Help Garth raise money

Friends,

I have been offered to participate in the Falmouth Road Race on August 15th as a charity team runner for Belonging to Each Other (BTEO).  I am asking for your support.

BTEO is a Falmouth, MA based charitable organization serving individuals who are experiencing homelessness.  I became aware of BTEO through my Rotary Club service. Over these past few years I have been so inspired by BTEO's tireless work building community awareness, engagement, and advocacy.  BTEO provides temporary housing, food, and transportation for men and women who are experiencing homelessness at no cost to them. BTEO's housing case managers help clients identify their impediments to stable housing and help them to overcome them. It is a high touch, high intensity model. Current BTEO fundraising will help to reopen an expanded residential program this fall and provide year-round case management.

Too often in my life, I've walked by individuals experiencing homelessness without internally, let alone externally, acknowledging their humanity and innate worth. BTEO is helping me and our community collectively stop "walking around" our fellow citizens whose basic need of shelter is not being met. Your generous sponsorship of my run will help BTEO serve homeless citizens in so many ways, first and foremost by providing them the compassion and dignity they deserve. This testimonial speaks volumes about the services BTEO brings to bear:

“Through your love and assistance I found my way out of the darkness that was destroying me.  

With your help I found a safe and supportive environment to live in, and I am so grateful.”  - Iraq war veteran and BTEO guest

If you're inspired by this mission, I'd invite your generosity to support my fundraising run here by clicking on a donation amount above. And if you have friends or colleagues who are interested in addressing homelessness, please feel free to share this email widely.  

Yours in service,

Garth Smelser

P.S. If it's additional motivation for you, I'll be running a Spartan Race the day before this race, and your financial motivation will certainly help inspire me through these 7 miles! :)

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