In 2020, we all experienced trauma. In many ways, the world shut down. But there were still 52 Mondays in 2020. And we were open on Sullivant Avenue for every single one of them.
Check out the full 2020 Annual Report, and join us in giving thanks for the incredible progress made in the last year. Despite the pandemic, we’re still well on our way to opening a 24/7 facility in 2021.
Ladies and Gents- the end of 2019 was incredibly kind to us! We need to celebrate.
We had an ambitious goal of raising $20,000 but we did not just reach that -- it doubled! Sixty (60) donors invested nearly $40,000.
Our current contributions toward this project are $70,000!
We cannot thank you and this community enough for believing in this idea and pushing us to make it a reality.
In addition to the generosity of individuals, we also need to thank these financial and in-kind investors:
400 W Rich
City Campus Church
Columbus Public Health
Diesel Global Logistics
Franklinton Abbey
Hands and Feet Construction
Integrated Services for Behavioral Health
Landgrant Brewing
Lower Lights Ministries
Modo Yoga- whose Patrons raised over $5,000!
One Voice for Freedom
Roosevelt Coffee
Singlesource IT, LLC
Tommy's Diner
Vineyard Columbus
Yoga Rise
Please join with us and give here!
For five long months, a package had been tucked away inside one of Sanctuary Nights supply bins...waiting.
This package has journeyed well over one hundred miles...back and forth, every Monday night...from our storage unit on Long Street in downtown Columbus to the Lower Lights Ministry building we use on Sullivant and Cypress and then back again.
As weeks turned into months, hope began to fade, being replaced by concerns that the violence of the streets had taken the life of yet another precious woman...one who had found sanctuary with us on a Monday night early in May. On that distant night, this woman touched us deeply as she shared a poem, “Stranger In The Glass”, that she authored. Her poem transparently displayed the rawness, the brutally, the desperation of the battles she fought just to stay alive.
On that night she shared how writing was her way of copping through the addictions and harshness of her life. She also told us that she didn’t have any more notebooks or journals to write in. That was when I told her “I will get you a journal.” And so the following Monday night in May, a package with her name on it, found its way into one of our storage bins...
...and waited....
Not all stories have a happy ending...but this one does! On the last Sanctuary Night of October 2019, "Rebecca" came by! After our greetings, I told her that we had something for her. As she opened the package I reminded her of that night in May and of my promise to get her a journal.
The journal has a leather finish and is lavender in color with an elastic band to hold it closed.
As she stood there holding that journal in her hands, something beautiful sparkled in her eyes...hope.
brought to you by Dan Olson
Other November Updates!
As always, the Sign Up Genius for bringing food and hosting.
If you want to host, remember that a pre-requisite for our training is the She Has A Name training, which is taking place this month! Sign up here!
Next Sanctuary Night training: Saturday, November 23rd from 2-3:30pm at the Lower Lights building (1067 Sullivant Ave.)
Friends,
Just under a week ago, I spent the evening of my 36th birthday at Sanctuary Night, and I could not have had a better time! Thanks to some extraordinary people on this team, we were able to throw a bash that the ladies really got into, replete with prom dresses and photo booth accessories. One dear woman got lots of pictures and posted them to her Facebook page the next day! She kept talking about how she never got to go to prom, and how much fun it was to dress up. One highlight was when she held up a T-shirt from the donation bin, asking to take it for a friend. On it was the quote: "Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you." (Heb. 13:3). It was really a powerful night: may we all look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them happened to us. And may we all join together in one Big Party. We grieve together, and we rejoice together: this is community. This is sanctuary.
A few reminders for August:
Sign up to host or provide food here! As a general reminder, it's really helpful if you sign up and don't just drop-in when you feel like it. ;) Though we love seeing you all! Also, please plan to arrive by 7:45pm to get the room set up. We are known in the neighborhood, and we usually have a few ladies waiting right at 8pm!
If you haven't yet, please consider attending the next She Has A Name human trafficking training on Friday and Saturday, August 9th & 10th.
Next Sanctuary Night training: Tuesday, August 13th 7-8:30pm (location TBD).
As a final note (not merely an aside), you should know that we are in the process of some pretty BIG THANGS. I'm prepared to BEG for your help over the next few months. We need money. We need sweat equity. We need stuff. We need your time. We need your connections. Let's chat. I'll buy you (Roosevelt) Coffee and we can dream, dream, dream. Cheers!
Much love,
H
