merry christmas happy new year a ray of hope news letter · thank you for being a stakeholder in...
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Christmas Edition 2015 A Ray of Hope News Letter
From The Desk Of Peggy
In the heart of your mission statement and motto there have been many people that felt hopeless find a new
life and the purpose God had for them in living at A Ray of Hope home. And beyond that you have keep fam-
ilies with children in their homes and renew their hope to have a safe place to raise their Children.
A Ray of Hope shall provide a safe harbor for those
in the community with nowhere else to turn.
It will provide those who seek help not only
With food, clothing and shelter; but with knowledge and
a avenue to develop competency in meeting life’s financial, emotional , family and Legal
rehabilitation challenges,
AROH Motto
Offer a “hand up”, rather than a “hand out”
in order to build self-respect and dignity
We are so grateful to all the wonderful people who donate time and resources so we can serve and do the
work that we embrace and love doing
Thank you for being a stakeholder in others recovery Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thank you for your gifts to AROH
Merry Christmas Happy New Year
Page 2 A Ray o f Hope News Letter
From the Desk of Melenie Haidys
A Ray of Hope a place for people who have
slipped through the cracks. What an awesome ideal!
It is so encouraging to witness so many blessings on
a daily basis. Our shelter on 5th avenue is almost
completely guest run. We encourage our residents to
use their God given talents to help produce a healing
atmosphere. They are given and explained a set of
guidelines on their entry date based off of the 10
commandments, and it’s amazing how they flourish.
From planning and cooking meals, keeping the
house neat and tidy, to helping our wonderful Hope
Thrift Supervisor Miss Lynn with maintaining the
store and pickups and deliveries. It may be interest-
ing to know as well that quite often it is a guest of
the shelter that is answering the phones here in the
office and helping other families in need with their
personal crisis. Who better to empathize with people
in need than those who have personally gone
through similar experiences? It warms my heart to
see them welcome homeless individuals into the
house for a hot meal or a shower. Together we share
personal triumphs and console each other through
personal struggles. The family dynamic in the house
is surreal. I am so blessed I get to witness and feel
the Holy Spirit in action on a daily basis.
LETTERS
The Ray of Hope has been the Biggest Blessing in
my life, they have been there to help me in restoring
my self-worth and dignity in myself and help me
remember I AM important in this world. I want o
give a sincere thanks to Bob, Peggy, Melenie, Bill,
and Lynn who have become a very big, important,
and very positive Role Models in MY life and have
become family to me. I am very grateful and appre-
ciative of A Ray of Hope and it has truly helped me
to keep my Faith and offered a hand up, not a hand
out.
Sincerely,
Cody Lindahl
I came to A Ray of Hope from the hospital; I
had never been unemployed, much less homeless
and had medical issues to boot. To say I was feeling
sorry for myself was a definite understatement. I
was given a few days to adjust, and then Melenie
was at my door! Over the next week she and I talked
and my attitude and outlook improved. What Mele-
nie and Bill do and deal with says more about them
than written words can ever do. Never the less, I
thank them and will keep them and A Ray of Hope
House in my prayers.
Thank you and God Bless,
Theresa Harris-Powell
Hi Peggy, this is Debbie Bosley. I want to reach out
to you to tell you that I, once again, am so thankful
for the outreach, love and care the Ray of Hope is
showing Cody, as you did his mom. He's such a
good kid with a loving heart. He and his brothers
have had a rough road as you know, he has such a
strong will and desire to succeed and be a productive
citizen. His confidence has boosted since being
there, he really enjoys the staff and the residents
there, he says "it feels like family". That says vol-
umes coming from a 19 year old. Thank you to you
and the staff for living and showing Christ's love to
those in need. You, Bob and the Ray are a blessing
Page 3 A Ray o f Hope News Letter
LETTERS
Dear Peggy, I have been meaning to write to you to
let you know some of the recent changes I have no-
ticed at the Ray of Hope residence in Kalispell. As
you know, getting the guests grouped together, on
time, and organized for the TB testing has been diffi-
cult in the past. Between my busy schedule and theirs,
communication has been no easy task. The new assis-
tant director, and past resident, Melanie, has really
stepped up to the challenge. She has been so helpful
writing clear concise message boards to the guests, as
well as reminding them to get tested. She seems to run
a “tight ship”, but has a soft heart. She has been very
professional. I have noticed that the house seems to be
more organized and jobs are being delegated and ac-
complished. The place is looking nice for the holi-
days. I also want to put in a kudo for Bill who is al-
ways a blessing of encouragement to me as well as the
guests with his smile and positive attitude.
