ALAMOSA — Valley Horizons is sponsoring a fundraising dinner and silent auction to benefit Hope House on Thursday evening, October 29, from 5-7 p.m. at the Methodist Church, 2005 Mullins Avenue in Alamosa. The cost is just $6.50 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the door or ahead of time by calling 587-3727. There will be door prizes and the silent auction will have something for everyone. So far there is artwork, tools, a haircut, a facial, baked goods, candy, and a stay at bed and breakfast. Donations for the silent auction are still being accepted.
Valley Horizons was founded in 1998. During its 10-year history, Valley Horizons has provided a safe and nurturing temporary home for over 30 pregnant and parenting young women. In 2008 Valley Horizons closed its home and was preparing to shut its doors for lack of leadership.
One year ago the Valley Horizons board (members are Barbara Graham, Debora Black, Helen Taylor, Suzy Rawls, and Rebecca Cannon) installed a new director. Linda Custer is a fairly new resident to the Valley. She moved here with her family-husband Dana and five children-from the Phoenix area in early summer 2008. Since then Valley Horizons has been working to re-invent itself and raise funds needed to carry out its mission.
With its new leadership, Valley Horizons also has a new mission. Valley Horizons is a Christian pro-life organization that reaches out in love to educate and support pregnant and parenting young women and their children, while providing a safe and nurturing transitional home. But right now there is no home. Needy young women have been turned away for lack of available housing.
A home on Main Street across from Trinidad State Junior College will become available to Valley Horizons in 6-8 weeks. If enough funds can be raised in the coming weeks, Hope House, a home for pregnant or parenting young women that want to work on the skills needed to be single mothers, can be opened. Valley Horizons has until December 1 to raise the needed funds. When the home is full and fully operational-with 3-5 residents and houseparents-monthly expenses are expected to run approximately $5,000. Valley Horizons is looking for partners to underwrite the monthly expenses.
Other opportunities are available for community involvement as well. Groups are being sought to adopt a room to decorate and make it ready for a new resident. Many volunteers will be needed to assist in running the home and teaching practical skills to the residents once the home is occupied. If you are interested in participating in this worthwhile project, please call 587-3727.
Unfortunately, there is a chance that Valley Horizons will not be able to raise the money needed by its December 1 deadline. If that happens and if Valley Horizons is not able to find another suitable home in a short time, the monies that cannot be returned to the donor will be given to Women’s Resource Center—another nonprofit organization that benefits the same clientele.
