There is something about the holidays that makes home matter even more. And like any grief, homelessness is often felt more acutely during the holiday season. When so much of the world is celebrating home, family and belonging, their absence can feel especially profound.
But the holidays are also a season when community shows up for one another. And that is really what Light the Way is about: coming together to help our neighbors move from homelessness toward stability, belonging and a home of their own.
We hope you’ll be part of it.
Please join us for Light the Way, our annual Christmas Tree Festival & Silent Auction, on Saturday, November 14, in McAuley Hall at the Center for Nonprofits.
And this year, we have some wonderful reasons to celebrate.
In just the last 30 days, Micah 6:8 helped a young woman with a security deposit enabling her to move into an apartment, and four residents of Suites at St. Mary’s transitioned into permanent homes of their own.
And almost as soon as we could get the rooms ready, four new people arrived at the Suites.
They came to us from a car, from the street, and from emergency shelter—grateful beyond words for a safe room and a bed of their own, and desperate for a real chance to start over.
That is what your support makes possible.
Come celebrate with us November 14
Light the Way will feature beautifully decorated Christmas trees and a silent auction, along with a special curated collection of boutique and one-of-a-kind finds from Thrifty Lil Bou Thang. To say nothing of all the holiday joys of hot chocolate, pictures with Santa and, this year, some special entertainment throughout the day.
Come. Bring a friend. Find something wonderful. Bid generously. And spend some time with the community that makes this work possible.
You do not have to be present to win the silent auction. We’ll post the auction link on our Facebook page, so you can participate even if you can’t join us in person.
We could also use your help
There are several ways to be part of Light the Way this year:
- Attend on November 14 and bring a friend.
- Sponsor a tree or become an event sponsor.
- Volunteer before or during the event to help us bring it all together.
- Bid! Whether you’re in the room or following along online, every purchase supports the work.
- Donate to help make this event a huge success.
After many months of uncertainty and delays, we are happy to report that our government grant funding has finally begun to normalize. That is very good news.
But those months of delayed reimbursements depleted our cash reserves, and the road back to financial stability will take time. Community support right now matters enormously—not only for keeping our doors open, but for ensuring that when the next person comes to us from a car, a sidewalk, or a shelter, we can say:
Come in. We have a place for you. Let's figure out what comes next.
Light the Way is a fundraiser, but we hope it is something more than that.
For a person experiencing homelessness during a season centered around home, family, abundance and belonging, your participation sends a powerful message:
I see you.
I care about you.
I am your community.
