AN INSPIRING ADVOCATE FOR LOVELAND’S HOMELESS COMMUNITY

Featuring Sandra Wright

Systems Project Manager, Homeward Alliance 

February 2023

Sandra Wright has been dedicated to serving the homeless community of Loveland in various capacities for over a decade. She has served as volunteer and then executive director of Loveland’s Community Kitchen and now serves as Systems Project Manager for Homeward Alliance. In each of these roles and responsibilities, she has brought her passion to take care of her community and those who are vulnerable in Loveland’s community. This passion and care for her Loveland community, particularly the vulnerable, was recognized when she was presented with the Citizen of the Year Award by the Loveland Rotary Club in July of 2022. 

Nearly ten years ago, Sandra Wright began working with Loveland’s Community Kitchen as a volunteer with her church. She would serve at the Community Kitchen one Sunday a month to help feed those in need in Loveland. Sandra became the executive director of the Community Kitchen and served in this capacity for seven years. During this period of time, Loveland’s Community Kitchen increased the number of meals being provided to the poor and the homeless in Loveland’s community. Loveland’s Community Kitchen operates on the belief that everyone should have access to food. Breakfast is served Monday through Friday and an evening meal is provided seven days a week. In addition to providing food and meals, there were increased efforts to assist the clients of the Community Kitchen with housing assistance, clothing, and help with accessing community resources. 

In April of 2022, Sandra Wright, left her work at the Community Kitchen. However, she continues to serve Loveland’s homeless community through Homeward Alliance as the Homeless Systems Project Manager. In 2021, Homeward Alliance was selected by Loveland to serve as the lead agency role in collaborative efforts to serve Loveland’s Homeless population. Homeward Alliance works with other Loveland organizations and service providers to identify the priorities and needs of the homeless community in Loveland, improve data collection regarding the homeless, set goals and measure outcomes, and identify gaps in services in order to expand or create new programs in Loveland. 

In addition to this work, Homeward Alliance was selected by the City of Loveland to develop and implement a homelessness strategic plan and program for the City. Sandra Wright, as Loveland Homeless Systems Project Manager, is one of the key individuals responsible for overseeing the project. 

Sandra’s experience of serving as a volunteer, then executive director of the Loveland Community kitchen has uniquely prepared her to advocate for the homeless community in this new capacity. She is a respected leader in Loveland for her efforts to meet the needs of Loveland’s homeless population. 

DEDICATION TO MINISTRY AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY

Featuring Kenneth Bagonza 

Co-Founder, Executive Director, Harmony Life Uganda

February 2023 

From an early age, Kenneth Bagonza had a heart for serving his community and the church. As a young boy he hoped to eventually become a priest. While this desire was not his ultimate pursuit, this heart for service has carried through to his current work as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Harmony Life in Uganda. 

Kenneth Bagonza grew up in Uganda where he began his life of service early on assisting with preparing for Sunday service with his family. He did eventually join a seminary school, but due to the expense of the school fees was unable to complete the program. However, his service and dedication continued. Although he was no longer a student, he continued to visit the seminary to serve the community by helping the sick, gathering firewood and water, and cleaning homes. 

Eventually, after attempting to joining a nursing program, God brought a sponsor from the United States into his life which opened up the opportunity to attend Uganda Christian University, the best University in Uganda. He completed his studies in Social Work and Social Administration and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development at Mountains of the Moon University. 

Following his graduation, Kenneth continued to serve in his community. He began a job where he did local ministry and work in Uganda. This early opportunity of ministering and serving people helped Kenneth to understand how to serve people better. Through this period of time, Kenneth began collaborating with Anne Dean, Founder and executive Director of Harmony Life International, USA, to found Harmony Life Uganda in 2013. 

Throughout his work in his community and at Harmony Life Uganda, Kenneth Bagonza serves with a heart for the Lord, a passion for the vulnerable, and with a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus.