When Doubting Would Be Easier: "Sometimes It's Easy to Lose Faith in People. And Sometimes One Act of Kindness is All it Takes to Give You Hope Again." ~Randa Abdel-Fattah

WARNING: This blog post starts out a little despondent, but if you stick it out, it gets really good! I just think that the first part is still really important for understanding my frame of mind when you get to the good part.

I'm sitting here "fundraising" this afternoon, which usually puts me in a "meh" kind of mood. I put "fundraising" in quotes, because it's what the staff here at Pomona Hope use as short-hand for any number of tasks: catching up on our records of who is giving how much to our campaigns, writing thank you cards to new donors, writing letters to send to everyone we know to ask for money, writing updates to regular donors, writing new blog posts, advertising these posts on Facebook, Pinterest, and anywhere else it may get positive attention, cold-calling friends and family to ask for donations (sorry guys, it's only because I love you!), etc. I love updating everyone on what is going on, and getting people excited about what is happening, but sometimes, it's a lot of work. But it is what I signed on for.

Often, the fundraising part of my job takes the back burner to more urgent things that come up, like volunteer training or some kind of event for the kids or for me to attend to keep partnerships with other organizations. This has been the case since November. Monday was my first chance to actually sit down and write a blog post, but because so much had happened, and it had been so long, I figured pictures were the best way to go for everyone.

So today is my first real, buckle-down-and-fundraise day in a long time. The first thing I did was update my records on giving. Usually this includes emailing people to remind them that certain people give to my campaign rather than general fund, which I feel bad about every time, since I know the general fund needs it too. But ultimately, records need to be accurate, and I'm still not fully fundraised, so I need it too! There is the chance I may have to cut my hours if there's not enough coming in designated specifically for my position, and as I've mentioned before, there's already not enough time to do everything. Today, I didn't have to correct one thing. AND I found some nice surprises!

Normally, fundraising is one of the least fun parts of my job. It tends to also be the most stressful part of my job. I dread that moment when my director asks for an update and I have to tell her that I just haven't had the time, between training and scheduling volunteers, maintaining partnerships, communicating with parents and teachers, overseeing interns, checking in with kids, and running programs. Especially at this time of year, when my pool of funds tends to dip low. It's very easy to focus on the negative when it comes to fundraising.

But today, instead of looking at how I'm still coming up short on fundraising after two and a half years, I'm looking at how many people have given so much to make sure I could do this work. Instead of thinking about the people who can afford to give but don't, I'm looking at the names of those who gave and how little they, themselves, have to give, especially in comparison with so many others.

Today, I'm feeling incredibly blessed.

This week has been a week of givers.

On Saturday, I learned that I received a grant for my salary from the Janet Aiko Sekiguchi Foundation for my work here, at Pomona Hope. It's a grant given in memory of Janet Aiko Sekiguchi to those who are carrying on her "legacy of social justice through urban education and ministry." HOW PERFECT IS THAT?! It feels like a totally new ball game when you receive a donation for this kind of work from people you don't even know. It's someone else saying that I'm probably doing something right, and the chances are they're not just saying it because they don't want to make me cry.

They're REALLY BIG baskets, guys!

On Sunday, at church, I received a big donation of really meticulously put together art supplies from a really nice lady who struggles with Parkinson's. I'd known she was working on this gift for months, and it did not disappoint. It turned out to be two HUGE baskets filled with pre-made projects, games, crafts, etc. for the kids. On Wednesday, she and her husband came to visit during our K-3rd graders art time, and she got to show them what she made (she even brought more!). There were some kids who were so fascinated by her and all of the gifts she brought, that they spent the rest of the day with her!

I really wish I'd gotten her and the kids playing Frisbee.

As I'm typing this, our kids who Walked for the Hungry back in October are having a Pizza Party, courtesy of Inland Valley Hope Partners! Apparently, because our group was a group of kids, we were entered into a drawing, and won! So right now, the kids are eating pizza and playing games down the hallway. And they made a new friend in Kami, from IVHP.

Group shot! Minus Crystal, our photographer.

There was a certificate and everything!

They would have been happy with just pizza, but look at the smorgasbord!

So, as I sit here listening to the children laughing down the hallway, with the thought of all that people have sacrificed so that I can be sitting here, I just want to send a thank out to all who support Pomona Hope and my work here. Whether it be through money, prayer, creating partnerships, and things I'm not even aware you're doing. I'm feeling it.

There are some really great kids here, and I feel so blessed to spend my days with them, blessed that people believe in my work here, and blessed to be working for a better future for them all.