A little girl reached up for a swing, held higher than herself. She watched as some of her friends at Redemption Park on the Acres of Hope campus, had successfully achieved the grand feat. They were able to swing on the high bar. Though small and among the youngest of the group she was determined. Sure enough she climbed. She achieved her goal. The smile that spread across her little face was priceless. This is the anthem of hope. It’s the realization that anything is possible if you work hard to achieve the hopes and dreams you have.

Four mothers in the midst of Covid 19 pandemic moved out into their own homes. Through a recording of her first moments revealing to her children their new home, we watched 2 little boys squeal at their new house. Their mother beamed as she realized she had a new home to offer her children. She was employed, and that her past no longer holds her back.

This last week we shared a picture of an alumni of hope who just advanced in the Awana’s Club. She graduated out of her first year in cubbies to advance to the wildflowers. When I saw that picture I cried. The reason, that little child of hope almost didn’t come to be, because before her mom knew she was pregnant, she was going to end her own life. That mother of hope has advanced in her career, is thriving in her own home, and has a child who is healthy and advancing too.

There is an anthem of hope spreading here at Acres of Hope. The staff, residents, alumni, community, and churches are seeing it. It is the ability for homeless mothers and children to advance from places of dysfunction to rise to lives of healing and success.

We are Acres of Hope, your local essential nonprofit at work to renew and transform lives.

To learn more or donate to Acres of Hope visit: acresofhopeonline.org