this is "news4 your sunday." welcome to "news4 your sunday." everybody knows holidays can be a stressful time from a lot of different reasons,!rut it can be especially difficult for caregivers. i'm joined by amy goyer, family and caregiver expertç for aarp. am i pronouncing your last name correctly? >> that's right. >> amy. this is a subject that you are very close to, very near and dear to because it is something that not only do you speak on but this is something that affects your family personally. can you tell us a little bit about that and then we can get into some of the ways where maybe people can make things less stressful on themselves and on their families during these, you know, last few days of the year. >>ç absolutely.

entire adult life, first for my grandparents and then my mom had a stroke at the youngç age of . my parents started needing more and more help, and my dad developed alzheimer's disease. for about 11 or 12 years i've been gradually increasing support for him. i moved from arizona from here in the d.c. area about nine years ago, so my parents have lived with me the past five years. my mom passed away four years ago. >> sorry. >> i was also care giving for my sister who livedç on the easte shore of maryland who passed three years ago. >> so you know this very well, 4zmejj)ydo so much back and >> yes. >> this is already a very stressful place to live. we all know that. then to add this, you know, this weight that goes with it, obviously with lots of love but it is still a big strain for caregivers. recently aarp released a survey about family caregivers and the holidays. tell us a little bit about those findings. >> you know

because caregivers, we're alreadyç stressed. 60% are working so we're juggling all of this and you add the holidays on top of that and it is another layer, it sort of magnifies everything. our survey found seven out of ten family caregivers feel emotionally stressed during the holiday ceasen i don't. it season. it is something people don't know, they're not conscious of always, but it is building and building, and there are repercussions. >> so you specifically do a lot of long-distance care giving. there are so many people, we live in a commuter çregion. >> true. >> what is some of the advice for long-distance caregivers and how they can take care of themselves and their loved ones and?xáry to off load a little bt of that stress during the holidays? >> well, you know, in terms of long-distance family caregivers technology has really changed that whole experience. there are so many ways now to be in touch. i have video cameras in the home so i can check on my dad whether

d.c. >> amazing. >> which is wonderful. you know, you can also have technology that does things like smart homes, unlocks the front door when people are coming, you know, you haveç somebody to co bathe your mom twice a week, you from washington, d.c. can open the door in rohde island can opening the door. you also have to have eyes and ears on the ground, so you need someone there who has the opportunity to really look at your loved ones and see if there are any big changes. i always had someone check on my parents when i was out of town and now my sister is there, so she's obviously doing that. >> we've got about a minute left in the segment, amy. would you say, areç there some small changes that people that are specifically caregivers can implement in their daily routines and also long-termç t try to make the routines easier for how they check in, you know, when they make

how do you make things a little lighter for yourself. >> well, you know, the first thing, whether it is the holidays or not, it is most important we take care of ourselves. we focus on everyone else, we give and give an give. my car can't run on empty and neither can çi, so i have to d things to filmy tanl my tank.ç make it a priority. give yourself permission not to be perfect, especially at the holidays. you don't have to get every decoration out, you don't have to do the perfect meal. ask for some help. those are the changes that most caregivers are going to make. and in terms of your routine, again, think about taking care of yourself first, getting organized and building your care giving team. >> let me end on this final thing. what about for the restç of us that maybe have a lighter load, that aren't caregivers, is there something that maybe you would ask that we could do to helpç those that we know that are lending a hand? >> you know, it is interesting. during the holidays we ask caregivers what would help you the most.

someone to listen who understands. so if you have a friend who is a caregiver, take them out for a cup of coffee, tell them they can call you any time, listen, but also pitch in. maybe help make part of the meal or bring them a meal. help them put their decorations out or doç their christmas shopping. you know, maybe provide transportation when they take their loved ones out or give them a break. movie with them for a couple of hours. >> that's a wonderful idea. >> so the caregivers get a break for themselves. >> i think those are excellent "news4 your sunday" continues after this short break.

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this time of year is often when people like to do a little good for somebody else, but with numerous charities to choose from and, sadly, a lot of scammers out there, how do you choose the right one? joininme

the executive director of catalogue for philanthropy. this i think ñ the c thing. it is a literal catalogue of charities, organizations, volunteer opportunities that are locally-based thatç you can literally flip through the catalogue and choose one to lend your support to. this is amazing. tell me how far back this effort goes, what year this was started. >> sure. so the catalogue started in 2003. >> okay. >> the idea was there are lots of small nonprofits all throughout the region. >> right. >> that nobody has ever heard of but that are doing big, amazing, fabulous work in the region. so barbara harman had the idea of creating the catalogue to shine a spotlight on the small nonprofits, and the goal is to introduce them to donors, volunteers and board members, elevate their awareness in the absolutely. tell me about the catalogue, when it got started, maybe how many organizations and charities were in here when it was started, and now you can hold up

see what it looks like. how many are in there today? when it started there were probably a handful, 30 or 40. we have grown over the lastç 15 years to over 400 vetted charities. >> incredible. do they rotate? do you say, are all 400 available every year or do you try to -- i'mç sure there are always new ones popping up. >> there's lots of new ones. every year there's a vetting process. we have organizations submit applications. we have 120 reviewers review them, a financial review is done by an accounting firm and 75 make it into here and they're new every year. when the catalogue comes out, and it just came out in 2018 -- >> so the ones this the catalogue are new? >> they're brand-new.ç the ones that are on the website have been in the family for a while, butçll

