I’ve been thinking a lot about home this past year – the home that lives in our hearts and for many of us, the place of belonging that shelters and welcomes us when we need it most. (Pssst…this is actually the main theme of a poetry collection I’m writing for release in 2024!)
Over the past few years, I’ve volunteered with a coalition, Kenora Moving Forward (KMF), that provides support and advocacy for people affected by lack of housing, racism, discrimination, addiction, mental health issues, and poverty in the Kenora region. This year, in lieu of gifts, I’ve made a donation to the coalition to help continue its work of providing warm meals and safe spaces of belonging for some of our town’s most vulnerable citizens.
When you spend time with people who are without stable housing, you get a different picture of what home really means. You learn it’s more than just an address. It’s where we find our people. It’s where we find hope.
If you’d like to learn more about Kenora Moving Forward and what you can do to support its ongoing efforts, visit their website.
You’ll see a link to donate via Canada Helps at the bottom of the page or go to canadahelps.org/en/charities/wassay-gezhig-na-nahn-dah-we-igamig/ (select Kenora Moving Forward in the drop down on the right hand column). A tax receipt is provided.
Whatever you can do will warm many hearts.
From our home to yours
Wishing you the love, laughter,
Leanne and Michael Fournier
welcome and warmth
of family, friends, and community.
And more gifts! Listen to Heart’s lovely rendition of “Here is Christmas” youtube.com/watch?v=M7NWDamHjds
The lyrics speaks to what we all hope for Christmas…
The night was black and velvet The stars were all around A stranger landed lightly on the frosty ground His eyes were wide with wonder Filled with stars and space He'd searched the heavens over Till he found this place A sweet and snowy carol echoed in his ears A song so faint and distant, so strong it drew him here Here is Christmas come inside Here is Christmas far and wide A thousand candles burning bright Here is Christmas shining in our eyes He wandered through the city Lost in the shopping crowds People rushing people pushing He watched without a sound Cash machines were singing about the biggest year But above this strange confusion The carol still rang clear Then he saw a raggedy man with an ancient mandolin And he knew he'd found the answer when the song began again Here is Christmas come inside Here is Christmas far and wide A million candles burning bright Here is Christmas shining in our eyes
