Faith Farm, a ministry operated by Lutheran Services Carolinas, provides transitional housing for homeless female veterans. Faith Farm’s program director and several residents will join us at the Ninth Triennial Gathering, helping participants better understand the reality that women are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless veteran population.
Visit with program director Sharon Johnston and several residents in the Dor (the exhibit hall), learning about the plight of this generation of women serving in the military. On Friday and Saturday afternoon join in a servant event where participants will write to women in active military duty.
“In talking with the women at Faith Farm, we learned how important it is for women to stay connected to other women while they are out alone in military service,” explains Valora K Starr, Women of the ELCA staff who is overseeing the servant events. “The veterans said that a caring note from someone back home, even a stranger, can make all the difference.” Stationery and pens will be provided. Monetary donations for postage, or the gift of first class stamps, will be received on site in Charlotte.
Participants are encouraged to identify women serving in the military by sending their names and contact information to [email protected] in advance of the gathering.
Faith Farm, who previously received a grant from Women of the ELCA, was featured last summer in The Lutheran. You can read the story here. Faith Farm will receive in-kind gifts from participants at the Ninth Triennial Gathering.