Just Neighbors

"Geneva" is a remarkable, strong woman. She has been participating in the Family Promise Homeless Prevention Program. This is an open letter from Geneva to all our Volunteers and Supporters:

We are neighbors. We see each other at the grocery store and drug store, our children are pleased to discover each other visiting the library or the community pool, we make plans together for school functions, we worship together. When I had surgery, you came over to mow my grass. I took care of your pets and brought in your mail while you were on vacation.

We are neighbors, and neighbors make communities; communities create the larger environment in which we all live. I am dedicated to making this community, my community, your community, the community in which all of our children are growing up, a better place, a safe place, a thriving, nurturing place. We all have opportunities for education, worship, culture, recreation, sports, a variety of arts, and just plain fun. Community depends on giving, volunteering, supporting, and engaging, on working together and being responsible.

I am in a very needy position. Subsequent to a family trauma, I have found myself very unexpectedly the sole provider and only parent in my home. Completely unprepared, without the support of family, and still trying to regain my equilibrium, I have been presented with traumatized children, a mortgage way outside my reach, lack of work experience or practical training, vehicles to be given back to a lender, health problems, and the list goes on.

Family Promise has stepped forward for my family with counseling, encouragement, legal help, practical advice, encouragement, ideas and connections, assistance navigating through the welfare system, and more encouragement. I am on the receiving end of financial and emotional support. This support is allowing me to work through my own adjustments while I help my children work through theirs. This support fills in the gap between our daily needs and what I earn while I work toward financial independence. This support has been a lifeline and has helped keep hope alive for us.

I desperately want my independence and my balance. I want to support my family and hold up my head. I want to prove to my children and to myself that regardless of any setback, we can move forward. I want so much to thank you all as a community, my community, for rallying around us, for supporting us. I want to thank you for treating me with dignity even though I feel shame at being in a position of receiving. And I want you to know that I am doing my level best to get back to giving to this community, and, that as I am able, I will be giving with a renewed spirit, a profound respect for those who keep going against the odds, and a sense of urgency to reach out.

Your generosity of spirit is beautiful! The safety net with which you have surrounded us has been strong and nurturing. Thank you for allowing us just what we needed to get on our feet again. Just what we needed! Thank you!