Sincerely, Kathleen Anderson,BSN,RN
When I first started at “Ray of Hope”, I really
didn’t know what to expect. I have worked at cor-
rectional facilities and I have also worked with
refugees. It has been my experience that a person
can “get lost in the shuffle” at an institution, and I
expected to see a similar situation at AROH. I have been working with “AROH” for about a
year now. I must admit that I was pleasantly sur-
prised by the professional manner in which they
conduct daily operations at the shelter. But what
really struck me was the empathy shown to those
staying at the shelter. AROH emphasizes their
motto; “A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out”. AROH is a working house, ie…” guests” help
to maintain the house. I feel that this policy helps
to build self-esteem and is conducive to the build-
ing of self-worth. This policy also helps the
guests by allowing them to help each other and
this in turn builds positive relationships. By fos-
tering the growth of symbiotic relationships with
other human beings, the guests become better
prepared for life after they transition to a self-
sufficient relationship. While being pleasantly surprised at the ROH, I
must say that a corresponding amount of dismay
occurred when I realized how great the need is in
the Flathead Valley. I work in the office at ROH
and I must get at least 10 calls or visits a day
from those in need asking for help. The forms of
help required vary from individual to individual,
of course. But some things remain constant. The tears in a young mother’s eyes when she
can’t make the rent. The fear in the eyes of an
elderly person who is afraid that they will have to
spend a cold winters night sleeping on the streets.
The confused young man who hasn’t eaten in a
day or two and who needs a coat. I see these things on a daily basis and it is im-
possible not to be human and not be touched by
these things. All that I can say is “Thank God for
the ROH”. This valley has a terrific need for plac-
es like AROH and A Ray Of Hope is needed in
the valley. Sincerely Yours, Kraig Eby.
Dear A Ray of Hope, Thank you for helping me and my
family in our time of need, we are very thankful for this
blessing. When we felt we had nowhere left to turn your
family at A Ray of Hope was like a light in the dark. I am
the only one working in our family, while I am proud of
this it can also be very stressful supporting the three of us
on our own. Now I can enjoy the time I have with them
stress free. We will forever be grateful, thank you!!!
Gonzalez Family
Page 4 A Ray o f Hope News Letter
A Ray of Hope Primary Purpose
A Ray of Hope’s primary purpose is to serve those with nowhere else to go, we at A Ray of Hope find ourselves on the front lines of the fight against addiction and family homelessness. Each day we strive to meet Flathead communities’ needs and work diligently to eliminate these issues in the Valley.
To help meet the need of family homelessness A Ray of Hope is starting work on a women and children’s homeless facility which will house up to 25 women and children nightly and help these families thrive.
There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent
droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then
we can help. -Jan Schakowsky
Too break the cycle of homelessness.
A few of the services we provide free of charge are:
Provide education, counselling and job training while self-documenting hours worked to acquire job skills and good
work ethics.
Provide pregnant women a way off the streets in a safe shelter until they can be provided a safe home.
Provide a Mountain Retreat offered at no cost to those coming off drugs and alcohol to spend time in an intense 12
step program.
Provide funding for women with children to pay rent and utility bills throughout the year, to prevent them from be-
coming homeless.
