Blog

A group of people loading boxes into the back of a truck.

HOL Hits the Ground Running


After what seemed like the longest, but craziest break, HOL’s board members didn’t miss a beat, serving five families in their first operation of the season.

“We had to rethink how some things looked and keep our clients and members’ safety as top priority, but we knew how large the need was and knew we had to get back,†said Brandy Pfalmer, HOL President

House of Light gave away 15 beds to 23 people, including 14 kids.

“Things have been really crazy these last couple of months for everyone so I can’t imagine if I couldn’t offer my family the basics like a bed,†said Pfalmer. “I hope the beds and all the other items can give these families some normalcy.â€

HOL intends to serve its partners on a monthly schedule. To learn more how you can be a part of HOL, visit our Donations Page.

Two women standing next to each other outside.

Valentine’s Day was Sweet at HOL


Most people get flowers or candy on Valentine’s Day. These 12 families got something much bigger and it was just as sweet.

“This was my favorite Valentine’s Day ever,†said Brandy Pfalmer, House of Light President. “I didn’t receive a thing, but seeing the joy on these people’s faces. That was the best present!â€

House of Light gave away 27 beds to 49 people, including 32 children. Families also received tables and chairs, linens, pillows, kitchen utensils, towels and silverware.

“When my kids get home they are going to be so excited they have new beds,†said one mom. “No more sleeping on the floor.â€

HOL gives away furniture once a month to families transitioning out of homelessness. Every year the number of families in need increases. Last year, HOL served 207 families.

“It is such an incredible organization,†said Pfalmer. “We are looking for partnerships such as financial contributions or volunteers. You can donate financially on our website or email our volunteer coordinator, Rachel Packard, at [email protected] to understand what volunteering opportunities there are.â€

 

Two people standing outside of a building with furniture.
A person standing in front of a cardboard box.

A man standing next to a trash can full of boxes.

HOL Has First Drop for 2020


The weather was bitter, but it didn’t keep the House of Light volunteer’s spirits from soaring.

“We just kept warming up in our cars and drinking hot coffee,” said Emily Schildt, House of Light Director of Giving. “We have seen colder weather on drop days than this. After all, our hearts are warm!”

On this cold, January day, four families (including 12 children) received 13 tota beds.

“Getting back from the holidays are tough,” said Schildt. “We already have nine families scheduled for February.”

Last year, House of Light had a record-breaking year, giving 107 families 183 beds. These went to 383 people, of which 247 were children.

“Those numbers are incredible when you consider we gave to nine families our first year in 2013,” said Schildt. “I have a feeling 2020 is going to be even bigger.”

 

A group of men loading boxes into the back of a truck.
A group of people standing in a sunny outdoor area near a building, engaged in a conversation, with clear skies overhead.
A pile of blankets and pillows on top of a table.
Two people standing in a storage area with discarded furniture and boxes under a clear sky.

Person sorts through various items next to a parked car in front of an open storage unit under bright sunlight.

Cherry Hills Christian School, An Answer to Prayer


The first year House of Light was in operation, the team gave furniture to nine families. Now, HOL averages 13 families per month or 143 families for the year (it doesn’t operate in June or July). With the increase in families comes an increase in furnishings needed.

“Cherry Hills Christian School is an answer to prayer,†said Rachel Packard, House of Light Vice President of Operations. “The entire community is incredibly generous to help other families in need. It blows us away every year!â€

Cherry Hills Christian School has donated to House of Light for the last four years.

Two side-by-side photos of people organizing donations at a charity event under a clear blue sky; they are smiling and holding items.

HOL Grows Us and Our Families


HOL’s mission is to empower families re-entering society by providing the furnishings to turn a house into a home.

“Doing something for someone else—it does something inside of you,†said Brandy Pfalmer, HOL President. “In today’s world, it is all about me, me, me. It is refreshing for us to do something for others.â€

Pfalmer believes her volunteers aren’t the only ones growing from the experience.

“We began this organization almost seven years ago. Our kids were babies,†she continued “Now, our kids are big enough to help us. It truly is amazing.â€

HOL is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested, please email [email protected].

