Building Community With AHC Welcome Baskets
- hannahloder6
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
May 12, 2025
When resident Tonesha Nolan moved into Fort Henry with her three young children, she received a gift that made her feel at home — a welcome basket assembled by AHC volunteers and delivered by onsite Resident Engagement Specialist Grace James.
“Ms. Grace was very nice when she brought the basket, so I really liked it,” Tonesha said. “I was happy because most of the stuff that was in the welcome basket were things I actually needed. It was very helpful and came in handy.”
In addition to household essentials, the baskets include information about AHC, onsite programs, and upcoming events to help residents feel connected.
This year, to support a smooth transition into their new homes, AHC is ensuring every new resident receives a welcome basket from onsite Resident Services staff. So far in 2025, AHC has given out more than 150 baskets.
“These baskets are more than just a kind gesture; they’re a bridge to the community,” Alba Silva, Program Manager of Community Engagement, said. “With the support of dedicated volunteers and our own team, we’re excited to create a welcoming environment where residents feel seen, supported, and encouraged to engage in community life."
The basket made a big impact on Tonesha and her family, she said, because they experienced housing instability before moving into Fort Henry.
“Going through homelessness was really hard,” Tonesha said. “We were in North Carolina for a period of time before we actually came to the shelter in Virginia, so that was awful. We were going from house to house.”
Now, at Fort Henry and near family, Tonesha has been able to focus on her family.
“Once we moved here, it was just a blessing from God because now my children have a place to call home,” Tonesha said.
Packed and donated by volunteers, the welcome baskets symbolize AHC and the broader community’s commitment to making every resident feel at home and have a sense of stability.
“We all are very excited to be here,” Tonesha said. “So hopefully we’re here for a while, because we love it.”
Volunteer With Us
The AHC welcome basket program is made possible through support from dedicated volunteers, including Sheraton Pentagon City, D Watts Construction, Sai Center of Fairfax, Kingdom Fellowship Church, Holland & Hart LLP, and Holy Trinity Church.