Sacred Heart Shelter

Our Lasting Impact - A Letter from Dathan

36 years ago, when I was 11 years old, my mother and I fell on hard times and were sleeping in our car for a few days. Somehow, my mom found Sacred Heart Shelter in downtown Seattle. We were welcomed with open arms. During our stay, I went out with my mom each day as she looked for work, and we would kill the remaining time at the Seattle Center. This time was very difficult for my mom emotionally. As a kid, it is hard to fully comprehend the weight your parents carry, especially during challenging times like this one. There are two things I remember most about that experience and want to take this opportunity to share with you:

First is love! The staff at Sacred Heart treated us like family, not like people off the street. The kindness we experienced still brings me to tears at the age of 47. When someone on staff learned my mom’s birthday was approaching, they got her a cake, and we had a mini party. Who does that? That cake was my breakfast most mornings. 

Secondly, hope! As a kid, I would latch onto things that gave me hope. Being able to see the Space Needle did that for me. Somehow, some way, I knew things would be all right as long as I could see the Space Needle.

I currently reside in Michigan, graduated with my Bachelor's and Master's from Harvard, have been in business for 20 years in financial services, have been married for almost 16 years to my beautiful bride, and have two beautiful girls ages 16 and 13. My mother passed away from breast cancer in 2001. We talked about our experience at Sacred Heart often, and it became the center of our definition of doing good for those in need. I have always wanted to come back to visit in person to say thank you, but I have not yet had that opportunity, so this is a start.

On behalf of my mother and my family, I just wanted to say “thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” I now serve on two nonprofit boards and know first-hand that your work can be challenging and oftentimes thankless. What you do for people and the hope that you provide is beyond words. God bless you all!

With gratitude,

Dathan, a former Sacred Heart Shelter Resident

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