Neighbor News
Children's Book Will Help Shalom House Change Lives
Local author and artist collaborate on book to raise awareness about homelessness
Join Willa’s journey and help us change lives.
At Shalom House, St. Louis, we give hope to homeless women through innovative programs and supportive services designed to help them stabilize and rebuild their lives. Education and sustainable funding are crucial to achieving our goal of ending homelessness. To forward both, Shalom House announces the premiere of a unique creative project, Willa’s Journey Home. Willa’s Journey Home is an illustrated children’s book that will raise awareness about the issue of homelessness and generate revenues to support holistic programming for the women Shalom House serves.
The story is the collaboration of St. Louis author and Shalom House Executive Assistant Danette Thompson, of Affton, and mixed media artist Jane Miles, of Webster Groves. A book signing and reading will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13 at two locations:
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· 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Verde Kids, 27 South Old Orchard, Webster Groves
· 2 to 4 p.m., Artmart, 2355 South Hanley Road, St. Louis
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Willa’s Journey Home is available for purchase online at www.willasjourney.com. Books are $14.95 plus shipping and handling. Books are also available at Shalom House; call 314.534.1010 x 11 for availability.
Willa’s Journey Home tells a story of hope on the difficult path traveled by homeless women who find their way to Shalom House. Staff came up with the idea for Willa’s story when asked to read a book about homelessness to a group of younger children.
Other Willa team members include St. Louis naturalist and photographer Tim Layton, and Jake Simon, of Webster Groves, graphic designer, videographer and social entrepreneur. A group of local educators and faith-based leaders wrote general and faith-based curriculum for the book, offered free online at www.willasjourney.com.
The first 2,500 sales will raise nearly $30,000 for Shalom House. This revenue alone can fund the Emergency Shelter program for one month, providing safe shelter, meals and holistic programming and services for 25 women.
Learn more about Shalom House and Willa’s Journey Home at www.willasjourney.com. For more information contact Danette Thompson, 314.534.1010 x11 or email danette@shalomhousestl.org.