I am delighted to finally share my latest article with you, my readers! Read on to see how you can support my mission of warming the homeless, living unsheltered, and new sheltered individuals right here in our community. But first, a bit of a back story.
I had an older brother pass away three years ago-- almost to the day of this article. To say it was unexpected wouldn't quite be accurate. However, nothing prepares you for the sudden loss of a loved one. For the better part of my brother's adult life he fought many demons on the daily. And while I never gave up hope that he would some day recover / surrender / seek and accept help, he ultimately succumbed to the disease that is alcoholism.
As anyone who has walked through grief knows, healing doesn't happen over night. But then again, does anything in life? Waves of emotions roll in when you least expect it. The anger, sadness, processing, and denial are that of unwelcome guests and you never know which one is going to show up. Grief is like picking up the pieces of a puzzle and trying to fit them all together again only to find out pieces are missing and ultimately you learn to live with the reality that it can never be whole again. If you yourself have lost a loved one, know that I see you and have compassion for you.
So, why the blankets? The day after my brother passed away my mom, sister, and I went to his apartment to help clean things out. He had just moved in the month prior and was so proud to be starting over. Again. His living conditions were shocking to say the least, but I know he was humble enough to be happy to have a place to call home. As I went to bed that night at my mom's house I caught myself complaining as I was trying to fall asleep on the floor. In that moment I realized not one blanket was to be found in my brother's apartment. Here he had the safety of living in a structure, but he didn't have the warmth that makes a house a home. On many levels at that. My heart sank and broke for him in a new way.
Fast forward to the month after as we got ready to celebrate our first Christmas without him. A dear friend of mine gifted me a warm fuzzy blanket to cuddle as I continued going through my grief. I was so touched by such a simple act that I vowed to donate some blankets in his honor. I shared that thought with my friend who then blessed me in the most unexpected way. She sent 37 blankets (one for every year of his life) to my house to get my donation started. With the help of other friends and family I raised enough funds to buy 37 more blankets. All 74 blankets were donated to a nonprofit housing program in southern Minnesota where my brother lived most of his life. It felt so rewarding to pass on a tangible way to warm those most in need, all in my brother's honor.
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Last year I had a garage sale to raise the funds needed to buy blankets. 25 blankets went to the overnight shelter in Brainerd, all in my brother's honor. And just like that, something beautiful happened organically from the ashes of one's loss. This year, thanks to my work through Macaroni KID Brainerd I pledged a certain percentage of my income to purchase blankets for this upcoming Christmas season. I feel super grateful that I can continue donating blankets for a third consecutive year.
Still with me? (I hope so! ) This is where you hopefully come in. I would never expect anyone to donate, but I do believe in the power of community. If you feel so inclined to donate, even $1, ALL proceeds will go towards buying blankets for those in need in our communities. Homelessness is not as out in the open in the Brainerd Lakes Area as it may be in bigger cities, but it is here and an ongoing problem. I believe everyone does the part they are called to do. I am thankful for the businesses who provide overnight sheltering, funds for hotel stays, those that provide vital food and water, sanitary products-- all of it. I'm not trying to recreate any wheels here. Rather, I want to provide a tangible way for these people in need to feel the warmth and safety that we can all too often take for granted.
So, are you ready to join me in this movement? Please donate here!
