Sanctuary Launches Room Acceptance and Home Goods Delivery Program to Celebrate 53rd Anniversary | News

Sanctuary Inc. is celebrating 53 years of empowering Guam’s youth and families with a month-long home goods drive that welcomes new bedding, pillows, towels or monetary donations, as well as the launch of The Gentle Room Project for its shelter programs, where donors can “adopt” a room and donate for her revival.

These are just some of the events planned for Shelter Month in November.

Sanctuary Inc. said it is also strengthening its commitment to serving youth who are homeless or at risk through its newest program, the Guajan Youth Initiative.

The mission of the Guajan Youth Initiative is to support the efforts of the Guam Homeless Coalition and improve the response system to homeless youth on the island.

Homelessness, no matter how long it lasts, is a traumatic, life-changing event that creates significant stress in the life of anyone, regardless of age.

The Guajana Youth Initiative is working in partnership with WestCare Pacific Islands, and they are among the first recipients of grants through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Youth Homelessness Improvement Program to 38 communities in 26 states, Puerto Rico and Guam.

Through the Guajana Youth Initiative, Sanctuary will create a Youth Action Council, composed of adolescents with lived experience, to develop youth-informed strategies that will help close service gaps and build the capacity of local service providers.

Founded in 1971, Sanctuary Inc. provides critical services, including a shelter for children ages 12 to 17, and a residential treatment facility for youth struggling with substance use and abuse—the only service provider in the Micronesian region.

Other events:

November 8: Signing of a dual proclamation with the Guam Homeless Coalition at the Governor’s Complex declaring November Homeless Awareness Month and Shelter Month;

November 16: Triple J’s Color/Bubble Run 2024 and Sanctuary Inc. selected as a beneficiary and will host an outreach booth at the event;

November 24: Prayerful intentions will be offered for Sanctuary Inc. and for the youth and families who will be celebrating the regular 9 a.m. Sunday Mass at San Juan Bautista Catholic Church in Ordota.