>> it is something we hear often, e-mails and phone calls about have they been vetted, how do i know i can trust them, and it is a rigorous process you go to to make sure what you present to the community you know you can stand behind. >> absolutely. we want to give donors who want to identify a nonprofit in their backyard the peace of mind that they can give confidently to that nonprofit. >> is there anyç evidence that supports the good work or the amount of funding each charity organization got and that spurred them to a new level of serve the community better, what have you all seen, you know, as a result of this catalogue? >> well, i'll give you an example on giving. tuesday, when we wound up being because you are probably familiar -- >> sure, because we had questions around that time. >> the catalogue helped raised 9,000 for local nonprofits. so you can imagine if youç are small nonprofit with a $200,0

budget and all of a sudden you get 10,000 orç 15,000 more wha you can do to help more people. there's many stories that we helped people to reach out to more. >> because there's also -- in the catalogue there are so many options of ways that you can help. so i mean i'm just going to mention a few here, but if you have a heart for immigrant and refugee services, girls and women, veterans and military families, legal services and justice, you name it, 1.%ur)j something there. tell me a little bit about that, but also the opportunity of if i would like to give of my time, that is asf -- there are volunteer opportunities that are available for us as well. >> absolutely. so there's a great way if you go to findyourcharity.org, there's a short quiz to take. it is fun. >> findyourcharity.org. >> that will help you hone down the list of 400 to maybe a dozen or so that we believe areç you charity soul mates you will want to give money to, volunteer or be a board member

400 is a lot, but ee want to find the right nonprofit that you connect to emotionally. >> the local impact, we cannot stress that enough. it is not just going nationally. you think your money goes into a big piggy bank, this is affecting the local charities in our backyard in d.c., maryland and virginia. >> absolutely. >> any final thoughts you would like to add? >> i wouldç say small nonprofi make a big difference in our region, so i encourage people when they're doing theç end-of-the-year giving to go to findyourcharity.org to find one you love. >> how did you phrase it? >> your charity soul mate, you will find your charity soul mate, we guarantee it. >> i like it. bob wittig, executive director for catalogue for humanity. when we come back we will talk to some ofç the people featured in this year's catalogue for philanthropy that are doing r

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welcome back to "news4 your sunday." joining me this time around deborah snyder, president and ceo of operations renewed hope foundation. alicia horton, executive director of thrive d.c. kate dean, executive director over at suitig for change. we just spoke with bob wittig. of çcourse, for everybody at he this is a catalogue for philanthropy and you all represent a few of the, ones and charities featured in the catalogue forç philanthropy. anybody at home looking to do a little extra good to round out the year, there are 400 different charities and organizations to get behind. you guys represent some of the incredible work that is done in the community. so i want you to kind of go around and tell us a little bit about what each

organization does specifically. alicia, would you like to start? >> absolutely. thank you,ç donnie, for havia, here. we're we provide showers, laundry and do hot meals for those in need ofç that kind of service and we have step-up programs, employment support, re-entry support and those kind of things to help people take their first steps for self-efficiency. >> essentials. >> absolutely. >> kate, how about yourself? tell me about student for change. >> it is a 25-year-old organization here in d.c. and we serve local women in need who need professional clothes to get back into the workforce. so we give them the clothes that they need to go to interviews, and then when they obtain employment they come back to us and we set them up with their work wardrobe. >> i love that idea. all right. last butç not least, deborah, tell me a little bit about your organization. so

organizations around. we are six years old, and we are a nonprofit that helps homeless veterans in the d.c. metro area through quality housing and supportive services, much ofç what alicia mentioned on the supportive servicesç side. we have helped mother than 600 veterans and families get into housing and stay in housing in the last six years. >> that's incredible. how long ago did your organizations begin to be featured in the catalogue for philanthropy, do you remember? >> i've been with thrive d.c. for almost nine years and we were in the catalogue when i began, so at least that long. >> kate, do you remember? >> yes, student has been in the catalogue for a number of years. really the goal of all local nonprofits here in d.c. is to be part of the catalogue. if you're in it, to stay in it because ofç the benefits it brings but also if you're not to try to aspire to join. then you get to network with amazing groups likeç the women sitting next to me. >> sure, sur

serving a population that needs a lot of support in this area. can anybody speak to what the homeless population, maybe a statistic, what the number is on the homeless community here in d.c., and then maybe specifically on veterans that are suffering homelessness right now. >> absolutely. well, the last count, there were about 8,000 homeless people in theç washington, d.c. area. this is a national count that happens annually. >> okay. >> on one night of the year, so >> how does that compare to other cities in the country? >> i think we're ranked around 10 or 11. >> okay. >> so we have a pretty significant problem here. i think, you know, then we can also begin to talk about the population within that number, so families and individuals and veterans. >> women and children. >> exactly. >> deborah, tell me specifically

