Wasilla Nonprofits and Charities

Family Promise Mat-Su has helping families experiencing homelessness for years. My favorite story is a family that had been living in their truck for weeks and needed help. Family Promise took them in, sheltered them for weeks, helped them find a job, made sure they were enrolled in school, helped them find an affordable home, and then provided a HOPE box of items to help them settle in. The family has continued to be self sustaining and contributing to life in our Valley.

Two of my children attended CCS Early Learning’s preK program. The staff was friendly and non-judgmental and not only provided quality care for my children but also directed me to resources in the community that positively impacted our lives.

This organization utilizes donated items and volunteers to move household items from unsold garage sales into new housing for a homeless family or individual. The storage units, van insurance, and gasoline are all paid for through fund raising which they do themselves. Case Management and Coordinating pick-ups, drop-offs, and "muscle" are non-paid positions. They do not even have an office. Laurie Phillips is the director of this organization. She and her crew of volunteers are amazing. I refer people to them all the time! (They sure could use an office space donated to them!)

Alaska's Healing Hearts, The name says it all. <br> <br>The Moments I share are just a glimpse of the good, done with this group: <br>There are many more, and more team members with similar memories. <br> <br>We have served meals to families in the hospital when all odds were against their loved one. <br>We have sat bedside and prayed with a wife holding her infant, as her spouse struggled to live. We arranged paperwork for the children, in the hospital so she did not have to leave his side,we help navigate a broken system of benefits, and we helped the warrior come home. We moved his furniture and watched his children so they could go to doctor appointments. - We are great full to be a part of his recovery. <br> <br>A family lost their mom, we helped dad with food and meals, clothing and any other resources we could get together. We pulled into the drive way late at night on the ice and snow, incomplete darkness, at -19 temps to deliver the family food. I put on my ice cleats and gloves and got the job done. I sat and listened to him for hours. Unsure of anything to say to bring him the least bit of comfort. I braided hair of a little girl that lost her mom. I read the kids a book and said their prayers with them. I went home, with a little more appreciation for the problems I had. This summer we crossed paths and he gave me the biggest hug and wiped away tears, as he tried to say thank you. <br>What we do matters, the people we help along the way will never forget that kindness. <br> <br>This summer, <br>I started helping a Veteran care for his farm, I promised him I would be there twice a day as long as it took so he could get better. I showed up one day and rushed him to the hospital, he has not been home since. After months in ICU with our Sunday visits, His wishes were to see his horse before he was moved into a long term care facility out of state. I told him if they let me. "I will bring the babies down" a few months latter one Monday morning, I get a call from a social worker, that tells me he will be moved in 2 hours out of state. He wanted to see his Dog, ( That was his best friend) and he Wanted to See the Horse before he left. When I arrived, they came out and told me to hurry, " Hurry we only have a few minutes " When the hospital staff came out with the bed and he was able to see his horse and lay with his dog, time stood still. It was the first time they have seen each other in 5 months. <br>I sat his dog on his bed, and I handed him the lead rope to his gentle giant. <br> The absolute peaceful smile was a perfect moment. <br> As the transport team came out side, everyone stopped, nothing was done the entire staff wept; and kinda stood back. <br> <br>He laid there with his Horse, wind blowing his silver hair in the breeze, tears in his blue eyes and he was able to say goodbye to his best friends. When it was time to go he went into the back of an ambulance headed to the airport with a smile. As they closed the door he gave me a thumbs up and smiled. <br> <br>His Dog and horse, are members of my family. She sleeps at the foot of my bed, and the horse sings a good morning song every day. - I will never forget that day, or how this impacted my life. <br> <br>My first snow machine ride ever, was with AHH. <br>I tagged along with another pro-staff volunteer Mike Page to take a group of active duty and Veterans out to lunch in Alaska's Extreme FROZEN back country. 50 miles or so..lol <br>Needless to say, I instantly gained respect for the Iron Dog and the snow machine sports. <br>When we arrived at our destination, we are all dressed in snow gear with ice on our gloves and one of our Veterans had a hard time getting his boots off. I watched Mike, our team member, instantly get on his knees in the snow and pull the boots off. No hesitation what so ever. That will always have my respect. <br> After we warmed up (Thawed out) it was time to head back and Mike helped our Vet, put his shoes back on, Zipped his coat and started his machine for him. <br>That is one of the amazing team members we have! <br> <br>We also facilitate some awesome community projects; <br> We have the Wall of Honor at Wal-Mart where we display pictures of those who served our great nation. We cook dinner at the Fisher house monthly giving back to those in need of housing while their families recover or get medical care. The team we work with is always amazing and willing to lend a hand wherever the need might arise. <br> <br>The stories you hear are probably true, the more impossible they seem the more likely it is to have happened. I honestly feel that there is nothing this team can not accomplish. We have very diverse skill sets of operators that have common bond of giving back to those that have given their service to the greatest military in the world. <br> <br>Thank you all for everything you do! <br>- Michelle Sturgeon <br> <br> <br>

