Photos Of Hope Holiday Cards Benefit Detroit Rescue Mission

DETROIT (WWJ) - Homeless children who live at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries got a taste of hopes and dreams Tuesday at a special artist party celebrating, well, themselves.

At a party at Gordon Chevrolet in Garden City, youngsters got their first glimpse of holiday greeting cards they shot themselves as part of the "Pictures of Hope" initiative. Through it,  award winning photojournalist and author Linda Solomon provided photography lessons and empowered the children to capture photos of hope. 

Following the lesson, Solomon and Susan Ianni, General Manager of Gordon Chevrolet, surprised the children with cameras. Their only rule? They had to use the photos to share their hopes and dreams. 

The photos unveiled Tuesday will be sold through the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. And 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the "Pictures of Hope" greeting cards will benefit the many families and children who receive services at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.

During the holiday season from Thanksgiving through Christmas every customer who purchases a new Chevrolet from Gordon Chevrolet will be given the "Pictures of Hope" greeting cards as a gift.  A matching donation will be given to the shelter from Gordon Chevrolet. People can also stop in at the dealership, 31850 Ford Road, and buy the cards for $20 per assortment.

Dr. Chad Audi, president and CEO of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, said the photos taken by homeless children show how simple, yet profound, the dreams and hopes all children have.

"It gives them the gift of realizing that they are loved, that they are 'somebody', how very important we think they are and it builds their confidence in ways that will sustain them as they spread their wings wide to embrace their bright futures, perhaps even as photojournalists," Audi said in a statement.