Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonder land
Gone away is the bluebird.
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song as we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland
To many, these are familiar words that speak to a joyous season where both child and adult enjoy the magic of a Winter Wonderland. For many of our guests at Hesed House, this simple joy has turned into survival as they walk to and fro through the snow to reach a destination that will shelter them from the hazards of that Winter Wonderland.
Rather than being a bad thing, it is a good thing because our guests take comfort in knowing that warmth and compassion await them in that warm place of refuge called Hesed House. Here is where they can experience the joys of Christmas. Where a cup of hot chocolate, tea or coffee is what they are most thankful for. Where volunteers line up to welcome and serve them in an effort to show them how special they are and encourage them to hold onto hope. Hesed is where dignity and respect are gift- wrapped and given to our guests 365 days a year.
All of this is possible because you, through your generous support, become that new bird singing a love song. That song gives our friends a renewed sense of self-respect and the hope that one day they can again find beauty in the simple joys of God’s creation.
On our coldest day this winter, we welcomed 182 guests into our shelter. We also had 48 individuals resting comfortably in our on-sight Transitional Living Community and another 65 individuals in our scattered housing sites throughout Aurora. Your kindness helped those 295 individuals experience a Winter Wonderland the Hesed Way.
Thank you for all that you have done – and for what you will do this Holiday Season – to keep the sleigh bells of hope ringing at Hesed House.
Here’s wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Holiday Season full of the magic of a Winter Wonder land.
Michael Cobb
Executive Director
