“As a CRD Staff member, I don’t expect to be the one receiving the blessing.” -Meet Tanya

In a healthy garden, every plant supports the other. Your support does more than just run events; it provides the 'soil' where real human connections are planted—blessing our staff just as much as our neighbors. When you give, you aren't just funding a meal; you're providing the opportunity for life-long friendships to take root over the 'basic stuff' of life, like motherhood, shared struggles, and faith. Our Service Learning Director, Tanya, has a story about just that.

“As a CRD Staff member, I don’t expect to be the one receiving the blessing. If you want to find me during our community dinners, you can most likely find me playing with the kiddos. This is how I met Cierra, through her three adorable children.

At one of our community dinners, I sat down with Cierra and her children. We started talking about all the 'mom things'—how there never seems to be enough hours in the day, school schedules, and how much we love our kids. Through the conversation, Cierra mentioned she was trying to find time to go shopping because her youngest had outgrown all his clothes. I could completely relate; I was in the process of cleaning out my son’s closet of the exact same size clothing.

I asked Cierra if she’d like the clothes to save her the trip. She excitedly accepted, and we exchanged numbers. That simple act opened a door for a friendship to blossom. We CRD staff always talk about the impact of connection, but I never thought I would be blessed enough to experience it firsthand like this. A mom’s stress was relieved, a child was clothed, a connection was made, and a friendship is growing, all on the foundation of Christ.”

A mom’s stress was relieved and a friendship was rooted in Christ because you provided the space for this village to grow together. Your generosity fosters an environment where no one is a "statistic," but a valued friend. Thank you for your part in keeping these vital doors of connection open for our staff and our neighbors alike.

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*Impact stories have been lightly edited for clarity and/or length while preserving the original voice and message