Dear Friends-
The extra copies of the 2020 Annual Report have just been delivered to the office and Shana is bouncing around asking everyone onsite if they have read it. For the rest of you, you'll just have to wait to receive it in the mail or you can check it out online. While it was tempting to consider acting like last year never happened, the reality is that there were some very real highlights amidst a year of darkness. In the spirit of being strengths-based, we’re proud to share with you – our supporters, volunteers, and donors – a snapshot of our programmatic accomplishments, finances, outcomes and partnerships over the last year.
For our long-time supporters, the biggest surprise contained in the annual report is likely the recognition that five years have passed since the merger of Durham Interfaith Hospitality Network (DIHN) and Genesis Home. The pandemic has certainly toyed with our traditional notion of time, but I have to say that those five years seemed to pass very quickly! I want to thank former DIHN Executive Director and current FMF board member Catherine Pleil for her recollections of the merger in the annual report, and for her huge role in getting FMF to this point. Catherine and I believed that we’re stronger when we all work together and the merger was a logical extension of our work together in the Durham Collaborative to End Family Homelessness. I’m proud of the fact that the agency has continued to look for ways to bolster services and supports for all of our guests since the merger. The launch of our aftercare tenancy support program in early 2016 has been more successful than we ever imagined and our investment in children’s services and supports over the last four years is giving our youngest guests the attention and resources that they need and deserve. I continue to believe that wicked problems like homelessness and poverty require partnership and innovation to solve and FMF, since its inception, has consistently been willing to go above and beyond as we consider how best to serve our guests.
We wouldn’t have hit the five year mark without the generosity, compassion and commitment of our caring community here in Durham. I want to thank everyone who volunteered, who filled a barrel of joy with in-kind donations, or who took a moment to make a financial gift. It truly takes a village to do this work well and we, the staff and board of FMF, are thankful for the role that you play in our success. Annual reports are all about looking backward, but we have much to look forward to as well. As we begin to navigate a post-pandemic reality, I cordially invite you to re-engage with our evening programming and ongoing volunteer opportunities. Whether you’re new to the agency or a familiar face, we can’t do this work without you. Thank you for supporting our families and children and I hope to see you back at FMF soon.
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