connecting in new ways

Virtual Gatherings & Giving

While our fundraisers during the pandemic were all virtual, support for Mercy Housing Mountain Plains did not waiver. As a matter of fact, it was stronger than ever! As always, our fundraising efforts helped support Resident Services programming, but the needs during COVID were focused primarily on health and wellness support, food access, and rental assistance for Mercy Housing residents unable to pay rent due to economic impacts from the pandemic.

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In Colorado, “Home/Maker”, our second annual pop-up art exhibit, was a creative show of talent by local Denver artists. The exhibition paid homage to Mother Nature’s homemakers, the original architects, general contractors, and interior designers, who create not just their own shelter but a place to call home.  We were also able to showcase creative works by several Mercy Housing residents in the “Mercy Housing Collection.”

Since we could not host our scheduled in-person event due to the pandemic, we created an online platform that allowed guests three days of fun browsing, bidding, and buying artwork to help support Mercy Housing residents. Deanne Gertner of Hey Hue, a Denver-based experimental arts agency, curated the fabulous art for the show and helped with logistics of delivering art across the state. All proceeds from Home/Maker benefitted the COVID-19 Resident Relief Fund, which provided much needed food, supplies, and personal protective equipment for residents.

For the first time, our signature “Live in Hope Midwest” went virtual in August. The 45-minute program featured a Q&A with Mercy Housing’s new CEO, Ismael Guerrero, followed by an inspiring and uplifting conversation about volunteering and community engagement between Regional Director of Resident Services, Shelly, and Mercy Housing resident, Rosemary. Guests tuned in from across Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota to help bring much needed relief to residents throughout the region.