​So when you give to HCM, you’re not just buying pencils and paper for our afterschool programs; you’re helping to establish a new story about our beloved city. One which causes people to reconsider the nature of our city. One which is full of hope. One which allows us who live in Hartford to not feel ashamed about where we come from, but to feel proud of our wonderful city.
 
So as 2019 approaches — would you consider giving to HCM? And helping us retell Hartford’s story? This is a critical work that needs to be done, and we need all the help we can get in this mission to change the dominant story about Hartford.
 
If you’d like to help us, you can support our work today. Change the story that’s told about a place, and you change what that place can become. This is why we deeply care about retelling Hartford’s story.
 
May His Kingdom come,
-Dave Ambrose

You may have heard my friend, Latroya, share her story before or it may be new to you. She is one of those parents, we wrote about last week. Her story is a story of hope and family, right here in our neighborhood. 
 
Latroya and her best friend Britney attended HCM's original program, Noah Sidewalk Sonday School, and it had such an impact on their lives that when they heard 3 years ago that "Noah" was still going on, they knew that they had to get involved again. 
 
The part in her testimony that stuck out to me when I read it again recently was, "The memories of the loving volunteers and staff, memories of the fun we had had, but mostly the memory of how I came to know Jesus. How my eyes and heart was opened to my Savior. I needed my children to experience this. I wanted them to be a part of something so great. A place where they would be able to grow spiritually in a fun, exciting environment. In three years of them attending HCM, that is exactly what my children have received. 

Want to read the full testimony? Click here.
 
Both Latroya and Britney, believe in God's work through HCM and are committed to volunteering at the after school program, encouraging other parents at Parent Empowerment meetings and are beloved friends and supporters of many of our staff.
 
My challenge to you today, echoes the last few words of Latroya's testimony, "I am hoping 20 years from now that it (HCM) is still available to the children in the Hartford community."  It is with your faithful support, that we have come this far! Will you consider making a gift today or a monthly contribution to help ensure HCM's continued presence in the community?  
 
Thank you again for all that you already do. Our work in North Hartford wouldn’t be possible without you.
 
May His kingdom come,
-Dave Ambrose

If you’d like to make a donation you can give online immediately!  If you would like to make a donation by check, please make it payable to Hartford City Mission. 
Our mailing address is:
Hartford City Mission
P.O. Box 320397
Hartford, CT  06132-0397

When a mother or father living in Hartford has a child, they have the same hopes and dreams for that child as any other parent anywhere.

They want their child to be happy. To be healthy. To go to a good school, make good friends, go to a good college, and get a good job. He or she dreams of their child having a joyful and fulfilling life, just like any other parent. After all, it’s their child; and they love them.

However.

If you’re a parent raising a child in Hartford, you face a host of challenges that many mothers and fathers don’t face: full-service grocery stores (i.e. access to good food at a fair price) are nearly non-existent. Securing a decent education for your child is a struggle. Entry-level jobs for high schoolers looking to enter the workforce are scarce.

These challenges among others greatly compound the difficulty of offering your child the life that you want them to have. And so tragically, many Hartford parents (and grandparents and aunts and uncles) simply aren’t able to give their children the lives they want to.

That’s the current reality of our city.

But I believe that God has different plans for our city.