Strengthening SPAN’s Mission

Director of Operations, SPAN Inc.

April is a month that welcomes the beauty of spring and symbolizes fresh beginnings.

At SPAN, April also kicks off our spring fundraising season. We hope you’ll join us for a special fundraiser at Cafe Mezzanotte on Wednesday, April 15, from 4:00pm–9:00pm. That evening, 15% of all dine-in and carryout proceeds will be donated to SPAN. It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a night out while helping us continue providing emergency assistance to families in our county.

We are also preparing for our annual online silent auction and Broadway Songfest in June. Do you have something to donate? Some of our most popular items in past years have included vacation condo stays, gift cards to restaurants or local businesses, and professional services such as photography. The silent auction is one of our two largest fundraisers of the year, and every donation strengthens our mission.

I’d also like to share the story of one of the families we recently assisted. Hope, a divorced mother of five school-age children, has been working tirelessly to support her family. After her SUV broke down around Christmas, she lost the ability to run the small business she had built. Despite her determination, the financial strain has been overwhelming.

Since then, she has used a borrowed car to transport her kids and to make deliveries to earn some money. Without a reliable vehicle, she cannot get a job. Without a consistent income, she is stuck. Like many of the families that we serve, Hope is caught in a vicious cycle.

We offered her one of our Easter dinner boxes. She was so thankful. We loaded her car with food boxes, fresh items, birthday bags for her children, and a gift card to cover gas for the week. While we cannot solve every challenge she faces, we were grateful to offer support that brought her renewed hope and encouragement.

The financial challenges that many families face often arise during seasons of deep stress and uncertainty. The donations that we receive from the community help provide stability, dignity and renewed hope.

At SPAN, we see ourselves as one small part of a larger community working together to provide food and critical financial assistance to families in urgent need. We could not do what we do without the generosity of people like you. Your donations are a meaningful investment in the well-being of our neighbors and a powerful reminder that our community truly cares for one another! Together, we can make a difference.

“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

- Mother Teresa