Launching Pad Inc

I first met Hannah several years ago. She arrived on our doorstep with that look of desperation in her eyes – the same look I had seen a thousand times before. She said she was homeless and was trying to stay clean and sober.  She said her mom had her 4-year-old son, her man was in jail, and she didn’t know what to do – she had nowhere to go. Her only “job skills” revolved around the stuff that women do to survive and feed their addiction.  She had no skills for the real world – no legal job history to speak of.  She just needed a reprieve from the world – just long enough to get it together.

My heart immediately went out to her – as it does to every woman that enters our doors looking for hope.  I invited Hannah in for a hot meal and a cool shower.  She looked like she hadn’t bathed in days.  I found her some clean clothes and we all gathered around her.  She was so grateful for our kindness - her eyes welled up with tears, as did ours. 

I wanted to take her into the program right then.  I knew I couldn’t.  The Empowerment Center is 100% rent supported. We do not have the finances to provide free shelter to these women seeking hope – hope for a better life, a brighter future – hope for tomorrow. I had no choice but to take Hannah to the Women’s Shelter.  At least there, she would be safe for the night.

I lay awake for a long time that night searching for a solution that would allow us to help women like Hannah.  She was so ready to change her life – I was sad that all I could offer her was a meal, a shower, and a referral to a homeless shelter. 

The Empowerment Center – then known as The Launching Pad Empowerment Center – has taken the needs of Hannah and men and women like her seriously. In February 2010, we closed escrow on an old ranch style motel at 7400 S. Virginia in Reno. Since then, we have dedicated our resources to the renovation of this property. Slated for completion in November of this year, we are excited about the possibility of offering 34 at-risk individuals an opportunity to change their lives, reunify with their families, and address their addiction and alcoholism issues.

The cost to house one individual in the Empowerment Center for one night is $21.84. Won’t you join with us and become part of the solution?  Won’t you sponsor a bed night, or even more – a week for example - for these women that have nowhere else to turn.  The staff and board of the Launching Pad are doing everything they can to provide this service to the community.  However, we cannot do it alone – we need your help.  Please join us as we continue offering a safe haven where men and women can change their lives.

The Empowerment Center is the only program of its type in Northern Nevada. The only restriction for entry is the deposit and a desire to change their lives.  We serve men and women who have struggled with addiction and alcoholism and are now homeless, abused, recently incarcerated, have mental health issues, or just plain want to change their lives. Our doors are open to all and we want to be a force for change in our community.  Please join us in Nevada’s Big Give and become part of Creating Solutions for Change.

Your generosity is tax deductible to the highest extent allowed by law. The internal rewards of helping another are far greater – experience the joy of sharing.

Thank you for your generosity.  On Behalf of our Board of Directors and the at-risk population we serve,

Sandra Finelli, Executive Director

 

 

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