Close-up of snow particles flying through the air during a snowstorm, with a blurred background.

Cold Weather Doesn’t Stop HOL Volunteers


The weather was freezing and the roads were icy, but it didn’t stop House of Light’s volunteers. More than ten volunteers gathered to give 13 families furniture and beds, including 43 people, 25 of which were children.

“The cold weather encouraged us,†says House of Light Director of Giving, Emily Schildt. “We know 25 children will be sleeping in warm beds tonight.â€

House of Light gave away 18 beds this month with bedding and pillows. The organization has given 412 beds since it began in 2013. To see the different ways you can be a part, visit the Donations page.

Kind of Like a Game of Tetris


Every giving day, the House of Light volunteers get a chance to flex their muscles and play a “bigger-than-life†version of Tetris.

“I have been doing this for six years,†says Emily Schildt, House of Light’s giving coordinator. “I am the master of the this game.â€

In its most recent Tetris game, House of Light furnished homes for 10 families, serving 26 people (17 were kids) and giving away 15 beds among other household items.

A woman climbing over stacked mattresses in a storage area.

13 Children in Beds, Just in Time for School


The stores are buzzing with families, school shopping for notebooks and pencils. On Friday, House of Light served nine families that had children with something else on their back-to-school wishlist.

“House of Light is meeting a basic need for the kiddos,†said one caseworker from Housing Authority. “Having a soft place to sleep with bedding and pillows is something lots of our clients, including children, don’t have.â€

At the end of this summer, House of Light donated 20 beds, 13 of which were given to children.

 

A person loading a large cardboard box into a packed moving truck, stepping on furniture to reach inside.
A woman walks beside a metal shelving unit filled with assorted kitchen items, outdoors near storage units on a sunny day.
A man in an orange shirt unloading large cardboard boxes from the back of a pickup truck in a sunny parking lot.
A pickup truck loaded with assorted items such as furniture and bags, parked outside a storage facility under a clear blue sky.

Group of people organizing chairs and items outside a storage unit under a cloudy sky.

House of Light Serves Nine Families


House of Light has wrapped up its first giving season before taking a summer break. We gave away 18 beds and other home furnishings to nine families, including 31 people (23 of whom are children).

“We are all moms,†says HOL President Brandy Pfalmer. “This has been our busiest give away season ever, and it is time to regroup by replenishing our furniture supply and taking a moment to spend time with our families. We will start back up in August.â€

“Every member of House of Light is a volunteer,†says Pfalmer. “HOL wouldn’t exist without them, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all their hard work.â€

House of Light has furnished 225 homes since it began six years ago, serving 445 individuals.

 

Two men loading furniture and boxes into the back of a moving truck while another man watches.
A collection of discarded furniture including a sofa, chairs, and cushions outside a storage facility under a cloudy sky.
A person loading a cardboard box into the back of a car, with another box and a pink bag already inside the trunk.
A u-haul trailer attached to a blue and white pickup truck, parked in front of storage units with an open trailer ramp and various items loaded inside.

A person lifting a mattress from a vehicle on his back

New Record for Beds Given


House of Light gave away 30 beds in one day this past week! It is a new record set in the nonprofit’s six-year history. The 30 beds went to 11 families of 46 people, including 31 children.

“We are giving away as many beds to the number of families in one month as we used to give away in one year,†said Rachel Packard, House of Light Director of Operations.

House of Light deliverers to Family Tree, Family Promise and Aurora Housing. Learn more about our partners here, and click here to learn about how you can join our fight to give hope to families transitioning from homelessness.

Now for a summary of this amazing bed-delivery:

  • 11 families
  • 12 full beds
  • 18 twin beds
  • 31 kids served
  • 46 total people served

Well done, House of Light family â¤ï¸â¤ï¸

 

A person loads wooden chairs into the bed of a pickup truck in a parking lot, with another person assisting by handing over a chair.
People loading large items and boxes into a truck at a storage facility.
Two people relaxing on furniture outside a storage facility, with a third person standing in the background. snow is visible on the ground.
Woman smiling, holding a framed artwork featuring colorful superhero masks, standing in a parking lot with a bag of gifts.