Stories of some of our donors

Simpson volunteer and donor Claudia Russ Anderson
As I looked at alternatives for donating to Simpson Housing, it quickly became apparent that giving once a month was a great way for me to budget my donations - and for Simpson to know that every month they would receive a donation from me.

Setting up a reoccurring payment through my online banking account was so easy. I don’t have to worry about whether or not I sent the check - the money is just taken out of my account and it is so great knowing that Simpson can count on my donation every month.

Homelessness and housing needs are an every day reality - I like to think that I am, in a small way, helping to end homelessness and provide housing to every person.

Claudia R.–Simpson Housing Board of Directors

One step at a time
Artist, activist, athlete Scott Moore taps into his talents to help Simpson

When Plymouth Congregational Church (where Scott Moore attends) presented its congregation with the challenge to advocate for persons experiencing homelessness, Scott dug into his personal bag of tricks and pulled out his own way to raise money and awareness.

A computer-animator, activist and athlete, Scott had previously volunteered at the Simpson Men’s Shelter teaching basic computer skills classes. This time around, Scott challenged his body as well as his mind.

A long-time runner, Scott partnered with the web site www.givemeaning.com and set-up a way for people to pledge money for every mile he was to run in the Eugene Marathon in Eugene, Oregon last April.

The pledge campaign can be viewed by going to www.runninghome.org. He designated all money raised to go to Simpson Housing Services. Scott chronicled his experience of training for and running the marathon through a video blog.

Scott finished the marathon held on April 29 with a personal best time of 3 hours, 41 minutes, 23 seconds and a $600 check for Simpson. “While the marathon is finished, my quest is not finished to end homelessness in Minneapolis,” he says. "I was compelled to take action. I focused on what was possible. Simply by asking, I was able to reach some other people who share my commitment to helping neighbors in need. It is possible to reach out and help our neighbors. You just need to challenge yourself and get creative."

Helping People Get to a Better Place
Steadfast Simpson supporters make a monthly commitment to ending homelessness

Loren and Jeannie have their three kids to thank for introducing them to Simpson Housing Services. “If we hadn’t gone with the church youth group to serve dinner at the men’s shelter, we probably wouldn’t have gotten to know the work that Simpson does,” Jeannie says. Nor would they have witnessed first-hand the issue of homelessness.

In addition to serving meals at the shelter, Loren and Jeannie also began volunteering at the annual Simpson Family Housing Holiday Party. It was at this event that Jeannie began to really see the difference one could make in the life of someone experiencing homelessness: “It was amazing to see the excitement in the eyes of the children.”

Loren and Jeannie are no strangers to reaching out to others. Both had stints as missionaries: Jeannie to Mexico and Loren to Africa. As eye-opening as those experiences were to the plights of others, their association with Simpson made it all the more apparent that “you don’t have to go half way around the world to find people who are in need,” as Loren puts it.

“Hunger and homelessness in our country are just ridiculous,” says Jeannie. “It’s such an easy thing to help people. We should be able to fix this.” These aren’t just words to these two people. They made a plan.
Loren and Jeannie made a commitment to tithe a portion of their personal income every month. Additionally, the decision was also made to tithe on a professional level. A portion of the monthly profits that are generated at Loren’s professional services firm also gets reinvested back into the community. “I thought about if I was running one of these organizations in need of support, such as Simpson Housing Services. I would need a consistent, ongoing stream of revenue every month,” says Loren.

“We sat down and made a list of the organizations we wanted to support,” he says. “And we focused on those that served the basic needs of people. And Simpson is on the list.” They also focused on groups with which they had a relationship, a personal connection. Their volunteer experiences with Simpson made the personal connection for them.

“The more we focus on tithing, the less we seem to need, and consequently, the more we have to give,” tells Loren. And though the issue of homelessness can seem overwhelming at times, he thinks back to his experiences in Africa. You constantly asked yourself ‘Am I really making a difference?’ You just needed to focus on the fact that you were leaving people in a better place than when you started.”

Longtime Simpson volunteers and donors Loren and Jeannie have found a way to consistently support the work of organizations that, like them, are dedicated to leaving people in a better place. Everyday, efforts such as theirs are bringing us closer to ending homelessness in our own communities.

Closing the Gap
A personal reaction to the issue of homelessness
by Laura, Simpson supporter and volunteer.

Driving to hockey practice at Augsburg College one cold winter day before Christmas, I saw a man standing at the top of the exit ramp, like I had seen so many times before. The man was holding a cardboard sign that simply said: “Trying to feed my family, I just happen to be homeless.” I reached into my wallet and handed him two twenty dollar bills because it was “the holidays.” He was shocked when he saw I had handed him a twenty dollar bill. Then he was beyond gracious when he realized that there were two bills. He kept telling me how wonderful I was. He asked God to bless me. I took my left turn in tears. I had done nothing. Forty dollars is so little to me.

After practice I returned to my very nice home in the suburbs, all the while thinking “this is wrong.” I am not a special person for handing someone forty dollars. Rather, the special person was the man on the side of the road, trying to find enough money to feed his family that day.
I spoke with my husband and two children about my experience. We talked about the issue of homelessness and how far removed we are from the painful, daily reminders of people in our communities who are experiencing it. We talked about what we could do to help end this blight in our midst. We agreed to cancel the new car we had on order, buy something less extravagant and instead make a gift to Simpson Housing Services.

Since last year, we have looked for other ways to strengthen our commitment to ending homelessness in Minnesota. We have changed our overall charitable giving strategy, focusing more on “closing the gap.” We have made another financial contribution and will continue until there is no longer a need. In addition, I had the opportunity to influence my place of employment’s participation and they are now providing technical and artistic support to develop a video that will help Simpson keep this issue in the forefront.

I hope my experience will challenge you to think about what you could be doing in support of the people so well served by Simpson Housing Services.

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