Sometimes the Right Door Takes Time

If you had asked me a year ago where One Small Act would be today, I never could have imagined this.

A few weeks ago, we hosted Miami County’s first-ever Pride celebration, and over 300 people came together to celebrate love, community, and belonging. Seeing families, friends, allies, and LGBTQ+ neighbors laughing together, supporting one another, and simply existing in a space where they felt safe is something I’ll never forget.

For one afternoon, people knew they belonged.

That is why One Small Act exists.

The truth is, the days after that celebration have been a mix of overwhelming gratitude and uncertainty.

As many of you know, we’re still searching for a new home. I’ve walked into meetings full of hope, only to hear “no” more times than I can count. I’ve had doors close before I even had the chance to explain who we are or what we do.

I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been discouraging.

When you pour your heart into building something that serves others, rejection stings. There have been moments when I’ve questioned what comes next, moments when I’ve wondered if we’re ever going to find the place we’re meant to call home.

But then I remember where we started.

One Small Act didn’t begin in a fancy office or community center. It started with a belief that kindness can change lives and that every person deserves to feel like they belong.

That belief hasn’t changed.

For now, we’ve moved our supplies into a storage unit, and we’ll once again be packing Meal in a Bag from my garage. It’s not the plan I envisioned, but it means families will continue receiving food. It means our work doesn’t stop.

And neither do we.

We’ll continue hosting community gatherings throughout Miami County. As each event is announced, we’ll share the location with you. Whether we’re in a church, a park, a borrowed meeting room, or somewhere else entirely, we’ll continue creating spaces where people can connect and know they are welcome.

I’ve learned something over the past year: organizations aren’t built by buildings. They’re built by people.

They’re built by volunteers who show up after working all day. They’re built by donors who give what they can. They’re built by community partners who believe in the mission. They’re built by every person who attends an event, packs a meal, shares a post, or reminds someone they’re not alone.

They’re built by all of you.

I don’t know where our permanent home will be yet. I just know it’s out there.

Maybe every closed door has simply been leading us toward the one that’s meant to open.

Until that day comes, we’ll keep showing up. We’ll keep serving. We’ll keep creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and loved.

Because our address may change, but our mission never will.

Thank you for believing in One Small Act. Thank you for believing in me. Most importantly, thank you for believing that together, we can build a more compassionate and inclusive Miami County—one small act at a time.