Breakthrough, one of Kenilworth Union Church’s Outreach benevolence agencies located in the underserved East Garfield Park neighborhood, recently sent challenging communication following a tragic shooting that saw seven men shot and two killed. Several Breakthrough families were witness to, and many more have been devastated by, the violence. In the words of Arloa Sutter, executive director of Breakthrough:

“We are dealing with real trauma. Kids who can’t stop crying, wailing mothers and friends, residents afraid to come out of their homes and staff who feel exhausted and burdened. Please pray for us. The heaviness and discouragement is tangible right now.

Our anti-violence outreach team is hard at work trying to combat retaliation and to offer support. Our community will rally together to hold one another and support one another in this sorrow, but the friends and families and the entire community will carry these scars and deal with the effects of this trauma for a very long time.”

In addition to requesting prayers for the spirit of heaviness to be lifted, and for joyfulness to return to the neighborhood, Arloa offered a few options to support Breakthrough families. As the agency focuses on education, youth development, workforce development, housing, health and wellness, violence prevention and spiritual formation, you can help by providing supplies by Thursday, August 2 from this Amazon wish list for neighborhood kids who are heading to college this fall, or making a financial donation, in time for the Trunk Party on Saturday, August 4. Please contact one of Kenilworth Union’s Breakthrough liaisons, Diane Rand and Dave Landsittel, if you’d like more information or would like to know more ways in which to help.