I have always been an anxious person. Sometimes, anxiety is a superpower. Sometimes, it is a disability.
At the end of January 2020, when I started to prepare the organization for a possible pandemic, my anxiety was a superpower. COVID had a way of amplifying so much of what was already going on in our world and as a result, my anxiety was no different. People thought I was overreacting during this time, but there were decisions we made then that would lead to our survival later.
written by Alyssa Wilson, University of Lynchburg Bonner Intern
Imagine not having a safe place to sleep when it is 20 degrees and snowy outside. Where do you go? How do you keep your family safe? This is something that Miriam’s House helps to tackle throughout the year, but especially in the winter months.
Miriam’s House is a nonprofit organization and partner of SHARE Greater Lynchburg that helps to offer the homeless safe, affordable housing. They help to house 400 people a year and have a 96% success rate in moving families into housing.
Black History Month Feature: Pierce Street Gateway
By: Alyssa Wilson, University of Lynchburg Bonner Intern
When traveling down Pierce Street in the City of Lynchburg you can look around and see a deep, rich history surrounding you. Pierce Street consists of many landmarks: the Calloway and Spencer Store, Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum and the home of tennis coach and physician Dr. Robert Walter Johsnon.
The Pierce Street Gateway became a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization in 2018. The Gateway’s website states their goal “to study, stabilize, then preserve and restore the important historical structure at 1301 Pierce Street, while working to create a visitor center to serve as a hub for neighborhood tourism.”
SHARE Greater Lynchburg’s mission is to offer simple ways for neighbors, nonprofits and businesses to come together through good to support the local community. One of the ways that people can support the local community is through the Amazon Wish List Shop for Good feature on the SHARE website.
Claire Parker Foundation Deck the Heels 5K on Saturday, December 11
Written by Alyssa Wilson
The Claire Parker Foundation assists families battling pediatric cancer through their abundance of assistance programs and financial support to families during extended hospital stays. This season, the foundation is hosting the Deck the Heels 5K to help raise funds for these programs.
The foundation provides support to families through a multitude of box programs: one at initial diagnosis, a birthday box, creative therapy, end of treatment, and unfortunately in some cases, end of life.
Specializing in the leveraging of technology to enable everyone in the Lynchburg region to make connections leading to the realization of genuine improvements in health, United Potential was created to design and implement programs that provide genuine benefit to all.
To accomplish these goals, Unified Potential has launched a series of innovative initiatives, including Move Up Lynchburg, Unified4kids, RacingUPward, Phlebotomy courses, and UP4air.
Virginia Amateur Sports (VAS) mission is to promote awareness and benefits of physical fitness and healthy lifestyles through sports education, training & competition. VAS directs more than 10 events throughout the year, including the Virginia Commonwealth Games, the largest multi-sport festival held in Virginia each year.
Through working with Lynchburg City Schools, Lynchburg Beacon of Hope’s mission is to ensure all students in the Lynchburg City Public School system have the tools and resources they need to pursue a post-secondary education.
Read more about Lynchburg Beacon of Hope and their programs here.
Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center is nestled among tall, whispering poplars and Virginia pines of the 19,000-acre Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest, and caressed by beautiful, clear, Holiday Lake. Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center is more than a meeting place or retreat camp--it is an experience of unforgettable memories!
We have so much great news to share from our nonprofit partners about their amazing work. But, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know if you have stories you'd like to tell and we'll make you a guest blogger!!
