Dose of Hope

Oct. 4, 2023/Volume 10

Dear Tracy,

In September, we had the distinct honor of celebrating 20 years of vision with our Executive Director, Tracy Weaver.

Saranam was a dream set into motion by Francis Thaxton Ash and brought to life by Tracy. As directors of nonprofits are known to do, she has worn many hats throughout her tenure, and the experience of each has created a versatile, empathetic leader. Here are just a few of the hats we are thankful she has donned:

Creator: Saranam was founded in 2004 under Tracy’s leadership, beginning our journey with just 4 families. Tracy was the chief architect of Saranam’s program, working with a dedicated Board and staff to create the structure and supportive community that she knew families needed.

Fundraiser: A fundraiser isn’t just someone who brings in money, but also a connector who sees unique ways contributions can help. Tracy masterfully communicates the vision behind Saranam far and wide to create a network of resources for everything from apartment furnishings to capital grants.

She has shepherded Saranam through a global pandemic and two economic recessions while strategically building a sturdy financial base to ensure families and staff are secure. In our latest, boldest endeavor she has led a multi-million dollar capital campaign, energizing the community to rally around our expansion.

Believer: Tracy is the first to tell you that Saranam has always been a group effort, but it’s an effort inspired by her belief. Whether it is galvanizing staff to create our children’s programming in 2015, or cheering on families as they get degrees, drivers’ licenses and houses, she always has her (figurative) pom-poms out.

“Great leaders find ways to connect with their people and help them fulfill their potential”- Steven J. Stowell

Leader: A great leader creates more leaders. Tracy's hat-wearing experience has informed the development of a qualified, knowledgeable staff who are partners in designing innovative solutions. Her confidence in them has cultivated an inclusive, authentic and ethical environment that has a place for everyone to thrive.

Visionary: Tracy is never done making Saranam better. Her big-picture thinking has led to the creation of our alumni program, our long-term evaluation plans, replication modeling and so much more. Her dreams are what allowed us to reach 100% capacity after just ten years and is opening the doors to double our capacity just two decades from our inception.

She has remained dedicated to the vision Francis started and we are so grateful for her work cultivating the seeds of that vision into the thriving, essential community resource it is now.

Join us in wishing Tracy a very happy 20^th anniversary!

Alumni Reunion

We had a wonderful time last month at our Alumni Reunion! It is a great opportunity to not only catch up with former Saranam families, but for our current families to glean wisdom from veterans of the program as well.

This year we had 80 people join us to play games and enjoy a lunch generously provided by Chick-fil-A and Saranam volunteers. A resounding highlight of the event was Sandia Labs, who brought the excitement of science to the kids at the reunion with magnetic puzzles, DIY lava lamps and slime kits. Thank you so much to these community partners and our phenomenal volunteers for making it such a successful event.

Events like this keep the spark of community alive, and our data show that this sense of connection is spilling into other aspects of their lives as well, with 77% of families we surveyed reporting being involved in their community. And with 88% of responding families still living in the metro area, we know this sense of connection is strengthening the ties that bind us together in our own neighborhoods.

Gift of Caring

Three cheers for the volunteers who joined us for United Way of North Central New Mexico’s Week of Caring and Sandia Labs’ Day of Giving this month!

The Women United donor group from United Way painted a beautiful mural at our Weil Family Center, creating a cohesive, welcoming space. And their Guys Give group rolled up their sleeves to build a new shade structure at our playground, where families can enjoy the benefits of playtime. They teamed up with employees of Sandia Labs to complete construction of the project, making it a true community effort.

Thank you so much to both of these stellar community partners for creating such spectacular ways for people to invest in their communities!

See more photos on our Facebook page

Giving Home for the Holidays

The holidays are coming up fast!

Looking for that perfect gift for the person who has everything? Or wondering what people could give you that doesn't need a box?

This year, if you request donations from Saranam in lieu of a gift from family and friends, or give a gift for Saranam in honor of someone special, we will sent a special note the week of December 18th from us. Gifts must be made by December 15th.

Look for more information and link on our website soon!

October Observances

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and the theme nationwide is #Every1KnowsSome1

We know this is to be true at Saranam. While everyone’s experience and background varies, a common thread among our families is domestic violence. Survivors often leave their home with only what they can carry and a limited support system to keep them safe. When they come to us, we help them find respite and gain skills that will allow them to rebuild their lives.

If everyone knows someone, though, it begs the question- what can I do to help the people around me?

Here are some ideas for October:

Educate yourself about the types of abuse and how to be a supportive, nonjudgmental advocate for someone who needs help

Donate your time or resources to a local shelter or organization like Saranam that helps survivors

Highlight the work being done in the community on social media, an op-ed, or by sharing information with friends

Know the resources you can give people when they need them.

October 10 is World Homelessness Day. We know what you might be thinking- homelessness is a large, complex issue that certainly requires more than one day of awareness. Agreed. But we encourage you to use this day as a springboard to elevate the issue by sharing it with friends and family.

To start, here is some information to consider about the state of homelessness here at home:

In 2023 New Mexico experienced a 48 percent increase in homelessness, particularly among unsheltered persons.
New Mexico has a shortage of more than 43,000 affordable housing units,
With rents increasing by 70 percent from 2017 but wages only rising by 15 percent, it is estimated that more than 100,000 renters are cost burdened, meaning they spend more than a third of their income on housing.

Just like we need more than one day of awareness, we obviously also need more than one solution. More investments in affordable housing are starting at the state and local level. Additionally, investing in education will position workers for higher-paying jobs, and providing integrated services and robust case management helps address the root causes of a person's homelessness so their transition to home can be a permanent one. In short, what we do.

As a community we’ve ended homelessness for hundreds here at home. Together we can do it for more.

Community Corner

Beep Beep!

One of the most useful items a family can have is a car. A working vehicle makes it easy to get to school, the laundry mat, the store, sports… the list goes on.

The need is especially great right now. A vehicle would be a game changer for four of our current families.

If you have a used car in good working order that you no longer need, consider donating it to Saranam! It is a tax-deductible donation for you and will be a long-term asset for them. Contact Dianne Campbell today to set something up!

Annual Coat Drive

That morning chill in the air means it’s coat season! We are holding our annual coat drive this month. Our Walmart Wishlist has been updated with all of the sizes and colors that our families need to keep them warm and cozy through the chilly seasons.

If you order it online, Walmart will save you a trip and deliver it straight to our door. Thank you for your help!

See list here

5 stars!

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The most common places to leave a review are Google and Facebook, but if you have other places you trust, we’d be happy to know them! Click here for instructions to leave a Google review.

ICYMI

In case you missed it, here's what happened this month...

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