BECOME A HOPE AMBASSADOR!
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Your Support Saves Lives
This true story has been de-identified to protect the confidentiality of the youth. A teen was kicked out and came to us. This youth had a history of running from home and didn't talk much while we first worked to repair the relationship and reunite them with their family or get them to another location approved by family and the youth while they were in shelter at BHYS. However, soon they opened up and told staff about frankly horrific abuse they were experiencing at home, to the point that they wanted to die rather than go home. The parents at this point had regretted kicking them out and were fearful they would divulge the abuse. They began to harass staff and call non-stop. Once the teen had told us about the abuses they experienced at home and we were able to connect them to safe extended family members who were desperately worried about them - we worked fast to coordinate between DCF, SOS, the Emporia Police Department and law enforcement in the town from where the youth had come. The forensic interview found evidence of physical abuse and neglect which fit the report from the youth about what they had experienced. Coordinating closely with these other agencies, we know we literally saved this youth's life, including attending court and sharing what we knew. We are so happy to be able to report that today this teen is living happily, healthily with extended family and is back in school, which they had been pulled from against their wishes. If Bloom House had not been there for this youth, we don’t want to think about what might have happened. When faced with challenges and hard days, it is the outcomes like this that keep us going, reminding us about why we are here. You Have Helped Us so much, Emporia & Supporters around the nATION!
You helped us upgrade our fire suppression system last year in order to stay open and keep helping youth in need. You helped us do this! It has been installed since last Summer and we are paying on the installment still, but so much more of it was covered becuase of your donations! Now, what will your HOPE Ambassadorship do?
We recently were denied property tax exemption by the county and our appeal was denied by the state board of tax appeals. This is a process we started in 2022. While our building was purchased solely for use by us, Bloom House - a 501c3 non profit organization, and is used solely for the charitable purpose we serve, we were denied exemption because Carlos Garate purchased the building. Our grant would not allow for a mortgage, and so he purchased the building for our use - we rent from him at a much lower rate than he would be able to charge for this if he were renting it as apartments. We pay rent and we cover insurance, minor repairs, and have even covered major renovations. Our lease stipulates that we will be responsible for property tax were it to be assessed to us. Naively perhaps we thought were would be granted this property tax exemption as we meet the exact spirit of the statute and we are in the building previously used by SOS which was given property tax exemption. Neither Mr. Garate or Bloom House make a profit on the building but we had to use $13,000.00 of our donations to pay property taxes. This really hurt us, and your donations will do two things that help INCREDIBLY IN OUR MISSION: It will help us make it to the end of our grant year (the next grant cycle starts in October) and will help us pay off the rest of the taxes so we can BUY THE BUILDING and re-apply for the absolutely necessary property tax exemption. Since learning about a way to take over the payments and get our name on the deed...we now just need to pay off the property taxes that are still left and make this happen. We do not make a profit, we provide a service.
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What Does Your Support Mean?
Check Out a Snapshot of Services (10/01/2025 - 03/31/2026) Our services continued to be utilized in growing numbers: There has not been a single night without a runaway or homeless teen in our shelter overnight. We have a bed capacity of 8; we have routinely had 50% full this year. Currently (as of 7/2/2026) there are 3 youth staying in shelter at this moment. Youth Visits to the 24/7 Drop In Center: 829 Visits to the Food Pantry: 445 Visits to the Hygiene Closet: 122 Visits to the Clothing Closet: 46 Prepared Meals Served: 498 Case Management Sessions: 124 Art Therapy Sessions: 197 Engagements in Educational, Recreational, Psychotherapeutic activities: 432
What can a hope ambassador do?Have fun raising $1,000 for Bloom House! You can create a fundraiser, get a group of friends together to plan something cool and creative, if you run a business you could engage customers or donate a percentage over a period of time, run a special event, and of course - you can always just donate! We are so looking forward to seeing what people come up with!
We are all about showing our love - you will receive a welcome package during the campaign, social media promotion, and a thank you dinner during HOPE month itself where you can win prizes! The 1st to reach $1,000, a prize for whoever raises the most funds, and a prize for the most creative campaign! November is Youth Homelessness Outreach, Prevention, & Education (HOPE) Month & Bloom House is seeking Ambassadors to join our campaign. By partnering with Bloom House you’ll aid us in fundraising to help us reach our goal of $1,000 per Ambassador by using your unique talents, skills, private donation, or another method of your choosing. These funds will go towards helping us meet our needs for shelter costs as we near the end of the grant year and go toward purchasing our building! The fundraising campaign dates are as follows: July 27th: Ambassador Interest Forms due, we will notify ambassadors, thank you, and promote on social media as interest forms come in! Don't feel like you have to wait - you can sign up ANY time in July! July 31st: Final Ambassadors selected, notified, and promoted on social media! Campaigns can start any time but wrap up by the end of October: but you can start raising funds anytime! November 1st: Last date for Ambassadors to transfer funds to Bloom House via cash, check, and/or e-payments (Venmo, Paypal, Givebutter...) But you can transfer anytime! If Venmo or Paypal please use the memo "Hope Ambassador" Mid November: Ambassadors Banquet where we will get to thank you for all your hard work! More details on the banquet to follow! A Bloom House event coordinator will be in touch with you along the way to inquire about progress, brainstorming, and problem solving should you need it. Please reach out to Board President Rebecca at 913-674-6202 via text/call with any questions or feel free to grab Board Vice President Clara when we see her at the coffee shop or around town! So, do you accept this role as Hope Ambassador? Kindly fill out this form indicating your decision by July 27, 2026. Be sure to follow us on all our socials! Thank you for your interest in becoming a Bloom House Hope Ambassador! and for all that you do for our community and supporting us in our mission to provide HOPE. |
We have so many ways for you to donate! We are open 24/7 so check and cash are just fine too! You can also donate to Bloom House via E-payment options like GiveButter, Venmo, or Paypal, whichever is your preferred way to give!
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