Categories
Blog Newsletters

Letter from the President

Hello to all our doners and volunteers! As I start to write this message, I am amazed at how fast the time has gone since our last newsletter. Our seasons have shifted from hot to cold, which ushers in a whole new list of needs to help make our friends on the streets a little more prepared for what they will face in the coming months.

At this time, there has been no vote on the new proposed city ordinance, nor has there been a date set for the next meeting. We continue to serve the homeless with care and compassion, just as we have for the past 23 years.

Now that we’re in November, I was thinking of how much we have to be thankful for. I am thankful for each of you. I am thankful that the donations continue to come in, allowing us to reach out to those in need. I don’t like to repeat myself, but I think this deserves repeating: “The biggest mistake we can make is to do nothing because we can only do a little”. When we put all our efforts together it is amazing what we can accomplish. I am thankful for all our volunteers that go out and serve the homeless with such love and kindness. I am thankful for the gratitude of the homeless. It fills my heart each time I see the people waving and so excited to see us when we pull up to the stops. I am thankful for success stories. I walked into Home Depot and was greeted by a man with a beautiful smile. He said, “Hi, I have helped you before, haven’t I?” I knew he hadn’t but I replied “maybe”. I finished my shopping and was waiting at the checkout when he came running over and hugged me with tears in his eyes. He said “I haven’t helped you here; you helped me when I was homeless on the Plaza. You gave me food, and clothes and most of all you gave me kindness and respect. I am the department manager here now and I’m doing just fine. Thank you for helping me get to this point. What Uplift does for the homeless is wonderful!”

We have been blessed by God and by your generosity. Thank you for standing with us and helping us continue to move forward in our efforts to reach out to the homeless on the streets of Kansas City.

“Two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we take; the larger kind we feel for what we give.”

Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone you love!

Kathy Dean