Erica's Love for Reality Ministries
Tax deductible
Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Reality Ministries; an amazing non-profit organization that creates opportunities for teens and adults, with and without developmental disabilities to experience belonging, kinship and the life-changing REALITY of Christ's love. Any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.
My oldest daughter, Taryn, has actively participated with Reality Ministries for the past 7 years. It is truly the highlight of her weekly interactions with her friends and peers. This is her place of refuge, comfort, laughter and belonging. It's a place where she truly feels honored and loved for who she is; a loving, determined, kind and funny young lady....just to name a few. She is one that gives the best hugs and can lift your spirits when you are having a tough day.
Prior to COVID-19 some of the weekly in-person activities she participated in was the Monday and Wednesday day program and Tuesday night fellowship. This usually consists of a pizza dinner with salad and the awesome "Friends News" activity. This is where every friend shared some good news from that week. Everyone cheered, clapped vigorously and celebrated one another! There was also the "Pass The Peas" family style dinner gathering hosted by our wonderful community partners at Blacknall Church. Also the smaller Home Group sessions allowed for a more intimate time of gathering with friends.
One of our major events is our annual talent show, which we sorely missed this year.
Now that we are in the midst of this pandemic, life has drastically changed for so many. This is a particularly harsh truth for our friends at Reality. Their norms and weekly in-person connections with friends has been disrupted. Many people with developmental disabilities are more susceptible than most to particular medical risks and are more likely to experience isolation and loneliness.
Our doors have been closed since March. The in-person meetings have now been replaced with alternative ways of meeting virtually. The Reality staff is amazing and have really been flexible and creative to do their best to stay in contact with our friends to try to keep a sense of community. While Zoom meetings, phone calls, text messages and drive-by visits truly lift our friend's spirits, many of them are still really feeling the adverse affects of COVID-19.
Here is Taryn during a recent virtual funny picture day:
Each and every donation made will help us to continue to support programming for our friends. To help make your donation even sweeter, we, as board members, have agreed to match all donations that come in up to $71,000 through June 30th.
Thank you for your time and support.
My oldest daughter, Taryn, has actively participated with Reality Ministries for the past 7 years. It is truly the highlight of her weekly interactions with her friends and peers. This is her place of refuge, comfort, laughter and belonging. It's a place where she truly feels honored and loved for who she is; a loving, determined, kind and funny young lady....just to name a few. She is one that gives the best hugs and can lift your spirits when you are having a tough day.
Prior to COVID-19 some of the weekly in-person activities she participated in was the Monday and Wednesday day program and Tuesday night fellowship. This usually consists of a pizza dinner with salad and the awesome "Friends News" activity. This is where every friend shared some good news from that week. Everyone cheered, clapped vigorously and celebrated one another! There was also the "Pass The Peas" family style dinner gathering hosted by our wonderful community partners at Blacknall Church. Also the smaller Home Group sessions allowed for a more intimate time of gathering with friends.
One of our major events is our annual talent show, which we sorely missed this year.
Now that we are in the midst of this pandemic, life has drastically changed for so many. This is a particularly harsh truth for our friends at Reality. Their norms and weekly in-person connections with friends has been disrupted. Many people with developmental disabilities are more susceptible than most to particular medical risks and are more likely to experience isolation and loneliness.
Our doors have been closed since March. The in-person meetings have now been replaced with alternative ways of meeting virtually. The Reality staff is amazing and have really been flexible and creative to do their best to stay in contact with our friends to try to keep a sense of community. While Zoom meetings, phone calls, text messages and drive-by visits truly lift our friend's spirits, many of them are still really feeling the adverse affects of COVID-19.
Here is Taryn during a recent virtual funny picture day:
Each and every donation made will help us to continue to support programming for our friends. To help make your donation even sweeter, we, as board members, have agreed to match all donations that come in up to $71,000 through June 30th.
Thank you for your time and support.
Organizer
Erica Ryder
Organizer
Durham, NC
Reality Ministries
Beneficiary