Thanks for shining light into the darkness!

Art by Rainer Waldman Adkins

The winter solstice is one of the most powerful days of the year. In this darkest moment, the cold and gray cast a heavy shadow on the realities our clients face every day. And yet, the solstice promises the return of light to our world. It rekindles hope based on the reality that life-giving energy outshines the darkest days.

It is a time that many of the world’s traditions call out for pause, reflection and re-commitment. And so, all of us at Solid Ground would like to pause to thank members of our community for your dedication to our work to overcome poverty and racism.

Together we face many dark times. But we know they are overcome by the radiant smiles of children learning to read, or digging in the soil while learning how food is grown; by the joyous gasps of parents opening doors to their new homes, and the satisfied sighs of riders reaching their destination.

Through our work and your support, we kindle light, hope and thousands of better futures. Thank you. Have a warm and safe holiday season!

Where to give to help families, vets and pets

Thanks to the generosity of people like you, all homeless families enrolled in Solid Ground housing programs have received gift cards and presents for their children through our Adopt-a-Family program. Together, we’ve made this season brighter for more than 250 families and 600 children and adults. At this time, we are no longer accepting holiday gift cards or presents, but we still are accepting donations to help homeless families locate and secure stable housing. Thank you!

In addition, there are a number of other programs accepting donations for families in need this winter. Below is just a sampling of ways that you can help. Please contact the organizations directly to learn more:

Project Share – Help Pay Electric Bills for Families in Need

Sponsored by Seattle City Light, 100% of your gift goes directly to people in need. For more information on Project Share call 206. 684.3000.

Mitzvah Month at Jewish Family Services

December is Mitzvah Month at Jewish Family Services. You can support the Give Hunger a Holiday program, the Jewish Family Services Food Bank, the Family Matters campaign and more.

Holiday Pet Food Drive Seattle Humane Society

Spread holiday cheer by helping to re-stock the shelves of the Seattle Humane Society food bank to help low-income seniors keep their pets. Drop-off barrels are located at Safeway stores and the Seattle Humane Society located in Bellevue.

The United Way of King County

The United Way of King County has compiled a list of 25 holiday programs seeking everything from cooked ham or turkey to pajamas and slippers benefiting veterans, homeless families, domestic violence survivors and more.

The Sharehouse

The Sharehouse makes every day a potential holiday by providing free furniture and household items to help folks moving from homelessness into stable housing. They need donations of good quality used furniture as well as financial support to keep this venerable but underfunded project alive. Each year, more than 75 families from Solid Ground’s JourneyHome program rely on The Sharehouse to help them get settled and stay stable.

The Seattle Foundation

Your gift of any amount will make a difference for families struggling in the aftermath of the recession. Choose from a number of funds to help prevent homelessness and hunger this winter.

Somali Community Services Coalition

Change the lives of refugee families in King County through a cash donation or an in-kind gift of books, computers, office/school supplies and other items to the Somali Community Services Coalition. Contact the Resources Development Coordinator Isaac Fuchs at 206. 431.5141 or isaac@somalicsc.org for more information.

Adopt-a-Refugee Family Program

The Refugee Women’s Alliance  connects sponsors from the community with families who can benefit from some extra support. Once connected, you will work independently with the family you adopt, at a level of personal and financial support that is comfortable for you, to help your adopted family meet their needs and achieve their goals. Contact Shannon Eberhart, Volunteer Coordinator, at 206. 721.0243 or Shannon@rewa.org.

New Beginnings

Download the holiday wish list benefiting mothers and children who are domestic violence survivors. Call 206.783.4520 if you have an idea or to check hours and location.

Half-naked charity

Hundreds of half-naked humanitarians will sprint in their skivvies near University of Washington’s campus for the AXE Undie Run Challenge. AXE, the male grooming brand and host of the event, is encouraging participants and spectators to donate their clothes to Solid Ground. Donated clothing will be distributed to partner agencies, while AXE will make a $5,000 donation to Solid Ground.

The AXE Undie Run Challenge is part of a cross-campus competition among 10 universities to raise money and clothing for local agencies serving people who are homeless.

WHEN: May 11, 8 p.m.

WHERE: The starting line is located at Memorial Way and NE 45th Street, near the Burke Museum.

Students will strip down (full nudity is not allowed), put their clothing in donation bins and run.

Gamers blanketing homeless kids

Cool: From the folks at FiftyOne Marketing (a gaming marketing team with the goal “to provide the best marketing services by integrating the ever-growing social networking trend with the importance of community interaction”):

FiftyOne Marketing is teaming up with a lot of great people and organizations for a great cause.

GivingChiX, a division of GamerchiX, and the Gamers Outreach Foundation are teaming up with Microsoft MVPs around the world to make baby blankets for Solid Ground, an anti-poverty and social service organization in Seattle, Washington that helps women, children and families overcome homelessness.

Donations up for basic needs

Cool: KUOW’s Amy Radil reported today on Solid Ground’s (and other agencies’) successful year-end fundraising, which counters national trends showing reductions in giving.

See what you have done!

Thanks to all the amazing folks who have donated to Solid Ground during our year-end giving campaign!

Despite the challenges of our nation’s ongoing economic woes, Solid Ground raised more money in 2009 than ever before. I think that is because in tough times people identify more closely with the needs of folks who are struggling to survive.  More of us know people who have faced mortgage default, hunger and even homelessness. And so, people have prioritized giving to services that meet the basic needs of people in crisis.

With your help we’ve kept thousands of folks who were facing dislocation in their homes. We’ve also helped thousands more get the long-term support and resources they need to thrive.

This video tells three short stories that represent the more than 35,000 people who came to Solid Ground this year. Thanks for being there to support them.