The recently launched nonprofit A Place for Hope and Healing has initiated its Christmas seasonal program of Thanks. Anyone who wants to thank someone who has given their all in service to their family, friends, or community can do so with the Place for Hope and Healing Thank You Tree.

The community is invited to recognize someone in service — police officers, firefighters, and other first responders, teachers, security, instructors, medical and hospital personnel, clergy, et al — by visiting the offices of A Place for Hope and Healing at 5A Glen Road in Sandy Hook, filling out a Tag of Thanks, and placing it on the Thank You Tree in front of the office. Notes of thanks can also be e-mailed, with the name of the recipient and recipient’s contact information, to mary@aplaceforhopeandhealing.org.

All Tags of Thanks will be logged in and the thanks delivered to the person being recognized.

A Place for Hope and Healing has been created to be a conduit for the public to identify those who give their all to serve others, those who run into a crisis and tragedy, not away from it. Those who serve, protect, care for, and encourage while keeping the community safe.

What they encounter every day can get overwhelming to them at times. And their hope can waiver.

The purpose of the nonprofit organization is to identify these people within the community, provide encouragement, and help restore their hope through:

*Building and restoring physical properties, to become destinations for customized programs designed to refresh, restore, and reinvigorate these dedicated servants who are so critical to supporting us in our daily lives; and

*Providing Hope Happenings designed to demonstrate appreciation for what is done by them. These can be Thank You Coffee Breaks, Notes of Hope, or Prayer Support.

A Place for Hope and Healing is a Christian Ministry and a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt charity.

Its co-founders, Mary and Ken Perry, reside in Sandy Hook. They have been involved in and leading Christian Helping Ministries since 2000. Mr Perry is an associate Connecticut chaplain and the organization’s president. After retiring from a 30-year marketing executive career, Mrs Perry is a board certified Christian Life Coach, has an advanced diploma in crisis response and trauma recovery, and is the organization’s chief development officer.

To donate, volunteer, or find additional information, call 203-994-0643, send e-mail to mary@aplaceforhopeandhealing.org, or visit aplaceforhopeandhealing.org.