ANCHOR OF HOPE FOUNDATION

We want to share our story with you of how Christ continues to be our Anchor.  He fills us with hope for the future, providing amazing blessings and granting joy for the journey even in the midst of the clouds of confusion, the depths of doubt, the grip of grief, the tears of torment, and the storms of sadness.

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Because we knew that one in six children has a developmental disability, we should not have been surprised that our sixth child, Jacob, was diagnosed with autism.  This one son changed the trajectory of our life.  Jacob was, and remains, the Chief Inspirational Officer for Anchor of Hope.

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Over the years we began to realize all the specialists, therapies, medicines, time, money, and even our desperate prayers were limited and unable to "reach" our son in a meaningful way.  We saw him sinking away from us, drowning in the "sea of autism;" being pulled away from us in a riptide of sensory, brain and body disconnect, and pain. It seemed like it was always just outside of our reach.  Refusing to give up on him, we began to ask ourselves, “What really is this anchor of hope we desperately need?” “What we can hope in?” “What brings us hope?”  Without hope there is no point of living.  What anchors our hope is knowing the end of our story and working toward that end with certainty (Hebrews 6).  We are passionate to share a little of our history, but now, more so, our new found hope, because our community is joining us to help many other families like ours.

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Anchor of Hope started with a large vision and small beginnings. Four of us sat around our kitchen table and began to ask families what they needed and how we could help.  Family moved back to help. Donors were faithful. Dayspring Presbyterian and New Providence Baptist Church supported. Outreach grew as the word spread. God was and is faithful and blesses!  Today our impact is almost $100,000 in financial scholarships, 100+ hours of education and training, hundreds of relationships, increased awareness, ten Autism Awareness Festivals, hours of counseling and advocacy, 50+ Parent's Night Out events, and a several fundraisers throughout the year.  Some volunteers have even switched college majors because of their Parents’ Night Out experiences. However, there is so much more to do! 

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This is why we need YOU! You are Anchor of Hope! You are the hands and feet of Parent's Night Out. You are the heart of the festival, bringing the community together to support one another. You are the brains to create new ideas of how to grow to meet the onslaught of needs we expect in the future. 

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So many families struggle in desperate silence, longing to know that someone cares.  So many young people with a disability sit alone at home after graduation with no future opportunities.  There are so many requests for scholarships that we must deny because of higher demand.  There are so many needs.  This is why we cannot do it without you!  WE NEED YOU!  We need you to move forward into the next ten years with Anchor of Hope to sustain us, and for you to grab hold of the hands around you to bring "Hope for the future and Joy in the Journey."

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Steve & Debbie Harbin