At a recent fundraising event at a local steakhouse, Harmony House was passing out flyers and educational materials. Many people stopped, talked, and asked questions. A number of adults had children with them, and some were very complimentary to our staff and auxiliary, thanking us for the work we do. At one point in the evening, a lovely couple that were exceptionally thankful of our work pulled two of us to the side, quietly. She pressed a $20 bill into my coworker’s hand and explained that she understood that we were not asking for donations that night but that she needed to give something to us. We thanked her for her kindness, but she went on. Without giving any details to their identity, she explained, teary eyed, that her son had recently began the process of adopting an abused child. She explained further that the child was of a very young age and that the child had 10 broken bones from the perpetrator. She understood that every child has a story, and that Harmony House helps to extract that story. In the case of this child, age and development would make that story nearly impossible to retrieve. But regardless of circumstances, this adoptive grandmother understood through our efforts with the other children we serve, we can make a difference. And she knew we do make a difference and her small donation was a token of her gratitude. She apologized that it was not more but regardless of the amount, the positive thanks she offered was priceless. This is the definition of success. If only every person we met felt as passionately about our mission. And moments like these… this is why we do what we do.

It is only through the generosity of donors like the United Way that we are able to provide this kind of emergency assistance to families in need.