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February 2020 Newsletter

Feb 11, 2020 | News, Uncategorized

Dear Friends of The Sunny Center,

February is the Love Month and it’s one of our favorite months of the year! We believe it’s the perfect time to show how much you cherish your loved ones and just spread more love in the world! Who doesn’t love to be loved!?!?!?!?!

And so, we want to especially show love to all our exoneree friends around the globe. We wish them our heartiest best wishes for hope and peace. And we think Valentine’s Day is a darling opportunity for you to offer a valentine to an exoneree in the form of a gift to the Sunny Center. A Valentine’s Day donation to the Sunny Center is as sweet as a dozen sweetheart roses, but it lasts so much longer! 
​ 
There is an exoneree out there hoping for your generosity and counting on the difference that donation will make in his or her life, helping restore their sense of wellbeing, fairness and faith in a just world. 
Thanks so much. We are deeply grateful for your kindness. 

OUR EXONEREE GUESTS AND VISITORS

Our friend and founder of the Innocence Project of Iowa Brian Farrell.

It was with great joy that we reconnected with our old friend Brian Farrell, founder of the Innocence Project of Iowa. And scheduling challenges forced us to postpone our exoneree family visit, but it’s been rescheduled for this month. We look forward to it with open hearts and arms. 
In the meantime, we went a-visiting down the road to socialize with these fine neighbors! ​

OUR VOLUNTEERS ​

Peter and our volunteer multi-visit volunteer Tress.
 
Our network of friends, supporters and volunteers continues to grow. This past month, a supporter began following our work on social media after hearing about the Sunny Center through her friend Tress, who has been our faithful multi-visit volunteer. Through Tress, she became so interested in our mission, she might volunteer herself, which is timely, as we are currently scheduling volunteers for the remainder of 2020. So we are putting out a call for anyone interested in offering help to the Sunny Center in the coming months. Perhaps you have a special skill or maybe you have a particular interest? If so, please get in touch with us here. We’d love to hear from you! 

OUR FURRY AND FEATHERED FRIENDS

Who says chickens are dumb? 

​This past month our chickens dealt with a dusting of snow, the dogs with high winds and wet weather and the cats with navigating the kitty door in winter storms. But through it all, the house was warm and there was plenty of love to go around to keep everyone happy!

OUR ACTIVISM ​

Sunny, Peter and our exoneree outreach coordinator Dorothy. 

We have just returned from a trip to NYC where we met with our Board and discussed our busy activism schedule for 2020. It was decided that we would deepen our exoneree outreach program and strengthen our fundraising efforts. We are grateful for the continued support of our valuable board without whom we couldn’t achieve the work we do. Stay tuned for further announcements about what’s coming up in 2020!!! ​

STAY CONNECTED ​

Our hearts are touching your hearts this month and we want to keep that connection going all year long. Please do reach out to us and we will receive you with open arms and a happy heart. 
And please, consider making a recurring donation – no matter what size – and that will literally keep the lights on, the heat going and our bond strong, no matter what the weather brings. 

Peace and Love, 
 
Sunny and Peter 

Remembering Peter

My dear Peter is gone.
We sang him home on the last day of the year, gathered around his bedside as we had done for so many days before.

‘Send them green.’ A special message from a Sunny Center supporter!

“I had the wonderful opportunity to be a guest at the Sunny Center this past July. My first trip to Ireland, it always is a magical moment to visit friends who live overseas…”

Exonerees are succeeding, thanks to you!

Helping people exonerated of crimes they did not commit, setting them back on the path to a fulfilling life, is a monumental task that we depend on the dedication of volunteers, both near and far, to achieve.

Even in summer, the work doesn’t stop

We’re in midsummer now, with its long days that stretch until 11 in the evening here in Ireland. It’s a busy time for everyone and everything.

The power of art to heal and renew

Did you know that Peter was a woodworker and an artist? He created so many things. But more importantly, he taught those skills to other Exonerees when they visited the Center.

Looking for green shoots

Photo by Samantha Bookman. Peter and I chose to situate the Sunny Healing Center here in this beautiful location in the west of Ireland. A newcomer may at first see only a barren, rocky, windswept landscape. But, put your hand on the earth here, and you can feel the...

A message from Sunny about Peter

The time has come to say farewell to our dear Peter, who is in the process of transitioning from this body and this plane.

Finding Peace, Joy and Hope

The events in Ukraine over the past several days have been ever-present in all of our lives through the daily news and constant social media. These times can be especially difficult for Exonerees because of the traumas they are working to overcome.

Love Is Always the Answer

Winter is always a little bit quieter than the rest of the year. After a long day spent maintaining the Sunny Healing Center and getting it ready for visitors, it’s time for us to cuddle up with the kittens and, of course, Barney, on chilly winter evenings with a warm fire in the hearth.

A Happy, Healthy and Healing New Year to All

Love has no barriers and no limits. And neither does our gratitude for your continuing support and friendship. Know that you are never alone, because you are part of our family.

Happy Holidays to Our Friends Near and Far!

These are extraordinary times. And you’ve all been extraordinary supporters. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to keep helping Exonerees in the midst of a global emergency.