If you’re like me, you’ve seen signs popping up on restaurant doors these days saying something like: “We honor those on our staff who have shown up to serve you today.” It’s a sign of the times during challenging staffing shortages across the nation. And there is another way we commonly use the term to “show up.” It means when a person takes a stand on an issue they care about. They show up to make a difference, they show up to acknowledge a wrong that needs righting, they show up in support of someone down.
One of the greatest parts of my job is regularly meeting with people who are showing up to make life better for others – people like you! Our supporters, our staff, and our many, many community partners. Each one of you is finding a way, big or small, to show up and make life easier for a child, an individual, or for a family who’s on the edge. It fills up my soul every day to know that we’re all in this together and that when we team up and show up, we can make a huge difference in the lives of thousands around us.
So, I’m grateful for you, grateful for that spirit of listening to the needs of others, and of leaning in to make it a little better for someone else. It’s one thing to love someone who already loves you, but to love and care for a person you will never know, or even meet –that is a special thing and it inspires me to press on.
We honor YOU for showing up to serve our community today.
In gratitude,
Erik Sternad
Executive Director
