National Volunteer Appreciation Week

Winter Wonderland

We are having quite the winter this year! We seem to have it all, ice, snow, colder than normal temperatures. School has been cancelled; we closed Hope House offices due to the snow storm which dumped ten inches of snow across our area. This weather certainly challenges our patience, our resources for snow removal, street treatment, cancellations of events, business closings, flight cancellations etc.

It doesn’t look like we will be getting a break either with more snow predicted for this weekend and Monday. I wonder if school will be able to resume before spring! But even with all of the challenges and the patience and strength required to shovel our driveways, parking lots and sidewalks, dig people out of ditches the winter wonderland provides an opportunity for fun as well. 

We closed our office on Tuesday due to the weather but due to the nature of our work we must always have staff on hand. I am so grateful for the staff who worked during the storm. The shelter staff braved the streets and made it into work so that they could relieve the person who had come in earlier in the day. The Facilities staff worked tirelessly outside in the elements to make sure the sidewalks and the driveways were clear so staff and clients could get in and out without danger of getting stuck or falling. Their work continued into the next few days as they continued to clear parking lots and sidewalks. I am grateful to all of them for their work and dedication.

On Wednesday, I was working in my office and heard squealing and such amazing laughter that I had to turn around to see what was happening in the court yard. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the kids throwing snow balls and running around in the snow as if it was the first time they had ever been in snow. It is sometimes hard for me as an adult to remember the fun that winter can bring. So as we all continue to work through the challenges brought out by the snow, I will continue to remember the children playing in the courtyard, having the time of their lives playing with the very same snow that has caused so many challenges. I forget sometimes to find the silver lining, those children helped me remember. I will also remember the dedication of the staff who put the needs of others before their own and will be grateful to work with such dedicated individuals.

Stay safe and warm and travel safely and remember the joy the children experienced in the snow. 

Happy New Year!

2014 is just around the corner, it is hard to believe another year has passed. 2013 was a year filled with challenges as well as the strength and wisdom to persevere and conquer the challenges. We always reflect on the year passed and what the New Year holds in store for us, the possibilities for us as an agency and for the individuals we serve. It is a great time to set goals and reflect on our accomplishments. We will review our programs and make any necessary changes and look to what else we need to do to address the needs of our clients, always with the goal of ending domestic violence.

We will continue to be a voice for those who are struggling and to make a positive impact in the lives of those we provide services to every day. We couldn’t do what we do without the community support that we receive. We are so grateful to everyone who supports us in carrying out our mission. We have so many volunteers and supporters who help us every day and make our services possible. We are so appreciative of all that they do.

I wish you all a happy and safe New Year and look forward to working with you in 2014 to ending the cycle of violence.

The holidays are here, with Thanksgiving being so late this year everything seems upon us sooner than we are ready. We are working hard to make sure that everyone who is with us has the best holiday and is able to celebrate in the way that they choose. Whether they celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas or any other celebration, we want it to be special for them. Being in shelter during the holidays can be tough for families. There are traditions and expectations of being with family and when one is in shelter those traditions can be difficult to celebrate and to maintain.

We have had many groups volunteering for us. Some help out in the holiday store, some host toy and food drives, and other are hosting holiday parties for those in our services. One gentleman dropped by with seven Christmas trees - complete with lights - to donate to those in our outreach program or for those just leaving shelter and who may not have a tree. We’ve had groups do collection drives for us and when they've dropped the donations off they were just as excited to give the gifts as we were to receive them!

The holidays have a special magic to them and people in our community are so generous with their time and resources. We are grateful for the support that we receive. Thank you to this wonderful community for helping us to make sure no one goes without. Mothers do not have to worry about how they are going to provide a holiday meal for their family or how they’re going to make sure Santa comes to their house or to shelter. Somehow Santa finds them no matter where they are and, even if for just a short while, the adults can put their worries aside and enjoy the season.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year as we celebrate everyone’s uniqueness and share our good fortunes with those who are less fortunate. Thank you for sharing this season with us and making a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Happy holidays!

Strength and Perseverance

It is amazing to me how strong people can be and what they can overcome. I have been watching the news intently on the escape of the three women in Ohio who were kidnapped as young girls and who have now been reunited with their families. I was glued to the television to get every new piece of information on their stories of survival.

I am truly inspired by them and all of the people who have survived tragedy and horrific experiences and have gone on to thrive. The video they posted was so moving it brought me to tears. What strength those women have! How touched I am for their ability to reclaim their lives.

