With the holiday season approaching and in the spirit of National Roof Over Your Head Day, we must keep those in our prayers that don't have a roof over their head and the warmth of a home. Today, there are as many as 100 million people without a roof over their heads across the United States. Working with Habitat for Humanity is our chance to help reduce this number and make a positive impact on so much more. In an effort to maximize our Year-End Challenge of 2023, Lowe's will be matching our contribution to double the impact.   Does Habitat for Humanity only build new houses? Many of you probably only know Habitat for Humanity for building new homes for people in need but it is SO much more than that. Families and individuals who partner with them pay affordable mortgages and contribute sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and staff to build homes for themselves and others. This means they are invested in their own success which is equally as beneficial as getting a new home. These new homeowners will take  classes in home maintenance, budgeting and learning how to manage their mortgage. In addition to providing new homes, Habitat offers families a pathway to strenght, stability and self-reliance. But there's more...people can partner with habitat for renovation work as well. Children who suffered from frequesnt respiratory infections can grow up healthier in houses free of mold. Habitat homes give children safe places to study so they can do well in school. Parents who pay affordable mortgages can achieve financial stability and save for their children's education. Often, they are able to go back to school themselves and find better jobs.   Is there really a National Roof Over Your Head Day? Yes! Every year, on December 3rd, we observe National Roof Over Your Head Day. The day was created to raise awareness for housing issues and to remind us to be thankful for what we do have—starting with the roofs over our heads. Following closely after Thanksgiving, a day dedicated to gratitude, National Roof Over Your Head Day prompts us to express thanks for our blessings, starting with the shelter provided by the roof over our heads. This emphasis is especially important for those that lack this fundamental necessity. To observe and participate, pick a name or two off of a Christmas Giving Tree at your local church or community center and make someone's holiday a little better. You can also volunteer at or make a contribution to a homeless shelter in your area. Your gift may help someone else be able to have a “roof over their head” when most needed. Use #RoofOverYourHeadDay to post on social media.

Everyone can benefit from a furry friend! There are likely hundreds of adoptable cats and dogs in your local animal shelters or rescues right now who would love to join your family. We understand that adopting isn't always the right fit for some people but there are other ways to give that will benefit these animals. A one time or monthly donation and even pet care product donations go a very long way. For more about how adopting a pet can benefit humans just as much as the animals, check out Improve Your Mental Health by Rescuing an Animal. About ASPCA The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) holds the distinction of being the first humane society established in North America and is currently one of the largest organizations of its kind in the world. Our foundation is built upon the fundamental principle that animals deserve compassionate and respectful treatment by humans and should be legally safeguarded. Based in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a robust local presence while extending our anti-cruelty mission nationwide, earning recognition as a leading national animal welfare organization. As a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, we take pride in our extensive support from over 2 million individuals across the country. The ASPCA's core mission, articulated by its founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is "to establish effective measures for preventing cruelty to animals throughout the United States." To learn more, visit aspca.org.

Sponsoring children has always been at the top of our list and who better to partner with but World Vision. Through sponsorship, you can help provide essential resources and support for the children’s well-being, including access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and more. For our most recent sponsorships, we decided to empower the children by selecting the “Chosen” sponsorship process. This is where you submit a photo of yourself (photos of our staff in this case) and allow the children to choose their sponsor. Poverty steals choices from kids so we thought it would be special to provide opportunities for children to have a choice and hopefully put a huge smile on their face in the process.

For Philly, brought to you by Epic Church, makes it easy for you to grab a group of friends or just yourself to volunteer to help one of their many community outreach partners. These fantastic organizations are doing big things to help the city of Philadelphia and beyond. Visit #forphilly at forphilly.com.

A Night to Remember is an event that welcomes and celebrates individuals with disabilities aged 14 and older and takes place every November. You can expect activities such as a glamorous red carpet entrance, limousine rides, dancing, karaoke, thoughtful gifts, a delicious dinner, a dedicated Respite Room for parents and caregivers, a crowning ceremony where every honored guest receives a crown or tiara, and more. A Night to Remember is a celebration of God's love for you, our cherished Kings and Queens! To participate as an honored guest at a Night to Remember, you'll need to register through Epic.Church. Once registered, they will provide you with all the necessary information for attending the upcoming event! A special thanks to Epic Church for making this event possible.   About Epic Church In 2008 a handful of us came together around a dream to build a church that wasn’t just for church people, but a church that was for everyone. A church where people wouldn’t just attend and listen, but learn to live out their faith in new and more meaningful ways. We wanted it to be a place where everyone would be welcome. Everyone would be needed. And everyone would be changed. Ultimately we want to help people far from God discover they didn’t have to be. What started in the movie theater in Manayunk, has grown into multiple locations impacting people across Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Our vision is to see every person in the city follow Jesus. Because He is the only one with the power to change the human heart. We want that for everyone because every person matters.   Sources: www.epic.church

Yes, we know we talk about Epic Church a lot but for good reasons. We’ve been giving back to them for 10 years and look forward to the next 10 years as they continue to do amazing things around the City of Philadelphia and beyond. Partnered with over 8+ different local community outreach programs, Epic Church supports the City of Brotherly Love, including helping individuals who have experienced financial hardships as a result of the pandemic, and helping support local organizations that exist to meet needs within our community. In response to COVID-19, Epic launched ForPhilly.com. If you are looking to give by volunteering your time, you can find all of these opportunities and information regarding safety measures for volunteers at ForPhilly.com. We are currently researching and prioritizing which additional causes we will align with. These nonprofits include mental health, the well being of animals, American Red Cross and sponsoring children in need just to name a few. Sponsoring a child is a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need. This helps them and other vulnerable children in their community to stand tall and free from poverty. The list is endless and we wish we could contribute to every last one of them but we’ll be starting with those that hit home and have affected us personally so stay tuned for more!