visit SixthStreetShelter.org or the link in our bio to donate today!

As the chill of winter approaches, it's shocking to realize that on average, 683 individuals in the Lehigh Valley face homelessness at any given moment. Many are without shelter, braving the streets, living out of their cars, or rely on temporary solutions like couch surfing in our very own neighborhoods.

This Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, let's stand together in the belief that everyone deserves the basic necessities of life: food and shelter. Yet, for too many around us, these are luxuries they can't afford.

Your contribution can make a difference. Support the Sixth Street Shelter this week with a donation. Every act of generosity counts. To find out how to donate or what items are most needed, please visit SixthStreetShelter.org.

When volunteers arrived at Sixth Street Shelter, it was a seamless partnership. The team split into two: one focusing on refreshing a recently vacated apartment, while the other tackled organization in our basement storage area. Thanks to their efforts, the Shelter now has a clean, welcoming apartment ready for a new family.

A big thank you to Paychex for the help and support!

Join us in observing Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. This annual initiative unites communities nationwide to shine a light on the critical issues of hunger and homelessness.

At the Sixth Street Shelter, the largest family shelter in the Lehigh Valley, we provide 25 furnished apartments as part of our transitional housing program. Our dedicated caseworkers work tirelessly to secure sustainable, affordable housing for our residents upon their departure. However, the affordable housing crisis and shortage, especially in Allentown and surrounding areas, pose increasing challenges in securing suitable housing options for residents. Your awareness and support are vital as we navigate this growing obstacle.

The Sixth Street Shelter is partnering with Cedar Crest College to host "A Night Without A Home", as part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The participants of the event (aka “campers”) are asking for sponsors and donations to support their sleeping outside with only the essentials to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness and to hopefully to make a financial impact on the cause.

Consider contributing to our event or sponsoring a “camper.” Visit our event page at SixthStreetShelter.org, or contact Wendy ([email protected]) to learn how to get involved.

Members of Senator Casey’s staff came to the Sixth Street Shelter and rolled up their sleeves to beautify the outside grounds. They picked up trash, pulled weeds, and cleaned up our playground. Our employee David, who maintains all 25 apartments of the Shelter, needed some extra muscle to move furniture – so the team jumped in!

This furniture was purchased from a grant provided by the to upgrade several apartments.

Thank you so much for your help!

Juan is a resident of our transitional housing program on Ferry Street in Easton. Recently, Juan began working on obtaining his high school diploma through Hi-Set, the high school diploma program utilized at Sixth Street Shelter.

Juan’s tremendous hard work and dedication allowed him to complete this goal and acquire his diploma soon after his 18th birthday, and about eight months earlier than the rest of his graduating high school class. 🎓️With his new credentials, Juan has made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Army and will begin his career later this year. We are all so proud of Juan! 👏🎉

Welcome, Wendy! We are happy to introduce Sixth Street Shelter’s new Development Officer, Wendy Wright! Wendy has shown a commitment to community and education in her past experiences, including working with children through Lehigh and Northampton County schools, assisting families involved in the child welfare system, and advocating for individuals enrolled in drug and alcohol programming.

Wendy believes in the transformative power of education. Her mission is to help community members understand the struggles of others so we can assist families as they lift themselves out of troubling circumstances.

Feel free to reach out to Wendy if you're interested in donating, sponsoring, event planning or volunteering with The Shelter at [email protected] or (610) 435-1490.

This November, we’re sleeping outside so others won’t have to! On Saturday, November 18th, Sixth Street Shelter is hosting an event alongside students. Participating students are working on a social change project where they will invite their peers to sleep outside simulating “One Night Without A Home.” ⁠
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The participants of the event (aka “campers”) are asking for sponsors and donations to support their sleeping outside with only the essentials to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness and to hopefully to make a financial impact on the cause.⁠
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At Sixth Street Shelter, we all believe that affordable housing is a human right. We hope you’ll join us in our battle to advocate. Consider contributing to our event or sponsoring a “camper.” Visit our event page at SixthStreetShelter.org, or contact Wendy ([email protected]) to learn how to get involved.

Funding raised through the Be A Housing Hero initiative, a partnership between Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Foundation, will help provide 3,500 nights of emergency shelter at five Lehigh Valley shelters in the and areas throughout this year and 2024 - including Sixth Street Shelter. We are grateful for the support.⁠
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Interested in reading more? Visit https://bit.ly/3tGORMc for additional information.

If you follow us, there's a good chance you're interested in solving the current affordable housing crisis. Join us for Community Action Lehigh Valley's Annual Meeting Luncheon on Wednesday, November 1st at the Wind Creek Bethlehem from 11:45am-1:00pm, doors open at 11:15. 🌟 Dive deep into Community Action's vision for fostering housing stability across Lehigh Valley. Engage with local housing experts and broaden your connections. See you there! ✨

Follow the link in our bio or visit communityactionlv.org to purchase tickets. ($60 per person, including lunch!)