Fauquier Family Shelter Services: Volunteers Delivering Hope

Written by Heidi Baumstark | Photos by Michael Butcher

Fauquier Family Shelter Services (FSS) specializes in the business of lifting others up and fostering hope. The Warrenton nonprofit offers shelter services and teaches crucial life skills like financial literacy, relationship awareness, and health management to those in Fauquier County and neighboring jurisdictions, with the mission to break the cycle of homelessness and transform lives. 

FSS operates the only temporary emergency shelter in the Fauquier County area, as well as a transitional housing program at Vint Hill in Warrenton. By cultivating relationships with the community, FSS staff and volunteers help homeless individuals build self-sufficiency and connect with local resources.

FSS Executive Director Debra Rapone shares, “I get to work with an incredible team of staff and volunteers who show up every day to make a difference; it doesn’t get any better than that.” She has been helping in one way or another for years, but got directly involved with FSS in 2015. Rapone also serves on the Virginia Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism, which takes a proactive stance in the support of community-based initiatives to build stronger communities. 

“I get to work with an incredible team of staff and volunteers who show up every day to make a difference; it doesn’t get any better than that.” –Rapone 

FSS Programs

Located in Warrenton, the Family Shelter offers short-term temporary shelter for vulnerable individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Priority is given to those in Fauquier, Orange, Culpeper, Madison, and Rappahannock counties, though if space allows, neighboring jurisdictions may also be eligible. This 52-bed facility helps nearly 350 people a year in need of immediate accommodations. 

FSS’s transitional housing at Vint Hill provides longer-term support and housing. Vint Hill Transitional Housing (VHTH) is a two-year program offering participants the opportunity to acquire skills to manage finances and obtain stable housing, with an emphasis on single mothers. To be considered for the program, every applicant must meet minimum requirements, such as being employed and holding a valid driver’s license. 

It Takes a Village 

Rapone says, “Someone recently remarked that they were surprised we existed because they didn’t see the homeless, let alone a homeless problem in our area. Although I took that as a compliment — meaning that we were doing our job — it also told me that we have a great deal of work to do in educating the community. The more community involvement, the more we can do.” 

To fulfill such an important mission, it truly takes a village of caring volunteers. Some teach classes at the shelter and at VHTH or provide children’s activities at that time so parents can attend; others are homework club facilitators, maintenance workers, mentors, or meal providers. Tracy Forloines, the programs and volunteer coordinator at FSS’s Warrenton shelter, says, “We always look for ways to collaborate with individual volunteers, businesses, and other organizations in the community.” 

Ellen Marin, who volunteers as the homework club leader, notes, “The kids are wonderful — they genuinely seem to appreciate the activities, the thought, and attention.” From supporting a child’s passion for art to providing comfort after a rough day, Marin’s impact on the kids is obvious. She recalls one session that struck a chord with a young girl. “When I walked in the next day she ran up to me, gave me a big hug, and said, ‘You came back!’ That made my day.” 

Several local organizations have also joined in. Volunteer group Boxes of Basics collaborates with FSS to provide each child with a curated box packed with school clothes, play clothes, pajamas, shoes, and usually a book or toy. Mike Hettmann began volunteering his handyman services in April, when he and his wife delivered Boxes of Basics care packages to the shelter. Hettmann says, “I was looking for a way to use my skills. Now I’ve been helping Facilities Manager Scott McDowell by painting and updating kitchens and bathrooms. It’s been very gratifying knowing that we’re helping families during their time of need. Even if volunteers don’t directly interact with the people they serve, they’ll be surprised to experience the joy they feel.” 

“To have the opportunity to walk beside someone as they decide to take steps to break the cycle — and transform their lives and those of their children — is priceless. I can’t think of anything more rewarding.” –Marin

HomeAid National Capital Region partners with FSS to renovate VHTH units for new families. The organization recently provided complete paint and flooring solutions for some units and is getting ready to undertake top-to-bottom renovations of more. Not only does it shoulder the labor, but the cost, as well.

Every third Wednesday of the month, FSS hosts a Community Coalition at the Warrenton shelter. “The group is comprised of faith-based organizations, churches, and other groups, where needs at the shelter and at Vint Hill are discussed,” Forloines says. From hosting events and meals to providing cleaning supplies, paper products, hygiene items, pillows, sheets, and towels, “this group always comes through for us,” Rapone says. 

Nathan Gilbert, a founding partner at Meridian Financial Partners in Warrenton, shares, “I have been a board member of Family Shelter Services since 2020 and am impressed with how much the organization supports the community. Debra [Rapone] and Board President Jim Mitchell continue to guide the organization in an excellent manner.” Meridian was one of FSS’s platinum-level sponsorship partners at its annual HOPE Gala on October 18, 2025, at Fauquier Springs Country Club in Warrenton. 

Wegmans, Greystone, Leadership Fauquier, and local schools also lend a hand. And, last summer, the Virginia Cooperative Extension and Master Gardeners built a raised-bed garden of flowers, herbs, and vegetables in front of the shelter. In addition to nutritional benefits, it’s meant to also be used as a teaching tool and provide mental health benefits.

“Before landing here, I worked with vulnerable populations in several jurisdictions and can honestly say that this community is second to none in taking care of its neighbors,” Rapone shares. “To have the opportunity to walk beside someone as they decide to take steps to break the cycle — and transform their lives and those of their children — is priceless. I can’t think of anything more rewarding.”

Marin adds, “The staff is so dedicated and have the biggest hearts you can imagine. Many of the families have inspired me with their strength and positivity — even during such a stressful time in their lives.” ML

To donate or learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit familyshelterservices.org or call (540) 351-0130. 

Published in the February 2026 issue of Middleburg Life.