The Connecting Grounds

Help Us Spread Some Warmth This Winter

A fundraiser for The Connecting Grounds by The Mystery Hour

You may be wondering: HotHands? Those hand-warmer things? How much good can that do? 

A lot of good, it turns out. We were surprised to learn that HotHands will literally be life-savers this winter. 

Since shelters only open when it's 32 degrees or below, and with reduced capacity due to COVID-19, many people are left without anywhere to go on cold nights. Here, in Springfield, Missouri. 

This is something that can make a real difference for the hundreds of people who will be out on the streets of our city, unable to access crisis cold weather shelters. (Hundreds. Here, in Springfield.) 

Why this goal? An estimated 25k-30,000 additional HotHands are needed for the winter, supplying 6-8 per person, per night. $25,000 would cover that and then some, thanks to wholesale prices.

It's a big goal, but it's a big problem. We can do it together! 

We know there are so many larger issues (affordable housing; access to jobs; addiction and mental health services; the list goes on) more complicated than we can address in one GoFundMe, but this is one way we can make a difference and literally save lives as we move into colder months. We can’t fix everything, but we can do something. And you can help. 

We’re partnering with The Connecting Grounds, a ministry that provides for the everyday needs of the unhoused people in our community. Their street outreach team goes out nightly to check on and provide supplies to those who are not able to access shelters. When we asked what we could do to help, the answer was: HotHands. 

Lead Pastor Christie Love explains: “Having the ability to give out 6-8 pairs per person per night is crucial to help vulnerable individuals maintain their core body temperature. We bag up these warmers with instructions that inform people where they can put the warmers on their bodies for greatest effectiveness. This placement is: a warmer in each shoe, a warmer in each pocket of their pants, a warmer under each armpit, and a warmer in each hand.”  

November is Homelessness Awareness Month. Help us raise awareness and funds that will help spread some warmth this winter. 


:: Special thank you to Kenny Wheeler for designing our graphics! ::

More ways to get involved and support long-term solutions:

Learn more about The Connecting Grounds 

From the Springfield News-Leader:
- Read recent coverage about shelters in Springfield 
- Learn more about SGF NAACP Economic Justice Task Force 

Watch the Springfield Street Choir appearance on The Mystery Hour in January:

• Providing essential supplies and resources, such as food, clothing, and hygiene products, to unsheltered individuals and families.
• Offering outreach programs and spiritual support that empower individuals to find hope and rebuild their lives.

The city of Springfield only allots $10,000 a year for crisis cold weather shelter needs in our community, but the need is MUCH higher than that. This tiny budget is split up and dispersed to various organizations offering their buildings as shelter spaces and providing transportation within the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness shelter system.* Currently, these shelters are only open on nights when the temperature is forecasted to hit 32 degrees or below between the hours of 7 PM and 7 AM... this does not measure wind chill or the "feels like" temperature but the actual measurement from the National Weather Service.

 

Our group of progressive faith communities believes that all people deserve to be sheltered as much when it is 33 degrees as they do when it is 32 degrees- which is why we are combining efforts to offer an alternative shelter site that will be open every night during the winter season. This would be an inclusive shelter for anyone - regardless of gender identity or age to access warmth and safety when needed. To offer this we need to raise $50,000 to help fund salaries for shelter staff, food, cots, and building costs associated with this effort.

 

During the 2020 winter, COVID cut the capacity of crisis cold weather shelters in half, leaving many to struggle to survive on the streets or in encampments in our community. The Connecting Grounds (TCG) created a nightly outreach team that would go out to check on those who could not access shelter and distribute survival supplies such as; hot hands, blankets, socks, gloves, coffee, food, and more. Last winter we saw more than 400 people in need of survival supplies between mid-October and mid-March; we are anticipating a 25% increase in the need this year which means we need supplies for at least 563 people (and those are just those not able to access shelters or seek shelter at a friends or family member's home).

 

With these higher numbers, one night of outreach will cost approximately $1,888.51. TCG goes out anytime the temperatures are 45 degrees or below- we expect to go out 131 nights this coming winter which brings our estimated total cost of outreach (if we had to buy all supplies) to $268,888. However, we have a very generous community and we anticipate that half of this need will be provided through supply drives and donations. To ensure we have needed supplies for outreach this winter we need to raise $125,000 to fill in gaps in donations of food and survival gear.

 

Combining these two efforts, we are looking at a total fundraising goal of $175,000 to help fill in the enormous gaps in services and funding available through official organizations and budgets to support the most vulnerable members of our community this winter. Any amount that you or your organization(s) could give to help meet this need this winter would be deeply appreciated and carefully stewarded to love out loud.

 

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*The Connecting Grounds Outreach efforts have never been given any funds from the city to provide shelter or outreach at any time.

* The First Unitarian Universalist Church did not receive any funds from the city in 2020-2021 to provide their shelter.