b'outreachc i r clesRVAhonorsf ive - ye a r a n n i ve r s a r yParishioner Kim Vullo was instrumental in bringing Circles RVA to fruition, served on the inaugural Board of Directors, and was its first Executive Director. She has written a stirring essay about its beginningswhat inspired it, and how support was raised to establish it with GHTC as its host. Here, with her permission, is some of what she said in that essay about the exceptional understanding of what brings people up from poverty, and how Circles makes that happen:Here in Richmond, one in four adults and 40% ofchildren live in poverty. Citizens from the faith community, civic and non-profit organizations and local government came together to form Circles RVA, a volunteer organization dedicated to breaking the cycle ofpoverty in our community.The Circles model is used in seventy-five cities across the [United States] and is proven to make a real and sustainable difference in the lives ofpeople who want to move to economic stability and create better futures for themselves and their families.In the Circles model, people who are living in poverty and looking to make a change are in charge ofthe process. [These] Circle Leaders receive twelve weeks oftraining to build leadership skills and to develop a results-based life plan to achieve economic stability. Circle Leaders are [then] paired with coaches called Circle Allies.Allies come from different socio-economic backgrounds; they have varied life experiences and broad social networks. It is through the Circle Leader and Ally relationship, the sharing ofknowledge and the expansion ofsocial networks that life-changing results for Circle Leaders are possible.Since the launch ofoperations in August of2018, twenty-six Leaders have completed the eighteen-month journey towards economic stability. These Leaders have increased their monthly income $1,238 on average, significantly reduced their debt, improved their credit scores, increased their net assets, and are now less dependent on government support, thereby breaking the cycle ofpoverty for themselves and their families.None ofthis would be possible without the incredible and continued generosity ofthis congregation. Kims full message includes the text of her presentation to another congregation while she was building support for this worthy program. We have posted it on the GHTC website at ghtc.org/outreach/circles-rva. It is eloquent and beautifully expressed, and we recommend it to you all without comment or reservation.re ddo o rministryThe Red Door Ministry is always thinking of ways the church can help the guests we feed at lunchtime every Friday. When we can return to the Parish Hall, we will again be able to offer a healing service before the meal is served. The clothing closet continues to collect socks, mens underwear in medium to extra large sizes, jeans and toiletries, and plastic grocery bags. Later this fall, there will be a coat drive, including gloves, hats, and scarves. We welcome your donations of used clothing that is clean and in good repair, understanding always that the people we serve should be dressed in clothes they can feel proud to wear. And in preparation for the winter ahead, Betsy Featherstone and Molly Howle have begun inviting people to be mitten kittens, and to knit worsted wool mittens for the closet. They have some easy patterns to share. Contacts: Betsy Featherstone(804) 353-9760 or Molly Howle(804) 285-3870 Red Door Volunteers10 | FALL 2022'