Giving goals some wheels

Giving Goals Some Wheels

Saving for a game-changer

Dear friend,

Financial literacy is a huge part of our work with families. Learning to budget and save is foundational to their stability when they exit Saranam.

One of the major investments families often save for is a car. A reliable vehicle allows them more flexibility in job choice, a safe way to transport their kids, and increased convenience for everyday living.

This month some wonderful supporters donated their used cars and made this goal a reality for not just one but two of our families.

Not surprisingly, both mothers were shocked to be offered such life-changing gifts!

What happened next, though, is what Saranam is all about.

Both parents took a long, hard look at their budgets to make sure they could accept the gift. And thanks to the saving they have done over the last two years, they found they were able to pay for their insurance and registration and knew their budget could handle future costs.

One mother shared that it was the first time in her life she had saved this much money and was so proud to be able to spend it on something that would change her kids' lives so much.

It was proof of their growth and the possibilities ahead.

It turns out that the gift came just in time, too! Just a week later, one mother welcomed her new daughter into the world.

Please join us in extending our deepest thanks to the donors who made this achievement possible.

If you or anyone you know is interested in donating a used vehicle, please contact Dianne Campbell.

Spotlight on Service

There is always somebody in an organization whose job is a pillar of everyone's success. For us, that person is our bookkeeper, Julie Green.

This year Julie celebrates 15 years at Saranam! She has been there to watch just about every success story we have ever had unfold and is so happy to see those families thriving in her community.

"Julie has been instrumental to Saranam’s growth! She is great at minding the financial details, working behind the scenes and supporting Saranam in many ways. Her family has helped build garden beds, moved furniture, and so much more. Julie has been a colleague, friend and such a pleasure to work with over these many years!"

- Tracy Weaver, Saranam Executive Director

When she's not doing an amazing job for us, she likes to knit, watch some serious college basketball with her family, and spend time enjoying the beautiful New Mexico weather.

Thank you, Julie, for keeping us running smoothly for 15 years!

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month! The imprint our volunteers make can be seen in every nook and cranny at Saranam: the laughter of our kids, the efficiency of our operations, the cleanliness of our campus, the comforted smiles that parents bring into their work, and so, so much more.

There is a very special volunteer we would like to highlight this year- Jennifer Walsh. When 2020 forced us to change many of our typical volunteer opportunities, Jen stepped up to the challenge.

Some of her many COVID-safe contributions this year include:

sorting monthly supplies
creating and maintaining a warehouse furniture inventory database
scheduling shifts to sort household good donations
organizing a gift care, coat, and holiday decor drive in her community
brainstorming ways to decorate for incoming families safely

Thank you to Jennifer and to ALL of our volunteers who put the unity into the "community" we love so much.

Forward, Together

It has been astounding to see the New Mexico business community's response to the COVID crisis. Without hesitation, they have jumped in and put their resources to work making sure vulnerable and disadvantaged populations receive the services they need.

This community care is so apparent in the grantors we thank this month. We are grateful for their continued support of our work and their heartfelt dedication to the growth and success of people in our community. We know we can move families forward, together.

Applications Open Soon!

We are coming up on one of our favorite parts of our year- welcoming new families!

Applications to join our 2021 cohort will open soon! Families can submit applications between June 1st and July 23. Between now and then, we will spread the word to organizations and providers in the community to ensure they have information available for families who can benefit from our program.

Ever wonder what makes someone a good candidate for Saranam? Check out our "FAQs" to learn more.

But WAIT! We still need your help to be able to bring in 10 new families! Learn more about our "Building Foundations for Life" campaign that supports these new families and donate today!

Donate Today

Volunteer Impact

Volunteers not only leave an indelible mark on our families' lives, they make a big financial impact as well.

This year, even with COVID restrictions, our volunteers dedicated a whopping 2,518 hours to us!

Put into financial terms, this translates to $68,490. That is the cost of completely supporting 2 families for a year at Saranam!

If you're looking for a way to make a difference- a BIG one- consider checking out our volunteer opportunities.

Decorating Teams

We are starting to plan for our 2021 summer decorating season! We are once again looking for small groups and individuals to prepare apartments for our incoming families.

This is a BIG job and there are a lot of COVID-safe ways to help, from decorating, furniture assembly, moving items, and everything in between.

Contact Jennifer Clear to find YOUR way to get involved.

'Cause We Are Living in a Digital World

Computers are increasingly necessary for success in this world. Learning, job training, applications, connection- it all needs a computer.

We want to start our new families off on the right foot with reliable technology.

If you have a gently used computer, please consider donating it to us. Or check out our Amazon Wish List for a complete list of what we need. Thank you!

ICYMI

In case you missed it, here's what happened this month...

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.