Join OAR on Thursday, October 20 for a very special screening of “In Your Hands,” a documentary on the struggles that individuals face when returning from incarceration. This film, produced by Pitt Sure Company, follows two individuals in the District of Columbia after their release from prison. One of these individuals is an OAR client, so OAR is featured in the film. “In Your Hands” leaves viewers questioning what these individuals really need to succeed on the outside, and where the community’s responsibility ends and theirs begins.
The event will be held at the Arlington Campus of George Mason University, Founder’s Hall, located at 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia. The event will begin at 6:00 pm with a reception and the film will be shown at 6:30 pm. A panel discussion will follow at 7:30 pm. Moderating the panel will be Arlington County Sheriff Beth Arthur. Panelists will include former Arlington County Judge Clarke, GMU Professor Dr. Faye Taxman, and OAR Executive Director Gail Arnall.
Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance by October 17 or $20 at the door. GMU students are welcome to attend the film screening and panel discussion for free, but must purchase a ticket to attend the reception. All proceeds benefit OAR. Advance tickets may be purchased:
– In person at the OAR office, located at 1400 N. Uhle Street, Suite 704, Arlington, VA 22201. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm;
– By mailing a check to OAR (made payable to OAR) to the above address;
– Online at the link listed below. (Please be sure to list the names of all attendees in the “Designation (Optional)” box.)
Special thanks to our co-sponsors, GMU’s Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence! and Criminology, Law, and Society Department. Also, special thanks to Aramark for sponsoring the reception.
We hope to see you there!
September 28, 2011
From August 1 to September 15, OAR hosted a raffle to raise funds for services. For every $100 donation made during this time frame, the donors’ name was entered into a drawing to win a two-night stay at the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michael’s, Maryland. Additionally, every donation was matched dollar for dollar thanks to a generous donation from a local faith community. Eighteen donors participated, donating $3,300, which was matched for a total of $6,600 for OAR.
On September 15, the Chief Deputy Clerk for Arlington Courts, Judy Wheat, visited the OAR office and pulled the raffle winner’s name from a basket. The winner was Susan Cavanaugh, who has been a donor and volunteer of OAR for many years.
Thanks to all who participated in the raffle, and congratulations to Susan!
For the fourth year in a row, Men’s Wearhouse® in the DC Metro area has partnered with Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington, Inc. (OAR) to collect slightly used men’s suits for clients coming out of incarceration. Anyone donating a suit during the suit drive received a tax deduction for making a contribution to the work of OAR. And, contributors received 50% off on their next purchase at Men’s Wearhouse®.
Once again, the response has been incredible. Over 1,400 suit items were donated to OAR, which included suits, slacks, shoes, dress shirts, belts and ties. Men’s Wearhouse® will also provide a new tie for every suit donation.
“Our clients need to be able to present themselves well at interviews and on the job,” says Katy Steinbruck, Director of Reentry Services for OAR. “How you dress usually affects how you feel about yourself. We want our clients to go back into the world confident that they have a contribution to make,” she said.
Gail Arnall, OAR’s Executive Director, tells the story of meeting a client in the waiting room one morning. He was wearing a brown shirt and brown pants – a telltale sign he had just been released from prison. About 45 minutes later, a staff member brought the man into Gail’s office. She stood to greet him, thinking he might be a banker or a businessman, given the way he looked. “You just met me,” the man said. “I was the man in the waiting room; now I am a different person.”
OAR has shared the suits with a host of non-profits in Northern Virginia and DC who are serving men that need to dress well in order to go to job interviews and begin their employment.
“We are so grateful to the men and women who work at Men’s Wearhouse® stores across the Washington, D.C. area for their extra work to take in these donations,” said Arnall. “And a special thanks to those in the warehouse staff who collected the clothing for pick up. This truly was a community effort.”