April is a month where we celebrate and recognize so many important causes—such as Autism awareness, stress awareness, and financial literacy, all of which intersect daily with our work in homeless services. Yet, each year, the celebration that always excites me is Volunteer Appreciation Month.

This month, we were honored to host our annual Rock the Block event in the same month we acknowledge and celebrate our amazing volunteers. It was an incredible day, bringing together friends, neighbors, and partners to beautify our grounds and facility. I was assigned to greeting everyone and agree — probably safest to keep me away from paintbrushes and shovels!

There is something truly energizing about welcoming so many generous, community-minded individuals who choose to spend their Saturday giving back. It is hard to capture in words the feeling that comes over me when folks leave the comfort of their homes to create an inviting and welcoming temporary home for so many families.

I feel the sense of gratitude in the “quieter” moments too, walking out of my office in the evening and seeing the smiling faces of our rotational volunteers serving dinner and Study Buddies encouraging our little ones to read, solve a problem, or finish the sentence. These moments, big and small, remind me just how deeply our community cares.

Whatever the cause, my gratitude is the same—genuine and profound—for those who invest the precious commodities of time and hearts into our beloved shelter, families, and community.

If you have not had an opportunity to join us this year, we would love to have you spend an hour or two reminding our families how much their neighbors care for them. Whether you enjoy cleaning and organizing, gardening, or hosting a special event, there is truly something for everyone.

Many who know me personally, and know about my story, understand that my childhood was not easy. However, I know my past shaped who I am today and has given me a perspective, purpose, and passion to lead Families Moving Forward.

While there are many reasons one might point to when considering my ability to overcome, some call it resilience, while others may consider it luck, I believe it is, in large part because of one phenomenal woman, my maternal grandmother, Mildred. Like many of the women who walk through our doors, she faced a great deal of trauma. Yet through community, unwavering tenacity, and determination, she showed me that we can still rise.

And it is that same strength that I see every day in the women we serve.

As I reflect on what it means to be a woman during Women’s History Month, especially a woman navigating the trials of homelessness with children in tow, I hear the words of my favorite author, Maya Angelou, in her poem, Still I Rise.

… Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide …

I see the rise in the mothers who come through our doors; women who despite unimaginable hardship, continue to show up for their children every single day. Women who are rebuilding, redefining, and reclaiming their futures.

I am deeply grateful that FMF provides respite for women as they journey toward permanent housing, rising from the dust despite the hardships they have faced. I am grateful for the community that helps them lift their heads and restore their hope, one gift, one kind word, one letter of advocacy at a time.

Just as I did not get here on my own, supported by my grandmother and other determined women who believed in me, I know that the families and mothers we serve are surrounded by the FMF community, so they too may rise.

Volunteers make my heart sing

They May Rise - Reflections on Women's History Month

connect with us