Staying safe, even from the sun

Janelle Khan, an employee at AVDA, saw how important providing shade was for families in need.

Janelle’s story

Families come to our emergency shelter for safety and to flee dangerous situations within their home. We believe it’s equally important for them to stay safe from other factors, such as sun exposure, while residing in our emergency shelter. At any given time there can be up to 50 children and 40 adults in a day utilizing the playground and picnic area that is shaded by the shade structure. In the last year, AVDA provided residential services to 132 children at the campus where the sun protection is installed.

We were happy to receive a shade structure grant and held a celebratory dedication ceremony attended by members of AVDA’s Board of Directors, supporters of the project, as well as a few of AVDA’s SASSY Sisters and Band of Brothers. AAD members John Strasswimmer, MD, PhD, FAAD, and Mojgan Hosseinipour, DO, FAAD, were able to attend, and Dr. Strasswimmer spoke about the importance of sun protection.

We’re so excited our new structure will provide shade over the play structure and outside sitting area, protecting the families each day from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays and helping to reduce their risk of skin cancer.