Saluting Rev. Loretta Harris-Caldwell, Founder of Blessings in the Storm

When Rev. Loretta Harris-Caldwell initially began visiting homeless shelters to minister to the women in Charlotte, North Carolina, she used her life experiences as an example that all things are possible through Christ. About 2 years ago, she started getting calls from other parts of North Carolina, and some calls from out of state. She brought in ladies who were mostly in abusive situations needing to change locations in order to prevent their abusers from locating them.

Blessings in the Storm is a Christian based outreach ministry for women and children. They minister to the women of Charlotte, NC, who have fallen victim to homelessness and worldly addictions. This ministry has been successful in seeing many souls saved and fully transformed. Blessings in the Storm seeks to be a bridge that takes women and children across the abyss from homelessness and worldly addictions, to being independent and self sufficient through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The mission of Blessings in the Storm is to:

· Provide a safe place for women and children with structure, in order to build a new foundation through Biblical principles.

· To offer personalized programs that teaches life management, parenting, and independent living.

· To support active, participatory spiritual development (Church, Sunday School, Bible Study, etc.).

· To ensure each person's journey will be fostered through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Loretta’s ministry is a “ministry of helps.” The purpose is to come together, breaking down generational barriers of bondage, by using one's strength for another's weakness. Additionally, to come together by becoming as one through the power of the Holy Spirit is to achieve freedom and liberty. In 2009, she won three awards: Bank ofAmerica 2009 Local Hero, Links 107.9 - The Link Leading Lady 2009 and WBTV Hometown Hero for her work with Blessings in the Storm.

A tragedy occurred last year that makes Loretta more determined to do what she can to save the women she reaches out to. A beautiful young woman from Ethiopia named Tigist, who was a resident at Blessings in the Storm for two years, was brutally murdered by her boyfriend in the early hours of one fateful Saturday morning in 2009. Unbeknown to Loretta and Tigist, this man had a very dark side, while appearing to be humble and well-mannered. He took Tigist to church, to meet his parents and even helped her learn English. Tigist’s story is one that Loretta holds dear to her heart and use to teach the homeless mothers and children she reaches out to about the dangers that lurk out there. She calls the women she rescues her “daughters” (although she has one biological daughter, Katie D. Brave and a son Donnie Harris, Jr.).

Blessings in the Storm does not receive any federal, state or local funding. The organization has four transitional homes: Naomi’s House, Esther’s House and Sarah's House are all used for women with children. Ruth's House is used for single women. Blessings in the Storm currently has the following urgent needs:

· Donations of food, school supplies, and other basic household necessities are always appreciated.

· Monetary donations are needed for mortgage payments, transportation to doctor and job appointments, home maintenance, and monthly utilities. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information about Blessings in the Storm and where to send your donations, please visit their website at http://www.blessingsinthestorm.org/.

We salute Rev. Loretta Harris-Caldwell for the incredible mission she has undertaken, in order to reach out and help the least of these, regain a sense of hope and self-respect.

Deb Stewart Campaigns with Hope for the Holidays

Volunteers give something quite different and unique to the organizations they donate their time, money and energy to. The divine love, faith, stamina and compassion that personifies our human spirit, are the fruits that sanction our calling to be participators and not spectators when there is a human need to be met.

We met Deb Stewart during our fundraising event for The Dove’s Nest in September. She is also one of the valued volunteers for The Dove’s Nest, but continues to be an advocate for other causes that are not highly publicized. “I get a lot of personal satisfaction in knowing that God is using me to do my part for His glory,” says Deb. Like most volunteers, Deb shies away from a lot of attention. Nevertheless, in spite of her daily personal challenges, she still campaigns for causes to help rally support for those in need. We ask that you read the following heartfelt petition from Deb, for an organization that not many people have heard of located in Charlotte, NC called Blessings in the Storm. We think her message clearly states it all in the following letter she wrote:

Like many of us during the holidays, I struggle to focus on the meaning of the season more than the glitz and goods and social obligations. I have a tendency to over commit and then to re-evaluate in hindsight. Not this year!

With a group of close friends, I’ve pledged to support a local Christian ministry through monthly visits with gifts and prayers, and quarterly fund-raisers. But this quarter, for many, the busy holidays pose a problem: Who’s got time for another party or benefit? This season, we chose a different approach – we’re holding a “non-event,” an easy way to invite friends and family to make a big difference that demands little time or effort.

No searching for the perfect gift, no gourmet food to whip up … Just lots of Christian goodwill extended to people in dire need. I hope you’ll join me! Here’s how it works:

Your donation to our Hope for the Holidays non-event will benefit Blessings in the Storm, a Charlotte ministry that provides shelter for women and children escaping abuse, abandonment, addiction, or poverty. They arrive on Blessings’ doorstep with more baggage than they can carry, and yet they have next to nothing. They’re broke, and they’re deeply broken.

At Blessings in the Storm, they can heal in a homelike environment where rent and utilities are paid and children are well tended while mothers work hard to stand on their own. Blessings occupies four modest homes along a dead-end street in west Charlotte; but to the women and children there, Blessings is no dead end. It opens wide an avenue to healing, faith, and self-sufficiency. The growth I’ve seen among the women at Blessings is inspiring.

As a Christian organization, Blessings does not receive government funding, relying on private donations, and has struggled to meet operating costs this year. Would you consider helping Blessings with a donation of $10 or more, or a gift card to Target or Wal-Mart? Your tax-deductible contribution will help the ministry pay rent and utilities and will allow the women to buy a small Christmas gift for their children. Every penny goes to the ministry, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

If you’d like to donate, please call (980-254-1952) or e-mail me [dstewart@deborahstewart.ws] so I can arrange to receive your contribution by Dec. 10. Checks should be made out to Blessings in the Storm.

Checks can be mailed to my address:
14512 Limestone Lane
Pineville, NC 28134

Or you may go online to:
http://www.blessingsinthestorm.org/howyoucanhelp.html

Please browse this website to learn more about them. Your donations with make a difference this Christmas season and will be very much appreciated by all who love these women and believe in their future.

I know that, like me, you’ll find a great deal of peace and purpose this holiday season by spreading Hope for the Holidays. And I’m thankful that you’ve considered this opportunity to make one less mark on your calendar and leave one big mark on your heart!

Sincerely,
Deb Stewart
God bless you!

Favorite Things for a CAUSE salutes Deb Stewart for sharing some Hope for the Holidays on behalf of Blessings in the Storm. If you have any questions about donating to Blessings in the Storm, please email Deb at dstewart015@carolina.rr.com. We urge you to visit the website for Blessings in the Storm http://www.blessingsinthestorm.org/ and learn about this incredible mission started by Loretta Harris-Caldwell. Please go to the “Press Release” link and watch the life-changing video that shows you how Blessings in the Storm, is a blessing of deliverance.