[Salt-l] A word of thanks for your participation in alleviating poverty this Christmas

Friends,

For those of you who were able to participate in this year's Adopt a Family project, I wanted to give you a word of thanks.  Between all of the organizations and individuals who participated this year, we were able to provide Christmas gifts to 35 children in 11 different families.  Although not all of us were able to see the faces of the grateful families, I hope that thinking about the following will help you understand the importance of your generosity this past holiday season.

Think about just how hard it would be to be facing the kind of poverty which prevents you from being able to purchase gifts for your children.  The kind of poverty that has to humbly ask for help from college students.  This is the kind of poverty that our adopted families are facing, right here in our community.  Granted, we know full well that our limited Christmas gifts were not enough to remove our adopted families from the unfortunate situations they are facing, because the financial struggle upon impoverished people is deeply connected to systemic problems like unemployment, poor access to health and education and racism.  Addressing these issues is a much harder, much longer process, but in light of MLK Day, I think that it is appropriate to be reminded that difficult dreams are still worth dreaming...and that they have to start somewhere.

We thank you again for alleviating the sting of poverty for our adopted families this year and encourage you to participate again next year.  In the mean time, we hope you continue to join with SALT as we seek to be a part of sustainable, long lasting solutions and social justice for the world around us.

Peace,

Alissa Kretzmann
Valparaiso University Social Work Department '12
Social Action Leadership Team (SALT)-Chair
Residential Ministry-Campus Ministry Network Coordinator
419-610-7786