Rebuild the Valley: A Campaign for Human Dignity

 “Rebuild the Valley: A Campaign for Human Dignity”

A Fundraising Appeal for www.ShelteringHearts.us

A Call to Conscience

In the Ohio River Valley, the quiet arithmetic of suffering has reached a moral inflection point. Across our region, over 1.8 million Ohioans experience food insecurity, representing 15.3% of the state’s population—a rate that strains the very fabric of community life.  

Meanwhile, more than 10,000 Ohioans were counted as homeless on a single night, with research indicating the true number is at least seven times higher.  
And in the shadows of this instability, human trafficking persists—preying on those whose basic needs remain unmet, whose vulnerabilities are compounded by poverty, hunger, and the absence of safe shelter.

This is not merely a crisis of resources. It is a crisis of imagination, of will, and of collective responsibility.

The Human Stakes

Food insecurity in Ohio disproportionately affects marginalized communities, with nearly 30% of Black Ohioans and one in four Latino Ohioans facing hunger.  
Housing instability affects over one million Ohioans, many of whom spend more than half their income on shelter—placing them at constant risk of eviction, exploitation, or homelessness. 

These numbers are not abstractions. They are mothers skipping meals so their children can eat. They are men sleeping under bridges in January. They are survivors of trafficking who escape captivity only to find there is nowhere safe to go.

Our Mission: Rebuild the Safety Net

Sheltering Hearts exists to intervene precisely at this intersection of hunger, homelessness, and human exploitation. Our plan is both ambitious and urgently necessary:

1. A Shelter for Men

A dignified, trauma-informed refuge offering beds, case management, and pathways to stability.

2. A Shelter for Women

A secure, restorative environment for women facing homelessness, domestic violence, or exploitation.

3. A Community Food Pantry

A consistent, reliable source of nutritious food for families across the Ohio River Valley—meeting immediate needs while reducing the vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit.

4. A Safe Haven for Survivors of Human Trafficking

A protected, confidential space where survivors can begin the long work of healing with professional support, legal advocacy, and wraparound care.

This is not charity. It is infrastructure—human infrastructure—designed to restore dignity, agency, and hope.

The Goal: $125,000 to Launch

To open these doors, we must raise $125,000.
This initial investment will fund:

• Facility acquisition and renovation
• Beds, furnishings, and essential supplies
• Food pantry infrastructure and storage
• Security systems and trauma-informed safety protocols
• Case management and survivor support services
• Operational readiness for the first 90 days

Every dollar is a brick in the foundation of a more humane Ohio River Valley.

Why Your Gift Matters

When you give to Sheltering Hearts, you are not merely donating—you are altering the trajectory of human lives.

You are feeding families.
You are sheltering the unsheltered.
You are protecting survivors.
You are rebuilding a region that has been allowed to fray at its most vulnerable edges.

And you are declaring, with moral clarity, that the people of the Ohio River Valley deserve more than survival—they deserve safety, dignity, and the chance to flourish.

Join Us

This is the moment to act.
This is the moment to stand with those who have been unseen for too long.
This is the moment to rebuild the valley—one heart, one home, one life at a time.

Give today at www.ShelteringHearts.us and help us reach our $125,000 goal.
Together, we can transform crisis into community.