Dear Friends of Hope for Creation,

The past six months gave us many indicators that climate change is rapidly changing our planet and that we, as a country, are moving in the wrong direction in addressing this crisis. Here is a timeline: 

If you are feeling despair right now, we are with you. But we want our despair to lead to action, which leads to the question: What can I do? 

One thing that you can do is support the work of Hope for Creation. 

Community is at the heart of our work. This past May, we celebrated our 10 year anniversary with author Debra Rienstra, who spoke about her book “Refugia Faith.” She spoke of creating refugia (safe spaces for flourishing) where we can gain strength and spiritual capacity for facing the challenges ahead. 

Local efforts are critical. In September, we hosted our fourth annual “Harvest of Unity” meal, a gathering of faith communities and individuals who are seeking answers to the climate crisis. We heard about Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s ValleyHub, a valuable resource for local food processing and distribution here in town. We learned about the importance of local food production in a fragile global system that can easily be disrupted by climate change. We left motivated to seek ways to utilize and support our local food economy. 

Building resiliency is our plan for 2025 and beyond. Climate change is no longer a distant concern – its impacts are being felt everywhere, even here in southwest Michigan. Now is the time to strengthen our local communities and stand united in our fight against climate change, especially with the uncertainty on the national level. 

Projects to help build resiliency include a winter networking event to bring communities of faith and people of conscience together to share ideas and expertise – from practical things like how to develop a plan for solar panels and build rain gardens to how we can find common purpose in our faith practices that call us to care for the earth and its people. 

We will continue to provide a space for reflection and education. We will advocate for system change, especially on the local and state level. We will support garden projects and work to enhance local greenspace. We will collaborate with groups, neighborhoods, organizations and others who want to build community. 

We need you to join us. 

We have applied for grant money to help us with our work, but equally important are donations from our supporters. Your contribution will directly fund critical projects such as our work with future climate leaders in the coming year.

Every dollar counts, and your generosity will help keep our community moving, growing and acting in the direction of critical change.

We are grateful for your continued support and belief in our mission. Together, we can meet this crossroads in history with resilience and hope. Please consider making a donation today by visiting www.hopeforcreation.net/donate or sending a check to our fiduciary: Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, 1950 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48216 (please make the check payable to Hope for Creation). 

Thank you for standing with us in this vital work. 

Warm regards,

Molly Mechtenberg

Director, Hope for Creation

 

P.S. Consider this question from climate activist and writer Mary Annaïse Heglar: “What if your power in this fight lies not in what you can do as an individual but in your ability to be part of a collective?” Hope for Creation is here to be that collective for climate action. We are grateful for your involvement and support.