Community 4:12

Kids Hope USA

I spent the past 2 days with our new Kids Hope Director, Carolynn Fulford, being inspired and empowered to run a Kids Hope USA mentoring program.  Started in 1995, this faith-based, school-based mentoring program now operates in 27 states with over 470 programs.  Their philosophy?  One church partners with one school and each mentor works with one child for one hour/week during the school year.  We heard story after story of life change and impact that results from this program.  Here's my favorite . . .

Noami seemed strangely lethargic during the entire hour. Normally talkative and eager to interact with her mentor, this first grader said fewer than five words today. "It's time for you to go back to class, Naomi," said her mentor as the hour came to an end. "I hope you enjoyed our time together." Noami's response was surprising. "May I go vomit?" she asked. "What?! Have you had to throw up this entire hour" Why didn't you tell me that you had to use the bathroom?"  "Because," said Naomi, "I don't want to miss even one minute of my time with you."

CCC has been working with Brady Elementary in East Aurora for six years, but this will be the first time we have done this kind of 1-1 mentoring.  I'm excited for the life change that is going to happen this year . . . in Brady kids and in CCC volunteers who serve as mentors.  If you'd like to learn more about how to become one of those mentors, let me know! 

VBS Highlights

We sponsored our first VBS in East Aurora this week at the Lighthouse.  Terrific week all the way around, but here were some particular highlights for me . . .

• Watching Josie take an idea/vision and make it happen.  She came to me last spring and asked if she could do this, and with her right-hand arm, Betty, created the entire VBS experience. They did a phenomenal job.
• Seeing so many new volunteers---especially the junior high and high school students who got up early every morning to come love on these kids.
• Seeing such a multi-racial group of kids from Aurora, Naperville, and Oswego making friends and playing together.
• Hearing Kristen, Lisa, and Kathy make Jesus come alive for these kids.
• Meeting parents of kids we've been driving to church for months for the very first time, and seeing them smile as their kids sang about Jesus' love.  

Coming to School Ready to Learn

As we have for the past several years, we want to help low-income students in East Aurora start the year off ready to learn by helping them get all the school supplies they need.  This year we would like to sponsor all 500 students who receive free/reduced lunch.  Want to help?! Instead of getting a long list of supplies that you need to go out and buy and try to cram into a paper bag, all you have to do is tell us you would like to sponsor a child (or two or three) and we pre-order supply kits. We will still sell them for a fraction of the cost to Brady parents, so the school will earn money as they have in the past.

For $25 you can sponsor a child who will then get all the supplies they need to be prepared at school. For those of you who have purchased supplies in the past, you know that is a great bargain compared to the $40 - $50 some of the grade level kits cost if you buy all the items individually.

If you'd like to sponsor any children, just click HERE to make a donation online or email Ron Kelso at ronkelso@sbcglobal.net.  In the fall, you will receive the name(s) of the children you have sponsored so you can write them a back to school greeting.

Gift Mart Goes Multisite

I'll post more later, but a quick recap of a terrific day.  Our Gift Mart went multi-site, so we had simultaneous Marts going on in East Aurora and East Joliet.  We collected a combined total of 9,500 toys, had over 1,000 volunteers, served approximately 3,500 people, and raised almost $15,000 for our partner schools.  And fun and joy beyond measure! 

Overwhelming Generosity

This weekend we will host our 6th Annual Christmas Gift Mart in East Aurora for Brady and Bardwell Elementary Schools.  We will also host our 1st Gift Mart in East Joliet for AO Marshall and Park Elementary Schools.  At these marts we will sell new toys to parents at a fraction of their original cost.  This is our strategy for providing a "hand-up" to low-income families during the holiday season.  It is a double win, because we then donate all the money we raise to the schools.  Last year that was $10,000.

Given the challenging economy, it was a real leap of faith to decide to host a 2nd mart and depend on donations to provide at least 7,500 toys to minimally stock the two marts, which will serve 2,500 children. 

Well, thanks to Community Christian Church, Orchard Valley Community Church, and countless businesses, organizations, and individuals in the community, it appears as though we are going to make, and very possibly exceed our goal.  We are still counting on some more donations coming in this week, but things are looking very promising.

A huge THANK YOU! to everyone who contributed!! 

