Dose of Hope Oct. 27, 2022/Volume 9

ALWAYS A REFUGE  Here for survivors of domestic violence SUPPORT THE CHANGE Ways to make an impact PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT  Continuing education for alumni MANY THANKS!  Special thanks for special projects COMMUNITY CORNER  Opportunities, shout-outs and requests. DONATE  Invest in ending homelessness. Always a Refuge Greetings! One of the most common questions we get is, "What does Saranam mean?". Quite simply, it means "refuge".   All of the families who come to Saranam need a refuge - a place of shelter- from homelessness. But for some, the name means a whole lot more.   Many of our families have had the additional trauma of surviving domestic violence. For them, Saranam is not just a way to end homelessness, it's a safe place to heal and regain their independence.   October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and as a leading cause of homelessness, it is an issue that we have at the top of our awareness year-round. It's estimated that 80 percent of mothers experiencing homelessness had also survived domestic violence. And because a survivor will often leave their abuser multiple times before finally making a permanent escape, they can have multiple periods of homelessness.   Saranam is a refuge for them.   From day one Saranam becomes synonymous with a home and community that is committed to their safety. It means healing with on-site case management that gives families tools and connects them to therapy. It means rediscovering their inherent worth and feeling confident in their independence. And it means learning to prioritize healthy relationships and mental health in weekly classes featuring community resources like S.A.F.E. House and Enlace Communitario.   Most of all, families it means being able to hope again.   “A safe place means having the support, resources and safety, and the confidence a survivor needs to end the cycle of violence. It makes a huge difference to be able to have a place where they are believed and supported.”- Jupa Espinoza, Saranam Case Manager In all it's meanings, we are always a refuge for survivors. Thank you for supporting our work and allowing families believe in a future without fear.

SUPPORT THE CHANGE

Hope to Reality For a family experiencing homelessness, hope can seem unrealistic. But not here. At Saranam they can find relief from the overwhelming task of survival, take a deep breath knowing they are taken care of, and believe that a new future is within reach. We need you to make that future available to our families. As you plan your year-end gifts, we ask that you consider Saranam. Your gift this year will not only support our current families, but the families who will join us at our new, second campus next spring. "We’ve come from hoping to believing. Saranam gives the parents and kids hope and the belief that they will succeed." -Saranam family Hope is not a luxury... but it is fundamental to change, and with your help we can make it a reality for the families who need it. DONATE TODAY Home for the Holidays Ho-Ho-Home! Our holiday playlist is already going and we can't wait for the season to begin! Everyone deserves a holly, jolly holiday. If you are interested spreading some cheer this year, here are some ways you can help: Donate new or gently used holiday décor to bring a twinkle to our families' homes. We are particularly in need of trees and wreaths. Tie a bow on a present from our Holiday Wish List or our Amazon Wish List, which includes items our families need year-round. Help parents be gift givers. Host a gift-card drive to places like Target and Walmart so parents can get that special something for their kids. Donations are due by December 9. Contact Sunny Holmes with questions or to arrange a donation drop-off. Thank you for spreading holiday cheer!

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: ALUMNI

CONTINUING EDUCATION Parenting, finances, algebra- oh my! There is a lot to learn at Saranam in two years. That's why we offer alumni continuing education on topics that become more relevant as they work and save. One of the important topics we covered this month is insurance. Knowing the vast array of insurance options can save families lots of hassle and money, but with so many choices it can quickly become overwhelming! In an easy tutorial, families learned how to prioritize their needs and found where to access resources when they decide to take the next step. We are planning several learning sessions this spring on financial topics such as taxes, insurance, writing wills, and applying for college and college scholarships. If you have experience and interest in leading our learning, contact Rachel Zepper.

THANK YOU!

Works of Heart Sandia Labs gave our families a huge dose of hope this month as they brought messages of resilience and joy to life in murals surrounding our playground. These gorgeous murals were designed by Sandia's immensely talented creative team and over 20 employees gathered to paint them over two days. Saranam was one of the eleven projects that Sandia Labs took on this month to celebrate "Sandia Gives Day". We are honored to have been chosen as one of the recipients of their community care! KRQE was there to talk about this special day and highlight the ray of hope Sandia shined on our community. Check it out! See it in action Essentially Essential Thank you so much to everyone who donated a coat to our Annual Coat Drive! Your warm gifts came just in time to help our families bundle up for this chilly fall weather. _______ Another big cheer for Grace Church and Christian Brother's Automotive for making free oil changes and minor repairs available to our families!  This is the second year this gift has been made available to us and we are so grateful that a dozen families were able to benefit from this generous gift. Thank you to everyone for providing the essentials our families need!

Community Corner Special Days in November Connection Medicine 5 Stars! Want to get involved? Head over to our website to check out the latest volunteer opportunities. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES A Day to Remember Learning about and commemorating important events is such a special opportunity we have as members of a shared community. Here are some of the special days this month that are meaningful to us and our mission. Click on each to learn more! Nov. 2: National Stress Awareness Day Nov. 11: Veteran's Day Nov. 20: World Children's Day Nov. 24: Thanksgiving Day Nov. 26: Small Business Saturday Nov. 29: Giving Tuesday Do you have a special way to celebrate these (or other) days? Tell us about it! Connection Medicine Did you know that connection can actually be medicine? Research shows that social support vastly improves health and chances for success. We are holding our last volunteer training of the year for anyone interested in connecting directly with our families. Join us on Saturday, November 5th from 9:00-12:30 to learn about volunteering, trauma informed care, and how YOU can change a life. 5 Stars! Here is a super, duper easy way to support Saranam: leave us a review! Head to Google, Facebook or NextDoor and tell people why you believe in us!

Follow us on social media so you don't miss a thing. ‌ ‌ ICYMI In case you missed it, here's what happened this month... Thanks to local group from TYLin for their work on our shared spaces Explore Saranam's updated core values with us every week Special thanks to our volunteers who put their spooky touch on our WFC!

Share the love! We're always happy to have new community members.  Share this newsletter with a friend. Doing more of your shopping online these days? Try AmazonSmile and a portion of your purchase will be donated to us.

Saranam | 505-299-6154 | http://saranamabq.org

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