Initiatives

Our Mission
Our mission is to encourage and care for Compassionate Responders. We create a community who walks alongside them in their world and supports these men and women when they may feel overwhelmed and their hope begins to fade. When the possibilities of life seem dimmer than they used to, we will connect, listen, walk, guide, share and thank them. We will be that arm around the shoulder without judgement or advice. Just a presence of love, if that is all that is needed.

Hope
What exactly is hope? Simply, hope means seeing the possibilities inherent in life. Songwriter Leonard Cohen says, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Hope is that light in darkness, that anticipation of goodness. Hope is a vision, an image, a picture of what can be.

One can help build hope in others in many different ways. A Place for Hope and Healing will provide those ways and means for people to build hope in others who need it. Hope is an attitude, not a permanent state of mind so the work is urgent.

What We Do
We provide hope to others by using some proven methods of offering, sharing and creating an environment of hope that Compassionate Responders can experience.

Demonstrating Appreciation: We can pause and simply say thank you. Reach out, be with someone in their world and show them what they do matters. Creating a means for the broad community to express thanks and praise for what Compassionate Responders do in tangible ways.
- Thank you Tree – notes of thanks that are delivered to recipients with a small coffee break gift card
- Surprise “Breaks” – rolling “Break truck” that offer free coffee and time to pause from the day.
- Appreciation through Art – a program designed to create small pieces of art that say “we care and thank you” to Compassionate Responders.

Teaching Hope: Studies, talks and conversations to help understand what it means to have hope while learning and practicing ways to achieve it. Studies, talks and conversations to help teach ways to see the possibilities in your life and understand what it means to have hope while learning and practicing ways to achieve it.
- “Envisioning My Hope-filled Life”
- “Setting Life Goals – and how to make them happen”.
- “Seven Promises of Hope” Book Study Group
- “Unleashing Hope” Study Group

Developing Hope: Engaging and enjoyment-filled activities that bring joy.
- “Feed your body, feed your soul” – a wonderful seasonal group that shares in the growing of food in our own Good Soil Garden, cooking and eating our prepared meals together and preserving foods for other seasons.
- “Walks, hikes and talks” – weekly group that hikes, talks and listens.
- “Horses of Hope” – our equine therapy partner provides opportunities to be part of the healing experience of Horses.
- “Movie Night by the Barn” – outdoor movie nights that are free and easy – popcorn included!
- “Fitness and Faith” – rotating fitness experiences either in group or individual formats that encourage us and strengthen us.

This doesn’t mean what they experience, see, and feel everyday goes away; unfortunately it won’t. But with Hope, those who give their all for all of us, may be able to get up, go out, and feel encouraged to do another day’s difficult work. And maybe, just maybe, they will feel like they made a difference. As they should! Our Calendar is full of programs, workshops and activities to support our mission.