The Next Generation of Servants

I had the great priviledge of hosting a Community 4:12 table at the KidsMatter Volunteer Fair yesterday.  Over 30 different organizations were represented, and each of us had volunteer opportunities to offer the roughly 500 teens from Naperville school districts 203 and 204.  There were of course some kids who were clearly there only because Mom or Dad wants to make volunteering a part of their life (and that's not a bad thing!).  I was very encouraged, and to be honest a little surprised, at how many teens were there, because they really wanted to be---and not just because they have "hours" they have to fill for school.  I talked with many kids who have already completed all the service hours they need, but they just love to feel like they are making a difference.  We had many, many kids who signed up to help with tutoring or after-school programs or at our Christmas event.  I've always believed if we can get youth involved in service at a young age so that it becomes a part of who they are, they will be much more likely to be volunteers as adults.  And that's how we'll change the world.  I can't wait to help these youth get plugged in to our work in East Aurora!

School Supplies in May

We are trying something new this year.  Every August we always do a school supply collection at Community to make sure the kids at Brady Elementary come to school prepared to learn.  This year we decided to try something that a lot of the surrounding school districts do . . . order pre-packaged kits that contain all the supplies for each grade level that the teacher requests.  It's great---no shopping and not being able to find the right things, no trying to stuff everything into one bag, no hauling tons of supplies from church to the school, and it actually ends up being a lot cheaper this way.  So, all a person has to do is say they will commit to sponsoring a child for $25.  The challenge is, we hve to place the order now for next fall.  People at Community are not used to this rhythm, so I knew we couldn't expect to get a lot of people to commit to school supplies NOW when they are thinking graduation, summer, etc.  So, I had to take a guess as to how many people I THOUGHT would sponsor children and lay that cash out up front.  Yikes.  I committed to 300 kits (about 1/2 the school) for this year.  That's $7,500.  Double Yikes.  Thankfully, I've been pleasantly surprised at how many people ARE willing to sign up now (and pay now) for supplies for the fall.  In fact, we have gotten some terrific feedback that people love this idea.  Everyone will get names of specific children that they are sponsoring, because Brady families will order a kit at registration in August (and pay a small amount so that this will still be a fundraiser for the school).  So, sponsoring families can actually write a personal note to the child(ren) they sponsored to help them start the year off right.  I have to attribute this brilliant idea to Ron Kelso who has done all the leg work to make it happen.  We have had a good response already, but we are no where close to 300 yet, so if you'd like to sponsor a child with school supplies for next year, email Ron at ronkelso@sbcglobal.net and let him know how many ($25/child)!

Habitat Groundbreaking

Three years ago, Ron Kelso's (2nd from left) life was shattered when his 19 year old son tragically lost his battle with depression and ended his life through suicide.  With the strength that only God can give, Ron committed to fulfilling a dream he and his son had shared---to build a Habitat for Humanity Home.  Ron sponsored a fundraiser and raised $35,000---enough to purchase land for a Habitat build.  Because of his ties to Community 4:12 and the work we are doing in East Aurora, he was determined to do the build in that community.  However, there has been no land available, so for the past 2 1/2 years, the money has sat in a Habitat account. 

This spring, Habitat decided to embark on a project they had not done before . . . rehabbing a foreclosed home.  It is on the East Side of Aurora and the approximate cost?  About what Ron had secured in cash and in-kind donations.  Ron got to meet the Craft Family (mother and 2 teenage twin daughters in this picture) and immediately knew this was the family "Kevin's" home had been waiting for.

Today was the groundbreaking ceremony.  Even though the house is built, it was gutted to the studs due to extensive mold damage and so for the next 2 months, every Thursday and Saturday teams of volunteers will work to build the Craft Family their new home.  If you'd like to participate in one of the build days, click here to contact Ron. 

I am so proud and humbled to have Ron as a dear friend and long-time leader with Community 4:12.  Thank you for your faithfulness, Ron.  I can just see Kevin's smiling face, and I know his loving and generous spirit is being built into this home.

Introducing Serving Jesus Blog!

I'm really excited to introduce a brand-new blog at CCC.  Our Small Groups Director, Eric Metcalf, has created a site so that small groups and others can stay informed about upcoming service opportunities offered through a variety of ministries.  Click here to check it out!

Come Read To Us Day!

Have 30 minutes you can spare next Wednesday, April 16th, between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm?  Then come be a guest reader for Brady School's "Come Read to Us!" Day.  I'm going to be reading for a Kindergarden class at 9:00.  You can pick your own book to bring, or have the teacher provide one for you.  I did this last year and it was so cool to see moms, businessmen, government officials and college kids coming to the school to read.

It makes a huge statement to the kids that you would take time out of your schedule to spend 30 minutes with them!  For more information or to sign up, click here to email Michele Zwart!