I often wonder how I would react/cope if I was confronted with the tragic and horrific experiences our clients and others face on a daily basis. Would I have the strength to leave? Would I have the strength and inner guidance to know when to make the move, or when to break out the door and scream at the neighbor passing by for help as Amanda did? Those who have survived have tapped into that inner knowing and that inner strength and found what it takes to make those really difficult and life saving decisions.

I am grateful to all of the survivors of tragedy for their wisdom, their ability to persevere, for their ability to forgive, to work through the emotions and come out on the other side. I am so happy those three young women have their lives ahead of them with their families. Congratulations to them for having the strength to make it through. I pray that all of those who are faced with tragedy that they can have outcomes similar to Amanda, Gina and Michelle.

I am grateful that Hope House is here to help people in domestic violence situations. We couldn’t do it without our supporters. I am aware it takes everyone working together to bring about change.  Hopefully there will be a day when there is no violence, no kidnappings and murders. Until then, thank you for helping us help others.

YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG0WePdZoxg

4th of July

Next week we will be celebrating Independence Day. Normally when we think of Independence Day we think of fireworks, cook outs and celebrating our country. Which of course are all synonymous with 4^th of July celebrations. Hope House will be beneficiaries of a tent this year so if you are in Lee’s Summit and celebrate with fireworks then please visit our tent! It's on Hwy 291 on the west side of the street, just south of Chipman.

During this time I also find myself reflecting on the work we do and the people that we serve. Holidays can be very special times with family and it can be challenging for people to celebrate holidays while they are living in shelter. It can be hard to gather the courage or the enthusiasm to celebrate when things all around feel difficult and sad. So we work hard to make the time special and help people create new traditions that they can enjoy after they leave our services. This can be hard at first but we so often see families celebrating and enjoying the holidays even as they struggle with feelings of sadness and feeling overwhelmed with life circumstances. The holidays can be an opportunity to start over and create new rather than focusing on what used to be and isn’t anymore. On this holiday I like to think about the clients own freedom and independence from their abusive pasts and the opportunity for the future free of violence.

Today I am thankful for the freedoms we have in this country, thankful for those who continue to fight for our freedoms and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their life for their country. I am also thankful for all who support Hope House and who assist us in helping those who do not have their independence—those who are not yet free of the violence. For those people we will continue to be here providing services and we will help however we are able. We look forward to the day that everyone is celebrating their freedom from a life of violence, until then we will continue to work to break the cycle of violence once and for all.

Happy 4^th of July everyone; please celebrate safely and thank you for keeping Hope House in your thoughts.

Marti Hill

I had the extreme pleasure of meeting a very courageous, warm and inviting woman. Joyce Layman Blackburn introduced me to Marti Hill so I could hear her story and offer resources for their joint project the Living Proof website.

Marti is an amazing woman. She has survived so much and has become a pioneer and advocate for those who are experiencing trauma, pain and loss. Marti’s story is not one of domestic violence, but she has so much to say that can impact those who are experiencing domestic violence. Her desire is to help everyone and she realized that she couldn’t do it alone, so she set about gathering people around her who could help. She had a dream to use her trauma and victimization and turn it into something positive that would help inspire others and promote healing.

Marti was viciously attacked on September 8, 2010 by Brian Pennington. Brian had done home repair work for Marti and Marti’s mother. Early one morning, Brian drove to Marti’s house on the pretense of showing her some more work that he found still needed to be done on her house. Instead, he viciously attacked her and left her for dead in the basement of her home.

It is a miracle that Marti is alive. Her injuries were so severe that, if it hadn’t been for her caring co-workers who became concerned when she didn’t show for work and called for a wellness check, Marti most likely would not be alive today. Marti has embraced this miracle and is committed to creating something positive out of a horrific situation. I applaud Marti for her courage, her commitment to helping others and her willingness to turn tragedy into hope.

Marti’s story was highlighted on CBS 48 Hours on February 2, 2013. She has much to offer to those who are in need or who want to be inspired by her story of survival. To learn more about Marti’s story and who she is, visit her website martihill.com. I know you will be as impressed with Marti as I am.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for at Hope House and it is always good to pause and to give thanks for all that we have. We are blessed to have so many friends and supporters of our agency. Without all of you we would not be where we are today.

I am so grateful for the Board of Directors, the Advisory Board and the staff that works so hard every day to provide quality services to those who have been impacted by domestic violence.

I am grateful to all of the people that have challenged us to do better and who have supported us on our journey. I’m especially thankful to Barbara Potts who had the vision and the courage to start this agency in 1983. She and a group of dedicated individuals still support us today, offering their guidance and encouragement.

So, as you all reflect on your blessings and what you are thankful for, remember that you have made a difference for Hope House. We are able to do what we do because of you, and for that we are grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving.