Kristina's House of Hope

Hello everybody. It’s July 4, which, as everyone learned in elementary school, was the famous day on which I was born in 1981. Every year, we do a birthday fundraiser for a women’s shelter called Kristina’s House of Hope. Over the last few years, we’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars, and helped raise KHOH from a rinky-dink operation to one that has served and helped hundreds of desperate women pick themselves up off the floor and restart happy and productive lives. I hope you guys will come through again. I’m shy about asking you guys for anything more than you’ve already given me, because I know I haven’t been as productive as usual recently. It’s been a tough year, and I’ll explain everything soon when the next episode of the podcast is finished. But this cause is important enough to overcome my shyness and ask anyway.

I won’t take too much more of your time with this post, but please let me tell you a bit about KHOH. Earlier this year, I attended a fundraising dinner for KHOH and learned a lot more about the woman who runs it, as well as the women she serves. The founder knows what the women are going through, because she’s been there. Many years ago, she was homeless, drug-addicted, and desperate, but by the grace of God she saw the light and got her life back on track about twenty years ago. A few years back, her own 20-year-old daughter was having problems, and was tragically killed in a car accident. Rather than wallow in guilt or slip into depression, her mother decided to start a shelter that would help other women who needed it. She knew nothing about running a charity, nothing about running a shelter, navigating local government, or anything at all, really. She just knew that if she opened her doors, God would send women to her, and she would help them. At the dinner, I met and heard from several of the women who had been through KHOH. Their stories were harrowing. I heard stories of homelessness, prostitution (sometimes forced), abuse, addiction, often all began while they were still young girls who should have been playing with dolls. The women who show up to KHOH have tried every other avenue, and many of them were on the brink of suicide before God sent them there. These women, and hundreds of others like them, are now stable, sober, happy, and productive. Several of them now work with KHOH to counsel other women. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. If you’ve ever known anyone who was truly at rock bottom, you know what a miracle it is to see them make a full recovery. That is what KHOH does.

Every penny you donate goes straight into KHOH’s operations. The woman who runs it doesn’t even take a salary, even though running KHOH is her full-time vocation. We’ve been telling her that it’s OK to take at least some compensation for the work she puts in, but she refuses - and this is not a wealthy woman by any means. Your donations pay for clothes, food, toiletries, counseling, life skills & job training, addiction services, and other things that go directly to the women KHOH serves. I know these people well, and I can promise you that, 100%.

It’s the annual MartyrMade Birthday Fundraiser for Kristina’s House of Hope, a women’s shelter in upstate New York - the only one in its region.

KHOH is not some random charity I drew out of a hat. The house was founded and run by my best friend’s mother after experiencing the tragic loss of her daughter. She’s not rich, she’s not some businesswoman doing this as a side-project, she’s a regular person who’s thrown herself into this project full-time, and helped dozens of women turn away from the edge of the cliff and get their lives together. When people say, “we need more people like that,” this is who they’re talking about - someone who has stepped up and done the thing that we don’t have the time, or energy, or inclination to do, but we all agree has to be done. So let’s help her do it.

You guys have really come through the last two years, allowing KHOH to serve more women, improve the house, and expand the services provided. And now, in large part thanks to your help, they’re on the verge of being able to open a second shelter to serve homeless men as well. We don’t always know the outcome when we click to round up to donate to cancer research at the grocery store, but I’m telling you from direct knowledge, your donations to KHOH have saved the lives of dozens of women who were staring over the edge of the abyss. After last year’s fundraiser, the ladies who’ve been helped by KHOH got together and took a group photo with a banner expressing their appreciation. It’s sitting here on my desk, and always will be because it’s probably the single thing for which I’m most grateful to have used this podcast and platform.

Let’s come through for them again. Thanks guys, for this and for everything

Hi everybody. Well, we're coming up on the 4th of July once again, which can only mean one thing: it's my birthday! Last year on my birthday, you all came through in a huge way to help Kristina's House of Hope, a non-profit women's shelter in upstate New York, and I'm hoping we can come through again.

Why send donations to a giant faceless charity? I know the woman who runs Kristina's House of Hope personally - in fact, it was a conversation with her that sparked my viral Twitter thread back in 2020. She is a regular person who had no experience running a business or non-profit. After suffering a family tragedy, she decided to use her grief for good, and has thrown herself into building up the only full-service women's shelter in the region. A lot of us talk about making a difference, she's dedicating her life to it, but we can all help with just a small donation.

Kristina's House of Hope takes in homeless women suffering from trauma, neglect, and addiction. No one is turned away. KHOH provides a safe, stable environment, but it's more than just a place to stay. They help the women through rehabilitation and counseling, teach them skills they may lack (such as cooking), and provide a support structure to help ensure the women make it all the way back onto their feet.

Last year, your donations helped pay for food, medical care, furniture, household items, personal hygiene supplies, clothing and other daily necessities for the sheltered women. The house is old (built in 1915), but thanks to your donations last year, was extensively renovated and improved. This year KHOH is looking to buy another house to provide support for homeless men.

Many of us want to do something about our social crisis, but life gets in the way. But at Kristina's House of Hope, helping people is their life, so please consider pitching in a few tax-deductible bucks to help them continue their mission.