Thank You!

Separating life into different compartments is easy for some people while others find it next to impossible. We go about our days wearing a million different hats...parent, son or daughter, spouse, employee, lion tamer... Okay, that last one is really cool and I've yet to meet one so I am throwing it out there. My point is many of us let certain aspects of our life drift into other areas. We might be thinking of a report that is due while we're at our child's soccer practice. Maybe the drama at work never really fully rescinds as we settle down to watch some TV or read a book. Work and play and hobbies all hover around our periphery and melt into one big entangled existence.

I've spoken to many of our Samaritan House staff and it is safe to conclude that much of what we see and deal with on a daily basis is hard to leave at work. Especially when it comes to homelessness and children. For me, it is one of the most heartbreaking ideas that any child would be faced with being homeless. Think back to your childhood and remember how life was crazy enough if you were part of a family that loved you, cared for you, and supported you. Some of us had an upbringing that was less than ideal and provided its own unique hardships. Now imagine what it must feel like to be a homeless 8 year old celebrating your birthday in a shelter. Not something most of us encountered.

A while ago I wrote a blog asking people to consider sending money that was specifically earmarked for children's birthdays. Someone sent in $25 and we were able to help a mother purchase a few things for her child. Thank you so much to the individual who helped us out. Because of your generosity, a young child was able to receive some presents on their birthday.

Right now we have 9 kids at Samaritan House and I am making another appeal for anyone interested in sending a specifically marked donation just for birthdays. I am not asking for a certain amount and I am thankful that our readers have been so generous in the past with various things we have asked for. While its never totally possible to leave our work at home, some nights we go to sleep a bit easier knowing we have made a tangible difference in a child's life in a very simple way.

Our address is:
124 9th Ave West
Kalispell