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2015 SESSION

15103113D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 670
Offered January 15, 2015
Commending Trudy Rauch.
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Patrons-- Leftwich and Spruill; Senator: Cosgrove
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WHEREAS, Trudy Rauch of Chesapeake has been named a 2014 Woman of the Year by the Women’s Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Chesapeake; and

WHEREAS, Trudy Rauch has put the teachings of her faith into practice, making a difference in the lives of the homeless and underprivileged in Chesapeake; she organized and is coordinator of the Chesapeake Area Shelter Team (CAST) and is founder and president of the ABBA List website; and

WHEREAS, Trudy Rauch was instrumental in starting CAST, which opened in January 2013; it provides free overnight shelter during the winter for the homeless and those who need a warm place to sleep; it is the only program of its kind in Chesapeake; and

WHEREAS, for the 2014-2015 winter season, more than 30 churches have joined with CAST to provide overnight shelter; guests are picked up by bus from one of three locations and transported to an area church for a hot meal, fellowship, a warm place to sleep, and breakfast the following morning; and

WHEREAS, during the 20 weeks the program is in existence each season, Trudy Rauch helps oversee and coordinate the work of CAST; she works with church leaders, city officials, and the police and fire departments, ensuring that those who need shelter will be accommodated; and

WHEREAS, Trudy Rauch also is the founder and president of ABBA List, a website whose mission is to provide a comprehensive online directory of free help, support, and resources in Hampton Roads; www.abbalist.org offers many different types of assistance information; and

WHEREAS, ABBA List went into service in 2010, focusing on free services available in the City of Chesapeake, including medical support, food assistance, housing and employment help, tutoring help, family and eldercare support, and many other services for people and families in need; and

WHEREAS, under Trudy Rauch’s leadership, the ABBA List now provides information on services available throughout Hampton Roads—in Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake; thousands of people access the website each year; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Trudy Rauch of Chesapeake for being honored as a 2014 Woman of the Year by the Women’s Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Chesapeake; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Trudy Rauch as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect and admiration for her mission to help the Commonwealth’s neediest citizens.