This past week remodeling construction began on the new Humanity House office building at 110 East St. If we work at a breakneck pace we will be in the first phase of the office before mid-January.
This is pretty exciting for a couple of reasons. We will be able to enlarge our food pantry and have our own kitchen and a place to serve meals to families. We will have our own laundry facilities. We will have the space for our classes, more privacy for our clients, a place for interviews. A bank of computers for putting in job applications will be available.
Humanity House can fill out applications for SNAP benefits, fill out LIEAP applications, do tax returns, help get identification records, help find employment, help with resumes, make sure that there is food in the home, help families keep their utilities on, help families have clean clothing and bedding. We can do a lot of different things.
Some of the things that we will be adding to our list when our building is complete is a poverty support group. This group covers the issues that people who are struggling with poverty repeatedly run up against. The group talks about what is happening and tries to teach a different way of thinking. We will add budgeting and soft skills classes including Bridges Out of Poverty seminars and a sexual abuse support group. We hope to add NA and AA meetings alongside our other fun classes: American Sign Language, Signing for Kids, Knitting, Quilting, Dad and Daughter Hair Day (where dad finally learns how to braid hair and make perfect ponytails), Scrapbooking, and lots of other classes. If we can find a bigger space, Yoga and Qi Gong are planned. Humanity House is dedicated to bridging the disconnect in our community between people living in poverty and those who aren’t. Bringing a diverse group together while learning something is a great way to do just that.
Everyone has a talent, or time, or a treasure that they can offer up to others in our community. Your talent is greatly appreciated by those who want to learn your skill. Your time is invaluable to those you share it with, either by participating in a class, teaching a class, or volunteering in some way. Your treasure is always important.
Our Humanity House operations run entirely on donations and fundraisers. Families have food for those last few days before payday because of you. Their utilities are kept on because of you. Little children sleep in clean pajamas on clean bedding because of you. Being poor is difficult at best. Knowing that you have a community that cares about your family’s well-being is important.
This year at Santa’s Toy Shop we had two children from different families who said they didn’t want toys for Christmas. They wanted their parents to have money so they would not be so worried and sad. With the opportunities our building gives us, we’ll help these families set their feet on the ground and in forward motion. That is our wish for the new year.
Kindness matters!
New location will allow for new opportunities
