“And what, exactly, is that metaphorical thorn for you? It’s madness to hate all roses because you got scratched with one thorn, to give up all dreams because one of them didn’t come true, to give up all attempts because one of them failed…. For every end, there is always a new beginning. And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” — Antoin de Saint-Exupery, Author, The Little Prince
While The Little Prince is my all-time favorite book and the above quote reflects my unflagging optimism, imagine for a moment that all the roses stuck you or that all your dreams didn’t come true. Would your hopes be dashed? Who would you trust?
Sometimes we’re able to help someone who, while sincerely reaching out for help, doesn’t think it will happen or that it wouldn’t matter. Hope Chest is United Way of Jackson County’s emergency fund. It requires a referral from a social worker or case manager because we don’t have case managers on staff. We pay a little rent, fix a car, buy surgical stockings for an amputee, help with final expenses of a loved one to name just a few things.
Hope Chest is funded by amazing foundations including the AllCare Health, Anna May Family Foundation, Carrico Foundation, City of Ashland, Jackson Care Connect, City of Medford, Mountain Meadows Community Foundation, Joe & Frances Naumes Foundation, Metta Giving Foundation, Roundhouse Foundation, and Walker Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. In addition to these remarkable grants, donors give directly to Hope Chest. We help hundreds of individuals and families. Here are just a few samples:
- A single mom working full time and going to school part-time had to give up her apartment and share housing with a friend. She needed $500 for a deposit to get back into housing of her own after the roommate thing didn’t work out.
- A handyman with a long addiction and criminal justice history who has been clean for six years needed help with car insurance so he could still go to work. It was $348.
- A single dad who works full time and has custody of his son with autism can’t take the bus to work because of his shifts. His car needed repairs, and we partnered with other agencies to cover the $865 repairs.
- Life hadn’t been easy for Miguel since the Almeda Fire. He lost his life to pneumonia and his wife needed help with cremation expenses. So many can’t afford these expenses in the most challenging of times. It’s good to be there for them.
Sometimes, thanks to your help, we provide the rose. We provide that moment of hope that can restore your belief in dreams. Thank you for being part of the solution.
Onward,