veterans and maybe some of the different challenges that they have in getting needs met and getting services vhq really, you know, are for them, that should be for them. >> certainly. many of the challenges are the same. there are some that are different too. you know, with the veterans many of them do not want to get help or they ask at the last possible moment for help, they're very proud to be self-sufficient. >> sure. >> so that is one thing that is characteristic. also, we have a lot of folks that served overseas and in war-time environments and have gone through a lot of stress, you know, post traumatic stress is not uncommon, a lot of anxiety associateo with that. that's a different challenge i think compared to the normal homeless population. the other thing back on the numbers, you know, it is close to probablyú1%000 -- it is always a squishy number because as alicia mentioned it is a point-in-time count done every january. that's a mi

people from hud and other organizations go out and find out who is sleeping in tents and shelters and so forth. >> did you say of the 8,000 there's 1,000, is it, that are veterans? >> it is in the high hundreds now. it is coming down. when we first started, 68,000 was theç number of homeless veterans nationwide six years ago. now the number nationwide is to about 40,000. so it is coming inç the right direction, but we still -- we still have quite a ways to go on it. >> let's keep chatting on the other side of this break. that way we can give folks at home an opportunity to find out how to help these organizations. stay with us, "news4 your sunday" continues right after this. ♪

back again here on "news4 your sunday." we are talking with a few of the ladies from different local nonprofits that are doing a lot of good here

watching and they want to know perhaps whatç your greatest ne is right now and going into 2018 and wondering how they -- what is theç best way to help your organization. so, alicia, what is the best way right now for people to serve thrive d.c.? >> absolutely. we would love for folks to visit the catalogue, support us through the catalogue. you can learn a lot more about all of the vast services we provide. but toiletries and socks i can never have enough of. >> it is amazing. >> yes, travel-sizeç toiletrie and socks and new underwear are things we just can't keep enough of. >> just so people know because we were talking about it during the break, the amount of people that you guys serve hot meals to is how many? >> we serve about 800 to 1,000 meals a week. >> amazing. you have an emergency pantry? >> yes, an emergency pantry, people can get a bag ofç grocer and fresh produce on fridays, all

it is a local program so you just got to show up. >> kate, you were talking about how fortunately you've been able to serve a lot of woman. you don't know how, it is a good thing but also a bad thing because it represents a need in the community. >> absolutely. >> what does suited for change need for comingç into 2018? do you have a specific goal for the organization? >> we do. in 2017 weç saw a 40% increasen demand for our service locally. in 2018 we have a couple will of exciting things happening. we are starting a pilot program to also start serving men in addition to women after 25 years. so we are always looking for people's professional clothes, for women specifically, flat lways need. but the reality is, you know, locally whoever you give to, you know, give generously and consider giving funds because it is simply impossible for us to serve the local community without support of

community. >> sure. again, to give you some peace of mind at home, you heard bob mention the rigorous vetting process that each of these organizations goes through so that when you give you can give with peace of mind.ç deborah, you all have a big project that you are striving for, to get started and to complete as soon as possible.ç how can we help you? >> well, 2018 the color is purple for that year. so we're looking forward to it. the reason i'm in purple and gold is gold is the generosity of the community to help get these folks out of homeless situations. so we are raising money to acquire, renovate and operate a formerç assisted living buildi, 52 units. so it is aç multi-million doll project we hope we can have the support of the community to help our veterans and other low-income families get off the street. >> and get into a place they can call their own. >> yes, ma'am. >> it is important. you all may not -- you know, you may not be a onop

everything but you have a lot of partners. what is the benefit in working together? anybody can do this. >> absolutely. õeborah and i were networking in the green room because we're working at opposite ends of one segment of the community, veterans. >> right. >> i think we'll continue the conversation, absolutely. >> it may not happen here, but you know somebody who does and vice versa. we love we can all share resources andç tries y to do tt we can for the community. anything else you all would like to add? we have aboutç 30 seconds here >> i want to say thank you to nbc for having us and also to the cat lag for philanthropy because you know that the organizations in there have been vetted so it is a great thing to have. >> deborah snyder, kate dean and alicia horton, we appreciate you being here with us. thank you for joining us for this "news4 your sunday." happy holidays to you. ♪ç

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with a 2-year price guarantee with a 2-year agreement. on a sunday morning, welcome into news 4 "today." i'm david culver. alongside meagan fitzgerald. angie and adam both off. so you're stuck with us. >> yeah, if you're just waking up, good morning to you. we with an to get straight over to lauryn ricketts in the "weather center." what is in store for today? >> we have warming temperatures, clear skies out there. we do have a few changes to the forecast and we could see some rain showers out there today. but again, anything we do see going to be on the light side. let's take a look outside, that