2019 Impact Report

THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR MISSION
Our volunteers that teach,
inspire, empower, connect and
define our ministry of hospitality
are the cornerstone of our
mission. Susanne Mitten started
faithfully volunteering at the
Guest House when her son,
Cameron Mitten, began high
school nearly 6 years ago. He
was so inspired by watching her
help others that he gathered a
group of his friends and they
started volunteering. Last year,
the group won an award for
their philanthropic efforts.
nonprofit organization, Pink and
Pearls, she met Tina, a vivacious
mother and spiritual warrior
who was receiving treatment
at St. Mary’s Hospital. Susanne
mentioned the Guest House to
Tina and she learned that her
family was eligible to stay with
us since they lived over 30 miles
away. When Tina had surgery,
her husband, Garcia, and their
children stayed with us for a
week and again later in the year
for another week.
Because of Susanne’s heart for
our community, she was able to
connect us with a great family
and another organization with
a similar mission. Her efforts
came back around full circle.
Cycles of support just like the
story of Susanne and Tina are
what make volunteering so
important to us.
Over the years, Sussanne and
Cameron’s high school frends
have made monthly dinners for
our families and has increased
her involvement to also
volunteer every Monday. She’s
an active volunteer throughout
the Richmond community and
while working with another
Volunteering is so
much more than
providing us a service;
it is providing families
with the comforts of
home and easing their
hearts during trying
times--and sometimes
it is connecting a
family with Guest
House so they can, in
turn, be relieved from
their burdens.