The Shade Tree Shelter receives gifts and goods from Pardee Homes’ staff

The holiday season is over with the day of Epiphany and the new year has begun, but the staff of Pardee Homes ended 2009 on a high note.

The Shade Tree Shelter for homeless women, children and their pets was remembered again by employees of Pardee, who collected and delivered more than $2,500 worth of gifts and goods for shelter residents in lieu of an employee holiday party.

Customer service vans were loaded with items from the shelter's holiday wish list that included necessities such as diapers, dog food, clothing, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products.

That brings the total to more than $90,000 in support of The Shade Tree mission since 1994, according to Pardee Regional Sales Director Rob Tuvell.

The Shade Tree's 364 beds have been full for the past six months, according to Executive Director Marlene Richter, who credits companies such as Pardee for helping the shelter provide its services to women and children in crisis.

"In the last year we have served 3,100 homeless and abused women and their children, providing more than 100,000 bed nights," she said. "During the past few months, we have seen a 30 percent increase, making it tougher to provide services to so many during these challenging times."

"The need is so great, especially this year," Tuvell said. "The Shade Tree is one of the most important organizations in our community and even though these are hard times for so many people and companies, I urge everyone to find it in their hearts to support this safe haven for women, children and their pets."

Located in downtown Las Vegas at 1 Owens Ave., The Shade Tree provides more than shelter to their guests, who range in age from a 3-week-old preemie, who was born at the shelter, to an 85-year-old woman.

While The Shade Tree's mission is to provide a safe 24-hour accessible shelter for homeless women and children in crisis in the Las Vegas area, the organization also assists them in taking their first steps toward independent living. In addition, The Shade Tree includes Noah's Animal House to provide shelter for family pets from abusive households.

Clark County's only 24-hour accessible emergency shelter for women and mothers with children, The Shade Tree is the largest shelter of its kind in the state. The 38,000-square-foot facility offers services such as victim services center, job skills development, housing placement assistance, mental health coordination, free health clinic and children's activity center.

For more information, call 385-0072.