A “Starry, Starry Night” on Alexandria’s Waterfront: Community Lodgings Raises Over $90K

Story updated 6.16.26 at 12:45 pm. Fundraising tally has climbed to over $90K

Alexandria, VA -The raging thunderstorm ended just in time. Stormy skies and lightning streaks gave way to renewed sunshine just as bejeweled guests walked into ALX Community Waterfront (201 N Union Street) Wednesday night. It may have turned bright outside, but inside, participants were treated to a misty, sparkly night “Under the Stars” as the town hall was transformed into a “Fly into the Galaxy” fundraiser. Guests were also invited to dress as their favorite “star” from the last three decades.

Community Lodgings is sobering business. All year long, the non-profit brings vulnerable families into a safe orbit, working to lift them from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency through transitional housing, affordable housing, and youth education programs. For one night in June, staff kicks up its heels and throws a festive bash to raise money to help struggling families find their way out of despair.

A Galaxy of Generosity

A vibrant constellation of supporters filled the light-filled waterfront space, transformed for the night into a glittering galaxy. Silver and gold stars were sprinkled across tables and tucked around cozy seating areas. Guests donned sequined tops and elegant ball gowns, many cleverly pairing their evening wear with sneakers, fully prepared for the dancing that followed the buffet bites. Attendees mingled and nibbled on meatballs, sliders, and an artfully arranged charcuterie board, taking in the stellar atmosphere before the main program began.

The evening’s financial success proved astronomical early on. The live appeal portion of the night kicked off at $2,500 with an ambitious goal of $20,000 on the spot. By the time the final tallies were counted, the live appeal alone eclipsed that target, bringing in a whopping $28,900 and pushing the evening’s grand total to $87,000.

Tom Gale, director of operations for Presenting Sponsor Virtue Feed & Grain, regaled the crowd as the evening’s auctioneer extraordinaire. Gale—wearing his trademark wide-brimmed hat and bow tie—delighted the audience. He belted out the bidding numbers and chortled at the audience to go higher, higher, and even higher, proclaiming there was “No Town Like Old Town” as the figures continued to climb.

Real Lives Transformed

The true heart of the evening came from a deeply moving client testimonial by “Marcy” (not her real name), the mother of twin boys who originally stayed elsewhere in the region before finally moving to Alexandria. Marcy broke down in tears as she relayed her past struggles.

“Before coming into this program, life for me and my boys was very unstable and emotionally difficult,” Marcy shared. “There was a time when I felt completely overwhelmed. I was trying my best to stay strong as a mother while going through many personal struggles and uncertainty about our future. We moved from place to place trying to find stability. We eventually connected with Community Lodgings.”

The crowd listened quietly as Marcy opened up about the hardest days.

“During that time, I carried so much fear, stress, and emotional pain inside while also trying to protect my children and give them comfort even when I myself felt lost and exhausted. As a mother, one of the hardest feelings is not knowing where your children will feel safe and secure. There were nights I cried silently after my boys fell asleep because I did not know how things would get better. But my sons gave me strength every single day. They reminded me that I could not give up.”

Today, the trajectory of Marcy’s family is entirely different. “Today, I am in a much better place emotionally and mentally because of the support we received,” she said. “I have been able to focus on rebuilding our lives little by little and creating stability for my children. My boys now have a safer place to grow, sleep peacefully, and simply be children.”

A Mission Rooted in Community

As dinner was cleared away and the DJ revved up his dance tunes, Lynne Thomas, executive director of Community Lodgings, walked outside with The Zebra to take in the successful evening. The afternoon storm had soaked the outdoor seating, so they headed to the gazebo next to Blackwall Hitch in search of dry chairs. Sitting down with The Zebra for a conversation overlooking the river, Thomas was radiant.

“It feels wonderful, the fact that so many people came out to support us, this worthy cause. It feels great!” she beamed.

Thomas explained that Community Lodgings serves marginalized families in the city of Alexandria, particularly in the Arlandria/Chirilagua neighborhood, providing transitional housing, out-of-school youth programs, and affordable housing at 30 to 60% of AMI. “We try to be the continuum to that community,” she noted, describing Arlandria as “a marginalized community of hard-working immigrants who’ve come here for a better life. They’ve settled in that community, and we just want to be able to help them thrive and to move on.”

Thomas said the $87,000 raised brought relief after her organization lost some city funding. The money will help preserve youth education programs that were facing possible cuts.

For Thomas, the mission is deeply personal as she thought back to her own challenging childhood in Washington, D.C.

“I was raised by a single mother,” Thomas shared. “I lived in affordable housing, just like Community Lodgings. I went to programs just like Community Lodgings. I had caring adults just like my staff at Community Lodgings. Without those programs, those supports, I don’t know where I would be.”

Thomas credits her hard-working mother for instilling a lifelong work ethic in her and her siblings. Thomas has one brother and two sisters, “and all are thriving,” she said, smiling broadly. In fact, all three girls pursued careers in social services. One of those sisters was in the audience Wednesday night, even donating to the record-breaking live appeal.