Getting Back to Normal

The People that Shape Us

Celebrating two special women in the Saranam story.

Next Steps Forward

We welcome two new members to our Board of Directors and families set a vision for their future

Grant Partners

Special thanks to our grant partners this month.

COMMUNITY CORNER

Opportunities, shout-outs, and requests

DONATE

Invest in ending homelessness.

Getting Back to Normal

Dear friend,

Amid the inevitable changes that mark the change of the season- the nip in the air and pumpkin flavors galore- we feel a shift happening here at Saranam as well. The return of a sense of normalcy.

After moving our programs online for the majority of the last year, we are beginning a measured re-opening of in-person activities.

Though our families thrived last year- even achieving an 86% success rate in 2020- the return is very welcome.

It is refreshing to once again see families playing in our courtyards, adults attending classes in person and kids safely going to school.

Notably, our 10 new families began their journey together in a week-long orientation. Their laughter rang through the halls as they built an instant bond.

At the end of the week, we asked them, “what does community mean?” Answers like, “empathy and compassion, growing together, and accountability” showcased just how special it is to be here with each other.

Being at Saranam, I’ve learned what community is – to have neighbors and interact with them. Last week, I went to get milk and bought extra for a neighbor who didn’t have a car. All of us come from a place of hurt, but we’re still able to come together give each other the support we need.

We also spent time this month welcoming new and returning volunteers. As we begin limited in-person family nights, these volunteers will become a huge part of the community that our families hold so dear.

Safety remains our utmost priority and we are prepared to meet our families' needs in whatever circumstance, but for now, we are grateful for the chance to be together again.

The People that Shape Us

One legacy shaping another

It is fitting that we continue taking steps to double our capacity as we celebrate the legacy of Frances Thaxton Ash this year. It was 20 years ago that Frances passed away and left her estate with the directive to help end homelessness for families in New Mexico.

Her gift not only started Saranam, two decades later it ensures that we can still dedicate the majority of our resources directly to families. The stability her gift allows us has been instrumental in the visioning work we have done since 2015 to expand the work she started.

Did you know...

$.98 of every dollar you give goes to programming because the Frances Thaxton Ash endowment covers the majority of the cost of our fundraising.
Many corporate and foundation partners prefer organizations to be stable with 6 months of cash in reserves to approve funding for expansion projects.
Frances's gift means that we can focus on making sound, stable plans for our future and STILL make sure that every dollar you give goes far.

Francis’s legacy is helping you give yours.

Next month, look for more about Frances's life, legacy, and the impact she continues to have on the community she held dear.

Happy Anniversary!

If you have been into the Saranam offices anytime in the last few years, chances are you were greeted with an enthusiastic, warm welcome from our Administrative Coordinator, Olga. This month we are celebrating Olga's 5 year anniversary with Saranam!

From accepting donations, coordinating mail, and a million other tasks, Olga is the behind the scenes guru who keeps all of our work organized and flowing smoothly.

"Olga’s attention to detail and her breadth of knowledge help keep our organization moving forward. In addition, Olga is one of the most kind and enthusiastic colleagues I’ve ever known."

- Saranam staff member

Did you know that Olga came to Saranam as a member of the Intel Encore Program? We're so grateful she loved us so much to join us as a staff member.

Happy anniversary, Olga! We love you!

Next Steps Forward

Welcome aboard!

We are thrilled to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors!

Vera Olson is a long-time volunteer, decorator and friend of Saranam. After growing up with few resources but a supportive community rich in love, Vera went on to become a civil engineer and later, a teacher. Her belief in the power of education and community inspire her work at Saranam.

Yudima Valdes is a former parent at Saranam. Originally from Cuba, Yudima worked as a nurse in many capacities before moving to the United States and joining Saranam. Her time in the program changed her life and she is excited to use her experience to inform her work on the Board. She is currently a charge nurse, specializing in memory and palliative care.

Please join us in welcoming these amazing new members to our Board of Directors!

Eyes on the prize

Setting goals is a key part of each family's success at Saranam. One of the ways families do this is by crafting vision boards.

What are these? Simply put, they are a collage of images and affirmations that provide inspiration. They're not just pretty, either. Putting them down on paper keeps us on track and motivated.

One of the culminating events of our orientation is the presentation of these beautiful creations. The boards families made this year were filled with inspiring images and mantras to ground themselves in their dreams:

To find more balance in their lives

To create sense of calm in their home

To work together to protest injustices

Looking for some inspiration yourself? Here are some tips to make your very own board. Happy visioning!

Thank you to our grant partners

We are so grateful to the grantors who support our work. From supporting special projects like a children's garden to helping fund the nuts and bolts of our program, our work couldn't be done without their belief in the potential of our families.

We recognize these partners who generously contributed to Saranam this month. Thank you!

Many Hands, Priceless Gifts

One of the biggest jobs we have every year is decorating our 10 apartments for incoming families. This gargantuan task requires dozens of volunteers and hundreds of hours.

The numbers are in for 2021, and we are blown away by the time and effort given!

97 volunteers

12 groups

937.2 hours

The impact is HUGE! It would take 24 employees an entire week to accomplish this amount of work.

The value of their time to our families is of course, priceless, but at the estimated 2021 dollar value of a volunteer, this time amounts to $26,748.

Thank you so much to the volunteers who gave their time and hearts to creating homes this year!

Volunteers Needed!

We are so thrilled to be offering Family Nights again for our parents and children. But these nights need YOU. Not only are they infinitely easier with more hands, but the value of community support is priceless.

We still have opportunities on Tuesday and Thursday nights to work with families during these Family Nights. The activities will change each week, but jobs could include:

Reading to younger children
Facilitating an activity
Helping with set-up or clean-up
Leading a discussion
Holding infants while parents work with other kids

Our highest priority is keeping everyone safe. Visit our website for a full run-down of the safety precautions we have in place to protect all of our community.

Email Sunny Holmes to sign up!

Warm Up Together!

The fall chill is FINALLY in the air! As the weather turns colder, we are starting our work to provide families with what they will need this winter.

Our Amazon Wish List includes coats and other gear our families need to prepare for the rest of the year. If you are able, please help families stay warm and comfortable.

Click here to see what we need for our families!

ICYMI

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

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