It's hard to believe that we've yet again reached the end of the year, and 2025 is right around the corner. How does time fly by so fast? During our staff meeting this week, as we do every week, we shared our "highs" and "lows" of the week. Some of our "highs" included setting up our Christmas trees at home and watching Christmas movies, while some of our "lows" touched on feeling overwhelmed by the busy-ness of the season, or feeling a little stretched by gift-giving expectations.
During the meeting, we all joked somewhat sarcastically about how we want to savor this season, to slow down and really take it all in. But as each person went through their reports, it became clear that between personal and professional lives, all of our plates are FULL. Overflowing. There is barely room to add one more thing.
I've thought about that a lot this week. I want all of us to be able to be able to enjoy this season leading up to Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holidays this December. For those of us living in the Hurricane Helene-affected areas, though, this holiday season is giving me a bit of whiplash:
Holidays remind me of traditions and spending time with family. For those who lost everything in Helene, how are they maintaining their traditions?
Holidays remind me of joy and a festive atmosphere. For Helene victims, how are they festive when they can't hear the laugh of the loved one they lost in the flood?
Holidays help me see growth and changes in my own life, and remind me to set intentions for the next year. Helene victims could be looking at some very difficult decisions in 2025 and re-thinking their unexpected new chapter. As I sit and wonder how Helene victims are feeling this Christmas, I also know that I have seen the answer first-hand over the last two months. We cling to each other. We cling to Hope.
We have seen the region, and truly the nation, flood the Helene- affected areas with resources, with volunteer labor, with hugs, with hot meals, and with love. One thing I can tell you about Appalachia: neighbors are walking arm-in-arm through this recovery together.
It's so clear from my vantage point that the Lord is omnipresent in this recovery. I can see it in the fullness of forged friendships, volunteers from across the country mucking out muddy homes, in the sparkle in the eye of the farmer donating his hay for another farm's animals, and in the donors who have entrusted Holston Habitat for Humanity with their funds so that we may offer help through home repair and new homes for victims. There is kindness and compassion everywhere amidst the tragedy.
Here at Holston Habitat, we have expanded our service area to include Unicoi County, TN, so that we can offer Helene relief work to residents in Carter, Washington, and now Unicoi Counties. We are actively providing critical home repairs to those who have suffered extensive damages. We are also preparing to build new homes for flood-affected families starting in 2025.
Without the financial support of our community, and especially our dedicated volunteers whom we lovingly call “The Regulars,” none of this would be possible.
That brings me back to my earlier comment: we are all walking arm-in-arm through this recovery together. We are so thankful for your support, and we hope you’ll continue to walk alongside us into 2025 so that we can continue serving families who desperately need your help.
As the year comes to a close, and we all wonder how on earth we’re going to attend that Christmas concert, or maintain traditions after Hurricane Helene, or even just make sure we’re putting on matching shoes before walking out the door, my hope for each of us is this: That we take a moment to slow down and truly count our blessings.
Thank you, Habitat family, for your support. Be on the lookout for our exciting update in January, which will include our 2024 Gratitude Report, and a first look at what will be our year-long celebration in 2025 of Holston Habitat’s 40-Year Anniversary!!
I’m grateful for each of you!
Peace,
Laura Kelly
Executive Director
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