When Hannah Goble asked her son, Noah, what he wanted for Christmas in 2023, his answer surprised her.
“I don’t want Santa this year,” he told her. “I just want to help others.”
Out of that came Noah’s Give Back, which works to gather items for area homeless shelters. And, according to Sarah Lewis, who sits on the board of the Peak of Hope Shelter, that kind of help is invaluable.
“When we’re able to get donations, the grant money we receive can go toward case management and paying bills,” Lewis said. “Since we’re a nonprofit, ideally the money goes toward upkeep. If we don’t have to buy necessities, we’re so much more efficient.”
So, for the second year, Noah is asking for donations of such items as blankets, pillows, twin bedding, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, nail clippers, body wash, soap, towels, washcloths, laundry detergent and clear 10-gallon totes.
Lewis, who met Noah when she served as his soccer coach, said there are two kinds of homelessness. The most common is literal homelessness, which means someone doesn’t have a home at all. In this situation, people often find themselves living in their car or a tent or sleeping on the street.
“You probably pass them every day,” Lewis admitted.
We also have people who are considered precariously housed. These individuals and families might be couch-surfing or staying in short-term housing but nothing permanent. If that keeps up, they will eventually end up literally homeless.
Peak of Hope runs two shelters—a women and families one on Madriver that holds two families downstairs and four single women upstairs, and a separate one for men on N. Detroit. They stay almost always full.
What stands out is the number of homeless youth in our community—over 60, Lewis said. “We have to think of these kids and getting them stable homes,” she added.
Just a few days ago, the ministry finally obtained permanent housing for a 19-year-old who had been chronically homeless for over a year. And they share many other similar stories, which make contributions like what Noah’s doing even more important.
In 2023, Noah was able to gather three totes of items plus four pillows and two bottles of laundry soap. He wants to expand on that for 2024. And you can help.
To be a part of Noah’s Give Back, contact Hannah at [email protected] or you can message her through Facebook. You can also support the Peak of Hope Shelter directly through their Facebook page or call (937) 935-4292.