Falling for Hope

The change of seasons always feels so significant - so heavy with possibilities, so much uncertainty about what’s to come. Even knowing that, I still felt like there was so much riding on September this year, didn’t you? September this year brings another season in a surreal pandemic - another chance to wonder if this will be the last season of it, or if it will somehow feel harder, more scary. We were all waiting to see what the school year would look like. At A Haven we had the rush of our Give Grief Hope campaign at the end of August. It was a long and overflowing month with September waiting like a deep exhale at the end. 

As the dust settled from Give Grief Hope, we realized that we had raised over $60,000 to support grieving children and families. An unreal and deeply humbling milestone for us, and a powerful reminder of the deep belief that people have for hope in hard times. That was such a high, and yet there was not a moment to pause. September brought the start of our fall group programming, so there was no chance to slow the pace, just a need to keep breathing and moving. We were wondering how our families are doing. Waiting to see who is struggling in all of this chaos and uncertainty? Who is doing okay? What do they need from us right now? And can we deliver it? All of those answers were just waiting on September. 

And now as I sit here today, we’re already somehow nearing the end of the month, and over the past week fall has started to settle in. It’s chilly, it’s getting darker. The school year has revealed itself and students and teachers are doing their best to get through this “normal for now” together. It’s like we all have heads down, blinders on. Just keep moving. 

At A Haven it’s got us thinking about what sustains us through the waiting and wondering and the “one foot in front of the othering” that the change of seasons can bring. What’s been shown clearly to us through the end of this summer season is that it’s simply hope. The hope we bring to each other in small actions everyday - like teachers setting up their “Zoom rooms” for students with painstaking love and care. The hope that makes itself clear in big waves of gratitude and inspiration - like the outpouring of love and tributes after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It has been amazing to see how consistent the hope really is. It is always there if you take the time to look; no matter how stressful or uncertain other things may be. Give Grief Hope drove that home for us, our families drive that home for us. And so now we would like to return the favor. 

For the next couple of months, leading up to National Children’s Grief Awareness Day on November 19th, we are going to spend some time shining a bright light on all of the amazing things that local people are doing to inspire hope. Things that people are doing right now as you read this. It is powerful to be reminded of that enduring consistency and kindness, especially during a time when it feels hard to cut through the noise of daily life. We will bring you snippets of simple goodness, of the people we have dubbed the Hope Givers. 

We hope that you enjoy seeing and reading about our Hope Givers. We will certainly enjoy sharing them with you and giving a big, loud thank you to these partners in hope. 

Gratefully, 

A Haven

PS: If you know someone amazing and think others should know about them, too, email kate@ahaven.org to have your Hope Giver featured!

Written by Kate Lannan, Community Services Director