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STAR Haven was honored by Spectrum, a division of Charter Communications, for their work in the Suffolk community on Friday, July 26.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit was awarded $5,000 as part of the broadband and cable company’s Spectrum Employee Community Grant Program. The grant is part of the company’s commitment to support 500 nonprofit organizations nationwide with $2.5 million. Spectrum Senior Manager of Communications Stephanie Richin provided more details on the program and donation.

“…if our employee has volunteered for an organization for a year or more, they can nominate that organization to receive a grant from the company,” Richin said. “Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 and we’re so happy today to be giving STAR Haven a grant for $5,000 for the wonderful work that they’re doing here in Suffolk.”

Since its start in 2019, the nonprofit has worked to improve the lives of people in need by supporting people experiencing homelessness, suffering from mental health issues, providing food distribution, clothing, basic necessity care packages, and much more. In its mission of Supporting, Transforming and Achieving Results, the organization has grown in its five years of operation. STAR Haven President and Founder Member Kianna Boone discussed the donation, detailing their current campaign to raise funds for a brick and mortar building for the nonprofit.

“We do not have a central location and because we are growing, we are in dire need of funds to continue our outreach, [to] continue our operations,” Boone said. “So this is a big, big deal to [put] a dent into our raising of funds.”

Boone reemphasized their goals for STAR Haven and the nonprofit’s future.

“…is essentially to provide affordable and stable housing for the single adult homeless community, continue our outreach and pretty much expand it within the community that we serve,” she said. “Our end goal is to create affordable housing so they are not being recycled back through the homelessness system and become chronically homeless.”