by Misha Thompson

Did you know that women and children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population nationally? Did you know in 2002, 12.1 million children were living in poverty? That is 16% of all of the children in the US.

Did you know that according to our local county’s homeless count, the majority of the local homeless are female or under the age of 18?

Did you know that many people say now that they know someone, or of someone, that has been homeless for a season?

Did you know that of the top thirteen reasons most people become homeless, two of the reasons are inability to pay property taxes and mortgage foreclosures?

That  may sound like too many faces to even think about. But do you know how your neighbour is doing? Do you know who is taking care of women and children in your area who are needing a place to stay tonight? Does a face come to your mind that you love?

I would imagine, if you are anything like the national norm, you probably even have friends or acquaintances who are trying not to loose their homes right now.

Sometimes all it takes it a small gift to make a big difference. And to do that without causing the person who is struggling any shame makes it an even bigger gift.

This year for Christmas here at Giving Anonymously we are trying to raise $10,000 for our local women and children’s shelter. And we are doing that simply by asking you to take one minute a day for the next few weeks and vote. You can vote once a day, per email address until January 4th. (The link to vote is below.)

{Some cute kids at the Agape Home here in our town.}

We are also offering you our time and efforts to process any gift you want to send to someone who could use a Christmas surprise this next week. We process gifts that people send that are as small as ten dollars and some gifts that are much bigger. But all of them are a chance to say that no one should wake up without a home on Christmas Day.

One gift at a time, we are here to help you make a difference for the people you know and care about.

  {Checks getting ready to get mailed out at our office this week!}

The easiest way to vote is to friend us on facebook. There is a link on that page, on the left hand side column, that we use every day to go vote. But you can go also go directly here and vote once a day, per email address, until January 4th. 

Click on the middle picture under “Lionel and Misha Thompson” on the bottom row under “Best Hometown Hero.”

If we get the most votes Agape Home will get a $10,000 gift.

{The Agape Home.}

Sources: Agape Home website, New York Times here and here, Government census here.

Photo credits: Agape Home and Giving Anonymously.