FAMILY FORWARD: A STORY OF HOPE

It was over ten years ago that Sister (Sr.) Donna sat with a young man in the juvenile detention center. As she listened to the small 13-year-old, he looked at her with tears in his eyes and asked, "Would you call my mother? I miss my mother." Sr. Donna smiled gently, and responded immediately, "Of course."

With that invitation, Sr. Donna began to reach out to mothers in the community to see what support and care they needed. She met incredible women, carrying unimaginable burdens, and longing for spaces where they can heal and move forward. Women who had lost children to incarceration and gun violence began to gather at PBMR each month to sit in circle, share their stories, and build healing community. Mothers who came went out and invited other women, and a healing community was born. As women express their needs, the Family Forward team worked to listen and respond: offering a listening ear, financial support, housing, mental health, advocacy, accompaniment, etc.

They continue this mission with the hope that no woman, mother, or family feels alone on the journey, and has what they need to move forward to hope and healing.

SPARE SOME LOVE FOR PBMR

PBMR is excited to host its 1st annual Bowl-a-thon for HOPE on February 17, 2024 from 2-5pm at Waveland Bowl (3700 N Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60618)! Invite your friends to join, spread the mission, and spare some love for PBMR! Your participation in this fundraiser goes toward helping meet the goal of raising $50,000 for PBMR’s Family Forward Program.

THE IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT

$250- Covers the food and hospitality for one of the monthly Mother’s Healing Circles. Each mother’s circle starts by sharing a meal together and growing in relationship with new and returning mothers.
$500-Helps cover gas and electric utilities for families, especially through the winter months as prices and need skyrocket.
$1000- Supports families who have just lost children to gun violence by helping cover funeral and burial costs. This can be a crippling expense on top of so much trauma and grief.
$1500- Helps cover emergency support for a family’s rent for a month. These emergency payments regularly help prevent families from being evicted or facing additional challenges.

BOWLING DONATION PACKAGES:

Minimum donation for each lane is $500, but if your team exceeds that amount or wants to aim higher, check out these bonus packages:

$500: 1 Lane of bowling for up to 6 people, Shoe Rental, popcorn, and Pizza with soft drinks
$750: 1 Lane of bowling for up to 6 people, Shoe Rental, Pizza with soft drinks, and 6 alcohol drink tickets
$1000: 1 Lane of bowling for up to 6 people, Shoe Rental, Pizza with soft drinks, 12 drinks tickets, and 6 event t-shirts
$1500: 1 Lane of bowling for up to 6 people, Shoe Rental, Pizza with soft drinks, unlimited drink tickets, and 6 personalized color t-shirts with team name

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Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) is a restorative justice community center located on the South Side of Chicago in the Back of the Yards/New City and Englewood neighborhoods. Since its founding in 2002, PBMR strives to restore dignity to youth, adults, and families who have been impacted by violence and incarceration through radical hospitality, hope, and healing. To learn more, visit www.pbmr.org

The Family Forward Program accompanies mothers and families impacted by violence and incarceration. The team works with 115+ mothers in the community who have lost children to violence and incarceration through case management, healing circles, financial assistance, and relentless engagement. Together, we can ensure that families have what they need to move forward.

Spare Some Love for PBMR

PBMR 2024 Bowlathon for Hope

Team Leaderboard

Team Members