I don’t do a lot of promos here. I read books. I give my opinions on those books. I don’t generally see it as my job to help authors sell those books.
But Willa’s Journey Home is something else altogether. It’s more than just a book. It’s an opportunity. It’s part of something bigger than itself and a chance to help those endeavouring to be bastions of hope to those in need. If you’ll take a few minutes to watch the following video you’ll see that too.
From the Website:
Willa’s Journey Home, an illustrated children’s book, tells a story of hope on the difficult path traveled by homeless women who find their way to Shalom House.
Willa is a little bird who never learned to fly and so never had a safe nest of her own. Losing her way, she wanders alone in a big and sometimes scary forest. With only her hope of finding a real home, her journey leads her to a special tree where other birds help her take flight and find her very own home.
In sharing our story of hope you can be a part of changing lives by helping us educate and raise awareness about the issues of homelessness. Willa’s Journey Home will also generate revenues for Shalom House, supporting holistic programming for the homeless women we serve.
At Shalom House, we give hope to homeless women through innovative programs and supportive services designed to help them stabilize and rebuild their lives.
It’s important for us to give a voice to Shalom House women, who so often aren’t heard. In telling Willa’s journey, we discovered it isn’t easy to share those stories with children in a way that is relatable, impactful and not too scary. When asked to read a book about homelessness to a group of younger children, we couldn’t find any stories. So we wrote one ourselves.
Children have a great capacity for understanding and caring. Willa’s Journey Home fosters that understanding and early social awareness, inspiring a new generation to share the gift of hope and dynamic action with others.
Reading Willa’s Journey Home to the kids in your life – your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, students, Sunday school class, youth group – and talking to them about the story teaches kids about homelessness, showing them that no matter what age, they can make a difference.
Willa’s Journey Home can be shared with all ages. Her story will cultivate meaningful discussions between children and adults about homelessness.
I first became aware of Willa’s story through Jane Miles, whose mixed media art brings life to little Willa and her story. Jane is possibly the most open, genuine person I have ever had the pleasure to meet and call a friend. Her art is just as clear-sighted as her personality and, through many an afternoon chats, I’ve been thrilled to watch her pride and confidence in this project grow.
I’m also honoured to have the chance to help, even in this small way, bring it to peoples’ attention. Willa’s Journey Home is not just a pretty book. It’s a beautiful endeavour, with beautiful ambition, brought to fruition by many a beautiful hearts. If you’re able, please consider being one of them and making a donation to the Indiegogo campaign. I’ve made mine. Will you?
About Shalom House
Shalom House clients are homeless women, ages 18 and older, many of whom are chronically homeless and suffering with mental illness and/or chemical dependence.
Mission Statement – Shalom House gives hope to homeless women through innovative programs and supportive services designed to stabilize and rebuild lives.
Emergency Shelter – The only 24-hour, full service residential program for chronically homeless women with mental illness and chemical dependency in the City of St. Louis; 25 beds, 90-day program.
Transitional Housing Program – Provides semi-independent rehabilitation housing program for homeless women with a serious and persistent mental illness and/or chemical dependence. The program is certified by the Missouri Department of Mental Health; 12 beds, 24-month program, aftercare program.
Permanent Supportive Housing – Provides clients with permanent housing in addition to intensive in-home supportive services; 30 scattered site apartments (private residences with landlords).
Supportive services – Individual and group counseling, occupational therapy, life skills training, health and case management, mental health programming, substance abuse counseling, recovery services, resource and referral, coordination of care, spiritual programs, Butterfly graduate program, Furnishing Hope (furnishing client and graduate apartments).