With the start of the new school year, we have volunteers from several local colleges. Moody Bible Institute, through their Practical Christian Ministry (PCM) program, is again sending students to work with our after-school tutoring program, to befriend and visit with the women of Naomi program, serve dinner, and work with Brothas and Sistas United, our teen program. Loyola University is also providing weekly after-school tutors. North Park University’s committee on Homelessness and Hunger is sending students each Friday to serve dinner to our residents and afterwards do an hour of activities with the children ranging from reading and games to arts and crafts.
The children of CCO started school today. Some of them walked to local schools, others were taken to their former schools by their parents. Bus service should start in just a few days. Each child was equipped with a brand new backpack and school supplies due to the generosity of Willow Creek Community Church, Tools for Schools, and Chicago Church of Christ. (Pictures will be posted once I figure out how to do it. I’m new at this.)
On September 1, CCO kicked off a new “Healthy Lifestyles Program” sponsored by the Kraft Employee Fund. To celebrate, we organized a “Jump Rope Jam.” Staff members along with many energetic volunteers measured participants for custom-sized jump ropes. Contests were held according to age groups in “Double Dutch” jumping, speed jumping, endurance, and trick jumping. Classic jump rope rhymes were recited by all and fondly remembered by some of us “older folk.”
The Chicago Church of Christ Choir performed a back-to-school concert on Sunday, September 4. The choir’s director, Emmanuel Barr, has been a regular CCO volunteer. The excitement and energy of this vocal group and band had everyone up clapping, singing and dancing. The church members also presented each child present with a folder with spiral notebooks, paper and pencils. Thanks!
ALERT!
As I was writing this update, I was informed that CCO was asked to open one of our empty floors to accommodate people who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina and are being relocated to Chicago.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to help prepare this place. We need those willing to haul stuff from floor to another, organize and paint. Give me a call at 773-303-0119 to arrange a time to come and help.
FUTHER UPDATE [Friday, September 16]:
The folks dealing with Katrina victims have decided NOT to send them to shelters but instead are trying to get them into homes. So we won't be sheltering Katrina victims at present after all. We're glad they will have actual homes to live in!
by Lyda Jackson (posted by Jon Trott)
0 comments:
Post a Comment