Letters, Love, and Connection
One of the notes that inspired us to begin our Together Letters program was one received during our most recent Holiday Hands. Mom Beckie wrote about her son Wyatt, and your response to her desire for connection was overwhelming. “My 8 year old son, Wyatt, is in 2nd grade and is in an LLD…
So That Others May Rise
Through your donations, Together Rising meets a variety of physical needs for members of our community. We do this both through our large fundraising events, like Love Flash Mobs and Holiday Hands, and through our year-round giving program. But for many members of this community, money can’t buy what they desperately need – emotional…
Breathing Room – 50 Years of Friendship
Janine and Maggie have been friends for 50 years. At a young age, Janine’s mom and step-dad welcomed Maggie into their family. For Maggie, the child of an alcoholic single mom, Janine’s family has continued to be her second family ever since. Maggie recently wrote to us. She explained that her “sister by life” friend,…
We Belong to Each Other
Jessica and Jenn are friends that share a common bond. They each have a child with a rare disease called FPIES (Food Protein Induced Entrocolitis Syndrome). FPIES is a type of food allergy affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Classic symptoms of FPIES include profound vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. These symptoms can lead to severe lethargy,…
IN ALEPPO, WE ARE THE ONES WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR–PLEASE READ
Okay, beloveds, circle up. I am going to break this down as simply and clearly as I can because there is no time for fancy words. ALEPPO. I need you to understand that if you are watching Aleppo and lamenting your inability to help- stop lamenting. YOU ARE HELPING THERE. RIGHT NOW. Through Together Rising,…
Camp PossAbility – Safety, Healing & Friendship
About a month ago, a request came into our inbox from Camp PossAbility and quickly captured our hearts. From the Bradford Woods of Martinsville, Indiana, Camp PossAbility serves young adults with physical disabilities, ages 18 to 35. All campers have a physical impairment that requires a wheelchair for mobility. The camp’s mission is to give…
The Potential of Every Single Kid
This year, we raised $275,000 for US homeless youth organizations. Thank you for warming and lighting the world, Love Warriors, for helping take care of homeless youth here in America. We feel this potential for us there. These young people filled with hope and talent and promise — these artists and geniuses and poets and…
Thank You for Astonishing the World
I know that everything is scary right now. I just keep reminding myself that the two most often repeated phrases in my holy text are DO NOT BE AFRAID and REMEMBER. Our human family is dismembered—like a scattered puzzle. We must re-member. We must rise above our fear and come together. Even when we are…
Walk Softly – A Memorial
We receive beautiful and heartbreaking emails each and every week. You share your stories and your loved ones’ stories with us. Thank you. Maria wrote to us about her friend, Rebecca. They met in an online support group for people trying to conceive after loss. Just before Christmas 2014, Rebecca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy…
A West Virginia Homecoming
Our hearts have been heavy with despair, here at Together Rising, over the severe flooding in West Virginia, Louisiana, and other states over the last many months. We knew we wanted to help, but were not sure what we could do amidst such devastation. As the school year was starting, and as we prepared our own children’s…