$30,000 Challenge Match
A $30,000 match challenge was recently given to Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties to accomplish before the end of October! Every dollar given above our regular Fall Appeal gifts will be doubled. Will you partner with us to make this happen?
For years Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties has successfully faced the challenge of helping single mothers escape the cycle of homelessness. Now, as the nation enters yet another year of recession, Bridge of Hope LCC is facing a new challenge – the changing face of poverty.
Samantha (not her real name) grew up in a stable middle-class family, married and had a great job. She was living the American dream, until the economy crashed. She lost her job and her husband gradually became violent. How could this happen? As her husband became more violent, she shut herself off from family and friends. She was ashamed, alone, frightened and confused. She felt she had no choice but to stay, until the day her husband hit their three-year-old so hard he flew across the room. That night she grabbed a small bag, a few clothes and a favorite object for each child then fled. She found herself at a local domestic violence shelter.
Women who never imagined such a thing could happen are finding themselves homeless. More and more young mothers are in this position with no survival skills to help them through the crisis. They have no idea what services are available or how to access them. They don’t even know what questions to ask.
This year, 4 out of 10 women that came to Bridge of Hope LCC were similar to Samantha. This is a marked increase from years past. They are a product of the economy, suffering from situational poverty. As the face of poverty changes, Bridge of Hope LCC is striving to meet the challenge of serving these mothers and their children. Samantha and her children are now safe and doing well but every day more mothers and children find themselves in this situation.
Will you join me in meeting the challenge to serve the changing face of poverty? Your partnership can make all the difference. Your gift will be used to help meet the $30,000 match. Please consider a gift today and meet the challenge to serve the changing face of poverty.
To follow our progress follow this challenge match link.