Park Slope Armory Women's Shelter
Park Slope Women’s Shelter
The Armory on 8th Ave, between 14th and 15th Street
Director: Shawn Young
Church Contacts: Judy Hilkey – and Christy Hayner -
Since the 1980’s, CAMBA, a non-profit organization based in Flatbush, has operated a women’s shelter at the Park Slope Armory. With a 70-bed capacity, the shelter provides temporary housing, meals, and comprehensive services in order to assist women towards permanent and/or supported housing. We have had the privilege of getting to know several of these women. Many of them struggle with various types of illnesses and addictions, each one facing unique challenges. We look forward to knowing them better and helping residents and staff in any way that we can.
The staff has expressed great interest in creating more opportunities for community involvement with the women they serve. They believe that positive interaction with the surrounding community will greatly benefit the women and help de-stigmatize the shelter within the neighborhood.
Our church began volunteer work at the shelter in the spring of 2007, working with local merchants to coordinate Easter gifts for all 70 residents, planting in the gardens, and helping staff with events such as their annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. In 2008, we increased our work in the garden, where many of the women enjoy sitting during the nice weather. Projects included planting more flowers and building a permanent patio for the north garden. Since then, volunteers from the church, neighborhood, staff and residents have worked together to make this garden a reality. Through periodic big work days along with regular weekly maintenance efforts we have improved and expanded flower beds, added over 700 plants and laid over 300 brick paving stones. Furthermore, the shelter residents have created their own volunteer garden committee. These dedicated and enthusiastic women do a beautiful job nurturing and maintaining the garden as well as joining in on big work days. All of our volunteers deserve a big THANKS!
Volunteer Opportunity 1: Anyone interested in gardening or outdoor work can help with continual improvement and maintenance of the gardens. This can even be done on your own time or you can join us for our monthly work days. Email us if you’d like to be added to our contact list.
Gardening projects provide opportunities to work in one or more of the following areas:
- Design and landscaping including selection/purchase/transport/placement of shrubs, trees, bulbs, flowering plants and other elements.
- Heavy work such as transporting mulch, soil, stones and other materials; soil improvement; structural additions and improvements such as patio and walk ways; new flower beds and borders; planting of trees, shrubs, bulbs and flowering plants.
- Ongoing maintenance such as weeding, watering, fertilizing and dead heading, raking and cleaning.
Volunteer Opportunity 2: Mock-housing interviews for those women who are ready to move out of the shelter. Recently, several women have been placed in housing due to successful housing interviews. The practice interviews have been very helpful in preparing them for the real ones. While mock interviews are generally held Sundays at 1:00pm, scheduling is flexible. Expert skill level not required. Interview materials and training are provided by the shelter. Those interested in this opportunity should .
The shelter is also open to people offering “classes” or short seminars on various topics incorporating different activities, such as art, knitting, sewing, etc. We thought that since we’ve been planting so many flowers, it would be great to have someone lead a flower-arranging lesson. However, if you have any skill that could be taught to a small group of women in a fairly short amount of time, they would love it. Some more potential examples are pillow-making, exercise, book-making, etc.
Volunteer Opportunity 3: Classes or short seminars on various topics such as, computer literacy, cooking on a budget, or activities such as, art, knitting, sewing, etc. In 2009, one of our church members who is an artist taught a group of women to make felt lavender sachets for Valentine’s Day. More ideas are welcome.
Volunteer Opportunity 4: Bible Study, fellowship groups. Another neighborhood church leads a Bible Study at the shelter every Tuesday night. They welcome visitors and/or help. Contact Christy.
Volunteer Opportunity 5: Parties. Over the past year we have planned a Halloween Party in the garden, celebrated Christmas with them during our cookie party, and enjoyed Valentine’s Day together over snacks and crafts. More Party Planners are welcome.
Volunteer Opportunity 6: Fund raising for gardening supplies, equipment, and other service materials. Correspondence and thank you letters for donors and supporters.
Volunteer Opportunity 7: Coordination, scheduling and event planning. Communication with staff and residents at CAMBA and volunteers.
We are still learning how to best serve this shelter, so please offer your ideas. God is at work here in Park Slope in the lives of our neighbors at the shelter. Please pray for them, that God’s restorative work would be accomplished through Christ, that we would trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, and that God’s name would be glorified through the work here.
Our work in the garden would not be possible without tools, supplies, and plants. For this we gratefully acknowledge those individuals and institutions who have provided funds and material assistance for the Park Slope Women’s Shelter Gardening Project: CAMBA; Borough of Brooklyn President, Marty Markowitz; David Shannon Florist; Lowes, Green Thumb of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation; New York Assembly Member, James Brennan; New York State Senator Eric Adams; Park Slope Presbyterian Church.
If you are in need of shelter, please click here.
