As a result, many longtime volunteers chose not to continue their association with ARC.
Lewis, which opened in 2006, is named after a longtime volunteer.
Another longtime volunteer is Ann Galeota, a nurse and mother of two young children.
"She makes people want to do their best for her," said Louis Ruffalo, a longtime volunteer.
"Now people are praying for papers," said María Guadalupe, 47, a longtime volunteer.
Works at Rogers Media, and is also a longtime volunteer in community radio.
As people finished off the cake, Michael Levine, a lawyer and a longtime volunteer, was massaging guests lined up to await his touch.
Under its aegis she was a longtime volunteer in the Head Start program, involving parents and marshaling community support.
As a longtime volunteer for various organizations in Washington, she has worked to persuade homeless people to move indoors.
Sister Theresa Warganz, a longtime volunteer at the clinic, said she expects 1,500 children at this year's party.