Over 50% of their expenses are related to management or fundraising? It doesn't surprise me. Seems like they are always seeking funds from the public on their mailing list. They have a great purpose but they need to learn how to much more effectively market and fundraise. Right now under 50% of expenses for program expenses is extremely low. <br>

AAD has been a asset to this community. Not just for the clients with dogs, but for the parents and children in their therapeutic programs of which the majority are benefiting families that have special needs children. The kids who feel like their disabilities prevent them from doing normal everyday things start working with these dog and begin to realize that there is nothing they can't do. AAD is truly a blessing to this state and I can't say enough good things about them. They continue to amaze me with their life changing work everyday. <br> <br>I constantly hear parents raving about the wonderful changes in their kids after going through their Therapeutic Training Programs. Special needs kids work with these amazing dogs until they are ready to be handed off to a disabled Alaskan in need. It's a win-win all around, not to mention their credentials. They are one of the very few service dog organizations that has the appropriate experience and education background in this line of work. They have a great relationship with the businesses of the community and share knowledge about service dogs. <br> <br>A therapist oversees the therapeutic programs and all of their contracted trainers are certified through Bergin University of Canine Studies. <br> <br>I cannot recommend this group further. Please donate and support this great organization.

My daughter, Kori was killed by a drunk driver Dec of 1976. The Forget Me Not mission provides education to the public regarding not drinking and driving. It's a message that needs to be delivered on a continual bases, as even one death due to drinking and driving is one too many. The mission also provides support and direction to the victims of drinking and driving. There isn't any other mission like this in Alaska and we have one of the hightest rates of drunk driving.

NAOI provides outdoor safety education programs that are interactive, fun and provide valuable information on ways to recreate safely. The programs are presented by professional instructors and experts in the field and focus on real-life situations to make it easy to learn and practice skills.

Hannah is a minister of the Gospel. She ministers to pastors, leaders, homeless and the lost. She also has a great burden for the young people and Israel. Through her ministry many have been saved, healed, set free and called to their destiny by the power of Jesus Christ. Many come to a place of freedom and reconciliation with God. She also helps usher in and teach worship in the prophetic arts and truly loves to mentor and see others grow in their gifts. Hannah's emphasis is on strengthening and developing leaders. Her passion is to mobilize God's people for kingdom purpose at a global level. She thrives on seeing salvation of the lost and healing power in their lives and the church coming out of the walls into the streets. She also teaches on equipping the saints to bring the church into the next dimension of prayer, deeper prayer and worship before the throne room of intimacy and abandonment of self , repentance and a deeper relationship with Yeshua and reconciling brother-to-brother, sister-to-sister and villages restored. Men and women have been set free of bondage's, marriages reconciled and renewed as the Holy Spirit ministers through her,He is looking for a few faithful workers who will go as He did and Hannah has walked places across the world and prayed with millions of lost sheep.She has suffered much to gain wisdom in areas few have had to suffer or had to experiences with the rough experiences of life Hannah has been dealt even as a young child she is able to help others walk out freedom and His love never fails the key to the kingdom is love.She has helped many, The healing hands of Yeshua himself touching lives through this vessel, she is a true servant at heart.