Stronger Together-Giving Challenge 2024
The only sign of her nerves was the wringing of her hands and the slight tremor in her voice. You would never guess Ray’s story to see her on the street or in the grocery store. (watch her story here)
Sara was visibly nervous. Her eyes were wide, and her body shook visibly. Would she be able to stand alone in front of a room of 350 people and share her journey? (read her story here)
Both of these women did it scared. They shared their stories. In Micheal’s on East on Wednesday, February 28th, close to 350 people heard how homelessness is not a respecter of persons. It does not lie in waiting for only the person with an addiction or the one struggling with mental illness.
After sharing, Sarah and Ray were relieved. They were proud that they had been brave enough to give insight into their journeys that may help each of us understand that we need each other.
The response from our Home Again Luncheon 2024 attendees was phenomenal. You truly showed up as the village for these women and many more. In the coming emails and on our social media platforms, we will share more stories of how the funds raised are specifically impacting our clients.
As we prepared for The Giving Challenge, we chose to stick with the idea of rebuilding the village.
After the 2024 Home Again Luncheon
Sara and Ray returned from the Home Again Luncheon feeling belonging, accepted, and thankful that their voices were heard and valued. They felt confident that their village had enlarged that day.
They didn’t meet each attendee, nor do they know all of the donors’ or Harvest House volunteers’ names, but they are confident that they have a village. Because of that village, their today and tomorrow look very different than they did.
Please mark your calendars and set your alarm for April 9th and 10 from noon to noon and go to our Giving Challenge page and donate. Thanks to the Patterson Foundation, every $25 up to $100 is matched.
I genuinely believe that there is no more excellent gift than knowing that the money that you have worked so hard to earn when shared, is helping a mama get into safe and affordable housing so she can regain custody of her child; helping a man begin to understand and gain tools to heal from the emotional trauma from his past so he can find his way back to his true self, and knowing that a young adult who wakes up is beginning to grasp that they are valuable.
They are building their lives confidently, knowing the village they are creating chose them.
Your donated dollars do so much more than pay bills and salaries, even more than therapy and education. These dollars help shape lives that impact our communities, lives that become full, and hearts that embrace the idea that they are no longer trying to do this thing called life alone!
