Planting the Seeds

PLANTING THE SEEDS

Planting the seeds of growth with the launch of our capital campaign.

SPECIAL HEARTS

Some unique ways to get involved in helping Saranam families.

INNOVATIVE PARTNER

Thanks to our grant partner and community leader.

ISSUES THAT MATTER

Information on education, hunger in New Mexico

COMMUNITY CORNER

Opportunities, shout-outs and requests.

DONATE

Invest in ending homelessness.

Planting the Seeds

Greetings!

We believe the highest praise we can receive is a recommendation, especially from those with first-hand knowledge of the life-changing impact of our program.

That is why it means so much to us for our families' voices to join with donors, volunteers and city officials in their overwhelming support of our program's expansion.

"I love advocating and educating others about Saranam - if I can spread the word, just think how many more families like mine can be healed."

-Saranam family

At our groundbreaking, we officially launched our capital campaign to build a second site and double our capacity, making these endorsements, and the dreams they hold, a step closer to fruition.

With a 77 percent success rate, and 86 percent of families stable one-year post-exit, we know that our expansion will change the state of homelessness in New Mexico. But each of those statistics also represents a person- a neighbor, a coworker, a friend. Their lives were changed with us, and now they are recommending a program that they KNOW works.

"Saranam has given me and my family safety and security. I now have confidence in myself that I can achieve anything I put my mind to. And this is rolling over into my children. They watch everything I do."

-Saranam family

For seven years we have been doing exactly what we coach our families to do- plan for the future. Our expansion is carefully crafted to grow sustainably, to strengthen the surrounding community, and with the ability to be replicated in other areas. We have $1.9 million left to raise to meet our goal, which will not only allow us to welcome new families in Spring 2023, but will also leave us completely debt-free on the entire project!

Read more about our plans here

In a speech at our groundbreaking, one of our alumni said, “Today... we are planting seeds. Saranam and its supporters gathered here are the fertilizer and the water that we need. In two short years, you will see fruits of the harvest- 25 families, moms and dads like me- will blossom...”

We invite you to plant these seeds with us and make the opportunities that have changed lives for 18 years available to more families just waiting for the chance to blossom.

Help us grow today!

Special Helpers

50-Mile Challenge

Dust off those tennis shoes and get ready for a “fun”draiser to benefit Saranam!

On Sunday, May 1, Tom Besson, a dedicated Saranam supporter, will be walking 50 miles to raise money and awareness for Saranam. He will start in the wee hours of the morning on a path that will snake through the city until a planned completion close to midnight. Through donations from individuals and local businesses, he hopes to raise $10,000 to support our families.

We welcome you to join him for some or all of his journey, or help him reach his fundraising goal. Most of all, spread the word and follow us on social media on May 1 to cheer him on!

Learn more about this challenge and get involved!

Volunteer Training

One of the most impactful parts of our program is the connection families make with volunteers. With a plethora of skill sets and an abundance of love, volunteers help families learn and feel supported.

"The most valuable thing that I took

away (from Saranam) was witnessing first-hand how patience, compassion, respect, and understanding from one human being to another can make all the difference in someone’s life." -Saranam family

Want to work more closely with our families? Join us for a volunteer training on Saturday, April 2 from 9:00-12:30. To learn more or RSVP, contact Sunny Holmes at (505) 377-5086 or sholmes@saranamabq.org.

RSVP here

Innovative Partner

Thank you so much to Sandia Labs for supporting Saranam! We are so excited to be a 2022 grantee.

Sandia Labs is an institution in the state, celebrated for their leadership in technological and engineering innovations, as well for their community support. We are so grateful for their care and steadfast commitment to building bright futures for New Mexico families.

Issues that Matter

Expanding Educational Opportunities

This year New Mexico took a big step forward in educational access. The passage of SB 140, the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship Act, makes college free for all New Mexico residents with a high school diploma.

The bill, lauded as one of the most comprehensive in the nation, expands access to free tuition and fees to more adult and part-time students, a change that is especially important for families reinvesting in their futures. In addition, it's unique design makes it particularly beneficial for low-income families.

Learn more

More than a Meal

March is National Nutrition Month and as we chomp at the bit to start gardens, we are also reminded of the link between poverty and poor nutrition.

In 2018, an astonishing 79 percent of New Mexico children weren't getting the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables in their diet, according to a Department of Health report. This deficiency, experts agree, in inextricably linked to poverty.

We explored how improving access to nutrition can play a big part in interrupting the cycle of poverty in our blog.