Event Details: Kindly hosted by Laura Benedict & John Morris, the event will include:

• Special remarks by Martin Eakes, CEO/Co-Founder of Self-Help (and founding CEF partner!)
• Stories from CEF Members & Advocates
• Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served
• Childcare is available

About CEF:

Self-Help has been deeply involved with the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) since its founding in 2009. CEF provides relationship-based support and matched savings accounts to families experiencing homelessness or financial insecurity in Durham and Orange Counties. The organization has a particularly innovative model, as it is powered by student volunteers from area universities. Volunteers, called “Advocates,” work alongside Members to assist towards reaching goals, gaining employment, securing housing, and building savings. CEF focuses on sustaining transitions out of homelessness, and combines this relationship-based support with matched savings accounts to help members achieve long-term stability. CEF’s Advocates have provided this personalized, hands-on support to almost 1,000 families locally in just the last year.

CEF connected with Self-Help in part to house the matched savings accounts, a powerful part of their model. At last count, homeless and near-homeless CEF Members have saved almost $900,000 towards their personal savings goals. Members have saved to move out of the shelter, to buy vehicles, to build emergency funds, and an incredibly wide range of other goals (even to purchase their own homes). Read stories from CEF Members and Advocates to learn more.

We are very excited to share the work of this organization with you, and invite you to join us on Friday, November 3rd for a casual house party – mostly for a fun evening, but also to hear Martin’s remarks and to have the opportunity to meet some of CEF’s student volunteer Advocates and Members.

Parking Instructions:

Parking is available on Gloria Avenue as well as the surrounding streets.

For handicap accessible entry or if you want to avoid a flight of steps, please park off Alley 17 that runs parallel to and just south of Gloria Avenue between Watts and Gregson Streets. There is a gravel parking area that will hold two cars right next to the blue Alley House, also number 1015. If it is full, park in the commercial parking lot on the other side of the alley.