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www.SoundFoundationsNW.org                            soundfoundationsnw@gmail.com

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Giving Thanks

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GIVING THANKS

By Barb Oliver

Recently another major non-profit emailed me and asked me how we attract so many volunteers each day and why so many of them come back week after week.  I responded by saying that it is simple.  We value our community as the most important resource of our organization.  And that’s not just a slogan in a newsletter or in an email asking for money.  We truly mean it.

Every day I feel honored to make as many sincere compliments as I can.  Something as simple as a “good job” or “that looks great” means a lot to the person on the receiving end.  At the end of the day, I thank as many volunteers as I can for taking their day to spend with us.

Every compliment, every thank you, every day for now years and years adds up.  The tiny home village program has gotten over 3000 people off the streets: over 2000 last year alone.  In a matter of a few years, if we do it right, we can offer a tiny home to everyone who wants and needs one.  Most important to us, you have given thousands and thousands of volunteer hours and dollars to help someone that you have never met.

Have I mentioned just how incredible that is?  It’s incredible because YOU are incredible!  So many great hearts fill The Hope Factor each day that some days I sneak behind a home and burst into tears.

So tomorrow when you stop and give thanks, we want you to know that we give thanks for you every day.  Enjoy tomorrow with family and friends or however you choose to celebrate.  Just know that we love you.  We appreciate you.  And we celebrate you as much as you help us celebrate our mission.

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VOLUNTEER HOMECOMING DAY, NOVEMBER 28th

Homecoming Tuesday

We are so looking forward to next Tuesday’s First Annual Homecoming Celebration!  Many of you will be joining us for the first time or the first time in a long time.  We can’t wait to see you (again)!  Extra Team Leaders are needed that day, so Team Leaders, please join us and see some old and new friends.

Giving Tuesday

Next Tuesday is also Giving Tuesday.  Here is the dollars and cents reality check. 

At our current build rate of finishing four homes per week, and a cost of $4500 per home, we spend $18,000 each week just in construction materials cost. That sounds a little daunting.  But the beauty of our system, and the backbone of our Two Year Plan to Functional Zero, is that each home that takes about eight days to complete now will then shelter our homeless neighbors for up to twenty years!  The more we raise this year, the faster we get to that magic number of 400 more tiny homes by the end of 2025.

Our goal for Giving Tuesday is to raise $22,500, the cost of five tiny homes.  Thanks to some of our strongest supporters, the first $6500 in donations is matched, so your donation will go even further!

We know you care about moving people out of tents, doorways, and encampments.  If you’re able, please, help us move up to 300 more people inside where it’s warm, safe, and dry by giving online.  Our campaign is open right now, no need to wait until Tuesday.  Thanks!

And a gentle reminder:  If you are mailing us a check, thank you!  Please make sure you don’t send it to the 5 S. Nevada address.  We do not get mail directly at The Hope Factory, and your donation may get lost.  Please click here for all the donation information including where to send the check. 

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• December 1st, we open the Group Build calendar for March 2024.  Still a few dates left in January and February.
• December 11th, the King County Regional Homeless Authority will be touring The Hope Factory
• December 12th, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be building with us.
• December 24th – January 1st, The Hope Factory will be closed.  Happy Holidays!

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THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED THIS WEEK

• Our “regulars“  are the heart and soul of our organization.
• “New Crew” members: Landon, Mary, Jack, Shelli, Irene, Lars, and Bethany.
• Our wonderful groups: Isso Seva and Tzu Chi
  • THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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TO VOLUNTEER

Come build with us this week! Here’s the link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4EACAF2AA0F4C52-46315794-week#/

• Please remember to wear painting clothes even if you do not anticipate painting. Minimum age is 16 years. Please, no exceptions.
• Clarification: If the SignUpGenius says (The name of a Group Build) AND Open Build, this means that you can volunteer even if you are not a part of the group.
• TEAM LEADERS IN TRAINING: If you wish to become a Team Leader in Training, DO NOT SIGN UP for the day you wish to do this. Email SoundFoundationsNW@gmail.com and we will put you on the list.

We hope to be building with you soon!

Your Leadership Team: Beatrice, Tom, Bruce, David, Timothy and Barb

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It Takes a Village to FUND a Village!

YOU are a big part of why stacks and stacks of lumber fill The Hope Factory. There are several ways to give throughout the year. Questions? Please email devel.sfnw@gmail.com.  All gifts qualify as tax deductible but please consult your tax professional for your own situation.

To give by check, credit/ debit card, a Donor Advised Fund, or a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA, start on our Donate page, or:

Sponsor a Home:

Remember, if you sponsor a home (currently $4500), you get to name the home! Tiny home sponsors have their names (or “anonymous”) and the name of their home added to our Tiny Home Sponsor wall and join our growing list of supporters who’ve reached a little deeper to become part of the solution to ending homelessness. Email devel.sfnw@gmail.com for details.

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A Few Reminders

• We do tours every day but Friday. Come visit if you haven’t been yet.
• We have a “Welcome to Sound Foundations NW” PowerPoint presentation that is also in .pdf form. If people ask you what we are all about, these are a simple thing to attach to an email to explain who we are, what we do, and why we do it. Email SoundFoundationsNW@gmail.com for this .pdf or PowerPoint.
• We fund our homes through a combination of private and public donations. For more information, please go to our website – Helping Finance the Homes.

Protocols, Address, Directions

• Volunteer at your own risk for Covid or any other illness. If you are experiencing any symptoms, please stay home.
• Masks are optional when volunteering at The Hope Factory. There is no shame in wearing a mask.
• The minimum age is 16 years. Please, no exceptions.
• When you are at The Hope Factory, please social distance whenever possible.
• Covid booster shots are not required but highly encouraged.
• We are usually there by 9 am or 2 pm on most Sundays. Make sure you double check the times in the Sign Up Genius. You can come and go as your schedule permits. Just let us know so we can plan ahead.
• Please bring your own gloves. 
• Please leave your own tools at home.
• Please bring your own lunch. 
• No matter what you do, please come prepared to paint. 
• Warehouses can be difficult to heat and cool. Please dress appropriately. 
• We currently have no indoor restrooms, Honey Bucket only.
• We understand that sometimes life gets in the way of good intentions. If you must cancel at the last minute, please contact us as soon as you know. Others may want to volunteer in your place.
• No experience necessary. We train willing hearts.

OUR ADDRESS is 5 S. Nevada St., Seattle 98109 in SODO. 

GOOGLE MAPS – find us here.

Visit our website:

www.soundfoundationsnw.org