For seven incredible, rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling years, THANK YOU to each and every one of you who receives the Journey Home newsletter. Together, we CAN end homelessness!
Seven years ago, I had the honor and privilege of being elected to serve on the Journey Home Board of Directors. For the last four years I have served as the Board Chair. This month, my term on the Board ends and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the experiences and all those who made it possible. What a ride it has been!
To our donors and funders–I am constantly amazed at and appreciative for your generosity. Year after year, the number of folks and organizations that entrust their charitable dollars to Journey Home has grown. Journey Home could not exist without that support and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To our volunteers–Journey Home simply could not meet the needs of our homeless population without you. You all have done so much for the organization over the past seven years. The wonderful and dedicated volunteers have helped transform the lives of an ever-growing number of men, women and children that were and no longer are homeless. In the past two years alone, you have converted over 500 places to sleep into homes with donated furniture and household goods you helped to collect. Sharing your time and talent, you have helped Journey Home accomplish so much more than our staff alone ever could. What an uplifting gift!
To our fellow service agencies—you rock! You are at the front line of the region’s success in finding homes over the last seven years for thousands of men, women and children. You have entrusted Journey Home to function as the backbone for the region’s efforts to end homelessness. Thank you so much for letting Journey Home pursue collectively with you
- a common vision and strategy,
- aligned activities,
- shared measurements to track progress,
- public outreach for our homeless population,
- innovative policies, and
- expanded funding to end homelessness.
To my Board colleagues, past and present—what a dedicated, thoughtful and passionate group. Many of your wear numerous hats—Board member, donor, volunteer, and service provider. I so appreciate the chance to have served with and learned from you.
And to the Journey Home staff—superlatives fall short in conveying my admiration and gratitude for all you have done and are doing. It is simply unbelievable how much has been accomplished in the past seven years. The list of successes is too long to cover, but are exemplified by the regional response to the pandemic. Our most vulnerable population—the homeless—were fed, housed, and protected from COVID 19. You were truly the backbone, mobilizing our donors, funders, volunteers, and fellow service agencies to protect our homeless population. What more fitting way can anyone demonstrate as you have that TOGETHER, WE CAN END HOMELESSNESS.