Sister Mary’s 2023 Holiday Letter
Dear Friends,
Recently, a friend posted a picture of her grandson at the airport, early in the morning holding a sign that said, “I am going to Disney!” It was very exciting for the little guy and obviously a total surprise. I love seeing the surprised look on the faces of the children.
Also recently, I met a mom who was in an emergency that resulted in her son coming to stay with us for a period of time. It was unexpected, and his arrival was also a surprise to him. However, Mom did an awesome job of preparing him for his time away. She told him he would be coming to the “Kids’ Hotel” called Blessing House where he would have friends to play with and plenty of good food. He would have his own bed and clean clothes every day. She promised to call him daily and to see him as often as possible. What an awesome surprise for the little guy!
On Halloween, after he and his friends finished their trick-or-treating through the building, a staff member overheard him tell his mom that he was having fun and just got candy from everyone at the “Kids’ Hotel”. We have talked about that title often. Over the years, I have learned that many of our children don’t have a grandma or grandpa’s house to go to when there is a need for a safe place to stay for a short period of time. Somehow, our new title, “Kids’ Hotel” fit perfectly!
Thankfully, Blessing House is here to support caregivers who need a safe, compassionate place for their children to stay. Since we opened in 2005, children have come to the “Kids’ Hotel” 5,000 times. This year, over 150 children will have stayed with us, with their length of stay ranging from 1 day to 90 days. Our youngest child was 13 days old and our oldest was here a day before they turned 13 years old.
The effects of the trauma they have experienced can be very overwhelming for them and long-lasting. Our trauma-informed approach provides a sense of calm and safety during this time. Staff help our children to ease into our daily routines and activities. Simple items like pajamas and a new toothbrush, a safe backyard play area and a comfy blanket enable our children to settle in at Blessing House. Staff help them prepare for transition when it is time to leave. And each child leaves with a promise that they can return if there is a need.
We are so grateful for your generosity that allows us to care for each of these children. Your gift to Blessing House is a gift to our children. Your support allows us to provide safety for children and help keep families together. Please know that many of our parents say they do not know what they would have done if Blessing House had not been there to help them.
For 18+ years, we have used the blessings we have received from the community to grow and expand our programming. This year we are excited to announce that we have achieved CARF accreditation for 3 years, having met the standards for best practices for our type of facility. Our staff and board remain committed to providing compassionate care to those God sends to us for help.
I think back to the baby that was born a little over 2,000 years ago in a Kids Hotel when there was no place else for His family to stay. This holiday season, let us not forget those families who may not have a roof over their heads, who may find themselves alone and forgotten, who may not have enough for their children to eat. May we keep all who are struggling in our prayers as we celebrate and share the blessings we have received.
