I feel like our work is a version of the kids’ drawing game, connect the dots. Every dot in the picture is something we actually do here. Connect them in order and, some days, they spell hope.
The goal of our work at HRC is to provide a safe space for people to be, where we can earn trust by providing basic human needs, and then use the knowledge we have gained and the relationships we have earned to connect the dots to the most actionable next step toward each person’s goals.
Some days it looks like a meal at LINK leading to shopping at Just Food’s mobile pantry, so someone has groceries for the week.
Today it looked like using our community space, with kind volunteers, WiFi, and showers from our partner Washed Ministries, to help a person get connected to 100 Good Women so they could fix their car and make it to work.
It also looked like someone who was part of our Job Empowerment Program a year ago stopping in to show us the brand new car they just got, and to tell us how excited they are to be celebrating one year sober soon, with their kids back in their life!
As we connect the dots each day, we have no idea what picture is forming, because we are working so hard to figure out where the next dot even is. But when we get to see that picture... wow. It’s so amazing to see what can happen when we all work together for each of these people in our community.
It’s easy to be on the outside looking in and just see a bunch of dots jumbled up. I’m grateful when we get the opportunity to step back and let the picture start to take shape.
Thank you to everyone who invests in the forming of these pictures. Volunteers, case workers, emergency service providers, kind neighbors offering encouragement, churches offering hope, and our community giving financially and donating what is needed to keep this work afloat. We will keep working hard to help you see the pictures your investment creates.
And if you are reading this as someone who has yet to see how your dots are coming together, all I can say is keep going. We will work together to help you make the next connection. You are worth investing in. Please believe this.