A thrift store to provide needed clothing and house hold items for people who have lost everything sometimes due to
their own poor choices, or to fire and other issues they had no control over.
Provide safe shelter, meals and showers to an average of 20 people a day.
Provide bus and train fair to people to help them get back to family members that can give them a hand up.
Provide clothes to individuals in need of professional or specific items for job interviews, to ensure they are looking
their best.
Provide education, counselling and job training while self-documenting hours worked to acquire job skills and good
work ethics.
Provide pregnant women a way off the streets in a safe shelter until they can be provided a safe home.
Provide a Mountain Retreat offered at no cost to those coming off drugs and alcohol to spend time in an intense 12
step program.
Provide funding for women with children to pay rent and utility bills throughout the year, to prevent them from be-
coming homeless.
A thrift store to provide needed clothing and house hold items for people who have lost everything sometimes due to
their own poor choices, or to fire and other issues they had no control over.
Provide safe shelter, meals and showers to an average of 20 people a day.
Provide bus and train fair to people to help them get back to family members that can give them a hand up.
Provide clothes to individuals in need of professional or specific items for job interviews, to ensure they are looking
their best.
Provide people who come in filled with body lice the medication needed to destroy the lice. We provide them
with clean clothes and a clean bed helping to restore their self-esteem.
Provide people discharged from the hospital with no place to go to heal, a safe place to recover.
Page 5 A Ray o f Hope News Letter
Letters Dear A Ray of Hope,
I want to thank you for the Adopt a Family
program, without it my children probably would-
n't have any gifts to open. To know there is a fam-
ily who wants to adopt mine and help my family
through this struggling time, is beyond any thanks
I can give. The Lord does work through others to
reach many, and this program goes to show that
God is not dead! This program means so much to
me! Being able to see the joy in my children's
eyes makes my heart melt and to know YOU
helped me makes me cry of happiness. I plan to
Adopt a Family in the near future to pay my re-
spect forward. Saying Thank You does not show
my appreciation. God Bless all of the families
who are struggling like mine, and bless the fami-
lies who are lending a helping hand. You are all
so wonderful for what you do. I appreciate you in
so many ways it's so hard to put into words!!
Again, I want to thank you from the bottom of my
Dear A Ray of Hope,
You are living proof that God answers
prayers. I didn’t know what to do when I got
out of the hospital. I found a job but my first
paycheck wasn’t nearly enough to cover even
the necessities. I was afraid that my 2 year old
daughter and I were going to go without.
I prayed to God asking for help and A Ray
of Hope came to mind. I asked for assistance
and you all helped me pay my necessary bills
and even offered to help make Christmas a
reality for me and my daughter. I am forever
grateful for your help all the wonderful caring
people who run your organization.
I would encourage everyone to donate to
A Ray of Hope because they truly do help
those in need. Thank you for all you do.
God Bless
Jessica McCormick
Jessica McCormick
A Hand Up Not A Hand Out
Non-Profit
US Postage Paid
Kalispell MT
Permit # 125
Please send donations to PO Box 5407, Kalispell MT 59903
WE have good workers that need a Hand up with Work
Call 755-4673
Visit us at http://arayofhopemontana.com/
A Ray of Hope
PO Box 5407
Kalispell MT 59901
Return Service Requested
Phone 406 755 4673
Thrift Store
105 6th Av West Kalispell MT 59901 PH 406 260 4184
Shelter
46 5th Av West Kalispell MT 59901 PH 406 755 4673
«AddressBlock»
MISSION STATE-
MENT
A Ray of Hope shall
provide a safe harbor
for those in the com-
munity with nowhere
else to turn. It will
provide those who
seek help not only
with food, clothing
and shelter, but also
with knowledge and a
avenue to develop
competency in
meeting life’s
financial, emotional,
family, and legal
rehabilitation
challenges.
Helmville
2340 Hope RD 406 260 8084