We'll take a cup of kindness yet...

December 30, 2020

Dear friend,

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple..." -Scott Adams

As we sat down to take stock of the year, we imagined we would see the frustrations, the loss, and difficulties that have seemed to become synonymous with 2020. But, to our surprise, what bubbled to the surface, is great love.

This love has taken the form of endless acts of kindness in every corner of our community.

The many hours and inexhaustible creativity given by our instructors and staff to find new ways to teach and cultivate community.

Families' patience and support of one another as they learn in new and unfamiliar ways.

The selfless time and energy put into preparing apartments for families that were scared and homeless in the midst of a pandemic.

The notes written, stories read, and fresh ways found by volunteers to comfort families and remind them that they are not alone.

The financial support you showed that enabled us to once again operate at capacity

Those acts of kindness have rippled and created lasting change. They have:

Inspired us to expand our programmatic toolkit to meet families' needs in a new, daunting world.

Elevated the partnerships we have and deepened our community ties.

Energized us to meet the burgeoning need created by the pandemic by moving forward with plans to double our capacity.

2020 wasn't easy. It took more out of us all than we knew we had; it also filled us up in ways we never imagined.

So we'll take the cup of kindness that has overflowed in 2020 and let it set our intentions and hopes for 2021.

Thank you for your support this year.

A Gift to Last a Lifetime

Going Full Circle

One of the best gifts we received this year was catching up with Mayra, who successfully left Saranam nine years ago.

We were delighted to hear that she is still stable and has taken her story full circle, going from experiencing homelessness, to becoming a successful realtor.

She told us how the program gave her a new start, what challenges she's overcome along the way, and had some special advice for current families.

Here's a peek:

Where does Saranam fit into your story?

It's the middle of my story; Saranam gave me the push to get started on the next chapter.

I am thinking of going back to school to get my Master's degree. I want to be a P.A. (physician's assistant). I know it'll be hard but I have a supportive husband and I've done a degree before so I know I CAN do it.

Make your year-end gift today!

Despite the upheaval of the year, we are so proud of what we have accomplished.

152 families served in 16 years, including 162 adults and 292 kids.
804 hours given by 78 volunteers to prepare apartments for incoming families in 2020.
77% success rate of families completing the program and exiting into safe, stable living situations.

We need your help to sustain this success. There is still time to make your year-end gift!

"We all want to give meaningful gifts that leave an impact far beyond the holidays. Your gift to Saranam fulfills what's on every parent's wish list: a safe, promising future for their children and our community."

Your gift can truly make a remarkable difference.

A donor, just like you, will match any gift between now and the end of the year. If you make a gift right now, your gift will have DOUBLE the impact on family homelessness in New Mexico.

Tiny Tots With Their Eyes All A'glow

Just ensuring a home and path forward would have been enough. But all of 2020's kind acts culminated in an outpouring of generosity that made this holiday season one to remember.

Our heartfelt thanks to the following groups and organizations who generously donated gifts, decorations, winter gear, and gift cards to Saranam families:

What's Important Now	Albuquerque Woodworkers Association
Covenant United Methodist Church	Pursonalities Plus
Rio Elite All Star Cheer and Tumbling	Golden Equipment Company
Mechanical Representatives	St. John's United Methodist Church
Albuquerque Academy Community Service Group	Kids First
Alpha Delta Kappa Lambda Educational Society	Saranam volunteer decorators
Del Webb at Mirehaven Community	Make Merry Project
United Methodist Women

A Leadership Legacy


	Sonya Priestly was awarded the 2019 National Philanthropy Day award for Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser.


In 2019 the Weil Family Center was dedicated to honor Linda's commitment to provide a central place for community activities.

We extend are deepest gratitude to two members of our Board of Directors who finish their terms this year, Sonya Priestly and Linda Weil.

These remarkable women have led Saranam with boundless creativity and enthusiasm, and have left indelible marks on our growth and sustainability.

In their time, they have touched the lives of families as volunteers, ensured the organization's stability through their work on several fundraising committees, and enhanced our visibility as ambassadors of Saranam's mission to the community.

We appreciate all they have done for Saranam and look forward to continuing our work together to build opportunity for families experiencing homelessness.

Community Corner


Lights of Enchantment Keep that holiday spirit going strong! Remember to join us December 30 for Sandia Speedway's annual Lights of Enchantment. Saranam will receive $5 for every car that visits- up to $5,000! Use this code and receive 40% off your ticket. SARANAM40	Making Merry Huge thanks to Kids First and the Make Merry Project for making the holidays special for the kids in our program. Kids First is a component of New Mexico Sports Inc. that makes sports more accessible to kids experiencing homelessness. Saranam kids received scooters, sports balls, shoes, and more for the holiday. The Make Merry Project provided each child aged 2-18 in our program with a voucher for a gift, a book, a stocking stuffer, and cocoa to make the night sweet. Thank you for your generosity!	A Longer Table We're thrilled to begin a new partnership with Longer Table Wood, a local reclaimed woodworking company whose mission is to donate a piece of furniture for each item sold. We're thankful for the opportunity to receive some of their beautiful work and invite you to visit their shop.