2023 Wrap-Up

Esperanza Community now has a permanent sign to welcome it’s new tenants.  Funny story – the first time I tried to find the camp back in the summer of 2020 I drove up and down 183S to locate it.  After 20 minutes I was ready to give up  and then I decided to get off on the right frontage road and viola, I found the inconspicuous site and it was quite a sight.   Boy, how things have changed for the better.

    At the end of this year, 100 tiny shelters are occupied by tenants. They have begun working on the right side of the camp where an additional 100 shelters will be incrementally in place by the end of this year.  Our volunteers have sewn 160 sets of curtains for the existing and future dwellings so this year we will complete the remaining 40.  The landscaping has taken shape and one of the campers truly has a green thumb! 

    A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who have helped in various ways from baking, sewing curtains, to dropping off blankets, toiletries, Halloween candy (a big hit), duffle bags, Styrofoam coolers and other miscellaneous  items. I am so grateful for my weekly bakers Mary Lou and Ann and the middle school and high school students who baked during the summer for community service hours. And, a shoutout to Westbank Library who has continued to donate excess books and magazines for the campers entertainment.  I am advocating for a library space in the Community Center which is currently being renovated.  Keep your fingers crossed.

    To all my volunteers – You have made a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate!   You have stepped up to answer my question, If Not Us, Who?  I have witnessed folks at the camp who are now transitioning out of homelessness and working their way back into the community. As one community helps another community in need, I realize we are just one BIG community.  Happy New Year!

Truly,

Greta