Second Sunday Supper at Camp Hope

Inspired by Fr. Greg Boyle’s book Tattoos on the Heart, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church started Second Sunday Supper, a potluck held at Camp Hope on the Second Sunday of every month, in the summer of 2018. The idea is not so much to feed people (although who doesn’t love a great potluck dinner?), but rather to share some time and fellowship with Camp Hope residents. St. Andrew’s parishioners set up a pop-up dining room with tables, chairs, and tablecloths and bring main dishes, side dishes, desserts, sodas, and water to share. Camp Hope residents and St. Andrew’s folks sit together, talk, and eat. Every month there is a great story. Like the man in happy tears over the joy of a homemade, decorated gingerbread cookie at Christmas. Or the fellow who had thirds (or was it fourths?) of a casserole just like the one his mom used to make. Friendships are developed through sharing simple human dignity and a lot of good food! And yes, pets are welcome, and people are starting to bring dog and cat food as well as people food. This is a simple and easy way to support people as they work through their homeless experience. If your faith or social community would like to learn how to host your own Supper at Camp Hope, contact Nancy McMillan at nmcmilla@nmsu.edu. If you can support the work of Camp Hope, join us at https://www.tentstorents.org/.

Lynn

Lynn’s beautiful face, with perfect makeup and manicured nails, cover for the medical challenges she has experienced over many years. She has chronic pain from back issues, diabetes and thyroid problems, artificial heart valves and only one kidney, and was recently hospitalized for a possible stroke.

Lynn said people assume everyone who is homeless is a bad person or an addict, but she is one of the many who learned that they were one paycheck away from homelessness. She knows the special vulnerability of women, and feels the pain of others who have been victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. She commented “everyone deserves a roof over their head,” and she hopes a stronger safety net will help her regain the security of stable housing.

Until she is back on her feet, Camp Hope is a safe haven for Lynn and many vulnerable women. Support this work through the Tents to Rents campaign, by clicking here and selecting one of our partners and donating!

The Mano y Mano Program

You have probably seen people in florescent yellow vests picking up litter along the road or cleaning up a city park. Chances are these are all residents of Camp Hope, working in Mano y Mano, a collaborative program between the City of Las Cruces and the Community of Hope.

Campers get help with job applications or job training opportunities, and in the meantime they can earn minimum wage for a day of labor cleaning up the city and improving the quality of life for all of us. The opportunity to earn wages is an important step towards regaining employment and self-sufficiency.

Camp Hope is a safe community that gives people space to rebuild their lives and their social connections while getting assistance with addiction and mental health services. In the past year, there were over 16,000 nights that someone slept in the safety of Camp Hope instead of on the streets.

Join us in helping people experiencing homelessness find a path to a better future. Support Camp Hope by clicking here and selecting one of our partners.

Beckie's Story from Week 2

Beckie has been at Camp Hope for six months, and she said this experience has “restored my faith in humans.”

The staff really listen and try to help and have helped her regain her sense of worth. She walks with a cane, which made her very vulnerable living on the streets, until a former neighbor helped her get into Camp Hope. Like every woman at the Camp, she said access to a restroom, a place where she is safe at night, and regular meals have made a huge difference in her quality of life. While a few campers are troubled souls, most respect each other and don’t take for granted the space for healing that Camp Hope provides.

Both the women we are featuring this year declined to have their photos used, which is totally understandable.

Join us in helping people experiencing homelessness find a path to a better future. Support Camp Hope by clicking here.

Diego's Story from Week 1

At Camp Hope Diego said he has learned that “if you want to change, it is possible. That's a great life’s lesson after a series of losses in his life.

After his car died, Diego was injured in a fall while walking to his job, and unable to work he lost the trailer he was renting.

With help from Camp Hope staff, getting on Medicaid has given him time and space to heal his injured knees and ankles, and he hoping to be able to look for a job. The security of the camp and not having to worry about whether there will be food each day has given him peace of mind, and he looks forward to his next chapter and returning to hiking and fishing.

Please consider helping people like Diego move into stable, safe, and permanent housing by clicking here, selecting a partner and donating at our secure website. Thanks!