Helping Hands Day, Midwest to East Coast, and a place called home.
Greetings Linkedin-ers!
We’re honored to share this space with you for the next few minutes. You may be reading this on your lunch break or in between meetings. We hope these stories challenge and inspire you to be a part of the good in your community, neighborhood, and around the world. This week we’re covering how SpartanNash gives back, Hope Day NYC, and a reunion in Bulgaria.
Helping hands
Last week, our partners at SpartanNash held their annual Helping Hands Day to benefit Convoy of Hope’s disaster relief efforts. SpartanNash generously donated more than $1 million worth of product to Convoy, including items such as canned soups and bottled water. With a room full of more than 700 SpartanNash Associates gathered in downtown Grand Rapids, they were able to pack 15,000 boxes, including more than 500,000 meals and 5,000 personal hygiene kits.
“As a People First food solutions company, providing quality nutrition to families in the midst of a devastating disaster is very closely aligned with our mission to deliver the ingredients for a better life,” said Tony Sarsam, CEO for SpartanNash. “Millions of lives are turned upside down by natural disasters each year, and I’m so proud of our Associates for coming together to serve and give hope to people in need during these trying times.”
In total, the Associates packed 20 truckloads of essential supplies, which will be delivered to communities impacted by disasters. Additionally, the SpartanNash Foundation presented Convoy with a generous check for $100,000 to help even more families in need of hope.
Read the full press release here and watch the full recap video here.
A day in NYC
Twelve years ago one of Convoy’s church partners — Pastor Steve Milazzo — decided to start Hope Day NYC. This partnership began at a Convoy Community Event and is still going strong across the East Coast.
This year, 20,000 bags of groceries were packaged by Hands of Hope volunteers at Convoy’s World Distribution Center in Springfield, Missouri. Those groceries were then distributed by Hope Day Network partners throughout six states and 43 different locations, including communities in:
New York
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Florida
North Carolina
Delaware
In addition, Hope Day Network mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers to serve the Guests of Honor. At the events, families are able to enjoy kid-friendly activities and receive free services including family portraits, groceries, meals, and health-related screenings through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Watch the recap video here.
A family reunited
In Bulgaria, three young siblings — Elena, Ivan, and Maria — found themselves in an earth-shattering situation. Their parents were hit by financial hardship, making it difficult to provide for the entire family.
As a last resort, the parents placed the children in an orphanage.
The three siblings longed to be back with their family.
Soon after, Convoy of Hope began a partnership with a local church in the area and invited the three children to participate in the programming. In the safety of the church, the kids could play games, receive homework help, and find support for their spiritual and emotional health.
As the siblings grew closer to the staff members, the kids felt safe enough to share their hope of being reunited with their family. Through nothing short of a miracle, the parents were able to bring them back home!
“Knowing the challenges facing their family with six children in total to care for, Convoy of Hope helps us provide them with food to take home as a way to lessen the burden,” said Pastor Yordan Georgiev from the local church. “The children’s journey serves as a testament to the power of faith, hope, and the enduring strength of familial bonds, with many thanks to Convoy.”
Convoy frequently partners with local churches, organizations, and groups to better serve and identify needs within communities. Through Convoy’s training and asset-based community development model — including Children’s Feeding, Women’s Empowerment, and Agriculture — families are able to break the cycle of poverty. Now they can make a steady income, provide their own nutritious food, and look forward to the future.
Read the full story here.
Learn more about Convoy’s Children’s Feeding program here.
On the horizon
Pre-Order your copy of What Really Matters — If you pre-order the book before its release on June 25, you will receive an advance copy of the first chapter of the book, a free audiobook (once book has been released), and a Hope Supply Co. discount.
ICYMI — Last week was Menstrual Hygiene Day! Learn more on the importance of education and breaking the stigma behind period health here. Stay tuned on Convoy’s socials to hear from our international program country directors on the value of men advocating for women’s menstrual health.
Want to help more women have access to menstrual hygiene? The easiest way to make that possible is with a gift of support toward Convoy’s Women’s Empowerment initiative. You can do that here.
Smitten for mittens — In honor of our friends at SpartanNash, based out of Michigan, here’s a fun fact you may not have known about the state: Michigan is commonly referred to as “the Mitten State” by locals — the state’s shape resembles a winter mitten.
Thanks so much for joining us for Hope Makes It Happen! Let us know your thoughts and ways we can improve in the comments below.