The 4th from a Friend's Perspective

I'm privileged to live in "the land of the free and the home of the brave."  I treasure the freedom to express myself.  My freedom of and from religion.  And I treasure the brave ones who have defended all our freedoms.  While thinking about the 4th, I read a newsletter written by a friend and Executive Director of a shelter for homeless families in Columbia, South Carolina.  Therein was some 4th of July food for thought which I'll share:

 

Freedom and Independence are not available to everyone.
 

 

While most of us will be celebrating the birth of our nation and the inherent freedoms that come with living in the United States, there are many among us who are not truly free to enjoy the American dream.

 

Homeless parents and children live a life of uncertainty and hardship. Most are not homeless for many of the perceived and socially believed norms. Our residents at Family Shelter are brave and courageous. The parents are working hard to move toward a life of independence despite lack of resources, lack of support systems and constant hurdles and obstacles. The children often maintain their youthful and lively spirit, work hard in school and keep their chin up despite family instability.

 

Family Shelter supports homeless families by providing a safe and stable living environment, daily living supplies, 3 meals/day,  a variety of support services, education and enrichment programs, a dedicated and caring staff, and some fun and recreation thrown in as much as we can.

 

As you and your family celebrate the birth of our nation, please take a moment and remember the homeless families who are working hard to regain independence. Parents and children who have endured sometimes unspeakable life situations but show the resilience to keep moving forward, at whatever pace they are able to.

 

So far in 2014, 59% of our families moved into stable housing when they left our program. I invite you to promote freedom and independence for some of the most vulnerable in our community by helping us continue our support of the homeless families we serve.

 

Best wishes for a safe and fun holiday.
 

Rebecca

 

Note from Lucy:  Family Shelter can be found on Facebook.   If you happen to live in or near Columbia, SC, you might want to relive the magic of Peter Pan later this month. Tickets are available online for the July 17 performance to benefit the Shelter at www.columbiafamilyshelter.org .   (If you can't make it to the show, they'd welcome your support through a monetary donation or gift from their wish list.) 

I had the honor of serving as a volunteer at this shelter (caring for the children during the weekly adult residents' meetings) and later served on the Board.  It was wonderful talking with some of the residents and hearing their stories—which, by the way, go against many of the myths and assumptions about homelessness.  (I once heard a state senator say "Homeless children don't go to school."  WRONG!)

As we celebrate this day, let's join Rebecca in understanding that some of us are able to enjoy greater freedom and independence than others.

Happy Birthday, America!