Today is Giving Tuesday! It is the day that many people choose to make year end donations to support ministries like Hope Farm. As you probably know, we run our ministry as lean as possible. We don’t do a lot of extras. The money given goes to buy food and supplies for our homeless friends. It goes directly to anything that will allow us to care for our homeless friends and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.

Please consider Hope Farm today as you make donations.

In Christ,

Georgann Mirgliotta

So, as you sit down to the table this Thanksgiving, don’t feel guilting that you are blessed and others are struggling. Enjoy God’s good gifts! Give him glory as you eat well and fellowship with family and friends.

When you are finished with Thanksgiving and go into the gift giving season, give as the Lord leads. We would love to have your prayers and financial support as we continue the work of ministering to the homeless of Akron. More than that, our hope is that you glorify God with your thanksgiving!

Think of the tiny house village as the long-term, permanent solution we have envisioned. However, there is value in transitional housing to move our friends from homelessness to permanent housing. Square One Villages (featured in our last post) began with a transitional housing facility. These transitional spaces were very small, smaller than a tiny house. They are designed for each person to have a secure, personal space in which to sleep and store property. These tiny spaces are combined with common areas that the residents in the community can use for community.

Veterans Community Project is implementing a tiny house program to combat homelessness in the veteran community. While VCP’s focus is narrower than ours in that they work exclusively with veterans, their program bears resemblance to our long-term plan for a community of tiny houses in which we plan to house our homeless friends.

Recently, I viewed the the movie, Nomadland. It was somber, relatable must see. One quote that is especially true for us and for our houseless friends: "There are no final goodbyes, just I'll see you down the road. And I do, I see them down the road." Fern could be any of us. Her life dramatically changed when she lost her husband. So, she chose to live the life of a Nomad.

Last week some friends of Hope Farm were on vacation in Florida. While there, they observed a homeless man who was clearly in need of some help. They contacted me to ask questions about how to help him. Providing assistance to a person in need, especially someone you don’t know in a town with which you are unfamiliar provides a unique set of challenges and opportunities. We thought it would be a great opportunity to share practical thoughts and ideas about homeless care with our readers.

February in Northeast Ohio is typically long, dark and very difficult for a wide range of people living under the bitter cold. Our homeless friends were especially affected this year with the bitter cold temperatures mid month. Sadly, a few of our friends passed on this winter. Here’s a quick update for you as you pray and support. Thank you for supporting homeless ministry in Akron and beyond