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To All our Member Partners and Community:
As we finish out another year of working to end homelessness in our local communities, regions, and state, I want to personally thank each one of you for all the hard work and efforts you put into helping others. Our jobs are often thankless. Sometimes, we hear praise from others but more often than not, we live in a society that focuses on the negative, the undone, the hurt, and the unfairness. Yet, we show up...every day...at our jobs....in the hopes....that today...we make a difference for someone. I don't know about you but I am tired. The pandemic has claimed so much of our energy, time, practices, and mental capacity. We have been challenged beyond what we were ever prepared for and we have been left with two choices: change careers or show up.
I'm writing to the "Show Up" crowd. This is us. We are the ones that continue to go to the office, answer the phones, complete those housing assessments, bargain with and engage landlords, gather needed supplies, fix care packages, go out to the streets, work those 24-hour shelter shifts, attend committee and board meetings, write new policies, write grants, recruit people to help us, educate about homelessness, and work double shifts because we are all short-staffed.
Yes, I am talking to you. The person who's tired but comes to work anyway; the person who's doing two jobs to ensure needs are met; the person who left their children at daycare or school today to go comfort someone else's child; the person who drove to work on an empty tank of gas because you gave your last $5.00 to buy someone you help a bottle of water or a sandwich; the person who smiles all day at hopeless situations and cries silently in your office because it's just "too much" some days. I see you. And, I want you to know:
You give hope where there is none. We give 110% of everything we can to bring the light and the love that breathes strength into a dark place for many. We encourage. We lift up others. We hold our breath and pray in whatever way we believe spiritually for others to find relief. Under our breath we mutter.....just HOLD ON, even if it's a tiny thread, just HOLD ON. We give until the barrel is empty on many, many days.
As we finish up another year of our work, I want you to know how much I appreciate each one of you. You each bring a trait, an energy, an idea, a work ethic, a value, a belief, a desire, an inspiration, and so much more to the work we do. I am honored to serve with you and I love that collectively, we bring power and justice and a voice that can't or won't be stopped. We are fearless and determined to end homelessness. And...we will....someday.
Thank you for choosing to "Show Up" and make a difference. May your holiday season be spent with a full heart. As we roll down the last stretch and we pass out food baskets, Christmas presents to children, needed supplies, hot meals, and warm beds, may we also remember to rest our bodies and minds; to enjoy our own family time together; and rejuvenate our own souls for the work ahead. We still have much to do.
On behalf of the MO BoS CoC Board of Directors and myself, a most heartfelt THANK YOU for sharing your gifts with those we serve. Happy Holidays and may 2023 bring you peace, joy, and prosperity.
MO BoS CoC Board Chair
Martha Sander
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