Many years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. Tools? Pots? Metal work?
Mead’s answer surprised the student who asked: a healed human femur. It was simple, really. If you sustained that kind of injury in a primitive environment, you could not hunt, fight, or even bring yourself to a stream for water. More often than not- you died.
Finding a skeleton with a healed fracture is evidence that a fellow citizen carried the person to safety, fed them, protected them, and remained with them through recovery.
“Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts,” Mead said.
We see this kind of care every day at Saranam. Countless families tell us that Saranam, and the people who support it, quite simply saved their lives. You make that possible. Our struggles may no longer be as straightforward as a broken bone, but the lesson remains the same: when we stumble, we need a community at our back to help us heal.
This year we invite you to grow that community. Instead of our normal Dreaming of Home Breakfast, we are doing something a little different. We still want you to have a chance to connect personally with the community you save every day. To hear the stories. To meet with the people who share your passions. To help someone in need.
Every year the Breakfast kicks off our Spring campaign, which allows us to bring in 10 new families. This is so important in a year when so many families have stumbled and need help.
So this spring, we challenge you to reach out to a friend- go for a walk, have a cup of coffee, or share a Zoom room- and talk about how you can be a lifesaver for a family in our community.
Need some inspiration? We have videos, stories and information galore on our website, or you can always contact Dianne Campbell for more information.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for making life possible for those who need an extra hand.
Getting Creative to Nourish Growth
We are ecstatic to be recognized as an honoree for Albuquerque Business First's Philanthropy Awards.
We were named a "Nonprofit of the Year" alongside five other nonprofits in a virtual event earlier this month.
Read more about this award and how we've maintained our commitment to families impacted by homelessness through such a turbulent year in Albuquerque Business First's weekly edition.
Food insecurity is synonymous with homelessness, but addressing hunger is so much more than just filling a belly. Learning about and accessing healthy foods has huge implications for the stability of a person’s transition from homelessness.
From the long-term health implications of a good diet to the empowerment parents feel providing for their kids, nutrition touches every aspect of our lives.
Tis the season to garden! Our gardening class is a perennial favorite of our families (pun intended), but gardening took on new importance for us this year. When the quarantine went into effect, our families put new energy into their gardens. Thanks to our friends at Food is Free Albuquerque, families could even grow in planters at their doorsteps.
The effect has been even greater than we imagined.
The shared gardens became a way to connect with friends, even from a distance.
The food became an anticipated treat.
"We are more likely to eat a slice tomato instead of picking up a bag of chips. I use one fresh herb in most of the meals I make now."- Saranam parent
It provided much needed outdoor reprieve for the children.
It even provided inspiration for how to build friendships in a new community.
“Wherever I move to [after Saranam], I want to introduce myself to people and put myself out there... I plan to do things outside so people can get involved. Gardening was perfect- everyone started just naturally talking to each other.” C, Saranam mother
From our shoots to our roots, THANK YOU to all of our gardening partners that made this joy happen.
We are thrilled to announce that we are once again able to accept furniture donations!
To continue to protect the health of our community, all furniture donations must be made by appointment only and proper public health precautions will be undertaken during drop-off. Please contact our Housing Coordinator, Jen Clear to make arrangements for your donation.
For a full list of accepted items, please visit our website.
Thank you to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico for their support of our After Exit program through their Healthy Kids, Healthy Families initiative.
With this grant, our alumni families can build assets, maintain a supportive community, and continue to work toward their highest goals. Thank you for supporting thriving families!
Last year we were able to quickly shift our programs to an online platform and we know this will be a continuing need in the coming year.
With new families joining us this summer, it is imperative that we have hardware and software ready for them so they can hit the ground running.
If you are able, please consider donating a gently used computer to our families. Contact Darren Sandow for more information on the specific equipment we need.
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